Görges, Pliskova, Barty and Co. donate to Australian bush fire victims
Fed Cup player Julia Görges participates in the tennis professionals' fundraising event for the victims of the Australian bush fires. As the 31-year-old from Bad Oldesloe said via Twitter, she will donate $ 100 for every ace she has beaten during the Australian Open (January 20 to February 2).
by SID / red
last edit: Jan 05, 2020, 12:47 pm
Together with her Australian double partner Ashleigh Barty, who goes one step further (see below), she will also donate the same amount for each ace in doubles. On the women's side, a number of players have already declared themselves in the spirit of the good cause, such as Karolina Pliskova , who led the aces statistics on the WTA tour last year. Görges and Pliskova successfully played doubles together a few years ago. Simona Halep, who has a special relationship with Down Under through her Australian coach Darren Cahill, has also confirmed her support. Not for every ace the Romanian beats (that would only help a few), but for every opportunity that Halep Coach Cahill verbally rounds up during a visit to the player's bench.
The donation initiative came from the Australian "bad boy" Nick Kyrgios . The 24-year-old had announced via Twitter that he would donate $ 200 to the burnt victims for each of his aces this season. His compatriot Alex de Minaur even wants to add $ 50. The Australian Tennis Association took up the initiative and also announced calls for donations for the Australian Open. "We have been seeing bushfire destruction across Australia for weeks, and those affected are constantly on our minds," said association boss Craig Tiley.
Sharapova challenges Djokovic
Ashleigh Barty , the world's number one, goes one step further: The Australian will donate all of the prize money she earned in Brisbane next week to help the victims of the bushfire. Depending on the course of the tournament, this could be between US $ 22,050 (if you eliminated in round two) and US $ 266,000 (if you won the tournament).
Maria Sharapova , on the other hand, already has an exact sum in mind. And tries to start a chain reaction. By first calling Novak Djokovic to imitate her $ 25,000 donation.