Serena Williams and Roger Federer to play in Australian bushfire charity match
Some of the world's top tennis stars, including Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, are coming together on January 15 in Melbourne, Australia to take part in an exhibition match to raise money for Australia's bushfire relief efforts, CNN reported.
Other big names lined up to participate include Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, Nick Kyrgios, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Tennis Australia, the country's governing body on tennis, organized the Australia Open Rally for Relief match as part of its larger Aces for Bushfire Relief program, which launched last week in response to the fires. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Australia's bushfire relief. The match takes place five days before the Australia Open.
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Tennis Australia has also committed to donating 100 AUSD (about $69) for every ace served in the ATP Cup in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Other professional tennis players around the world are donating their money to the cause, as well.
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The funds are indeed necessary. At least 25 people have died from Australia's bushfire crisis, half a billion animals have perished, and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
Moreover, Australia won't escape this fire cycle anytime soon. According to the Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology, climate change is "influencing the frequency and severity of dangerous bushfire conditions in Australia and other regions of the world, including through influencing temperature, environmental moisture, weather patterns and fuel conditions."
“It is heartbreaking to see the devastation the bushfires are wreaking across the country and to see so many people and communities suffering," said Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, according to a statement on Australia Open's website. "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."
Topics Activism Social Good
Siobhan was the Social Good reporter at Mashable, writing about everything from mental health to race to the climate crisis. Before diving into the world of journalism, she worked in global health — most notably, as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique. Find her at @siobhanneela.
