Host of current and former players will take part in the Stars
of the Open Ukraine relief event.
The tournament is set to be organised on August 23 to raise
funds to help the war-affected people in the European country.
The competition will feature the former world number one America’s
John McEnroe, current men’s world number one Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, America’s Frances
Tiafoe, Chris Eubanks, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and
America’s Jessica Pegula.
Ukraine has been badly affected after the invasion of Russia
which started in February 2022. Since
then, both sides have suffered the loss of human lives because of the armed
conflict.
The world of tennis has also been affected because of the
ongoing conflict as Russian and Belarusian players were banned from taking part
in Wimbledon in 2022.
They were allowed to participate this year but Svitolina,
just before her much-awaited match at Wimbledon against the former world number one Victoria Azarenka in
the mega-event, openly declared that she will not have a handshake with any Russian
or Belarusian player until every Russian soldier leaves Ukrainian soil.
The decision received a mixed reaction from the different quarters in the tennis world where some appreciated her stance whereas others were of the view that athletes must be treated differently.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.