The tournament avoids questions about the worst air conditions shortly before the celebration of the great charity.
Nadal and Djokovic, during the exhibition at the Rod Laver Arena.
On Monday, hours after the defeat in the ATP Cup final, Rafa Nadal landed in Melbourne. On Tuesday, the 'number one' of the world was exercised for half an hour in the city that hosts the imminent Australian Open and on Wednesday attended an act by one of the main sponsors of the tournament, which again saw its agenda altered because of of the fires that for weeks devour that area of the country.
During the Kia event held in Federation Square, the legendary Todd Woodbridge avoided any question to Nadal and Craig Tiley, tournament director, on this thorny issue. And that the smoke had forced to delay another day of the qualifying rounds until one in the afternoon. The organization did not want to change its plan of the day, with the exhibition game at the Rod Laver Arena as a star event.
Under the slogan “AO: Rally for Relief”, Nadal headed a list of stars that includes Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Naomi Osaka, Alex Zverev, Caroline Wozniacki or Nick Kyrgios. The collection at the box office (with locations of 33 euros for adults and 22 for children) will be delivered to those affected by this wave of fires. The total amount touched the five million Australian dollars, three million euros to the change.
“They are a bit selfish”
During the event, Nadal and Federer confirmed the delivery of 155,000 euros from their pocket for the victims. “I've been coming to this country for 20 years and I have great memories. That's why I want to support this cause now,” Serena revealed to receive a warm ovation. Another of the best moments of the evening was the applause of one of the fire brigades that came to represent.
Shortly before the great figures showed their solidarity, Melbourne Park stirred with the striking critics of Brayden Schnur, 103 classified in the rnking, towards Nadal and Federer. As soon as he closed his victory in the previous round against Sebastian Ofner, the Canadian charged against the two great icons of tennis for not having sufficiently pressured the Australian Open to take measures on air quality.
“They are a bit selfish thinking only of their careers. They think of their legacies and do not try to do what is good for the sport,” Schnur said to Nadal and Federer, whom he also agreed to “take a step forward.”
Waiting for the rains
According to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Melbourne's air quality, usually one of the cities with the best conditions, was “very poor” at nine in the morning, although it did not reach Tuesday's “toxicity” levels. Faced with this situation, which can degenerate into coughing attacks and respiratory problems, the EPA advised “to stay in closed places away from smoke and limited exposure.”
Other good news about this came from the Meteorological Office, with a party announcing storms and winds over the entire Victoria region, which could clean the air.
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