- Title: USA: TENNIS - Elton John and tennis greats team up for aids charity
- Date: 17th November 2010
- Summary: (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEFFI GRAF SAYING "As Andre earlier mentioned I don't miss the competitive side either so I hope to make it entertaining and not hurt myself." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARTINA NAVRATILOVA SAYING "I hadn't played Steffi since 93 I think was the last time we played singles but I played an exhibition a year and a half ago in Ja
- Embargoed: 2nd December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAEAZM9LC2JVDJXE364EKZP6CC
- Story Text: Tennis legend Billie Jean King and music superstar Sir Elton John teamed up for their annual charity event -- the 18th annual World Team Tennis Smash Hits on Tuesday (November 15, 2010) at the Bender Arena at American University in Washington, D.C. This star studded event featured Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova among others and raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local Washington, D.C. Area AIDS charities.
"I've always found that of all the sports people, tennis people were on the page first when it came to supporting aids and becoming aware and helping out so its all credit to the tennis community and I want to say thanks all of them who have played over the last 18 years," John told reporters at a press conference prior to the event.
Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf joined the music legend at the press conference.
"After 21 years of doing this I've pretty much had enough of the competition side of it but do love getting out there and seeing what a little effort can go a long ways and I think it's what we see everytime we perform at this event." Andre Agassi said. "We see a community come together. We see a lot of people come together. They stand shoulder to shoulder and see that they can actually solve some of the world's problems and to share in that is a privledge. The competition I can live without. The tennis is fun and the result is fantastic."
Martina Navratilova and Elton John teamed up to beat Steffi Graf and 4-1 in a best of four game set in the featured event. Billie Jean King and Elton John then each captained a team composed of tennis champions Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Anna Kounikova, Martina Navratilova, Eric Butorac, Jan-Michael Gambill, Mark Phillippoussis, Rennae Stubbs, and more who played the World TeamTennis format. Now in its 18th year, WTT Smash Hits has raised nearly $10 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local charities worldwide. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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