Team USA at BJK Cup will donate to Ukraine humanitarian relief fund
The United States Tennis Federation (USTF) have announced that they will donate 10% of the ticket revenue raised at the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
As the war between Russia and Ukraine rages into it’s fourth week, the world as a whole, including the sporting world, has united to both offer support to Ukraine and condemn Russia’s invasion.
The upcoming BJK Cup qualifiers will be the first major international tennis tournament since the war broke out and as per International Tennis Federation (ITF) rulings, Russia and Belarus have been prohibited from competing.
Russian and Belarusian athletes have also been banned from donning their nation’s colours in non-international tennis and are forced to compete as ‘neutral athletes.’
In next month’s qualifying rounds, Team USA will face Team Ukraine and the USTF will donate 10% of all gate receipts to the Ukrainian Crisis Relief Fund created by Global Giving.
This is the same fund the ITF, WTA and ATP, as well as all four Grand Slam organisers, made a combined $700,000 (£532,000) donation to earlier this month.
The match will be held at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, a stadium that can hold up to a maximum 7,654 people.
Local sponsors will also join the cause and attending spectators will be encouraged to make donations of their own.
Team Ukraine will be led by World number 18 Elina Svitolina, who fronted the initial calls for tennis’ governing bodies to take action and enforce punishments on Russian and Belarusian athletes and tennis federations.
She will also admirably donate all prize money to the Ukrainian war effort, a move which inspired fellow Ukrainian professional and escaped refugee Dayana Yastremska and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to follow suit.
Team USA consists of Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins, 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens, Shelby Rogers, Jessica Pegula and doubles standout Desirae Krawczyk.
Whilst Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Katarina Zavatska and twin sister doubles duo Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok form Team Ukraine.
The match between the two nations will take place on April 15th and 16th.
🎾 Free >> Receive our legendary newsletter
🎾 Join >> Tennishead CLUB, the world’s only virtual tennis club
🎾 Social >>Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube
🎾 Order >> World’s best tennis magazine
🎾 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted retail partner
