ROD LAVER, MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, TODD MARTIN TO HEADLINE TENNIS BENEFIT
Stars gather in Newport to support the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation
Update, July 12, 2006:
JAMEA JACKSON, MALIVAI WASHINGTON ADDED TO NEWPORT SMASH ROSTER more -->
Update, July 19, 2006:
See Photos from the Tennis Smash more -->
NEWPORT, R.I. -- Tennis greatness bursts beyond the baselines when Rod Laver, Martina Navratilova and Todd Martin headline the sixth annual Newport Tennis Smash to benefit the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation on Monday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 18, 2006. Former U.S. Davis Cup stars Stan Smith, Richey Reneberg and Tom Gullikson will join the trio of champions. Players will be featured in exhibition tennis matches at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and will compete in pro-am events at Newport's premier golf and tennis venues.
The Carnegie Abbey Club and its world-renowned Donald Steel designed golf course on Narragansett Bay will be the host venue for a golf pro-am July 17. The tennis pro-am is slated for July 18 on the grass courts at the Hall of Fame and will be followed by the event's spotlight exhibition matches. The Smash's sporting events will be complemented by a gala dinner reception and auction at The Chanler Inn at Cliffwalk on the evening of July 17. Hall of Fame columnist, television commentator and tennis historian, Bud Collins, is slated to provide his customary colorful commentary as the reception's emcee.
While competitive juices remain fervent among the legends, it will be the support programs funded by the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation that drive the athletes' participation. The Foundation, which was founded in 1995 by former tennis professionals Tim and Tom Gullikson, helps brain tumor patients and their families manage the physical, emotional and social challenges presented by the illness. Tim was diagnosed with brain tumors in 1995 and lost his battle to the disease in May, 1996.
At age 49, the former No. 1 Navratilova continues to compete on the WTA Tour. The owner of 167 singles titles, which is more than any man or woman, held her spot atop the women's rankings a record 331 weeks. Also the holder of 175 doubles titles, Navratilova won at least one Tour event in each of 21 straight years.
Laver, also a World No. 1 singles player, held the spot for six consecutive years. The Aussie legend is the only player in tennis history to have twice won all four of tennis' Grand Slam singles titles in the same year-first as an amateur in 1962, then again as a professional in 1969. Laver became Wimbledon's first Open Era champion in 1968 when he beat fellow-Australian, Tony Roche, in straight sets in the final.
A founding member of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Smith achieved the world's No. 1 ranking in 1971 and 1972 after winning U.S Open and Wimbledon titles. In 11 years of Davis Cup play, he played 24 matches (won 22) and went home with seven Cup victories.
Martin, known as one of the world's most cordial members of the professional tennis fraternity, is a member of the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation board of directors. He finished his professional tennis career in 2003 with more than 400 wins and a world singles ranking as high as No. 4. A veteran member of the United States Davis Cup team, Martin helped the squad to the 1995 title under captain, Tom Gullikson.
The last captain to lead the U.S to a Davis Cup title, Tom Gullikson returns to Newport as a former champion of the Hall of Fame Championships.
"We are thrilled to be in Newport this year with the support of some of the greatest players to ever play tennis," said Gullikson, chairman of the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation. "We couldn't ask for a better venue and collection of pros."
The event's exhibition tennis matches will begin at 2:00pm, July 18th, on stadium court at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For tickets and information, call (401) 849-6053 or visit www.tennisfame.com. |
