Stefanos Tsitsipas, Paula Badosa, Andy Murray and other tennis players join hands for philanthropic Miami Open Unites initiative
Andy Murray, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Paula Badosa, alongside other players taking part in the 2023 Miami Open, came together for a day of community service under the Miami Open Unites campaign.
Since 2019, Miami Open Unites has fostered a partnership between the tournament's players, staff, and local organizations to help uplift vulnerable communities in the Miami-Dade area.
On March 21, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Marie Bouzkova joined the 'Health in the Hood' program to help plant seeds in the program's community garden. Andy Murray, Sebastian Korda and Paula Badosa helped the 'Miami Rescue Mission' by serving meals at the homeless shelter, while Casper Ruud and Belinda Bencic helped groom animals for the 'The Humane Society.'
The official ATP Instagram account shared photographs of the players taking part in the Miami Open Unites initiative.
"Making a difference on & off the court!," the post was captioned.
Karolina Pliskova, Alex de Minaur, Diego Schwartzman and Caroline Garcia also took part in the campaign, assisting in the 'Rebuilding Together' program to rehabilitate the home of retired Air-Force Sergeant and Miami-Dade County veteran Thomas Coates.
A few players later attended the 'Big Brothers Big Sisters First Serve Miami Clinic' to ignite a passion for tennis among young children from marginalized communities.
Andy Murray and Holger Rune share their experience at the Miami Open Unites initiative
Andy Murray joked about his cooking skills as he shared a photo of himself alongside Sebastian Korda and Paula Badosa hard at work making food for the community. In the picture, Korda can be seen smiling down at Murray's workstation, which left the former World No. 1 uncertain of whether the American was laughing at his work or was impressed by it.
"Not sure if @sebastiankorda is laughing at my work or impressed by it," Murray joked.
Meanwhile, Holger Rune expressed his gratitude for the experience working at the 'Heath in the Hood' community garden as all the produce grown in the gardens is distributed to families, food pantries, churches, and community centers in the Miami-Dade area free-of-charge.
"Thank you for having us today @HealthintheHood planting seedlings at Health in Hood’s oldest community garden in Liberty City. All produce grown by the gardens is distributed free-of-charge to families, local food pantries, churches, and community centers," Rune wrote.
Thank you for having us today @HealthintheHood
planting seedlings at Health in Hood’s oldest community garden in Liberty City. All produce grown by the gardens is distributed free-of-charge to families, local food pantries, churches, and community centers @MiamiOpen https://t.co/FSyNTY5xnu
Andy Murray will take on Dusan Lajovic in the first round of the 2023 Miami Open. In 2022, Murray was defeated by Daniil Medvedev in the second round of the tournament. The Brit has won the Miami title on two previous occasions, in 2009 and 2013.