Federer defeats Nadal in the game with the most public in history

The Swiss and Spanish met in a solidarity duel in Cape Town (South Africa) before 51,954 people.

• Federer
  

  “It's nice to be able to call one of your biggest rivals 'friend'”
  

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal they broke this Friday the record of the tennis match with the most public in history, in a solidarity meeting in Cape Town before 51,954 spectators in which they also shared a track with tycoon Bill Gates and the comic Trevor Noah.

The clash, baptized “The Match in Africa”, was organized by the Roger Federer Foundation with the goal set, in addition to pulverizing the record, in raising more than a million dollars for its educational projects in South Africa. That objective was also achieved and the funds obtained reached the 3.5 million dollars.

“It's going to be a very special night and to be able to share it with Roger here in South Africa and playing for its foundation makes it more unique (…). We will try to enjoy it at all times and try to make a match that is beautiful for the spectators “I had told Efe Nadal during the warm-up session before the game. For Federer the occasion was “magical”, he also explained to Efe, since his mother is South African and in the country he has not only family, but also great childhood memories.

For that reason, it was precisely Lynette Federer who was in charge of throwing the coin to decide who began serving the first duel of the night: a set of doubles loaded with humor in which Trevor Noah and Bill Gates they surprised the public with their good skills with the racket. Federer and Gates scored the 6-3 victory, but Noah and Nadal won the public with their rapport to make jokes.

But the main course of the night came, of course, in the end, with the individual confrontation between Nadal and Federer. The person in charge of sorting out the game was also another very special guest, the captain of the South African rugby team, Siya Kolisi, who also handed Federer a green Springboks jersey while the stadium exploded in cheers. The result tonight was, of course, the least, but the Swiss won 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3.

Finally in Africa

It was the first time that Nadal and Federer, two historical rivals who have become friends with the years, faced in sub-Saharan Africa and, in response, the public of Cape Town did not disappoint, filling the stands of one of the enclosures they housed The 2010 World Cup matches, Cape Town Stadium. “I would not have missed it for anything in the world, it's incredible, a dream come true,” Heleen Scriven, a South African who had traveled from Pretoria, told Efe from the stands because her daughter had surprised him with tickets to the party for her birthday .

The Roger Federer Foundation had previously held five matches for Africa, called “Match for Africa”, but this was the first time it was not only a tournament “for” the African continent but “in” l. “Finally in Africa, I feel it will take so long, this means a world for me“Federer said, on the microphone just before his individual confrontation with Nadal, unleashing a warm applause from the audience.

For his part, the Spanish tennis player said that the experience was also “unforgettable” for him, especially, knowing that it contributes to a cause for “children” who have not been lucky enough to be born in privileged environments in which the needs Basics are covered.

During the day, both players had also made a small exhibition before the City of Cape Town, under the shadow of the emblematic Montaa de la Mesa. They also had a small event with children of 5 years coming from schools of the “townships” (former ghettos) on the outskirts of Cape Town.