Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Roger Federer, Martina Hingis, Milos Raonic enjoy Brisbane International Kid's Day

Tennis stars Roger Federer, Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic, Victoria Azarenka, and Martina Hingis played tennis alongside some of the Nickelodeon's popular characters during Kid's Tennis Day at the 2015 Brisbane International. Kid's Tennis Day is one of the events that many tennis enthusiasts look forward because it brings kids and families together to have fun and celebrate the thrill of the Brisbane International tournament.

Nickelodeon favourites' Dora The Explorer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Spongebob Squarepants joined Federer, Dimitrov, Raonic, Azarenka, and Hingis on Centre Court on Jan. 4. The crowd at the Pat Rafter Arena was also delighted with a performance by all-male Aussie pop music group Justice Crew at the launch of the 2015 Brisbane International. More pictures from Kid's Tennis Day are accessible on Brisbane International's official Web site.

Federer was also in attendance at the Brisbane International's Summer Night with the Stars held at Brisbane's City Hall later in the evening. Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey presented Federer with the Honorary Queenslander Award. The Summer Night with the Stars was graced by other household names in tennis including Ana Ivanovic, defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter, and legend Rod Laver.

Federer has claimed five Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP, titles in the 2014 tennis season and he is on a quest of winning his first title in 2015 at Brisbane. He made his debut in Brisbane International in 2014 and reached the finale, before losing to two-time Aussie Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 Hewitt.

"I would love to win this event," Federer said via ATP's Web site. "I was close to winning last year, after I had had a good week."

According to the 33-year-old 17-time Grand Slam champion, he always wants to win in tournaments that he has never won yet. He enters the tournament feeling "pumped" and hopeful to begin his season on a good note.

Federer has received a bye in the first round. He will face either wild card John Millman or a qualifier in the second round on Jan. 7 in the seventh edition of the said tennis event held at Queensland Tennis Centre.

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