Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has called on Tennis Australia to organise a fundraiser event to help those affected by the tragic bushfires sweeping across New South Wales and Victoria.
As Melbourne prepares to welcome some of the world’s biggest tennis names on January 20, including world number one Rafael Nadal and Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas, who are currently in Australia preparing for the upcoming ATP Cup and highly-anticipated Australian Open, Kyrgios has asked Tennis Australia to do their part to help raise funds for the firefighters and communities that have been affected by the deadly fires.
C’mon @TennisAustralia surely we can do a pre @AustralianOpen exho to raise funds for those affected by the fires? 🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 1, 2020
The 24-year-old posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday, asking Tennis Australia to organise a charity exhibition match, “C’mon Tennis Australia, surely we can do a pre exho at Australian Open to raise funds for those affected by the fires?”
The latest fires, which have swept across the Australian coast have killed at least 8 people and destroyed over 200 homes. Along with New South Wales’ fires, those across the border in Victoria’s East Gippsland were also likely to burn for a long time, with authorities saying they expect extreme fire dangers for the South Coast on Saturday.
Over 10,000 people have supported Kyrgios’ statement on Twitter, with many of them also asking Tennis Australia to support the bushfire victims.
Nick Kyrgios has also stated that to kick off the fundraiser, he will donate $200 per ace that he hits across all the events he plays this summer.
I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer. #MoreToCome #StayTuned
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 2, 2020
