Barbara Haas and Gerald Melzer failed in the first round of qualifying for the US Open of tennis professionals.
Haas lost to Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove from the Netherlands on Wednesday 3:6,3:6, Melzer had to admit defeat to Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 5:7,2:6. Sebastian Ofner was still in action against the German Yannick Hanfmann. Filip Misolic and Dennis Novak had fought their way into the second round of qualifying the day before.
Azarenka skips Ukraine benefit event at US Open
Two-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one Viktoria Azarenka will not participate in a US Open charity event for Ukraine. Because Ukrainian players expressed concerns about the Belarusian’s presence, Azarenka is absent from the USTA’s “Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition” at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows on Wednesday evening. This takes place on the Independence Day of Ukraine.
Belarus is seen as a supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Viktoria is a strong personality and we appreciate her willingness to participate. Given the sensitivities towards Ukrainian players and the ongoing conflict, we believe this is the right course of action for us,” the USTA said. Asarenka, like all Russians and Belarusians, was excluded from Wimbledon because of the Russian war of aggression. However, the USTA admitted the two-time Australian Open winner to the US Open. The Tennis Federation wants to raise at least two million dollars for Ukraine by the end of the tournament.
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Featured image: Imago.