Nick Kyrgios Increases His Donation To Monica Puig’s Puerto Rico Fundraiser - UBITENNIS
Connect with us

Latest news

Nick Kyrgios Increases His Donation To Monica Puig’s Puerto Rico Fundraiser

Published

on

Nick Kyrgios (zimbio.com)

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has vowed to donate $50 for every ace he hit for the remainder of the season to a fundraising campaign created by Monica Puig.

Olympic champion Puig has already raised over $100,000 for her home country Puerto Rico, which has been devastated by hurricane Maria. At least 34 people have died and an estimated $90bn worth of damage has been caused. Almost the entire island loss electricity and thousands of people have been without water. To make matters worse, Puerto Rico is also in a financial crises with an estimated $9bn in debt.

Earlier this week, Kyrgios wrote on social media that he will be donating $10 for every ace he hits this year. On Thursday he increased his pledged to $50 for every ace he hit to support Puig’s campaign.

“I’m upping my offer to help Monica Puig raise money for #DonateWithMonica to $50 per ace. This is to help the great people of Puerto Rico recover after the terrible destruction after hurricane Irma. Let’s do what we can.” Kyrgios wrote on his Facebook account.

Maria Sharapova has also lent her support to the fundraiser. The former world No.1 played against Puig last year in an exhibition event in Puerto Rico. She will donate all profits she makes from her Sugarpova confectionery business. The company was started in 2012 following a $500,000 investment from Sharapova.

“Less than 12 months ago I visited the beautiful island of Puerto Rico as the guest of Monica Puig for her exhibition match. I fell in love with the island, the people and the culture. From a distance, it is incredibly devastating to see how much the island and people are suffering. I have been following all the amazing and heartfelt work Monica has been doing for the island and I will continue to support her fund raising efforts.” Sharapova said in a statement.

Puig vows to support her homeland

In an heartfelt piece written for Sports Illustrated, Puig praised members of the tennis world for supporting her. In the article she spoke about how the disaster has given her a ‘reality check’ on life. Since winning the Olympics, Puig is yet to win another title and is currently ranked 68th in the world.

“I won the Olympics in 2016 and now I’m at rock bottom, but then all of a sudden something like Hurricane Maria happens and it gives you a reality check.” She explained.
“As tennis players, it’s easily to get wrapped up in this sport, but there are so many more people that we need to think about and realize that this world needs people to pay attention.”

Puig is under no illusion about the tough future Puerto Rico faces. The BBC reported on October 2nd that only one out of 69 hospitals are fully operational. It is for this reason why she  plans to embark on other activities to raise money, discussing opportunities with her agent.

“It doesn’t matter if we rebuild Puerto Rico in a day; I know the emotional pain will still be there because a lot of people lost their homes and that hits hardest. Now it’s about trying to get them to believe and to have that spirit that things will get better and that with time, everything will heal.”

You can donate to Puig’s campaign at https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricanemariainpuertorico-956371

Latest news

Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Sebastian Ofner in Barcelona to extend his winning streak

Published

on

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Sebastian Ofner 6-4 7-5 at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell to extend his winning streak to seven consecutive matches after claiming his third title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters last week. 

Tsitsipas earned an immediate break in the first game. Ofner broke straight back to draw level to 1-1. Tsitsipas earned his second break  in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead and served out the first set 6-4 with a hold at 15. 

Tsitsipas broke in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Ofner won three consecutive games with two breaks of serve to take a 5-3 lead. Tsitsipas came back by winning four consecutive games with two breaks of serve to seal the second set 7-5.

Tsitsipas has a record of 17 wins to 5 defeats in Barcelona. The Greek player reached three finals at this tournament in 2018, 2021 and 2023.  

“I feel pretty good, but it is still early in the tournament. The conditions here are very different to Monte-Carlo and I felt it today when I was playing. My job is to adapt and to ensure I can bring my A game again in Barcelona this week. Today was a great test to see where I stand. I am hoping to keep on improving and getting good wins like this under my belt”, said Tsitsipas. 

