Players, ATP Cup pledge Aussie bushfire support

When terrible things happen, sometimes those in the global tennis community are able to help in meaningful, measurable ways, even while competing in tournaments. Such is the case with the tragic bush fire that has been searing Australia's landscape for weeks.

The inaugural ATP Cup, taking place in three Australian cities, announced that each ace struck on serve in the event—in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney—will fetch a $100 donation to the Red Cross organization in the country.

ATP Cup organizers expect that over 1,500 aces will be hit, with the event's overall donation thus set to surpass the AUD $150,000 mark. On the first-ever day of the event, 216 aces rained down. (AUD $100 is currently the equivalent of just under US $70.)

Nick Kyrgios illuminated the bushfire issue for tennis and casual sports fans when he shared on social media that he would donate personally to relief efforts.

In his first match after the announcement, Kyrgios struck 20 aces. He is a native of Canberra, Australia's capital.

Australian players Alex de Minaur, John Millman, and Samantha Stosur, among others, opted in for the opportunity to give back in their home country.

They have since been joined by non-Australian pros including Karolina Pliskova, who regularly hits double-digit ace counts in her hardcourt matches.

Compounding the excruciating nature of the fires, in which at least seven human and an estimated 480 million animal lives have been lost, is that there's not a reprieve in sight. More people and animals will be displaced at the least in coming weeks, and a number of people are unaccounted for at present.

Disaster relief and recovery efforts continue Down Under, and will for a number of months, based on the severity of the situation. "It’s going to be a blast furnace even this weekend]," Andrew Constance, transport minister of Australia's New South Wales province, told [The Sydney Morning Herald.

Kyrgios' $200-per-ace action in part catalyzed Tennis Australia's move to stage a Rally For Relief event on January 15, set to take place at the Australian Open site's Rod Laver Arena. Additionally, other Australian sports personalities and public figures, as well as others have taken to the cause. American pop star Pink, a friend to tennis, announced a personal donation of US $500,000 toward relief and recovery efforts.

As for the ATP Cup itself, the brand-new national-team event features 24 countries competing in group-stage settings in the three cities, culminating with a final-eight "knockout" event to follow in Sydney before the Aussie Open's main draw play begins in Melbourne on January 20.