Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev Play Exhibition Match for Homenetmen Glendale Ararat, Raising $100,000 for Armenians Forcibly Displaced from Artsakh

On Saturday March 16, the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA held an exhibition match featuring world-renowned tennis stars Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev. Hosted by Homenetmen Glendale Ararat, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth through sports and scouting programs.

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The match kicked off with a heartwarming display as the Ararat Homenetmen Scouts proudly paraded the flags of the USA, Armenia, Artsakh, and California, with Khachanov and Rublev joining them. The crowd erupted with applause as the champions took to the court.

Before diving into the match, Khachanov and Rublev warmed up alongside Tiffany Papazian, Lily Chamras, Oleg Simonyan, and Vem Tarassian, winners and runners-up of the 2nd Annual Ararat Tennis Tournament.

Throughout the game, the atmosphere was electric as match host Silva Harapetian engaged the players in playful banter with the audience. Rublev affectionately dubbed Khachanov the "Armenian Warrior” and joked about his inquisitive nature.

Amidst the on-court action, Harapetian also quizzed the players on their favorite Armenian dishes, with Khachanov opting for dolma and Rublev expressing his love for Lule Kabob.

In the end, Khachanov won with a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win. However, the true triumph of the day transcended the scoreboard as over $100,000 was raised to support Armenian families forcibly displaced from Artsakh in Armenia.

Reflecting on the event, Homenetmen Glendale Ararat Chairwoman Roobina Arshakian expressed gratitude for Khachanov's ongoing support. She highlighted his commitment to inspiring young members through his success story and personal engagement with the community.

Khachanov, currently ranked #15 among the world's male tennis players, boasts an impressive record, including five ATP Tour singles titles and an Olympic silver medal.

His partnership with Rublev has also seen success, clinching a doubles Masters 1000 title.

Beyond their achievements on the court, Khachanov and Rublev exemplify the values of strength, resilience, and community engagement. Through their involvement with Homenetmen Glendale Ararat, they continue to inspire the next generation of Armenian American youth, embodying the organization's ethos of promoting physical, moral, and social education.

Established in 1978, Homenetmen Glendale Ararat remains dedicated to fostering Armenian cultural pride, volunteerism, and leadership among its nearly 1800 members. With events like this exhibition match, the organization continues to make a positive impact on the community, one serve at a time.