Top players from both the ATP and WTA Tours will participate in a charity event next week at Melbourne Park which will raise money to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Tennis Plays for Peace will take place at the Rod Laver Arena on January 11th. All funds raised from the event will be distributed to both UNICEF Australia and Global Giving which are providing support to those affected by the Ukrainian war.
Russia launched a ‘special military operation’ on its neighbour on February 24th which prompted a decision from tennis’ governing bodies to remove the country from team events and only allow its players to compete under a neutral status. The penalty has also been applied to Belarus which is suspected of supporting Russia in the war.
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, French Open finalist Coco Gauff and Maria Sakkari are all set to play in the event. Other participants include Alex Zverev, Frances Tiafoe and Alex de Minaur with more players set to join the line-up.
“Tennis is a truly global sport with an international playing community that has a history of stepping up and helping out. Through Tennis Plays for Peace the tennis community can offer practical assistance through fundraising, as well as show our heartfelt support for the victims of the war,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said in a press release.
“We look forward to a spectacular night of tennis and entertainment and a wonderful opportunity to come together and raise much-needed funds.”
The format of the event is yet to be clarified with organisers saying there will be ‘a couple of fun exhibition matches.’ According to the Australian Open website, matches will take place between 18:30 and 20:30 local time.
There will also be a Battle of the Centurions match taking place which will feature two of the world’s oldest tennis players. 98-year-old Leonid Stanislavskyi from Ukraine’s Kharkiv region was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest tennis player in 2022. He has been invited to the event as a guest and is set to play against Australian Henry Young at the Rod Laver Arena. Young is also 98.
Tennis Plays for Peace is an initiative aimed at supporting the humanitarian relief efforts for the war in Ukraine. It is supported by all the Grand Slams, the ATP, WTA and ITF.
