Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka removed from Ukraine relief exhibition

The US Tennis Affiliation eliminated Belarusian tennis participant Victoria Azarenka from Wednesday night time’s “Tennis Performs for Peace” exhibition on the Billie Jean King Tennis Middle in Queens.

“Within the final 24 hours, after cautious consideration and dialogue with all events concerned, Victoria Azarenka is not going to be collaborating in our “Tennis Performs for Peace” Exhibition this night,” the USTA mentioned in a press release launched Wednesday afternoon.

“Vika is a powerful participant chief and we admire her willingness to take part. Given the sensitivities to Ukrainian gamers, and the on-going battle, we imagine that is the proper plan of action for us.”

Followers introduced Ukrainian flags and donned blue and yellow for the occasion.

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The proceeds from the occasion went to fund humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

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Azarenka posted a photograph on Twitter, showing to land in New York Metropolis early Wednesday afternoon forward of the exhibition.

The exhibition occurred on Ukrainian Independence Day and featured present and former stars akin to Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and John McEnroe.

Ukrainian gamers have lengthy proven their disapproval with Russian and Belarusian gamers with the ability to take part in tournaments and occasions for the reason that battle started in February 2022.

Marta Kostyuk, who was born in Kyiv, advised the Ukrainian information outlet BTU she turned down an invite to take part within the occasion after studying Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, could be on the courtroom as properly.

“In fact, I obtained an invite,” Kostyuk mentioned. “I feel all our gamers received them. When [fellow Ukrainian player] Lesia Tsurenko and I came upon — I’m solely speaking about us now, as a result of we didn’t ask anybody — so after we came upon that there could be representatives of Russia or Belarus at this occasion … I instantly mentioned that [we] is not going to take part on this.”

“Tennis Performs for Peace” raised $1.2 million in humanitarian support to help these impacted by the battle in Ukraine.

Victoria Azarenka was advised that she wouldn't be enjoying within the USTA’s “Tennis Performs for Peace” exhibition.

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Present Ukrainian gamers Dayana Yastremska, Katarina Zavatska and Daria Snigur took to the courtroom for the exhibition, in addition to former gamers Sergiy Stakhovsky and Olga Savchuk. It's unknown what number of Ukrainian tennis stars moreover Kostyuk and Tsurenko rejected invites to take part.

The US Open major draw will probably be unveiled on Friday.