‘No Spills, Only Skills’ As Kyrgios & Co. Rally Behind #MessFreeChallenge
What began as a social media campaign serving up tortillas with a side of trick shots has grown into a global match between the world’s top players – and the winner is local food banks.
It all started when Old El Paso tapped trick shot master Nick Kyrgios to take part in the launch of their new Tortilla Pockets in Australia. The Aussie delivered, posting a video of himself playing tennis one-handed while eating an Old El Paso Tortilla Pocket. Through his NK Foundation, Kyrgios donated 10,000 Mexican meal kits to Food Bank Australia, with each share of his video on Instagram adding one extra meal kit.
He then challenged Aussie legend Lleyton Hewitt to show off his own skills, and later asked Andy Murray to ‘take it global’ on the eve of Roland Garros as the world tennis community congregated in Paris.
From there the competition soared, the tricks got more competitive and the donations in each country took off. So far, 100,000 Old El Paso Mexican meal products and meals have been donated to help local food banks and disadvantaged families across Australia, UK, France, Spain, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, UAE, Canada and USA.
“It was super exciting to kick off the Old El Paso #MessFreeChallenge with my NK Foundation to launch the new Tortilla Pockets in Australia,” Kyrgios said. “I’m a big fan of Mexican food and the challenge was a fun initiative to help us feed disadvantaged families by donating to food banks.
“I’ve been encouraging everyone to have a go and it was amazing to see this go global. It’s been great to have the support of so many pros to get behind this cause and let us give back together with Old El Paso.”
Since Kyrgios started the challenge, dozens of ATP and WTA players alike have signed up to show off their skills and bring mess-free Mexican mealtimes to those in need. Tennis power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina served up a one-handed tweener and some racquet frame keepy uppy, while doubles legend Leander Paes hit a ‘frying pan’ hot shot in his own #MessFreeChallenge video. Petra Martic and Karolina Muchova even took the challenge to the WTA’s Ostrava event, lighting up the tournament’s player activities area without spilling a crumb.
Check out the video below to see some more #MessFreeChallenge trick shots from Benoit Paire, Matthew Ebden, Monica Puig, Garbine Muguruza, Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Eugenie Bouchard and more – don’t miss Katie Swan’s impressive one-handed cartwheel.