Federer to play in Australian flood relief event
Some of the world’s leading tennis stars, including Switzerland’s Roger Federer, are to play an exhibition event for victims of the floods in Queensland, Australia.
The event, Rally for Relief, is to take place on Sunday in Melbourne, a day before the Australian Open begins in the city.
Defending champion Federer, world number one Rafael Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic and Jim Courier are among the sport’s celebrities who are to play in the charity event.
The exhibition event is part of a fundraising campaign to last for the two weeks of the tournament. It is hoped to raise up to $1 million Australian dollars or SFr970,000.
Australia’s Davis Cup captain and former top player Pat Rafter, who is from Queensland, said it was “such a small amount compared with what will be needed”.
Federer on Wednesday went on Facebook to drum up support. “The floods here in Australia are devastating,” he wrote.
The Swiss and other stars last year helped raise more than SFr200,000 for earthquake victims in Haiti.
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