Rally for Relief: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios will take part in charity tennis match for bushfire victims – as AFL, NRL and Cricket Australia consider similar fundraisers
- Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniaki and Stefanos Tsitsipas will also play in the event
- Other players have pledged $200 for every ace they hit in the Australian comp
- Reports claim AFL and Cricket Australia are considering charity matches
- Nine Australian NBA stars have banded together to donate more than $1 million
Tennis Australia has announced Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios will play in a charity tournament to raise money for bushfire victims.
Rally for Relief will take place at Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park on January 15.
Twenty-five people have been killed in this season’s bushfires and almost 1,900 homes have been destroyed.
Australian Open tournament organiser Craig Tiley told reporters on Wednesday that Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniaki and Stefanos Tsitsipas will also take part in the event.
Roger Federer in action on day five of the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 Arena, London in November
Roger Federer wrote on Facebook that he would take part in the tennis fundraising match
‘It is heartbreaking to see the devastation the bushfires are wreaking across the country and to see so many people and communities suffering,’ he said.
‘The Aces for Bushfire Relief initiative gives the tennis community the opportunity to galvanise our sport to support and raise much needed funds to help those who are most in need.’
‘For a period of about two-and-a-half hours we’re going to be showcasing the game, but also coming together as a community to play our part in the relief effort.
Nick Kygios has already pledged $200 for every ace he hits during his upcoming tennis tournaments.
Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his match against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay during day 4 of the ATP Cup in Perth
Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts during his singles match against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany on day 1 of the ATP Cup tennis tournament in Brisbane, January 3 2020
Fans who can’t attend the event can emulate the idea in a social media campaign and film themselves serving an ace and posting it to social media with the hashtag #Aces4BushfireRelief and donating to the fundraiser.
Tennis Australia has already committed a $100 donation for every ace served at the ATP Cup in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.
The announcement comes as NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg announced the opening week of the 2020 season will be a dedicated Bushfire Appeal Round to raise money for those affected.
The NRL’s plan will form part of a whole-of-game approach.
Daryl Millard and Greg Eastwood of the Bulldogs smile after winning the round 23 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Bulldogs at Dairy Farmers Stadium
Internal teams across the Queensland Rugby League, NSW Rugby League and the Rugby League Players Association have been formed to develop a plan to have the biggest possible impact.
It comes as reports claim fellow sporting bodies AFL and Cricket Australia and considering hosting special matches next month to further raise funds.
An AFL State of Origin match could be held late in February, according to the Herald Sun, while the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Cricket Australia will confirm a match as a curtain-raiser to the Big Bash League final on February 8.
Cricket legends Shane Warne and Jeff Thomson are auctioning their prized baggy green caps, joining a host of individual Aussie sports stars who have joined the cause during the past week.
Residents look on as flames burn through bush on January 04, 2020 in Lake Tabourie
This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows firefighters struggling against the strong wind in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra
The latest bid for Warne’s treasured piece of memorabilia stands at $480,000, before Friday’s deadline.
Nine Australian NBA stars have banded together to donate more than $1 million.
Meanwhile, four Australian Baseball League matches between hosts Canberra and Adelaide scheduled for the nation’s capital have been scrapped due to the poor air quality caused by the bushfires.
The series will be shared, according to ABL rules, with the Cavalry and Giants awarded two wins apiece.