18th annual WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO

Written by: Staff on 12th November 2010

18th annual WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO |

Tennis legend Billie Jean King and music superstar Sir Elton John are teaming up for their annual charity event — the 18th annual WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO on November 15, 2010 at the Bender Arena at AmericanUniversity in Washington, D.C. This star studded event will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local Washington, D.C. Area AIDS charities.

Billie Jean King and Elton John will each captain a team composed of tennis champions Andre Agassi, James Blake, Stefanie Graf, Anna Kounikova, Martina Navratilova, Rennae Stubbs, Mark Knowles, Jan-Michael Gambill, and more who will play the World TeamTennis format.

Tickets are now on sale for this star studded event! For Special V.I.P. ticket packages, including V.I.P. courtside seating and admission to the Smash Hits V.I.P. Reception and Auction, Click Here or call the Washington AIDS Partnership at 202-939-3381.
In 2009, Elton John won his 9th overall Smash Hits 16 -13 as Tommy Haas defeated Andy Roddick 5 – 2 in the final set. Despite a strong showing by Team King, Tommy Haas was just too much as he won all three of his sets for Team John. Even though it did not count towards the overall match score, Elton John and Serena Williams defeated Andy Roddick and Anna Kournikova 4 – 3 in a celebrity match to open the night.

Last year’s event raised $640,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and AIDS charities serving the Greater Baton Rouge area. Smash Hits has raised more than $9 million for EJAF and various local AIDS charities since 1993.

Breakdown of the Event and Order of Play

Team Elton John Team Billie Jean King

(wearing black) (wearing white)

Andre Agassi Mark Philippoussis

Jan-Michael Gambill Mark Knowles

Stefanie Graf Martina Navratilova

Anna Kournikova Rennae Stubbs

Order of events for match:

*Celebrity Set of Doubles (first to 4 games, 9 point tiebreaker at 3-3):

Elton John/Martina Navratilova vs. Andre Agassi/Stefanie Graf

Followed by a WTT match:

FORMAT: The following 4 events will be played using the WTT format. Sets are first to 5 games with a 9-point tiebreaker at 4-4. Games are no ad, receiver’s choice at 3-3, in mixed doubles; the serve is gender to gender 3-3. Scoring is cumulative and service lets are playable.

Men’s Doubles:

Agassi/Gambill (Team Elton) vs. Knowles/Philippoussis (Team BJK)

Women’s Doubles:

Graf/Kournikova (Team Elton) vs. Navratilova/Stubbs (Team BJK)

Men’s Singles:

Agassi (Team Elton) vs. Philippoussis (Team BJK)

Mixed Doubles:

Agassi/Graf (Team Elton) vs. Knowles/Navratilova

Play starts at 7 p.m. and finishes by 10 p.m.

Topics: Aids Charities, Americanuniversity, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Anna Kounikova, Anna Kournikova, Bender Arena, Billie Jean King, Celebrity Match, Elton John Aids Foundation, Jan Michael Gambill, Martina Navratilova, Music Superstar, Rennae Stubbs, Sir Elton John, Smash Hits 16, Stefanie Graf, Tennis Champions, Tennis Legend, Tommy Haas