Graf to Make 1st Appearance at Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity

Written by: Staff on 21st March 2011

Graf to Make 1st Appearance at Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity |

Tennis legend Stefanie Graf, who was the world’s top women’s tennis player for a record 377 non-consecutive weeks during her stellar career, has committed to play in the 2011 Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, Nov. 12 – 13 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla.

Graf was the year-end No. 1 player in the world a record eight times and collected 107 singles titles during her career, including 22 Grand Slam singles championships. She reached a Grand Slam final 31 times. In 1988 Graf became the first and only tennis player (male or female) to achieve the “Golden Slam” by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. She is the last player, male or female, to win all four Grand Slams in a calendar year.

Graf married tennis legend Andre Agassi in 2001 and the couple has two children. Graf and Agassi continue to be very involved in various children’s causes with Graf focused on her own foundation, Children for Tomorrow. Children for Tomorrow helps to heal the psychological wounds children and families have endured from a range of violent experiences such as war, persecution, fleeing, and exile.

“We are thrilled to have Stefanie at our event this year,” said Chris Evert, host of the event and founder of Chris Evert Charities. “She has done so much for tennis but she has done even more for children around the world and we know she will be a great addition to our field of celebrities at this year’s event.”

For more than two decades tennis legend and South Florida philanthropist Chris Evert has hosted the event to help abused and neglected children in South Florida. Since the first event in 1989, the Chris Evert / Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic has raised more than $19 million. Chris Evert Charities partners with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, a public-private partnership in conjunction with the state of Florida to raise money supporting programs for at-risk children.

In past years the event has featured tennis legends and standouts Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe, Anna Kournikova, Jim Courier, Jana Novotna, Lindsay Davenport; former President George H.W. Bush; actors Billy Crystal, Elisabeth Shue, Matthew Perry, Jeffrey Donovan, Chevy Chase; musicians Gavin Rossdale and David Cook and other greats from the worlds of tennis and entertainment.

The annual Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Gala will feature an evening of music, silent and live auctions and dinner and dancing at the renowned Boca Raton Resort and Club. Past featured entertainers have included Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Kool and the Gang, The Commodores and Gladys Knight.

Tickets for the tennis action and the Gala dinner are available through Chris Evert Charities at 561-394-2400 or www.chrisevert.org.