Grand slam champion Dylan Alcott has an extra incentive to serve aces at the Australian Open this year, with an opportunity to do his bit for charity while on court.
For every tournament ace at Melbourne Park, ANZ will donate $10 to a range of charities that help deliver a financial education program to low-income Aussies.
The pledge includes all courts, all standards and all players at the Australian Open including singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and juniors.
Alcott, who is seeking to win his fifth Australian Open quad title, says he’s ready to take up the challenge.
“Ace the Open is such a great initiative and I’ll certainly be serving as many aces as I can this Australian Open,” he said in a statement.
For the first time, pop-up tennis courts will also be stationed in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for members of the public to serve up their own aces, with each earning a dollar for Ace the Open.
Cash raised will be split between The Smith Family, The Benevolent Society, Berry Street and Brotherhood of St Laurence charities, who together deliver a financial literacy program called Money Minded.
In 2018, 7955 aces were served at the Australian Open.