Players and fans brought passion to the inaugural ATP Cup.

ATP Cup players are paying it forward donating $500,000 towards the WWF’s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund as part of the bushfire relief efforts.

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Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal announced the donation during the ATP Cup final trophy ceremony in Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.

It's the latest fundraising initiative that has seen tennis come together through a sport-wide Aces for Bushfire Relief campaign launched at the start of the ATP Cup.

“Australia plays host to the ATP Tour every January in such an incredible way, and more so than ever this year with the first edition of the ATP Cup," ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said. "The devastation that we have seen across the country from the bushfires has been heart-breaking. The whole sport has come together to lend its support, especially the players who feel such a strong affinity with this great country.

"On behalf of all the players, the ATP is pleased to be able to play its part and we will continue to work with Tennis Australia on upcoming initiatives as the sport rallies together to support the relief efforts.”



Seven-time Australian Open champion Djokovic said the annual response from Aussies make all players feel at home.

“Australia is such an amazing and welcoming country and it feels like home for us at the start of each season," Djokovic said. "To see the damage to wildlife and nature from the bushfires has been devastating. This donation with the ATP is on behalf of all the players and our thoughts and support go out to all those who have been affected.”

The #Aces4BushfireRelief campaign has seen many players pledge to make their own personal donations towards the disaster relief and recovery efforts, as well as raising awareness of the fundraising initiative through messages of support on social media.

Many of the ATP’s biggest stars, including Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios, will take part in an Australian Open Rally for Relief exhibition match at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, January 15th.

All funds raised from AO Rally for Relief will be donated to the bushfire relief cause.

Donations to the Australian Red Cross bushfire disaster relief and recovery efforts can be made at www.redcross.org.au/tennis, while donations to the WWF’s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund can be made at www.wwf.org.au/get-involved/bushfire-emergency.

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