Federer, Nadal match in South Africa shatters attendance record

CAPE TOWN: Tennis stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set a new attendance record for a tennis match, as more than 51,000 spectators turned up to watch a friendly exhibition in South Africa.

A sellout crowd of 51,954 were in attendance in Cape Town Stadium on Friday evening for the highly anticipated ‘Match in Africa’ between the two-rivals which Federer won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

 

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Thank you @rafaelnadal , @trevornoah , and @thisisbillgates for you support of this incredible event. It was always a dream of mine to play in South Africa for my foundation. I am so proud to say we raised over $3 million this evening????????????✅ #worldrecord #southafrica

A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) on Feb 7, 2020 at 2:45pm PST

The exhibition raised $3.5m for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports early childhood education in six southern African countries, including South Africa, the home country of Federer’s mother.

“It was an absolute pleasure to share the court with Rafa (Nadal) again, but the first time here in beautiful Cape Town in South Africa. It means so much more and … it really is very, very special on so many levels,” the Swiss player said after the match.

How does he do it?! ????

Superb skill from @RafaelNadal! ????#MatchInAfrica pic.twitter.com/zT4DXqYQvU

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 7, 2020

The crowd was the biggest ever on record for a tennis match and broke the previous record of 42,517 set in November when Federer played Germany’s Alexander Zeverev in another exhibition in Mexico City. The match organisers said the demand for the Federer-Nadal match was around 200,000 ticket requests.

“We tried our best as always,” Nadal said. “It’s a lifetime experience playing in front of such an amazing crowd in an amazing stadium. It was a big pleasure for me to be a part of it.”

 

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Calm before the storm. #MatchInAfrica

A post shared by Trevor Noah (@trevornoah) on Feb 7, 2020 at 8:12am PST

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and comedian Trevor Noah host of ‘The Daily Show’ were also in attendance. Before the main match, Federer and Gates teamed up to beat Nadal and Noah 6-3 in a one-set doubles exhibition.

Comedian Noah shares a similar heritage to Federer as both have Swiss fathers and South African mothers.

“Roger’s at a disadvantage. We’re both half-Swiss, half-South African, so I’m in his head. I know what he’s going to do,” said Noah, while wearing a pink shirt and black headband to match partner Nadal.