Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will play an exhibition match in Cape Town, South Africa, for the benefit of children in the region.
Date: February 7, 2020 (Friday)
Match time: 8 PM local time / 1 PM – New York, Montreal / 6 PM – United Kingdom / 7 PM – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday, 2 AM – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
The Cape Town Stadium, which has a capacity of more than 50,000 spectators, will also host a celebrity/pro doubles match between Federer and Bill Gates, best known as the founder of the Microsoft Corporation, versus Rafa and South African comedian Trevor Noah.
Rafa:
Roger and I have shared so many magical moments on and off the court. Travelling with him to Cape Town and playing for the benefit of children is something I am very excited about. It will be my first time in the region with Roger as a tour guide – that will be fun.
Roger:
This Match in Africa is a dream comes true. I will play in my mother’s home country against my toughest rival and friend Rafa Nadal. We share not only the love for tennis but also for the good cause of giving children a better start in education and in life. I feel privileged to have other leading philanthropists on board to entertain millions of people in the stadium and on TV. It will be a once‐in-lifetime moment for my family and I.
Tickets will go on sale in early September as the two icons attempt to set a world record for most attendees at a tennis match.
Source: ATP Tour
Margo, why so harsh. Everyone’s just stating their opinions and not trying to put down anyone.
Yolanda, Please note that my comment was directed at one person only. Not others who rendered an opinion. Thank you very much.
Yolan… auto correct added the da
Wow, I am overwhelmed with joy and pride and excitement for exhibition match that will take place South Africa, my country.
Rafa you are my all time champion on the court and off the court!
This is an amazing opportunity to watch you play live. VAMO RAFA
Wow Rafa and Trevor Noah playing doubles together against Roger and Bill Gates, it would be fun to watch!🤩
Trevor is so funny, I have enjoyed so many of his videos on YouTube.👍
My sister is a fan of Roger and she invited me to watch Match for Africa last time when Roger and company had the event in the US. We both had a great time but understandably, she was more excited than I of course.
The best to everyone for a good cause, good match!❤️
wanna go? if we’re alive?
>
Wow fantastic can’t wait. 2 great players
What about all the people who can’t go can we donate
& were thanks Rafa & Roger 🥰
A must go…
They both look so young on those pictures! It’s unfortunate that there isn’t a picture with a more diverse group of children, but Roger’s very involved in South Africa and I’ve seen pictures of him with children from all communities.
Rafa has a school in India so diverse group there too. He also runs tournaments for underprivilaged children in his own country . Children of many origins . His involvement in Soecial Olympics also caters for diversity .
You are right…
MaryLou, with reference to?
Michele, very good point.
The first of the two consecutive exhibition matches for the Match for Africa 2010 was held in Zurich. The second leg was staged in Madrid for the benefit of Rafa’s foundation. That second match was titled “Joining Forces for the benefit of Children.”
The Roger Federer foundation does work in South Africa and Switzerland. If it works in additional locations I am unaware of them.
Having said that, who knows where or even when this picture was taken. RNF does not say.
Roger is a hands on guy as far as I can tell. While fans here were calling Roger a coward, among other things last year, for not playing the French Open, he was busy in S. Africa and Switzerland checking up on the work his foundation does. During his S. African swing, I saw pictures of him surrounded by little children as he spoke to school and government officials. All the children were black.
I agree that the picture here is not good optics but nor is it representative of Roger’s philanthropy on the continent of Africa. He has even teamed up with Bill Gates; that speaks volumes.
Roger does great work through his foundation mainly in Africa but his not playing clay had nothing to do with his foundation . Different issue altogether .
Rafa does huge work with his foundation , low key which is his way . His mother and Maria visit his school in India . I understand there is a school in Palma too .
Maria is Project Manager and his mother also heavily involved in his foundation . He also has a country wide tennis tournament for underprivilahedvchikdten
Many players do very worthy work through their foundations .
Wonderful by the two GOOD guys in the tennis world!!! Makes me proud !!!
There didn’t seem to be any black kids in that 2010 photo. I hope the money raised will go to all disadvantaged children, irrespective of race or colour. In fact, if Rafa is participating, I know there won’t be any discrimination, but the 2010 organisers were not very smart to not include some black children in the photo.
Here here Michele. Couldn’t have said it better.
Nice <3
Splitting hairs . Dint make problems as both foundations benefit children of diverse backgrounds .
The only problem is you Elizabeth Howard. Adding to the conversation is one thing, putting Michele down for making a valid observation is another thing entirely.
And I didn’t say Roger didn’t play clay BECAUSE he was in Africa. That was only one reason.
As far as Rafa’s foundation is concerned, I persuaded some family members to add Rafa’s foundation to our list of philanthropic endeavors. Rafa’s foundation is not, of course, listed with Charity Navigator, a US non-profit rating system for rating different charities.
I tried getting information about Rafa’s foundation and was tasked with finding out what percent of each dollar donated goes directly to programs. It took THREE MONTHS to get an answer and by that time EVERYONE who was willing to give nice-size contributions told me “forget it.”
It appears that Rafa’s was looking for corporate dollars. I can only guess that a corporate donation would funnel money to his foundation AND promote itself. Look at his academy in Mallorca. Do you really think Rafa paid for it entirely? Think again.
Stop insulting people and don’t talk about what you don’t know.
I will agree with you that both these players’ foundations does help children in need regardless of the color of their skin.
CORRECTION: do help not does help