Annual charity event Desert Smash has attracted some of the biggest celebrities in the world to play with tennis’s biggest stars.
The likes of Pink, DJ Mustard, and Charlize Theron have played at the tennis event, which benefits Will Ferrell’s charity ‘Cancer for College’.
Ferrell is a huge tennis fan and the event has also seen Holger Rune, Naomi Osaka, and Aryna Sabalenka play in recent years.
In 2015, Justin Bieber made his debut at the event, and he formed a doubles team with former world number five, Eugenie Bouchard.
Justin Bieber’s foray into tennis in 2015
Bieber played a doubles match at the 2015 event alongside Bouchard against Ferrell and comedian Kevin Hart.
Bouchard had previously described Bieber as her ‘celebrity crush’ a year prior, so the all-star match was probably a pinch me moment for the former top five player.
She took to social media after the match to praise Bieber for his tennis ability at the California charity event.
On X, following the match Bouchard posted a picture of Bieber playing at the event with the caption: “Nice serve.”
The results of the match were not made public, but the Canadian duo proved to be a real hit with the California crowd.
When Justin Bieber attended the US Open in 2023
Bieber’s affinity with tennis does not end with his appearance at Desert Smash, as he also appeared at the US Open in 2023.
The star watched on as Coco Gauff beat Elise Mertens in the third round of her home Grand Slam, and she even said the pop singer inspired her victory.
Gauff said she spotted Bieber after she lost the first set, and she used his presence to turn the match around.
After the match, she said: “I definitely saw who was there. I thought, ‘I cannot lose in front of Justin Bieber’. I didn’t lose a game after I saw that.”
Gauff won the match 3-6 6-3 6-0 on Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the fourth round of the Grand Slam.
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