Some of the most notable achievements that tennis players have built upon over the years are those that were undertaken off the court. Through charities and community-building initiatives many of today’s elite tennis players have helped raise the profile of countless organizations because of their global standing in the sport. From the Tennis Foundation’s dedication to helping disabled athletes to Tennis First’s support of promising young players, these tennis professionals and organizations have shown their unwavering dedication to support the community by giving back in more ways than one.
In looking for more ways to contribute to the community, some tennis players have taken upon themselves to participate in games that would raise funds for the underprivileged. With poker’s reputation at an all-time high because of televised tournaments such as the World Poker Tour, and enticing online offers that give players a chance to get big deposit bonuses or win back some of their betting money through cash back options, tennis players are participating in or sometimes spearheading their own poker tournaments to help raise more money for the charities they are supporting.
One of the most popular tennis players who took it upon himself to raise funds by participating in a poker tournament was none other than Rafael Nadal. He battled against poker legend Daniel Negreanu in a charity event in Prague, which resulted in Nadal bagging a total of 100,000 Euros (about $112,000). It was his first live poker event that he participated in where he was able to contribute a huge amount of money to charity. On another occasion, Nadal played against football star Cristiano Ronaldo last year in a poker charity that also raised hundreds of thousands for notable causes. In 2006, the World Poker Tour teamed up with tennis pro Andy Roddick for a Texas Hold’em Charity Tournament that benefited his very own foundation that supports the rehabilitation of abused and at-risk children. At the end of the tournament, Roddick himself won and reportedly donated all the prize money to his foundation.
These are just a few samples of poker-tennis crossover events that were able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity. And this trend continues to prosper for the greater good, giving charities the important funding needed to raise awareness and help out the less fortunate.
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