Isner, Morariu joins Advanta WTT Smash Hits lineup
Published on September 4, 2007 under World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release
John Isner, the hard-serving American who ignited US Open crowds with serves up to 140 mph, and doubles Grand Slam champion Corina Morariu will join Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport and Anna Kournikova in the lineup for the 2007 Advanta WTT Smash Hits.
The annual charity event, hosted by longtime friends Elton John and Billie Jean King, is set for Wed., Oct. 10, at the Pavilion at Villanova in Villanova, Pa. Advanta WTT Smash Hits benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the local charity ActionAIDS.
The 6-foot-9 Isner, who advanced to the third round of the US Open before losing in four sets to world No. 1 Roger Federer, will face off against another big server, Andy Roddick, in the evening's men's singles match.
Advanta WTT Smash Hits is a co-ed tennis event utilizing the WTT format. Elton John will open the evening with a celebrity doubles match before the two teams of top professionals hit the courts for five sets of WTT action.
This past year as a college senior, Isner led the Georgia Bulldogs to the NCAA team title. Isner turned pro earlier this summer and made headlines by advancing to the finals of the ATP event in Washington, D.C., where he lost to Andy Roddick.
Morariu, who played this summer for the Kansas City Explorers of the WTT Pro League, has won one Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title and 13 doubles titles. Morariu teamed with Davenport in 1999 to win the Wimbledon doubles championship and won the 2001 Australian Open mixed doubles crown. Morariu was sidelined in 2001 after being diagnosed with leukemia and made her return to pro competition one year later with the Philadelphia Freedoms.
Roddick has consistently been ranked among the top 10 players in the world since turning pro in 2000. Roddick won his 23rd ATP singles title this summer in Washington, D.C. The former world No. 1 won the 2003 US Open and has reached the finals of Wimbledon twice (2004 and 2005).
Davenport is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion who last played at Villanova in the 2000 Advanta Championships when she won her second consecutive Advanta title. In July, Davenport returned to the courts for the Sacramento Capitals just six weeks after her son Jagger was born.
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. Kournikova plays for the Sacramento Capitals of the WTT Pro League.
Tickets range from $40-$110 and are available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (215) 336-2000. ActionAIDS is offering a limited number of VIP packages which include a pre-match reception and auction with the players and priority seating for $300-$500. Contact ActionAIDS at (215) 981-3346 for more information. For additional information, please visit World TeamTennis at www.wtt.com.
World TeamTennis Stories from September 4, 2007
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