Federer and Zverev Mexico City match breaks world attendance record
Tennis - Exhibition match - Roger Federer v Alexander Zverev - Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico - November 23, 2019 Switzerland's Roger Federer and Germany's Alexander Zverev pose for a photo after the match REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Broadcaster ESPN claimed a new world record for attendance at a tennis match on Saturday, with more than 42,000 people watching Germany's Alexander Zverev go down 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 to Roger Federer in an exhibition match in Mexico City.
That smashed an almost decade-old record of 35,681 set at an exhibition game between Belgian Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams in Belgium in 2010.
ESPN put the exact number of fans in Mexico City’s bullring at 42,517.
Tennis - Exhibition match - Roger Federer v Alexander Zverev - Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico - November 23, 2019 Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts during his exhibition match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
Even before Saturday's match, Federer had announced his intention to set a new world record for attendance when he meets Rafael Nadal in an exhibition match in South Africa in February.
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 doubles match in which Federer will partner Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Nadal will play alongside South African comedian Trevor Noah.
Tennis - Exhibition match - Roger Federer v Alexander Zverev - Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico - November 23, 2019 Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts during his exhibition match against Switzerland's Roger Federer REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
(Reporting by Andrew Downie; editing by Jane Wardell)
Tennis - Exhibition match - Roger Federer v Alexander Zverev - Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico - November 23, 2019 Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during the exhibition match against Switzerland's Roger Federer REUTERS/Edgard GarridoTennis - Exhibition match - Roger Federer v Alexander Zverev - Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico - November 23, 2019 Switzerland's Roger Federer in action during his exhibition match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgard GarridoTennis - Exhibition match - Roger Federer v Alexander Zverev - Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico - November 23, 2019 Switzerland's Roger Federer in action during his exhibition match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
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