Tennis event is a smash hit

Rick Devereux

If you ever get a chance to meet tennis star Andy Roddick, don’t tell

him his serve doesn’t look that fast. You might regret it.

At the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event at the Bren Events

Center Monday, a fan yelled to the world’s No. 2-ranked tennis player

known for his blistering serve that his serves look faster on

television than in real life.

Roddick stopped the exhibition mixed doubles set he was playing

with Tracey Austin against Andre Agassi and Anna Kournikova to talk

with the heckler. Roddick invited the man to try to return a few of

his serves.

After three heaters, Dave Slingsby reached into his pocket and

waved a white handkerchief in surrender.

Such was the light mood surrounding the 12th annual charity event

that raises money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The standing-room-only crowd of 5,167 was treated to fun, laughter

and, oh yeah, some really great tennis.

“Southern California has always been great for tennis,” John said.

“This event started in California 12 years ago and we wanted to bring

it back.”

The inaugural Smash Hits was played in Los Angeles in 1993.

“If you look at the tennis champions that have played in this

event,” Roddick said, “it’s just an honor to be here.”

Agassi, Kournikova and Agassi’s coach, Darren Cahill, were coached

by tennis legend Billie Jean King. They faced Roddick, two-time U.S.

open champion Tracy Austin and Agassi’s former coach ad Roddick’s

current instructor, Brad Gilbert. They formed the team coached by

John.

The opening celebrity set of Agassi-Kournikova against

John-Roddick was easygoing, with the professionals not putting forth

too much of an effort. At least not too much of an effort playing

tennis.

Agassi was the clown of the court, telling Kournikova to bend over

and sway more while he served. He was also playing cat-and-mouse wit

the ball girl trying to retrieve a loose ball, letting her get close

and then faking like he was going to pick up the ball.

After Kournikova double faulted on a serve, Agassi coached the

blond Russian on the proper serving technique. Kournikova must have

been too busy laughing to pick up on the instruction, because she

double faulted again.

“I would like to bring this type of atmosphere to the [Association

of Tennis Professionals tour],” Agassi said. “I think this reaches a

new audience and brings enthusiasm to the game.”

The seriousness got turned up a notch in the ensuing men’s doubles

set, but it only got turned up a little. Agassi-Cahill were forced to

field Roddick zingers. Spectators in the first row behind the

baseline were handed baseball gloves to protect themselves from the

speeding serves that invariably slipped past the Agassi-Cahill

defense.

During the mixed doubles of Kournikova-Cahill vs. Austin-Gilbert,

Agassi was coaching his coach, yelling for Cahill to smash it.

Apparently the students couldn’t stand watching the teachers, because

Roddick yelled for a substitute before the third game of the set.

With the top men back in the game, the women became a little

feisty. Kournikova smashed consecutive balls at Roddick, prompting a

plea for safety from Roddick. During an exchange of baseline shots,

Austin yelled at Agassi to “Bring it on, baby.” The four-time Grand

Slam winner proceeded to blaze a groundstroke past her.

At one point, Agassi took off his shirt and flexed, much to the

delight of females in the audience.

Kournikova was so impressed, she fanned her face with a playful

smile.

It prompted Roddick to suggest the match should continue as a

shirts-against-skins affair, but Kournikova did not follow her

partner’s striptease.