Federer To Honor Laver In Charity Event In Melbourne

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 16th December 2013

Federer To Honor Laver In Charity Event In Melbourne

epa03530672 Roger Federer of Switzerland during a practice session on the Rod Laver Arena center court at Melbourne Park ahead of the start of the 2013 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament, in Melbourne, Australia, 11 January, 2013. Play starts 14 January 2013. EPA/BARBARA WALTON |

Roger Federer is to lead the applause for Rod Laver as a specially arranged charity evening to be staged at Melbourne Park , the home of the Australian Open, five days before the start of 2014’s initial Grand Slam on January 8.

The evening on Rod Laver Arena has been arranged to celebrate the tenth anniversary of both Federer’s charitable foundation and the first of the Swiss’ four Australian Open singles titles. The working title for the event is ‘A Night with Roger Federer and Friends.’’

It seems certain that Laver, who turned 75 years of age in August, will be the most prominent along with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who will face Federer in an exhibition match.( maybe the “rocket ” hitting a few ….)

Although Federer is not at liberty to currently reveal any details of Laver’s involvement he gave a clue by saying: “I love the history of our game because they have paved the way for us in such a big way that tends to be forgotten.”

Federer has developed a great bond with Laver over the years, including some emotional moments actually out on the playing surface during trophy presentations. So it seems likely something special will be done and Federer did admit: “You’ll find out because it’s built from a little secret and I just think it’s wonderful that I have this opportunity because he really is a person that I admire a lot.

‘‘The stadium is named after him after all and he’s a legend of our game. I always like to get former legends and greats and icons back involved in the game and particularly Rod because he has achieved things that will never be achieved again. It’s nice that he is respected and appreciated and that he is willing to participate in our event.”

The Roger Federer Foundation was launched his foundation on Christmas Day, 2003, five months after his first Grand Slam event title at Wimbledon, and he decided to use his wealth and fame to help impoverished children in the south of Africa.

Federer’s mother Lynette is South African and now the Foundation is helping 80,000 children a year in the region. In four years’ time they hope that figure has grown to one million.

He recalls” ‘‘When I won Wimbledon in 2003, 10 years ago now, I was able to make all this money, and have all this fame from one day to the next. ‘Going a lot to South Africa when I was young, to go visit my family on vacation, for me that was always very much an eye opener.

‘‘I loved going there but clearly I was also confronted with some of the poverty and my parents always told me what was going on and why this is the case. Education is not something you can take away.’’

Topics: 10sballs.com, Australian Open, Grand Slam, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Melbourne Park, Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Tennis, Tennis News, The Roger Federer Foundation, Wimbledon