Tsitssipas set up a third round match against Roberto Carballes Baena, who beat Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in 2 hours and 15 minutes. 

Musetti saved three break points in the first game of the opening set. The Italian player earned two break points with a backhand down the line. Musetti saved two break points in the seventh game. Both players went on serve un the 12th game when Carballes Baena saved a set point. Carballes Baena went up a 5-1 lead with two mini-breaks in the tie-break. Musetti won three consecutive points to reduce to 4-5. Carballes Baena won the final two points to take the tie-break 7-4. 

Carballes Baena converted his fourth break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Musetti broke back in the fifth game. Carballes Baena saved a break point in the sixth game. The Spanish player sealed the win with a break on his second match. 

Last week’s Monte-Carlo finalist Casper Ruud beat Alexandre Muller 6-3 6-4 to claim his 25th tour-level win of the season. Ruud has drawn level with Jannik Sinner for the most wins in 2024 on the ATP Tour. 

Ruud set up a third round match against Jordan Thompson, who beat Jaume Munar 6-4 2-4 6-4. Roberto Bautista Agut beat Andrea Vavassori 4-6 6-4 6-1 to claim his milestone 400th match win on the ATP Tour. Bautista Agut set up a third round match against Cameron Norrie. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Roberto Bautista Agut wins his milestone 400th match on the ATP Tour

Published

on

Roberto Bautista Agut came back from one set down to beat Australian Open doubles finalist Andrea Vavassori 4-6 6-3 6-1 after 2 hours and 1 minute at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. 

Vavassori earned an early break in the first game. The Italian player earned three break points in the seventh game, but Bautista Agut saved them. The Spanish player broke straight back in the eighth game. Vavassori broke again in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and saved two break points before closing out the first set 6-4 on his second set point. 

Both players went on serve in the first four games of the second set. Vavassori earned a break point in the fifth game, but he did not convert it. Bautista Agut broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and did not face any break points to win the second set 6-3. 

Bautista Agut broke three times to cruise through to a 6-1. 

Bautista Agut reached the 400th milestone win on the ATP Tour.  The Spanish player has become the 13th active player with at least 400 ATP Tour wins. He achieved 20 wins against members of the top 10, ten wins against top 5 players and four against world number 1s. Bautista Agut is one of the nine players, who have beaten Novak Djokovic as World number 1 more than twice. 

“For me it’s just a number. The important thing is that I have done great work over these years, that I have a very consistent career, a career that I can feel proud of “, said Bautista Agut. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Martina Trevisan beats Naomi Osaka to reach the second round in Rouen

Published

on

Martina Trevisan upset former world number 1 Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-2 in the opening round of the Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole. 

Osaka has played her first clay-court match since Roland Garros 2022, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. The Japanese player has not won a match on clay since beating Anastasia Potapova in the first round of the Madrid Mutua Open in 2022. She helped Japan beat Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean King Cup. 

Trevisan reached the quarter final in 2020 and the semifinal in 2022 at Roland Garros. The former world number 18 won her only title in Rabat in 2022. She reached the quarter finals of the Zaragoza ITF 100 tournament. 

Both players traded breaks in the first two games. Osaka earned two break points at 3-2 and three more chances at 4-3, but she was not able to convert them. Trevisan broke serve in the ninth game following a series of forehand errors. 

Trevisan broke twice in the third and seventh games and served out the win on her first match point. 

Sixteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva beat Elina Avanesyan 7-5 6-4 in 1 hour and 41 minutes to reach her second quarter final of 2024. 

Andreeva went up a break in the seventh game, but Avanesyan pulled back on serve to draw level to 4-4. Andreeva broke for the second time in the 11th game to win the second set 7-5. Andreeva broke in the first game to open up a 2-0 lead. Avanesyan converted her third break-back point in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Andreeva broke serve at love in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Avanesyan broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Andreeva broke for the third time in the ninth game and served out the win on her second match point after saving two break points. 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending