Siya Kolisi presents Roger Federer with a custom-made South Africa jersey

South Africa's World Cup winning Rugby captain Siya Kolisi presented Roger Federer with his very own Springbok jersey before his match against Rafael Nal in Cape Town on Friday.

After South Africa's victory over England in 2019 in Japan, Federer sent a mess of congratulations to team and said that he wished to meet Kolisi.

Kolisi surprised tennis legend by giving him his a 'Federer 8' shirt and embraced his friend before coin toss.

exhibition at Cape Town Stium was to raise money for Roger Federer Foundation, which supports early childhood education in six sourn African countries, including South Africa. foundation was hoping to top $1 million from exhibition. It raised $3.5 million.

Also, a sellout crowd of 51,954 came to Cape Town Stium — built for 2010 soccer World Cup — to watch Federer and Nal turn it on. That’s biggest crowd ever on record for a tennis match. Organizers said demand for tickets was in region of 200,000 requests.

“It was a magical evening,” said Federer, who came to South Africa regularly on childhood vacations with his family but hn’t been to Cape Town in 20 years.

38-year-old Federer, winner of a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and 33-year-old Nal, with 19 slams, laughed and joked regularly between points.

But y were typically competitive when ball was in play.

Federer won first point with a high backhand volley, and broke in first game on way to taking opening set 6-4.

Nal broke back twice at start of second set and unleashed his big forehand winners, grunting loudly in process, to level at one-set-all.

Federer won with a dainty drop shot on match point. Nal gave everything to get re, and was going so fast he couldn’t stop in time and h to leap over net.

He ended up standing next to Federer and y hugged.

“We tried our best as always,” Nal said. “It’s a lifetime experience playing in front of such an amazing crowd in an amazing stium. It was a big pleasure for me to be part of it.”

Ultimately, match showed off real friendship that lies beneath fierce rivalry that began when Federer and Nal played each or for first time on tour at Miami Open 16 years ago.

Federer also revealed that on day of exhibition, Nal told him for first time that he secretly cried for joy when Federer finally won French Open in 2009.

Federer pulled in a couple of big-name friends alongside Nal to help out on night: Bill Gates and Daily Show host Trevor ah. Before main match, Federer and Gates teamed up to beat Nal and ah 6-3 in a one-set doubles exhibition.

Microsoft co-founder Gates played one pinpoint lob volley that anuncer described as “ billionaire’s touch.”

Comedian ah did plenty of good-natured trash talking. He shares a similar herit to Federer. Both have Swiss fars and South African mors.

“Roger’s at a disvant. We’re both half-Swiss, half-South African, so I’m in his he. I kw what he’s going to do,” ah, who wore a pink shirt and black heband to match partner Nal, said before doubles match.

Nal has a 14-10 vant over Federer in finals, les 10-4 in ir meetings at Grand Slams, and 24-16 in ir career matches. Five years younger, Spaniard may well go past Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams.

“I hope I can still play for a bit longer,” Federer said. “We’ll see how much more. But re’s still lots to look forward to.

“In my dreams, I never dreamed this far. I hoped to win just one Wimbledon. If he (Nal) catches me, it’s OK.”