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When Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal shattered tennis attendance records at 'The Match In Africa'
Four years ago in South Africa, the longtime rivals played a friendly exhibition match to raise more than $3 million for childhood education—and set a new world record in the process.
Published Feb 09, 2024
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![The sixth edition, called “The Match In Africa”, took place in Cape Town and featured Federer and Bill Gates facing Nadal and Trevor Noah (pictured).](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/y321hcqivzrcoryrrw15.jpg)
The sixth edition, called “The Match In Africa”, took place in Cape Town and featured Federer and Bill Gates facing Nadal and Trevor Noah (pictured).
© Getty Images
![Held at the Cape Town Stadium, The Match In Africa drew 51,954 spectators—the highest attendance ever recorded at a tennis match.](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/vly8wcvuij3gdp7yu33t.jpg)
Held at the Cape Town Stadium, The Match In Africa drew 51,954 spectators—the highest attendance ever recorded at a tennis match.
© Getty Images
![After Federer and American billionaire Gates defeated Nadal and Noah, host of The Daily Show, with a 6-3 set, it was time for singles.](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/qtonuhvyx5cmlfyorodl.jpg)
After Federer and American billionaire Gates defeated Nadal and Noah, host of The Daily Show, with a 6-3 set, it was time for singles.
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![Federer and Nadal treated the sellout crowd to quite a show before the Swiss player clinched a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory.](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/dlikhguaq7zvb5f09eqo.jpg)
Federer and Nadal treated the sellout crowd to quite a show before the Swiss player clinched a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
© AFP via Getty Images
![The match raised $3.5 million for early childhood education in six southern African countries, including South Africa—the birth country of Federer’s mother.](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/fcanb12ys4evdgfcc6p5.jpg)
The match raised $3.5 million for early childhood education in six southern African countries, including South Africa—the birth country of Federer’s mother.
© Getty Images
![Federer and co. smashed their $1 million fundraising goal, and broke the previous 42,517 attendance record set by Federer and Alexander Zverev the year before in a Mexico City exhibition match.](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/x9euziydubv81yossedg.jpg)
Federer and co. smashed their $1 million fundraising goal, and broke the previous 42,517 attendance record set by Federer and Alexander Zverev the year before in a Mexico City exhibition match.
© Getty Images
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![“We tried our best as always,” Nadal said. “It’s a lifetime experience playing in front of such an amazing crowd in an amazing stadium. It was a big pleasure for me to be part of it.”](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/rkha1sjj93hn2rz3tjte.jpg)
“We tried our best as always,” Nadal said. “It’s a lifetime experience playing in front of such an amazing crowd in an amazing stadium. It was a big pleasure for me to be part of it.”
© Getty Images
![“It was an absolute pleasure to share the court with Rafa again, but the first time here in beautiful Cape Town in South Africa,” Federer said. “It means so much more and it really is very, very special on so many levels.”](https://images.tennis.com/image/private/t_16-9_768/f_auto/tenniscom-prd/a5qkzi7hceiumi3f7bal.jpg)
“It was an absolute pleasure to share the court with Rafa again, but the first time here in beautiful Cape Town in South Africa,” Federer said. “It means so much more and it really is very, very special on so many levels.”
© Getty Images