The head of Tennis Australia has confirmed that a series of fundraising events will take place during the ATP Cup and Australian Open to help those affected by bushfires in the country.
CEO Craig Tiley has said details will be released in the coming days about what will be taking place in the coming weeks. The motion comes on the same day the Premier of New South Wales declared a week-long state of emergency due to the threat posed. Since September, 18 people have been killed and more than 1200 homes have been destroyed across the region, as well as Victoria.
“For weeks we’ve been watching the devastation caused by bushfires across Australia and the people affected are constantly in our thoughts,” Tiley said in a statement.
“We want to help these communities in a meaningful way and will announce a number of fundraising and support initiatives that will be rolled out across the ATP Cup, Australian Open and our other events over the coming weeks.”
The intuitive have already been backed by Nick Kyrgios, who called for a charity exhibition to take place the day before Tiley’s announcement. In a Twitter post, the world No.30 tweeted directly to Tennis Australia and urged them to help raise money.
Tennis Australia, obviously, has been pretty proactive about it,” The AFP quoted Kyrgios as saying on Thursday.
“I’m sure something will happen. I’m sure all of us will be involved in some way,” he added
There are concerns about how the haze from the fire will affect players during the Australian swing of the tour, which will officially start tomorrow with the ATP Cup. On New Year’s Day the country’s capital of Canberra recorded its worst air quality since ratings began and those in the city were advised against doing any physical activity.
Descending into Canberra Airport. Can’t blame my phone for not finding focus lol. pic.twitter.com/8OIUXDmiGs
— Alex Theodoridis (@AlexTheodorid1s) January 1, 2020
Across tournaments in the country, officials will be monitoring the air quality but they are not expected to be affected. In Sydney at the ATP Cup, British Team captain Tim Henman told reporters that he doesn’t expect there to be a problem.
“In the context of what this country is going through with the bushfires and for us having to deal with perhaps slightly poor air quality, I think right there is the perspective,” said Henman. “I don’t envisage it being a problem at all.”
Grigor Dimitrov, who will also be playing in Sydney, also played down the situation earlier this week. Saying that the situation is out of his hands.
“If it’s not healthy, it’s not healthy,” he said. “It’s the passion that drives us through moments like that.”
World No.11 David Goffin mirrored Dimitrov by describing the conditions as ‘okay.’
“I think we are in a safe area for smoke and the air is okay for us,” said the Belgian.
“We didn’t feel it that much for the moment, the quality of the air. I think it should be okay for the matches.”
The temperature in New South Wales is expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) this weekend.
