Belarusian Azarenka withdraws from 'Tennis Plays for Peace' Ukraine aid
exhibition
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 [August 25, 2022] (Reuters)-Belarusian
twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has pulled out of
the "Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition" to raise humanitarian aid
for Ukraine given the sensitivities of the Ukrainian players, the
United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Wednesday.
With the U.S. Open set to begin on Monday, the tournament initiative
was to launch on Wednesday - Ukraine Independence Day - with the
exhibition event at Louis Armstrong Stadium that would include
women's world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Rafa Nadal, John McEnroe and
others.
Ukrainian players such as Marta Kostyuk were unhappy that they were
not made aware of, or consulted about, Azarenka's participation in
the event, especially one being staged on Ukraine Independence Day.
Belarus is being used as a staging ground for Russia's war in
Ukraine, which it has termed a "special military operation".
"In the last 24 hours, after careful consideration and dialogue with
all parties involved, Victoria Azarenka will not be participating in
our "Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition" this evening," the USTA said
in a statement.
"Vika is a strong player leader and we appreciate her willingness to
participate," it said. "Given the sensitivities to Ukrainian
players, and the on-going conflict, we believe this is the right
course of action for us."
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Belarus' Victoria Azarenka reacts during her round of 16 match
against Germany's Andrea Petkovic REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Azarenka appeared to address her exclusion in a
tweet later, saying: "Never take for granted the impact of a kind
gesture."
Tennis Plays for Peace, comprised of all seven of tennis’ governing
bodies including the four Grand Slam events, has raised more than $1
million in humanitarian aid and additionally helped the U.S. Open
surpass $1.2 million in funds raised for Ukraine relief.
Hundred-percent of the ticket revenue from the event was donated to
GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which supports
humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and
surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled.
Russian and Belarusian players were banned from playing at Wimbledon
but will be allowed to compete at Flushing Meadows in the season's
final Grand Slam tournament, which runs from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto, additional reporting by
Manasi Pathak in BengaluruEditing by Bill Berkrot & Shri Navaratnam)
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