Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray led an all-star cast of ATP World Tour players who played exhibition matches at the Rome Masters on last weekend to raise funds for FedeLux.
Fedelux is a leukemia foundation established in the memory of former player Federico Luzzi, who died of the disease last year aged 28 last year.Tommy Robredo, Marat Safin, Potito Starace, Andreas Seppi, Simone Bolelli and Filippo Volandri also took part in the exhibition, which was attended by Luzzi’s parents Maurizio and Paola.
Most of the players wore shirts with an image of Luzzi.Federer said, “It was a nice match for me to play, knowing that Federico is up above watching us, having his parents here.”
Djokovic said, “We played in his honour and for the foundation that his family has created to fight against leukemia. It was very emotional for all of us who knew him. He was a very positive guy and I always remember him with a smile on his face.”
(Via ATP, Images via Forty Deuce)
Federico Luzzi, a former ATP top 100 tennis player, has died of leukemia. He was 28.
Luzzi died at a hospital in Arezzo, the Italian Tennis Federation said Saturday.
He had been there for a few days after retiring last weekend from an Italian league match citing a high fever.
Luzzi reached a career-high ranking of No. 92 in 2002 before a shoulder injury that affected him the rest of his career.
He had a 2-2 record with Italy’s Davis Cup team.
In 2001, Luzzi beat Ville Liukko of Finland 14-12 in the fifth set after 4 hours, 35 minutes—the longest Davis Cup match ever played by an Italian.In February, Luzzi was suspended for 200 days and fined $50,000 by the ATP for betting on tennis.
Luzzi is survived by his parents, Paola and Maurizio, and his sister, Francesca.
Updates:
World no. 1 Rafael Nadal paid tribute to Luzzi:
I’d like to take a minute to send my condolences and a big hug to the family of Federico Luzzi. He will be buried today after passing away 2 days ago.
To me, it was quite difficult to believe the news, I knew it wasn’t a joke but at the same time I didn’t want to believe it was true. I got to train with Federico a few times and I remember him as a great person, fun to be with and very Italian.
All of us who are here in Paris have been talking about it and all of us are in shock and very upset.
One of us is gone, someone who was part of our tennis family.
Federico, wherever you are, I hope you're resting in peace.
Rafa
(Via AP)
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray led an all-star cast of ATP World Tour players who played exhibition matches at the Rome Masters on last weekend to raise funds for FedeLux.
Most of the players wore shirts with an image of Luzzi.
