US Open's 'Tennis Plays for Peace' raises $1.2 million for Ukraine relief

By CNN Sport staff

Updated 0757 GMT (1557 HKT) August 25, 2022

Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal teamed up for an exhibition match at the Tennis Plays For Peace event.

(CNN)On Wednesday, the US Open held its 'Tennis Plays for Peace' event for Ukraine relief ahead of the start of the year's final grand slam event, raising $1.2 million, according to the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Participating in the event held in New York were Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, John McEnroe, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Leylah Fernandez, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jessica Pegula, Matteo Berrettini, Maria Sakkari, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton. Nadal and Swiatek took on McEnroe and Gauff in one of the highlights of the evening.Women's world No. 1 Swiatek said: «For me, especially because Ukraine is right next to my country and because we as Poles are really united and helping, and I want to use every opportunity to show people that we all can be united.» READ: Fan takes legal action against Nick Kyrgios after allegation that she was 'drunk out of her mind' at Wimbledon finalRead MoreAmericans John McEnroe and Coco Gauff teamed up to take on Swiatek and Nadal.US star Coco Gauff added: «For me to speak out is something that I always cherish. I always said you can change the world with your racket. »So being here today on Armstrong and playing for such an amazing cause is something that I won't take for granted, and I'm grateful to do it amongst legends of the sport."Ukrainian players Dayana Yastremska, Katarina Zavatska and Daria Snigur — as well as former players Sergiy Stakhovsky and Olga Savchuk — were also at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, while 12-year-old Ustyn Chornyy, from the