Federer and Bill Gates partnered for a match against Jack Sock and Savannah Guthrie Roger Federer Foundation
Roger Federer "packed SAP Center" for last night's Match for Africa 5, a fundraiser for the Roger Federer Foundation, according to Ann Killion of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The event, which was highlighted by Federer and Microsoft Founder Bill Gates taking on Jack Sock and NBC's Savannah Guthrie, was a "sellout with more than 15,000 tickets sold." It was a "high-end crowd," drawing some other athletes like Sharks C Joe Thornton and Warriors C Zaza Pachulia. The upper bowl was "packed, as were the suites and all seats near the floor." The event raised $2.5M for the foundation (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/6). In San Jose, Darren Sabedra notes it was a "night for laughs, cheers and raising money for a cause important to Federer and his foundation." The buzz outside the arena "hummed more than two hours before" Federer stepped onto the court. Fans "circled the arena in anticipation of the icon’s Bay Area debut, as they do for big-name rock stars." Inside the arena, the curtain used for the SAP Open to "hide sections of empty seats was gone" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/6). Federer prior to the start of the event "emerged from the tunnel of smoke and walked onto the court greeted by roars and thousands of camera phones held high for the first Bay Area appearance of his career" (AP, 3/5).
FAN FAVORITE: USA TODAY's Josh Peter noted Guthrie "quickly assembled a personal blooper reel" during last night's event. During one rally, a "grinning Guthrie implored Federer to stop hitting the ball to her." Five times in a row he "hit it to her, before Guthrie finally hit a winner past Federer and prompted raucous cheers from the crowd." Behind Federer, Guthrie "emerged as the crowd favorite during the doubles match as her game grew steadier and her cheerful disposition remained unshakable" (USATODAY.com, 3/6). NBC's Hoda Kotb said Guthrie was the "crowd favorite" in the match. NBC's Al Roker added, "She owned that crowd." Guthrie said the match was "epic, it was amazing, it was embarrassing." Guthrie: "The highlight reel for my tennis is real, real short. But the highlight reel for life is long and I am still pinching myself" ("Today," NBC, 3/6).
