MELBOURNE: 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 Sunday that offered a rare glimpse at the camaraderie behind their on-court rivalries.
The event dubbed “Hit for Haiti” raised more than $185,000, an amount that organizers expected would increase.
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 reprimanded a line judge. “You realize 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.
Some players made separate contributions, organizers said, including 2008 Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova ($10,000), American John Isner ($5,000) — after he won the Auckland tournament — and Marcos Baghadits ($5,000) — after he win in Sydney.
Seats cost AU$10 — a fraction of the normal price for a Grand Slam match - and fans lined up from early morning, waiting hours to get tickets for the afternoon match.
“It was electric in there,” said Melbourne resident Helen Forrest, 63. “This was just really fun and a really good way to see the other side of the players.” Zaggy Dean, a 40-year-old real estate photographer from Melbourne, called it a worthy cause.
“I’m devastated about this tragedy. It’s one of the poorest countries in the world,” he said. “This was a great opportunity.”
