Roddick, Kournikova, Navratilova Headline WTT Smash Hits

Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova and Anna Kournikova are among the tennis stars who will join Elton John and Billie Jean King for their annual charity tennis event, Advanta World TeamTennis Smash Hits, October 12, at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. 
 
The 16th annual event raises money for the fight against HIV and AIDS and will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.
 
Tickets for Advanta WTT Smash Hits will go on sale Saturday, August 16 at 10 a.m. (Eastern) at etix.com or by calling (800) 514-ETIX.  Reserved seat tickets for the 16th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits range from $70 to $110 and general admission tickets are $39.50.
 
Advanta WTT Smash Hits returns to the Atlanta area, Sir Elton’s adopted home, for the first time since 2000, and will be co-chaired by civic leaders Dr. Bobbie Bailey, Charlie Hendon, and Sacha Taylor.  
 
Advanta WTT Smash Hits has raised more than $8.5 million since 1993. The players will form two teams, with one team captained by John and the other by King.  Five sets of tennis, using the World TeamTennis (WTT) format, will be played.  John also plans to participate in a celebrity doubles event to open the evening.  Additional participants will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
 
Roddick has won 25 singles titles on the ATP Tour, including events in San Jose and Dubai earlier this year.  The former world No. 1 won the 2003 U.S. Open and has reached the finals of Wimbledon twice (2004 and 2005).  Roddick won the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2004 and founded the Andy Roddick Foundation, which has raised more than $8.25 million for several charities since 2001.
 
At age 51, Navratilova just completed her record 19th WTT season.  The Hall of Famer spent 156 consecutive weeks as the world’s No. 1 singles player and shares the all-time Wimbledon record of 20 titles with Billie Jean King.  During her storied career, Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women's doubles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Navratilova holds 167 singles titles, more than any other player, male or female and 178 doubles titles.
 
Kournikova is a two-time Australian Open doubles champion and a former No. 1 in doubles and No. 8 in singles in the world rankings.  She became the second woman in the Open era to reach the semifinals of Wimbledon in her debut.  This native Russian, who won 16 career WTA Tour doubles titles, is one of the world's most popular female athletes.  Kournikova also plays for the St. Louis Aces of the WTT Pro League. Special VIP ticket packages, which include VIP courtside seating and admission to the Smash Hits VIP Reception and Auction, are available for $350.  The VIP Reception, which begins at 11 a.m., includes a silent and live auction and will be attended by John, King and all players. VIP packages are available online at www.ejaf.org/SmashHits08 or by calling (404) 653-0240. For additional information, please visit World TeamTennis at www.wtt.com.

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