Stefanos Tsitsipas has expressed his commitment to aiding in the reconstruction of Acapulco by announcing his pledge to donate money for every ace he serves at the Mexican Open this year.
Last October, Hurricane Otis wreaked havoc in Acapulco, resulting in numerous casualties and extensive damage estimated in billions of dollars. Officials later confirmed it as Mexico’s most financially devastating tropical cyclone.
In anticipation of the ATP 500 event in Acapulco, Tsitsipas declared his intention to donate $1,000 for each ace he scores during the tournament, directing the funds towards the city’s relief efforts in 2024.
“I will be donating $1,000 for every ace I hit this week in Acapulco. It’s going to be transferred to the relief programmes for Acapulco in 2024,” he announced.
Following his victory over Roman Safiullin, the 12th-ranked player elaborated on his decision, emphasizing that witnessing the city’s devastation firsthand had only strengthened his resolve to contribute.
“In tough moments like this, I want to contribute and be helpful. So that was completely a no-brainer, that was something that I initially planned from a long time ago and I really wanted to make sure Acapulco gets fed, gets supported in difficult times,” Tsitsipas explained during his on-court interview.
Reflecting on the emotional impact of seeing people in need during his travels from the airport to the courts, he added, “And you know, I saw a massive line when I was arriving from the airport to the courts, of people waiting to be fed.
So that kind of made me feel really emotional about the whole situation and I’m happy that through tennis, I’m able to create happiness and also give hope to people that have been suffering for all these months.”
With five aces already in his opening match against Safiullin, Tsitsipas aims to continue contributing both on and off the court as he progresses further in the tournament.
