The Australian Ashleigh Barty, number one in the world, has announced that she will donate all of the money from her singles and doubles prizes in the Brisbane tournament that begins this Monday to the Australian Red Cross to allocate it to families and homes affected by the devastating bushfires that have plagued Australia since November.
“We’ve been sitting around thinking with my team, with my family and trying to think of ways we can help,” said Barty em Brisbante, where he will also play doubles with Kiki Bertens.
“Obviously there have been some really great initiatives from cricketers, tennis players, golfers, soccer players, from all over the country, people trying to help as well. We have reached the decision that any of my prizes here in Brisbane will be donated to the Red Cross to go to the families and homes that have been affected, “he said in a statement on the WTA website.
It was really terrible, really. I think for me this started two or three months ago. We have to remember that this has been going on for a long time throughout our country. The first time I saw him he was flying home from the Federation Cup final from Perth, back to the east coast of Australia, and we could see some of the smoke and some of the fires on the plane.
Barty will play the Brisbane tournament and then the Adelaide tournament, in preparation for the Australian Open, the first major of the season, starting on January 20.
What matters is that Australians stay safe and we solve the biggest problems. You have to put things in perspective and worry first about the most important things in life, “he added.
Barty’s initiative has immediately created an impact on other players, such as the Romanian Simona Halep, who due to her lack of “aces” has promised to donate $ 200 each time she consults with her coach in all her matches in Australia, or the French Alize Cornet , who will donate 50 dollars for each drop she makes, or the Czech Petra Kvitova who will donate 150 dollars for each direct serve she achieves in this country. EFE