AO Rally For Relief: Over $4 million raised as tennis superstars come together for heart-warming bushfire fundraiser

Ed Chisholm

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AO Rally For Relief: Over $4 million raised as tennis superstars come together for heart-warming bushfire fundraiser image

Some of the world's best tennis players have helped raise nearly $5 million for the bushfire relief as part of the Australian Open Rally for Relief event on Wednesday night.

Over 15,000 fans packed into Rod Laver Arena for the fundraiser, with ticket sales and other donation initiatives throughout the night helping raise $4,826,014.

Some of tennis' biggest stars took part, with the likes of Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova, Dominic Thiem, Coco Gauff and Australia's Nick Kyrgios providing plenty of entertainment.

Williams and Wozniacki captained two teams for a fast 4 doubles match to kick the night off, treating fans to plenty of laughs with each player wearing a microphone, before the event ended with a singles showdown between Kyrgios and sparring partner Federer.

Whilst Federer won the one-set singles match in a tiebreaker, it was never about the tennis, with fans constantly reminded of the incredible efforts of the hundreds of brave firefighters and volunteers who were courtside in attendance.

An emotional Kyrgios, who got the ball rolling when he announced he would donate $200 for every ace he hit in the ATP Cup two weeks ago, said the money raised gave him goosebumps.

"It's been an emotional couple of weeks. I just wanted to send a message, I just had to do it so I wrote the Tweet," the Aussie world no. 26 said.

"The whole Aussie team got behind it and I woke up the next day and it exploded, it was so emotional.

"Back home at Canberra I couldn't even go outside, it was hard and I'm just so grateful some of the greats like Federer and Novak and the guys got behind it."

Federer, who together with fellow legend Nadal offered to donate a further $250,000 to the cause on the night, said participation in the event was the least he and his fellow tennis stars could do in support of the crisis.

"It's been hard to watch. As you hear it through the news you never know how bad it really is, then you hear more about it and you get the sense it's really bad.

"Then when you get down here and you talk to the people, it's been really difficult you know.

"I'm always happy to help and lend my time and my money for that matter, and it was a pleasure to be here with Nick and the others."

It was a night full of laughter, with the fast 4 doubles match descending into an all-in frenzy at times, as the likes of Djokovic and Nadal offering plenty of quality banter through their microphones.

But it was the moment when a Country Fire Authority volunteer was invited onto the court to partner Nadal that stole the hearts of those in attendance.

After sharing her stories from helping fight bushfires and providing support to communities across Victoria affected by the blazes, volunteer Deb was given the opportunity to pair up with her idol Nadal.

A devoted tennis player, Deb showed she wasn't out of her place on centre court either, hitting a few of winners against opponents Caroline Wozniacki and Alexander Zverev.

It continues what's been an incredibly stirring response from the Australian and global sporting community, as a number of athletes band together to offer support to those impacted by the devastating blazes.

Ed Chisholm

Ed Chisholm Photo

Ed Chisholm is a content producer for Sporting News Australia.