Two of tennis’ greatest stars are heading to Cape Town.
Eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has revealed that he’ll play long-time rival Rafael Nadal in the Mother City next year.
Over the weekend, Federer made the surprise disclosure during an exclusive interview with Vogue magazine at Wimbledon.
The interview was the latest in Vogue’s highly popular feature, 73 Questions, and the matter of the Cape Town event came up when Federer was asked to say something about his Spanish rival, he responded: “He’s an intense guy on the court. He’s super honest and open off the court. And he’s got a heart of gold.
“He’s also going to help me with my foundation again next year. We’re going to try to break the record for most attendance in Cape Town, South Africa, for my foundation.
See what happened when @rogerfederer hung out with Vogue to answer #73questions: https://t.co/OWNYhTLAby pic.twitter.com/VTz0uW1j7n
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) July 4, 2019
“I’m so looking forward to it, so thank you Rafa.”
The foundation in question is the Roger Federer Foundation (RFF) which does charity work around the world, including various parts of Africa.
The RFF has been particularly active for many years in the Eastern Cape where it supports charity projects.
He’s also been to the Eastern Cape several times to see the foundation’s work first-hand.
The 37-year-old Federer has strong ties with South Africa since his mother, Lynette Federer (née Durand), was born in Johannesburg.
The Swiss maestro, who is ranked No 3 in the world, holds dual Swiss and South African citizenship.