Former tennis player Ipek Senoglu calls for aid from Venus & Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Andy Murray & others amid earthquake havoc in Turkey
Some of the biggest names in tennis, including Andy Murray, the Williams sisters, and Victoria Azarenka, were called upon by former Turkish tennis star Ipek Senoglu for immediate help in light of a series of earthquakes that rocked Turkey on Monday. Senoglu is raising financial aid for those affected by the calamity in her home nation and urged the tennis superstars to help.
Three powerful earthquakes hit Turkey within a matter of hours from early Monday, causing many deaths, many injured people battling for their lives, and others stuck under collapsed buildings. In light of the same, Senoglu has called for urgent aid from the likes of Andy Murray, Serena and Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Martina Navratilova, Marin Cilic, former player Mary Pierce, and tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Senoglu is raising funds with the help of a source in Turkey and has requested the above named tennis stars to help in whatever way they can and help fight the rising crisis.
"Can you guys help retweet? People are under collapsed buildings, and we def could use help…. @vika7 @pmouratoglou @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams @MarinCilic @_MaryPierce @Martina @andy_murray #turkeyearthquake2023," Senoglu wrote on Twitter.
Can you guys help retweet? People are under collapsed buildings, and we def could use help…. @vika7 @pmouratoglou @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams @MarinCilic @_MaryPierce @Martina @andy_murray #turkeyearthquake2023 twitter.com/ipeksenoglu/st…
Senoglu, 43, created history at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships by entering the qualifying draw for the women's doubles event. She became the first player ever from Turkey to play in the qualifying draw for a Grand Slam tournament. A former WTA Top-60 doubles player, Senoglu retired from professional tennis in 2012.
Andy Murray donated over £500,000 in prize money to help war-affected in Ukraine
The ongoing war in Ukraine has seen many tennis players doing their bit to help those affected, with Andy Murray among those whose contributions to the cause have been huge. Shortly after the war began in early 2022 and started claiming lives in Ukraine, Murray announced that he would donate all of his prize money earned from the rest of the 2022 season towards medical supplies and development kits in Ukraine.
Eventually, Murray's donation totaled more than £500,000 ($630,000), which went towards war-affected children in particular. The three-time Grand Slam singles champion was awarded the 2022 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award by the ATP for his crucial support. Andy Murray is also a UNICEF UK Ambassador.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams is also known for her humanitarian work as she is part of many philantrophic organizations worldwide and has also been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2011.