Romanian women’s world No. 4 Simona Halep has devised a unique way to support relief and recovery efforts amid Australia’s bushfire catastrophe: she will donate money every time she yells at her Australian coach.
Other tennis players from across the world, sparked in part by a call to action from tennis player Nick Kyrgios, have pledged to donate A$200 ($139) to the cause every time they serve an ace. But, Halep noted, serving is not her strength.
“Well guys, you know I love Australia, but you also know I don’t hit too many aces,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Sooo I want to help and my pledge is this... every time I give @darren_cahill a hard time in my box during all my matches in Aus, I will donate $200,” she added, referring to her coach, Darren Cahill. “This way I will raise a lot more money.”
Halep, who resumed working with Cahill last year after the pair split late in 2018, often animatedly remonstrates toward her box during matches.
Meanwhile, women’s world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty from Australia has said she will donate all of her prize money from next week’s Brisbane International to the Red Cross Fire Appeal.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, women’s world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty from Australia has said she will donate all of her prize money from next week’s Brisbane International to the Red Cross Fire Appeal.
{{/usCountry}}Most of the best tennis players in the world are already in Australia for the inaugural ATP Cup and other warm-up tournaments leading up to the year’s first Grand Slam.
Alize Cornet of France, who like Halep is not known for her serving prowess, came up with a fundraising idea of her own.
“These bushfires in Australia are tearing my heart apart ... And as Simona was saying, I won’t be raising much money either if I have to count on my serve! Sooo I will donate 50$ for every drop shot winner that I’ll make at the Australian Swing. Much more efficient,” she said on Twitter.