Bryce Alderton
The list of recognizable tennis players who will make their way to UC
Irvine next month for a night of charity and competition got one name
longer Wednesday.
Anna Kournikova, the 23-year-old Russian blond racket star known
just as much, if not more, for her appearances in fashion and other
entertainment magazines than for her accomplishments on the courts,
will join the fold of tennis stars that already includes eight-time
Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi and this year's Wimbledon runner-up
Andy Roddick for the 12th annual World Team Tennis All-Star Smash
Hits event at 7 p.m. Oct. 11. at UCI's Bren Events Center.
Kournikova, winner of 16 professional doubles titles, including
two Australian Open crowns with partner Martina Hingis, will compete
in women's doubles, mixed doubles and the pro-celebrity match for the
event, hosted by Elton John and World Team Tennis co-founder Billie
Jean King, who will each coach a team.
Kournikova, making her second Smash Hits appearance, became the
third confirmed player in an event making its second appearance in
Southern California. The Forum in Inglewood hosted the first Smash
Hits event.
Forbes Magazine ranked Kournikova No. 82 on its top-100 celebrity
list in its July 5 issue, and Sports Business Daily listed her sixth
in its Top 10 Most Marketable Female Athletes last year.
Ilana Kloss, World Team Tennis chief executive and commissioner,
was thrilled when Kournikova agreed to participate in an event the
players don't get paid for. The intrigue surrounding Kournikova
abounds, Kloss said.
"Every age group loves Anna," Kloss said. "She is a huge asset who
sells tickets.
"I think it was a matter of scheduling, because she obviously
travels a lot."
Kloss hopes the event raises more awareness for the Newport Beach
Breakers, who claimed the World Team Tennis title last month in their
second season.
Kloss hopes to land more players in the next two weeks to ideally
give each team four players -- two men and two women.
"We are talking to everybody," Kloss said. "We are starting at the
top and working our way down."
Roddick and Agassi, both quarterfinalists at this week's U.S.
Open, will be the featured singles match.
The event is expected to raise more than $1 million for the Elton
John AIDS Foundation, an international nonprofit organization that
generates money for preventive education and direct patient care
services for those living with or at risk of HIV or AIDS.
Since its inception, Smash Hits has raised close to $5 million for
the foundation.
Tickets range from $35 to $100 and are on sale at Ticketmaster by
calling (714) 740-2000 or the Bren Center (949) 824-5000.
