"It's more important than tennis! " Nick Kyrgios often hits the headlines. But it was not by a bloodshed or a whimsical blow that the Australian tennis player stood out on Friday, January 3. Visibly marked, the no 30 World took advantage of a postmatch interview during the new ATP Cup, which takes place on the mainland, to urge peers to mobilize to raise funds for the victims of the devastating fires in Australia. Each year, the world of tennis begins its season in the southern country, and Kyrgios launched a movement of support among the actors of the yellow ball.
"It's bigger than tennis." An emotional @NickKyrgios talks about the difficult situation with bushfires in Austra… https://t.co/Xp5rogNnnJ
After calling Tennis Australia, the Australian tennis federation, on Twitter to set up an exhibition tournament before the Australian Open (which will take place from January 20 to February 2) whose profits would be donated to the victims of fires, Kyrgios has pledged to give 200 Australian dollars (125 euros) to each winning service he achieves during the Australian season, which runs until mid-February.
Playing with this goal in mind, the Australian international easily dropped the German Jan-Lennard Struff, signing 20 aces during the game. Following him, his compatriot Alex De Minaur, 18e world and another big server of the circuit, also promised to do the same, for the benefit of the victims of the fires which ravage their country for several weeks.
Promise to help, from cricket to basketball
Nick Kyrgios' initiative unleashed a torrent of support from the Australian sports world. First, on the tennis side, by ATP Cup boss Tom Larner. New team tournament involving, since Friday, 24 national teams in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney – and declared competitor in the new format of the Davis Cup -, the tournament announced that each ace succeeded during the competition (which runs until as of January 12) would generate 100 Australian dollars in support. According to tennis specialists, the number of 1,500 winning services seems reasonably attainable, representing a fundraising of around 95,000 euros.
In the process, the head of the Australian Federation announced the organization of"A number of fundraisers and support operations", during the Australian season. And from cricket to basketball, many athletes have pledged their financial support. Since the start of the fire season in early September, at least 18 people have died in Australia and thousands more have been forced to flee their homes due to the rising flames.
Often criticized for his nonchalance, his strong character or his rowdy outings, Nick Kyrgios finds himself praised for having launched the movement. "I don't care about the praisesaid the Australian after his match. We have the capacity to do something, and for people to listen to us. My hometown of Canberra is currently suffering from the most toxic air in the world. I'm not sure how we're going to put this in place, but we had to do something. "
