Elton John, Billie Jean King and a host of tennis champions visited Bender Arena Monday night, which was transformed into Center Court for the 18th Annual World TeamTennis Smash Hits presented by GEICO.
The entire night’s events, which included a press conference, live auction, and five tennis matches, raised over $500,000 to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Washington AIDS Partnership.
A pre-Smash Hits live auction in the Mary Graydon Center raised a total of $267,000, half of which will go toward AIDS charities in the D.C. area. The other half will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds care programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS prevention education.
King, John and the numerous tennis starts who participated in the charity event helped with the live auction preceding the main event. Auction items included tickets to the 2011 Wimbledon men’s and women’s championship finals, two autographed Sir Elton John piano benches and tennis lessons with Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, which sold to the highest bidder at $50,000.
Holding the event in D.C. was crucial in order to raise awareness of the issue of HIV/AIDS in the area, John said
“There is a massive problem with AIDS here,” John said. “We hope to alleviate some of the problems here with the money we raise tonight.”
King agreed with John, calling the Washington, D.C., area the “face of HIV/AIDS.”
“We are just trying to make a difference,” King said.
King and John captained the two tennis teams that played in the main event, which featured five World TeamTennis matches.
Players on Team Billie Jean included: • Eric Butorac, who joined the line-up at the last minute after Mark Knowles advanced to the doubles finals in Paris this past weekend • Mark Philippoussis, who replaced James Blake who was out with a shoulder injury • Rennae Stubbs, four-time Olympic team member for Australia • Martina Navratilova, considered one of the best women’s singles player in history
Team Elton featured tennis legends: • Andre Agassi, who has participated in 11 WTT Smash Hits • Stefanie Graf, Agassi’s wife and 22-time Grand Slam winner • Jan-Michael Gambill • Anna Kournikova
At the 2009 WTT Smash Hits, Team Elton defended Team Billie Jean 16 matches to 13. Team Billie Jean got its revenge this year, winning the entire event 19 matches to 15.
The event kicked off with a celebrity set of doubles, featuring John and Navratilova versus Agassi and Graf. All four players received a standing ovation as they walked on to the court.
The crowd went wild whenever John won a point for his team, which did happen a number of times. However, Navratilova carried the duo to victory. The set did not count towards the overall match scores.
A set of men’s doubles followed, drawing all of the male teammates on to the court. Agassi and Gambill won four games in a row, coming from behind to claim the first event for Team Elton. All players looked comfortable on the court, and Agassi continuously joked with the crowd.
“The competition I can live without,” Agassi said before the match. “But the tennis is fun, and the cause is excellent.”
Women’s doubles followed, with Graf and Kournikova taking on Stubbs and Navratilova. Team Billie Jean was able to take the set, despite Graf’s efforts to take her opponents out; the powerhouse purposely sent the ball sailing at both Stubbs and Navratilova during the set.
“Its great to be on the court with all these legends,” said Navratilova, a legend herself.
Rounding out the night was a set of men’s singles, in which Philippoussis defeated Agassi, much to the crowd’s despair, and a set of mixed doubles.
Agassi and Graf of Team Elton took on Team Billie Jean’s Philippoussis and Navratilova in the mixed doubles set. Halfway through the set, Graf appeared to strain her calf muscle, forcing Kournikova to complete the rest of the match in her place. Team Elton drew out the set as long as they could, but eventually fell to Team Billie Jean, ending the night’s event.
The two teams are now tied at nine Smash Hits each until next year’s event.
kgreubel@theeagleonline.com
