Many of the big names in tennis were on hand to help out throughout Miami and gave their time in a series of charitable activities to benefit Miami’s communities. ATP and WTA players donated their time, as part of Miami Open Unites, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 throughout the Miami Dade area and shared their humane side at several events the day before the official opening ceremony for the Miami Open.
Matches were rained out, but the tennis stars made the most of it and took to the city of Miami for a day of service. Nick Kyrgios, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Marin Cilic, Nicolas Jarry, Diego Schwartzman, Petra Kvitová and Kei Nishikori visited Hollywood Park Elementary.
They spoke about overcoming adversity, met the students, and participated in a sing along at the school. Grigor Dimitrov, David Ferrer, Borna Coric, Garbiñe Muguruza and Anett Kontaveit put up their racquets and donned hair nets, but were all smiles at the Miami Rescue Mission to feed the homeless.
It seems as if Alexander Zverev can never resist an adorable puppy. He regularly brings his own dog to his tennis matches, famously celebrating with his toy poodle Lövik when he won the ATP Finals. He was scheduled for what was supposed to be a routine, half hour service visit at the Humane Society of Greater Miami.
However, ‘Sascha’ stayed a bit longer, deciding to give Lövik a brother, adopting “Pop” after cuddling with him during the visit. “Sascha came into the room, Pop walked over to him and they had a major, major cuddle session.
It was love at first site,” said Jossie Aguirre, Humane Society of Greater Miami Director of Marketing and Special Events. “He’s still in my arm [and is] very calm,” Zverev said. “He seems quite happy and I’m very happy to take him home.”
Zverev was joined by his fellow Miami Open (and reigning champion) finalist John Isner at the event. Danielle Collins, Jelena Ostapenko, Ashleigh Barty and Belinda Bencic were only too happy to join in on all the cuddling with cute animals.
The Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, along with Aryana Sabalenka brightened the day of children at Baptist Children’s Hospital by delivering toys and spending time with the kids. Dominic Thiem, Miomir Kecmanovic, Guido Pella, Elise Mertens, Julia Goerges and Kiki Bertens worked on strokes of another kind, painting the home of an elderly Miami Gardens’ resident in partnership with volunteers from Rebuilding Together.
The Miami Open will take place at a new home, the Hard Rock Stadium, in the Miami Gardens neighborhood, moving from the Key Biscayne location. Newly established tournament director James Blake made the most of a rain-soaked day of play by getting into the charitable spirit himself.
He presented Health in the Hood with a check on the behalf of the ATP and WTA. It was an excellent way for the brightest stars of tennis to show their appreciation to the community hosting such a prestigious tournament. The official opening ceremony took place on Wednesday, March 20, with Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Naomi Osaka on hand to help with the proceedings.
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