Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov? Oh, they’re more than just fellow countrymen. These two have teamed up as doubles partners, diving into charitable waters with their tennis rackets in hand. It’s kinda heartwarming, isn’t it?
Currently, they’re hanging out in the U.S. They took a shot at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. But, luck wasn’t on their side, and both got knocked out before hitting the fourth round. Such is life, huh?
Rublev, ranked World No. 5, was back in action for the first time since a rather dramatic exit in Dubai. He managed to outplay Andy Murray initially but then stumbled against Jiri Lehecka. Talk about a rollercoaster.
Khachanov’s journey was cut short too. Despite bagging the ATP 250 event in Doha recently, he couldn’t muscle past Thiago Seyboth Wild. Straight sets, and he was out. Ouch.
After their early exits, the duo didn’t just sit around. Nope. They headed to the UCLA Tennis Centre in Los Angeles for an exhibition match. This place has been buzzing lately, especially with Novak Djokovic popping by during his Indian Wells prep.
Khachanov spilled the beans about this event on Instagram. He and Rublev were set to face off on March 16. The best part? A chunk of the ticket sales proceeds was earmarked for Artsakh refugees in Armenia. Now, that’s using fame for a good cause.
For Khachanov, this charity hits close to home. His roots trace back to Armenia, with both his dad and maternal granddad hailing from there. It’s personal, and it’s powerful.
Social media was abuzz with highlights from their match. Even the tennis legend, Andre Agassi, snagged a ticket. Yep, the retired World No. 1 with Armenian blood was there, cheering them on.
Agassi’s presence was a big deal. He’s got Armenian and Assyrian heritage, after all. Khachanov even shared a snap with him post-match, captioning it with a heartfelt shoutout to little Armenia. It’s moments like these that remind you of the good in the world, right?
And then, there’s a tweet. Or at least, there was supposed to be. Links and tweets have a way of getting tangled up, don’t they? But hey, that’s the internet for you—unpredictable and a tad chaotic. Just like this story, I guess.
Takeaways
‣ Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov, both professional tennis players, collaborated as doubles partners to support a charitable cause aimed at helping Artsakh refugees in Armenia through an exhibition match.
‣ Despite early exits from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the duo utilized their time in the United States to participate in the exhibition at the UCLA Tennis Centre in Los Angeles, drawing attention and support for the charitable cause.
‣ The event not only raised funds through ticket sales but also garnered significant attention, with retired tennis legend Andre Agassi, who has Armenian heritage, attending to support the cause.