Global tennis luminaries including Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, and Matteo Berrettini united for a special exhibition event named ‘Stars of the Open’, aiming to raise funds for humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. The event took place at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, captivating a sold-out crowd of 14,000 spectators on Wednesday evening.
The exhibition match headlined the talents of crowd-favourites Frances Tiafoe and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who engaged in an entertaining exchange of strokes and advice to the delight of the audience. The event’s lineup also featured the participation of tennis legends, with nine-time US Open champion John McEnroe partnering with No. 3 Jessica Pegula to form an all-New Yorker duo. They faced a formidable team consisting of 1990 US Open winner Gabriela Sabatini from Argentina and Italian star Berrettini, a former US Open semifinalist.
Beyond the tennis court, the fundraiser garnered support from celebrities hailing from diverse spheres. Renowned NBA player Jimmy Butler and two-time Latin Grammy winner Sebastian Yatra were among the prominent figures who contributed to the cause. The event successfully raised a substantial sum of $320,000 for the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
In a lighthearted twist, Butler actively participated in the event, taking on the role of a ball crew member for a portion of the evening. He even engaged in friendly gameplay, joining Carlos Alcaraz for a few points following the Spaniard’s exhibition tie-break with Tiafoe.
Throughout the festivities, players remained mic’d up, adding an element of behind-the-scenes insight and humour for the spectators. A particularly memorable moment unfolded when Gael Monfils and his wife Elina Svitolina teamed up for mixed doubles against the American duo of Christopher Eubanks and Jennifer Brady, providing a captivating closure to the night’s proceedings.
As the tennis world eagerly anticipates the US Open main draw, scheduled to be unveiled on Thursday, the stage is set for the on-court action to commence on August 28.
-IANS
