Roger Federer finally makes plans to play in Bay Area

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Roger Federer is finally making his way to San Jose.

Federer, a 19-time Grand Slam tennis champion, will play his first-ever match in the Bay Area on March 5, facing American Jack Sock at SAP Center in an exhibition match to support children’s education in Africa.

Federer is playing in the Australian Open as the No. 2 seed, as he beat No. 19 Tomas Berdych 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals in Melbourne for the 14th time in 15 years.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie will join Federer and Sock for a celebrity-pro doubles match. Tickets will be available Friday at 9 a.m. and prices range from $30-$500.

Net proceeds for the event, called Match for Africa 5 – Silicon Valley, will benefit the Roger Federer Charitable Fund/Roger Federer Foundation.

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Golf: Upcoming fundraisers and tournaments “I believe in the power of people. We know that a good education is a decisive factor to empower children by allowing them to take their future into their own hands,” Federer said in a statement. “With my foundation, we want to provide one million children with the opportunity for a quality education by the end of 2018. The Match for Africa 5 in San Jose will help us reach our ambitious goals. I am very grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Bill Gates, who in my opinion is the world’s leading philanthropist.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to face Roger a few times in my career, but never in support of such an important cause,” said Sock. “I hear Roger’s Match for Africa events are a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to taking part.”

According to a news release, this is the fifth Match for Africa event for the Roger Federer Foundation, which has given $36 million to support children’s education in six African countries and Federer’s native Switzerland. An “estimated 850,000 children across 18 programs have so far benefited from the foundation’s giving, which emphasizes systemic change and sustainable impact.”

“Roger and I are 1-0 as a doubles pair after last year’s event, so I’m hoping we can keep the streak alive while raising money for an important cause,” Gates said in the release. “Roger might have a few more Grand Slam titles than I do, but we share a belief that all children deserve a world-class education. His Match for Africa events are a fun way to help make that happen.”

Tickets can be purchased from the Threat Metrix Ticket Office at SAP Center, Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. A limited number of VIP ticket packages are also available, which include premium end-court seats, exclusive hospitality and a unique opportunity to participate in a 20-minute Q&A session with Roger Federer and Jack Sock prior to the night’s match.

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