Post by tall_one on Mar 12, 2005 16:53:28 GMT 3
Federer heads tsunami fundraiser
THE lighter side of the ATP and WTA Tour was on display today as Swiss superstar Roger Federer led a star-studded exhibition to raise money for Asian tsunami victims.
The ATP All-Star Rally for Relief raised $US18,300 ($23,135) for UNICEF from a series of exhibition tiebreak matches at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament.
"To get the top 10 players all committed to tonight is fantastic," Federer said. "How often do you see the top 10 players on the same court for two hours?
"It is for a good cause and it should even go beyond tonight."
Besides world No.1 Federer, other participants included 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin, Americans Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, Tim Henman, Guillermo Coria and Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan.
WTA players Kim Clijsters, Elena Dementieva, Amelie Mauresmo and Daniela Hantuchova also took part.
The cause was a serious one, but the mood on the court was amusing and humorous as the players joked amongst each other and played to the crowd.
Safin stole the show in his tiebreaker against Roddick. The Russian prankster put on a display of trick shots and kept the crowd of 6000 entertained with a string of one-liners.
Clijsters, Dementieva, Mauresmo and Hantuchova traded in their racquets for running shoes and acted as ball girls for the Roddick/Safin match.
Clijsters smiled and joked with Hantuchova until she froze when having to face Roddick's serve from the ball-girl position at the back of the court.
More money is expected to be added to the fund once the proceeds from tickets sales are counted, organisers said.
THE lighter side of the ATP and WTA Tour was on display today as Swiss superstar Roger Federer led a star-studded exhibition to raise money for Asian tsunami victims.
The ATP All-Star Rally for Relief raised $US18,300 ($23,135) for UNICEF from a series of exhibition tiebreak matches at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament.
"To get the top 10 players all committed to tonight is fantastic," Federer said. "How often do you see the top 10 players on the same court for two hours?
"It is for a good cause and it should even go beyond tonight."
Besides world No.1 Federer, other participants included 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin, Americans Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, Tim Henman, Guillermo Coria and Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan.
WTA players Kim Clijsters, Elena Dementieva, Amelie Mauresmo and Daniela Hantuchova also took part.
The cause was a serious one, but the mood on the court was amusing and humorous as the players joked amongst each other and played to the crowd.
Safin stole the show in his tiebreaker against Roddick. The Russian prankster put on a display of trick shots and kept the crowd of 6000 entertained with a string of one-liners.
Clijsters, Dementieva, Mauresmo and Hantuchova traded in their racquets for running shoes and acted as ball girls for the Roddick/Safin match.
Clijsters smiled and joked with Hantuchova until she froze when having to face Roddick's serve from the ball-girl position at the back of the court.
More money is expected to be added to the fund once the proceeds from tickets sales are counted, organisers said.
. Sorry 
.
