Bidder offers $13,300 for Federer’s racket

Roger Federer and other top tennis players have continued their fundraising efforts for Haiti with an auction of autographed rackets used in this year’s Australian Open.

Two days after the bidding opened, Federer’s racket was easily the most sought after, with the latest of 87 bids offering $13,300 (SFr14,000). The next most-wanted racket is Rafael Nadal’s, with a current bid of $4,150.

Novak Djokovic, Kim Clijsters and Jelena Dokic have also donated their rackets.

The eBay auction, which opened on Tuesday and closes after the men’s final on Sunday, follows “Hit for Haiti” – a charity match initiated by Federer on the eve of the tournament.

That mixed doubles match – where the public paid discounted prices and the players wore microphones to the enjoyment of the crowd – raised more than $185,000.

Federer, who has already won the Australian Open three times, faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals on Friday. Andy Murray has already reached the final, beating Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday.

The earthquake on January 12 in Haiti killed an estimated 200,000 people and has left millions in desperate need of aid.

swissinfo.ch and agencies