Tennis players rally for bushfire relief

A selection of the world’s best in tennis gathered at the Australian Open’s Melbourne Park on Wednesday in an exhibition event to raise millions in relief money for those affected by the bushfire disaster.

The event called “AO Rally for Relief” involved 12 recognisable male and female players that included Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Caroline Wozniacki, Coco Gauff, Stefanos Tsitisipas, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Petra Kvitova, Naomi Osaka and Australian Nick Kyrgios were also involved.

In total, the event to raise aid money for those communities affected by raging bushfires across Australia collected 4,826,014 Australian dollars (US $3.32 million).

The charity exhibition comes on the same day that qualifying for the Australian Open Grand Slam, where the main draw starts January 20, was further delayed because of heavy rain.

Play was allowed and later suspended on Tuesday following many complaints from players about the poor air quality including Dalila Jankupovic, who collapsed in a heavy bout of coughing before forfeiting her match.

The 28-year-old Slovenian said she wasn’t the only player who had breathing dificulties.

The bush fires, which broke out in September 2019, have caused at least 28 deaths and an estimated 1 billion in wildlife has been lost.

After Serena Williams’ team won 4-3 against Team Wozniacki in an inter-changing mixed doubles match to begin ‘Rally for Relief’, Nadal announced that he and Federer have both pledged 250,000 Australian dollars each to the cause.

“Hopefully that can keep inspiring people to support this terrible disaster,” said world number one Nadal.

Canberra’s Kyrgios was beaten in a one-set exhibition singles by Federer 7-6 (8-6) but since promising to donate 200 dollars for every ace he serves, the 24-year-old has been overwhelmed by the support.

“It’s been an emotional couple of weeks,” Kyrgios said.

“Back home at Canberra I couldn’t even go outside, it was hard and i’m just so grateful some of the greats like Federer and Novak and the guys got behind it.”

The men’s ATP Tour announced on Sunday that 500,000 US dollars was donated by competing players at the inaugural ATP Cup.

(AFP) Novak Djokovic of Serbia (left) serves other players with a drink as they and more other top players play in the Rally for Relief charity tennis match in Melbourne on Wednesday.