Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal competed in the first of two charity exhibitions Tuesday night in Zurich, the ‘Match For Africa’ to benefit the Roger Federer Foundation, won by the Swiss 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“This is a special match for me, which I’ll remember forever, not just only for a long, long time,” Federer said afterward. “I thought obviously of doing a match like this for a long time, but I felt comfortable doing it this year and Rafa was so supportive and coming over and helping.”
The ATP World Tour’s top two players put on a competitive show at Hallenstadion Arena, which had sold out in a record two minutes, in their first meeting since last month’s title match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Nadal, who had lost to Federer at the circuit finale, capitalised on double break point in the ninth game before serving out the opening set at love.
Federer had joked in a promotional video after Nadal accepted his invitation to play in Switzerland, “As a present, I’ll give you the first set,” but responded when asked whether it was a Christmas present, “It looks like it, but it wasn’t. It’s really difficult to play today. We haven’t had any practice on this court – they build it up, tear it down – but it was for a great cause. I’m so happy Rafa came here today. We tried our best to put in a good effort and I thought the crowds were amazing.”
{{/usCountry}}Federer had joked in a promotional video after Nadal accepted his invitation to play in Switzerland, “As a present, I’ll give you the first set,” but responded when asked whether it was a Christmas present, “It looks like it, but it wasn’t. It’s really difficult to play today. We haven’t had any practice on this court – they build it up, tear it down – but it was for a great cause. I’m so happy Rafa came here today. We tried our best to put in a good effort and I thought the crowds were amazing.”
{{/usCountry}}Federer turned the tide by rolling out to a 3-0 lead in the second set, allowing him to draw level at one-set all, and served his way out of trouble in the third with aces on Nadal’s two break chances.
He won the final four games, closing out the victory with a winner on return of serve. The pair will make the quick trip to Spain for the “Joining Forces for the Benefit of Children” exhibition on Wednesday.
Pak not to host Hong Kong in davis cup
Karachi: Pakistan has yet again missed out on hosting a Davis Cup tie as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has shifted its upcoming rubber against Hong Kong out of the country due to security concerns.
Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Secretary Mumtaz Yousaf said the Asia Oceania Group II tie, scheduled for March 2011, would now be played in Hong Kong instead of Pakistan.
“The ITF has shifted the tie to Hong Kong after the security officer Ian Todd was not satisfied with the security arrangements and feared for players’ safety,” Yousaf was quoted as saying by the ‘Express Tribune’ newspaper.
“It is hurting but we don’t have any other choice but to follow the ITF decision which was based on Todd’s report,” said Yousaf.