CAPE TOWN, Feb 8: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal attracted what organisers said was a world record crowd for a tennis match when they played an exhibition event in the Cape Town Stadium.
The organisers said an audited attendance of 51,954 beat the 42,517 who watched Federer play Alexander Zverev of Germany in Mexico City last November.
They also announced that the �Match in Africa� raised USD 3.5-million for the Roger Federer Foundation, which supports educational and athletic programmes for children in Africa.
Federer, who was accompanied by his South African mother, Lynette, said his first appearance in South Africa was a special occasion.
Federer won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in a match in which the players had to contend with cool, windy conditions in the stadium that was built for the 2010 football World Cup.
The arena was packed with eager fans who sang, clapped and did the wave throughout the match.
Earlier in the day, Federer and his doubles partner billionaire Bill Gates beat Nadal and South-African born comedian Trevor Noah in a match with more flexible rules.
The ceremonial coin toss was performed by World Cup-winning Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi, who presented Federer with a Springbok jersey. The coin used was a commemorative 20 Swiss Francs piece minted with Federer�s face. He gave it to Kolisi.
Other high-profile South African sports stars in attendance included former Springbok captains John Smit and Jean de Villiers as well as Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling.
The match is the sixth edition of the event organised by the Roger Federer Foundation and is the first to take place in Africa.
He said he spent childhood holidays in South Africa.
�The time spent here as a kid was amazing,� Federer said.
�You would go on the road and you never come back for some reason because you�ve gotta chase that little tennis ball and you�ve gotta chase your dreams.� � AFP
