Match for Africa: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal match for the Roger Federer Foundation
Former World no. 1, Switzerland’s Roger Federer established the ‘Roger Federer Foundation’ back in 2003 in a bid to promote sports amongst disadvantaged children from needy families around the world.
In 2005, Federer auctioned his U.S. Open Championship racquet to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In the following year, Roger was appointed as a goodwill ambassador by UNICEF. Apart from visiting South Africa, Federer traveled to Tamil Nadu, India. The area was one of the most badly affected areas by the Tsunami. Furthermore, the sportsman made appearances in UNICEF’s public messages for AIDS awareness programs in many countries.
In 2010, Federer collaborated with a bunch of other tennis professionals to raise money for the Haiti Earthquake. The exhibition match was called ‘Hit for Haiti.’ Roger along with Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams entertained the audiences by forgoing their final day for preparation of the 2010 Australian Open.
Presently ranked at the top spot, Spain’s Rafael Nadal has agreed to form a duo with his on-court rival, Roger Federer to raise money for the foundation.
The top two seeds will face each other in an exhibition match which is going to be held on the 21st of December 2010, at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. The Swiss stadium holds up to 13,000 spectators in boxing.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are engaged in a tennis rivalry that is considered to be one of the greatest in the history of tennis. Collectively, the two sportsmen remain the only professionals to have finished five consecutive years as the top two players on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour.
Both these athletes have played 21 matches against each other till date, out of which 12 have been played on clay. They’ve come up against each other in six matches on hard-surfaced courts and have been ranked as the best players on grass in the past four years.
In the 2008 Wimbledon Champion men’s singles final, Federer and Nadal drew strong television ratings from all over the world. Tennis made it to the Sports Illustrated cover after a number of years as the match was featured on it.
In collaboration with sponsors Credit Suisse and partners Rolex, Nationale Suisse, Lindt and Sprungli, the Roger Federer Foundation will be benefitted with the money generated in the name of charity.
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