Top young American tennis stars added to Mylan WTT Smash Hits lineup

Written by: Staff on 20th September 2012

Top young American tennis stars added to Mylan WTT Smash Hits lineup

epa03373105 Christina McHale of the US hits a return to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands during their match on the second day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 28 August 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/PETER FOLEY |

Three of the United States’ top young tennis talents have been added to the all-star field of Mylan WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO, the all-star charity event co-hosted by Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King. Top 30 player Christina McHale, No. 1 ranked junior Taylor Townsend and 2012 US Open junior girls singles champion Samantha Crawford join a field that includes tennis greats Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Stefanie Graf, on October 16 at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Tickets are currently available for Mylan WTT Smash Hits. Corner reserved seats are $40; premium reserved seats are $75; and courtside seats are $125. Order tickets through www.wttsmashhits.com or ticketmaster.com. For group sales of 10 or more tickets, call 412-924-8270.

This year’s event marks the 20th anniversary for Smash Hits, which has raised more than $10.5 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and various local AIDS charities since 1993. Mylan WTT Smash Hits will benefit EJAF and the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, and will also include a pre-match VIP Reception and Auction hosted by Allegheny Sports Medicine.

McHale, 20, is the third highest ranked American on the WTA Tour at No. 29. McHale turned pro in 2010 and won her first ITF singles title in 2011. She also represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympic Games. McHale broke into the top 100 in 2011, posting an impressive win over Caroline Wozniacki, who was the world’s No. 1 at the time.

The 16-year-old Townsend is the world’s top-ranked junior player. She has won four Grand Slam titles this year, starting with the junior singles and doubles titles at the 2012 Australian Open, and she added the junior doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Crawford, 17, won the 2012 US Open Junior Girls’ Championship as an unseeded wild card entry earlier this month. She reached the singles and doubles finals at an ITF event in Yakima, Wash., in July where she won her first ITF doubles title.

This future generation of stars will be teamed up with some of the biggest names in tennis – Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf and Andy Roddick, who recently announced that the 2012 US Open would be his final professional tournament.

Captained by King and John, the players will form two teams and play five sets of World TeamTennis (WTT) – one set each of men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The music legend is expected to participate in a celebrity doubles match to open the event.

Special VIP ticket packages, including VIP courtside seating and admission to the VIP Reception and Auction, will also be available for $500. John, King and all players will participate in the pre-match live auction, which will include an Elton John signed piano bench and King’s Wimbledon tickets among other items. To buy VIP ticket packages or for more information, call 412-924-8270.

Official event sponsors include Mylan, GEICO, Highmark, Allegheny Sports Medicine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mercedes-Benz of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Horizon Properties, Wells Fargo, Buck Consultants. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, The Norton Agency, GA Communication Group, Generic Pharmaceutical Association, Heeter Direct, Mansions on Fifth, 94.5 3WS, KDKA, and Pittsburgh Magazine.

Topics: American tenni snews, Christina Mchale, Mylan WTT Smash Hits lineup, Samantha Crawford, Sports, Taylor Townsend, Tennis, Tennis News