El suizo Roger Federer fue el encargado de organizar a las máximas figuras del deporte blanco para realizar una presentación previo al Abierto de Australia.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.- El tenista suizo Roger Federer ayudó a organizar una exhibición especial que recaudará fondos el domingo para las víctimas del terremoto en Haití.
El suizo, número uno del mundo, dijo el sábado que le había pedido a varios jugadores que se unieran a los partidos de dobles y dobles mixtos en el estadio Rod Laver la noche antes de que inicie el Abierto de Australia.
Además de Federer, se espera que participen los dos actuales campeones del Abierto, el español Rafael Nadal y la estadounidense Serena Williams, el serbio ganador del 2008 Novak Djokovic, el estadounidense Andy Roddick, la belga Kim Clijsters y los locales Lleyton Hewitt y Samantha Stosur.
''Se me ocurrió que podíamos hacer algo para ayudar a Haití luego del trágico terremoto'', dijo Federer en una conferencia de prensa. ''Así que hablé con algunos de los demás jugadores más importantes... Tengo algunos contactos''. ''Todos dijeron: 'Sí, deberíamos hacer algo''', agregó.
La entrada al evento costará 10 dólares. El estadio, la cancha principal del Abierto, tiene capacidad para 15 mil personas.
El torneo inicia el lunes pero Federer, Williams y el resto de los jugadores de la mitad superior de las llaves no juegan hasta el martes.
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MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Roger Federer and Serena Williams celebrate a point during an exhibition tennis match in Melbourne, Australia. A series of games were set up by Federer ahead of the Australian Open to raise funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Photo: AP
Roger Federer, organized a Charity event for the victims of Haiti´s Earthquake
Roger Federer and other leading tennis players devoted the eve of the Australian Open to a fundraiser for Haiti earthquake victims in an exhibition match today that offered a rare glimpse at the camaraderie behind their on-court rivalries.
Federer, who has won a record 15 Grand Slam titles, teamed up with reigning Australian Open champion Serena Williams and Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur.
Their opponents were 2009 winner Rafael Nadal, 2008 winner Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick and US Open champion Kim Clijsters.
The players wore microphones on court, adding to the entertainment of a mixed-doubles match featuring player substitutions. Commentating as they lunged, lobbed and smashed, they displayed their athleticism and personalities.
There was the eloquent and debonair Federer who played the role of master of ceremonies. It was Federer’s idea to hold the match, which he helped organize a day earlier. There was the good-natured Clijsters cracking jokes, playful Nadal with his sideways grin and wisecracking Roddick.
To the delight of the crowd, Roddick mocked Williams’ infamous meltdown at the US Open when a line judge called her for a foot fault during a crucial point in her semifinal loss to Clijsters.
“Did you really call a foot fault on me in a charity match?” Roddick asked and added, “You realise Serena’s over there, right?”
The camera panned to Williams sitting on the sidelines shaking her head and laughing, as the packed 15,000-seat stadium erupted in laughter. Williams has been touchy on that subject since her arrival in Australia last week - the profanity-laced, finger-pointing tirade cost her a record fine of USD 82,500.
Federer tried three times to show off the shot from his US Open victory against Djokovic that he has described as the greatest of his life: a between-the-legs, back-to-the-net winner from the baseline. Today, it worked once and sunk into the net twice.
Djokovic displayed his powerful serve, acing Williams on one point and prompting her to comment: “You look really good acing girls.”
Later, Nadal smashed a winner at Williams’ feet, evoking a piercing shriek from the world’s No. 1-ranked women’s player.
“Don’t scare me like that Rafa,” she said, drawing support from teammate Federer who assured her, “I’ll get him back.”
At one game break, Clijsters massaged Nadal’s sore thigh.
In the end, Federer’s so-called Red Team beat the rival Blue Team 7-6 in their one-set match that lasted an hour and a half. The teams were named for the colors of Haiti’s flag.
“It was a fun afternoon for all of us. But most important is that we can help Haiti,” Federer told the center court crowd after the match ended.
Some players made separate contributions, organisers said, including 2008 Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova (USD 10,000), American John Isner (USD 5,000) - after he won the Auckland tournament - and Marcos Baghdatis (USD 5,000) - after his win in Sydney.
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