Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund: World tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe and Matteo Berrettini and others banded together for 'Stars of the Open', an exhibition event in support of Ukrainian humanitarian relief.
And a sold-out crowd of 14,000 at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday night enjoyed some tennis hijinks in the headlining singles match as fan favorites Frances Tiafoe and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz traded strokes and advice.
There were US Open legends on the court, too, as nine-time US Open champion John McEnroe teamed up with No. 3 Jessica Pegula for an all-New Yorker team. They faced Argentina’s 1990 US Open winner Gabriela Sabatini and Italian Berrettini, a former US Open semifinalist.
The fundraiser brought out celebrities beyond tennis, too. NBA star Jimmy Butler and two-time Latin Grammy winner Sebastian Yatra were also part of the event that raised $320,000 towards the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
Butler served as a ball crew member for part of the night and even played a few points with Alcaraz following the Spaniard's exhibition tie-break with Tiafoe.
Players were mic'd up throughout the festivities, providing several moments of laughter for those watching. A memorable moment was when Gael Monfils partnered his wife Elina Svitolina in mixed doubles against Americans Christopher Eubanks and Jennifer Brady to close the night.
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The US Open main draw will be made on Thursday and action begins on August 28.