Levine in for Young at Advanta WTT Smash Hits
Published on October 10, 2008 under World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release
Jesse Levine, one of the rising young stars on the ATP Tour, will replace Donald Young in the lineup for Sunday's Advanta WTT Smash Hits at 1 p.m. at Kennesaw State University. Levine, who turns 21 next week and is currently ranked in the top 100 only one year after turning pro, will battle Andy Roddick in the featured men's singles match.
Advanta WTT Smash Hits is an annual charity tennis event hosted by Elton John and Billie Jean King. This year's event raises funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund. Action begins at 1 p.m. at the KSU Convocation Center. Other participants include Martina Navratilova, Anna Kournikova and top American junior Melanie Oudin. The players will form two teams which will be coached by John and King for a match using the WTT co-ed team format.
After playing one impressive season at the University of Florida where he was named 2007 SEC Freshman of the Year, Levine turned pro at the 2007 US Open. Just months later, Levine won his first pro title at an ITF Challenger in Nashville, Tenn., and captured his second a week later at a Challenger event in Champaign, Ill.
Levine has been a practice partner for Roger Federer and the US Davis Cup team earlier this year. In May 2008, he dropped only one set en route to winning the singles title at a Challenger tournament in Bradenton, Fla. Two weeks later, Levine teamed with fellow Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Kei Nishikori to win the doubles title at a Challenger in Turkey.
Levine has posted several big wins this summer including a four-set victory over Donald Young at Wimbledon and a win over John Isner in Newport, Rhode Island.
YOUTH IS SERVED . . . Want to see the future of American tennis? Then Kennesaw State University is the place to be on Sunday, Oct. 12 when America's top-ranked junior girl will be showcased alongside some big names at Advanta WTT Smash Hits.
A few days ago, 17-year-old Melanie Oudin was gearing up to play doubles with tennis legend Martina Navratilova. But when Jana Novotna, Navratilova's original singles opponent, had to pull out of Advanta WTT Smash Hits event, Oudin's potential partner became her opponent for Sunday's women's singles showdown. The Marietta resident, who is also the top ranked junior player in the U.S. and the No. 2 ranked junior in the world, is now looking forward to facing off against the seemingly ageless Navratilova, 34 years her senior. Oudin's reaction to learning she will face off against the player many consider to be the best of all time, "Oh my gosh, that is really cool. That'll be a lot of fun." Oudin won her first ITF Circuit pro title in July, while Navratilova won her 41st Grand Slam doubles title less than two years ago at age 50, the 2006 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship with Bob Bryan.
FROM THE COURT TO THE CANVAS. . . Martina Navratilova is well-known for her artistry on the court, but she's also drawing attention for her artistic endeavors off the court with her Art Grand Slam project.
Working with Slovak artist Juraj Kralik and using a technique she calls "tennising", Navratilova hits paint-covered balls on to canvases to create what has become highly- valued artwork. Navratilova is donating one of her original pieces to the auction on Sunday at Advanta WTT Smash Hits. Navratilova will auction off the original painting, titled Sweetspots II, during the pre-match reception and auction. Valued at more than $20,000, Sweetspots II is a painting derived from motion - the motion Navratilova used as she hit and bounced paint-saturated tennis balls onto the canvas, under the direction of Kralik. This painting, every inch of its surface touched and touched again, immortalizes the real acts of Navratilova's phenomenal tennis play.
The live auction will also feature an autographed piano bench from Elton John, Billie Jean King's personal Wimbledon Centre Court tickets and trips to the 2009 Super Bowl and US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Roddick and Kournikova are also donating items to the silent auction.
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 players. VIP packages are available online at www.ejaf.org/SmashHits08 or by calling (404) 653-0240. The VIP reception is co-chaired by civic leaders Dr. Bobbie Bailey, Charlie Hendon, and Sacha Taylor.
Hendon has already started the fund-raising with a generous donation to purchase the "Be An All-Star Assistant Coach" package. Hendon will watch the first set action from the best seat in the house, on the bench next to Billie Jean King. He will also receive a team uniform and get a picture with Team Billie Jean King.
TENNIS TICKETS: Tickets for the tennis action only are available at etix.com or by calling (800) 514-ETIX. Reserved seat tickets range from $70 to $110 and general admission tickets are $39.50. Tennis starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Kennesaw State University Convocation Center. More at WTT.com
World TeamTennis Stories from October 10, 2008
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