Alexander Zverev launched his Australian Open campaign with a big win and a major pledge.
The seventh-seeded German stopped Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3 then thrilled fans pledging he will donate $10,000 for every Melbourne victory to bushfire relief.
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If Zverev wins the Australian Open title, he's promised to donate the entire AU$4 million champion's check to bushfire relief.
"For me, if I win the Australian Open, I will be the happiest person on the planet," Zverev said. "I think that the $4 million Australian will be in much better use in the hands that know what to do with it, and know how to help others.
"For me, my parents always taught me to take care of first of all the ones that you love, but it's also important to take care of the people that need it more than yourself. For me, obviously $4 million is a lot of money. For the people in need, it's more important right now. So this is a gesture that I thought about for a long time."
The 22-year-old German's best major results are successive quarterfinal appearances at Roland Garros.
Zverev, who reached the AO fourth round last year, says his reward will be helping Aussies in the wake of bushfires that have ravaged the nation, killed dozens of people and millions of animals.
"I think $10,000 a match, then if I win the tournament, giving $4 million Australian to the pledges is pretty generous I hope," Zverev said. "We'll see. I mean, as I said, I just won one match. I hope it comes down to it. If it does, I'll keep my promise. I'll be happy to kind of feel like I'm a little bit a part of helping out people and helping out the people that actually need the money."
Zverev will play 98th-ranked Egor Gerasimo in round two and hopes the wins keep coming and cash keeps flowing for the cause.
"For me, for us right now, for you, it would be great to have $4 million in your bank account, right?" Zverev said. "But it wouldn't move things in the world. It wouldn't move people. I think that kind of money can really support the people in need right now, the people that actually need the support. "
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve