Federer to add to Australia bushfire appeal as tennis donations swell

MELBOURNE — Roger Federer said he would donate to the Australia bushfires appeal on Monday after tennis players pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to the disaster relief fund.

The Swiss great, who has been criticized by environmental activists including Greta Thunberg over a sponsor's links to fossil fuel investments, said he would donate at a charity match on Wednesday.

"If anyone can chip in, that's great because it's nice to show solidarity and help in a situation, which has become quite incredible in this country," Federer, 38, said at a publicity event in Melbourne.

"We need to look for prevention in the future, that this doesn't happen to this extent again because there will always be fires as I understand. This country is much, much too big," added the world number three.

Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will headline Wednesday's exhibition at Melbourne Park, which will the Australian Open Grand Slam from Jan. 20.

Tennis players have been quick to respond to the bushfire crisis, which has left at least 27 people dead, burned an area the size of South Korea and prompted a surge in concern over global warming.

Players on the men's tour have donated $500,000, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said on Sunday, while Williams handed over her $43,000 winner's check from the Auckland Classic on Sunday.

"I'll also be making a donation personally myself on Wednesday," said Federer, a six-time winner of the Australian Open.

"This country has given me everything and more in the past so it's only but normal for me to help us well."

Over the weekend, Federer promised to talk to his sponsors after environmentalists criticized his relationship with Credit Suisse, which they say has loaned billions of dollars to the fossil fuels industry.

Federer said he was "grateful to young climate activists for pushing us all to examine our behaviors" after the criticism was retweeted by Swedish teenager Thunberg, a prominent eco-warrior.

"I appreciate reminders of my responsibility as a private individual, as an athlete and as an entrepreneur, and I'm committed to using this privileged position to dialogue on important issues with my sponsors," he said in a statement that was widely quoted by media. — AFP