Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev play in front of a world record crowd in Mexico
Roger Federer is used to breaking records and he was at it again on the weekend, creating never-before-seen tennis history in Mexico.
Tennis
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Roger Federer may not have played at the new-look Davis Cup in Spain but the 38-year-old was still pulling in the crowds when he met Alexander Zverev in an exhibition match in Mexico City on Sunday (AEDT).
According to organisers, 42,517 spectators packed into the specially-erected arena in the Plaza de Toros to watch Federer beat the German 6-3 4-6 6-2.
“You are an incredible audience, your support has given me goosebumps, I do not have enough words to thank you,” Federer said.
The huge number of people who turned out to watch was a record for any tennis match — albeit unofficially. Because it has not been ratified by the International Tennis Federation it does not stand as an official record.
However, the scenes were still unlike anything the sport has ever seen.
I will never forget this magical evening in Mexico City with @AlexZverevâ©
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 24, 2019
42’517 people came,
We broke this record together!
Viva Mexico
â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/z6GJ6Yfq7P
Question: Why does Roger Federer make more money off endorsements than any athlete in the world (according to Forbes)
— Steve Weissman (@Steve_Weissman) November 24, 2019
Answer: pictured below👇🼠pic.twitter.com/MbKqR7wmGu
Federer-Zverev in front of 43,000 in the world’s largest bullring (México City). That’s nearly twice the capacity of Ashe. pic.twitter.com/X0rrPCF2hs
— Randy Master (@randymmaster) November 24, 2019
Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast, Aussie tennis coach and analyst Roger Rasheed said: “That’s amazing. It just shows the pulling power of Roger, doesn’t it?
“Anywhere in the world, it was really the Roger show for 42,000 people and that’s going head-to-head with Davis Cup.”
In July 2010, 35,681 spectators gathered at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels to watch an exhibition match between Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams.
The biggest court for an official match is the Arthur Ashe at Flushing Meadows in New York, home of the US Open, which can seat around 23,000.
The Mexico match was the fourth of a highly lucrative five-stop Latin American tour for Federer who is set to earn $14.6 million — three times as much as he has earned this season, according to Swiss daily Le Temps.
After a controversial first step on Tuesday in Chile, a country where sport has come to a grinding halt for a month because of the social crisis that has left 23 dead and more than 2000 injured, the roadshow moved to Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
Saturday’s planned match in Colombia was cancelled because of the curfew in Bogota after violence following massive demonstrations against President Ivan Duque.
The tour ends with the two players meeting again in Ecuadorian capital later on Sunday.
Even before the match in Mexico, Federer had announced his intention to break the world attendance record when he meets Rafael Nadal in February in an exhibition match in South Africa.
That duel will be staged at the Cape Town Stadium, which has a capacity of 55,000.
It will also have the draw of a preceding a doubles match in which Federer will partner Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Nadal will play alongside South African comedian Trevor Noah.
Originally published as Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev play in front of a world record crowd in Mexico