While the Americans have never been too prominent where seminal artists are concerned (drip drip, Jackson Pollock) with the field eclipsed by names like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Monet and Van Gogh, American tennis pro Andy Roddick
seems to be doing his part to raise the US’s standing in the world of art
In what some people are calling the biggest upset of the Association of Tennis Professionals season, Roddick’s self-portrait sold for $33,100 - more money than any of the other Art of Tennis pieces, which were made by fellow Barclay’s
ATP World Tour Finals qualifiers. Andy Roddick, who is married to actress Brooklyn Decker, was an unlikely winner for this auction and late bids pushed up his winning bid to this phenomenal amount. He says about his victory and participation in the ATP World
Tour Finals, “It's certainly an accomplishment every year. It's an honor to qualify once and each time you realize how tough it actually is. You can't just play well for one week. It's the culmination of doing it week after week on tour.”
Many buyers and sellers, as well as fans, had already assumed that the World Numbers 1 and 2, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer respectively, would pull in the most money during the art exhibition. In addition to being the two top
players, they are also the most famous. Both Rafa and the Maestro made it to the event’s final. Roddick, on the other hand, is currently World No. 8 and was not able to pass the round robin matches at the ATP World Tour Finals.
The pieces of art were created with tennis balls, hence called “ball art”. All eight players were given silhouettes of themselves, which they filled in using tennis equipment dipped in different colours of paint. Rafael Nadal commented,
“Making the artwork was fun and something I’ve never done before. It’s a great way to celebrate the World Tour Finals coming back in London. It was a little bit of a challenge to put the balls on the silhouette!” Andy Murray, British No. 1, also joked, “I
can't say I've ever created a self-portrait quite like this before - it was good fun but I don't think I'll be giving up my day job just quite yet! I'm looking forward to seeing it in the gallery, hopefully it can raise some money for charity!”
The auction raised a total amount of $127,755 in US dollars, all of which will go to charity. Half of this money will be donated to the Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals official tournament charity, Save the Children. The remaining
fifty percent will be put in the hands of each player’s chosen charity.
Roger Federer was second to Roddick with $27,300, Rafael Nadal’s portrait pulled in $26,500 and Novak Djokovic managed earn $22,103 on the final day of the auction. Other players and their prices include Andy Murray with $7,301,
Swede Robin Soderling with $5,100, David Ferrer with $3,350 and Czech No. 1 Tomas Berdych at $3,001.
World No. 1, Nadal, was pleased with the event saying, “Of course this is the least we can do for charity and for those who need it the most. It's very important that people in our position help those who really need help. I'd
like to thank everyone for the support they give us."
Tags: