Players enjoy light relief at fundraiser
Source: Agencies |
January 18, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A CHARITY match to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake provided Roger Federer, Serena Williams and handful of the world's top players some light relief on the eve of the Australian Open.
The two world No. 1s abandoned their normal training routines to team up with the likes of Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Samantha Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic for a fundraising exhibition in Melbourne.
"I was following it on TV and saw the devastation and I thought we should do something," said Federer, the brainchild of the idea.
"It was a lot of fun. It's a great thing and I'm happy the players were also in such good spirits."
The hastily-arranged match at a packed Rod Laver Arena raised more than 200,000 Australian dollars (US$184,700) in aid for the victims.
There were more wisecracks than aces as the players all joined in the irreverent mood of the mixed doubles match, hamming it up for the packed crowd on center court.
When a line judge called Roddick for a foot-fault, the American could not resist a verbal volley: "I can't believe you called me in a charity match, you do realize Serena's playing."
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 at the US Open cost her a record fine of US$82,500.
Normal service will resume today when the first grand slam of 2010 gets under way at Melbourne Park.
Maria Sharapova, who made a personal donation of US$10,000 to the relief fund, will open proceedings on center court against fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.
Sharapova won the Australian Open in 2008 but injury prevented her from defending her title last year and her return has added another twist to a tournament that promises to be one of the most open grand slams in years.
Clijsters, who won last year's US Open after coming out of retirement, will follow Sharapova on the center court to face Canada's Valerie Tetreault before Briton Andy Murray tackles South African qualifier Kevin Anderson.
Nadal, the defending men's champion, will headline the first night session while Federer and Williams launch their campaigns tomorrow.
The two world No. 1s abandoned their normal training routines to team up with the likes of Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Samantha Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic for a fundraising exhibition in Melbourne.
"I was following it on TV and saw the devastation and I thought we should do something," said Federer, the brainchild of the idea.
"It was a lot of fun. It's a great thing and I'm happy the players were also in such good spirits."
The hastily-arranged match at a packed Rod Laver Arena raised more than 200,000 Australian dollars (US$184,700) in aid for the victims.
There were more wisecracks than aces as the players all joined in the irreverent mood of the mixed doubles match, hamming it up for the packed crowd on center court.
When a line judge called Roddick for a foot-fault, the American could not resist a verbal volley: "I can't believe you called me in a charity match, you do realize Serena's playing."
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 at the US Open cost her a record fine of US$82,500.
Normal service will resume today when the first grand slam of 2010 gets under way at Melbourne Park.
Maria Sharapova, who made a personal donation of US$10,000 to the relief fund, will open proceedings on center court against fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.
Sharapova won the Australian Open in 2008 but injury prevented her from defending her title last year and her return has added another twist to a tournament that promises to be one of the most open grand slams in years.
Clijsters, who won last year's US Open after coming out of retirement, will follow Sharapova on the center court to face Canada's Valerie Tetreault before Briton Andy Murray tackles South African qualifier Kevin Anderson.
Nadal, the defending men's champion, will headline the first night session while Federer and Williams launch their campaigns tomorrow.
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