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The Breakers unveiled its new world-class tennis and racquet complex Friday morning with an exhibition match featuring four tennis legends.
Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, who won 35 Grand Slam singles championships among them, participated in a mixed doubles match as part of the Palm Beach resort's "Grand Slam Weekend."
The two-day event, which also includes a "Tennis Ball" gala Friday and pro-am tennis competition Saturday afternoon, benefits First Serve USA, a West Palm Beach-based nonprofit organization that uses sports to positively impact the lives of at-risk youth.
The organization provides sports instruction, educational programs and mentoring opportunities for children throughout Palm Beach and Martin counties. The Breakers is one of its community partners.
"We are truly honored to collaborate with this incredible partner and believe that investing in education and mentorship is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen our communities," Ken Thompson, The Breakers' director of tennis, told guests before the exhibition match got underway. "We look forward to working together to help shape a brighter future for Palm Beach County youth."
Friday's exhibition match, which was played in a 10-game pro-set format on one of the tennis facility's four grass courts, featured Graf and Agassi, who have been married for more than two decades, competing against Clijsters and Roddick.
Emmy award-winning comedian and author Michael Kosta served as the match's umpire. Five teenagers who receive services from First Serve USA's Hobe Sound chapter were ballboys.
Guests were treated to nearly an hour of extended rallies, acrobatic volleys and playful banter among the four tennis stars.
Roddick, a former high school tennis standout at Boca Prep International School and 2003 U.S. Open champion, and Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam singles championships, were the chattiest on court.
After Roddick won a point for his team following a long rally with Agassi, Roddick told Agassi, "In 30 years, that's the first backhand crosscourt rally I've ever won against you."
After Roddick served an ace to Agassi's side, Agassi told him, "So impressive, Andy."
Kosta noted later in the match that Roddick had notched 9,074 aces during his career.
Roddick served several additional aces during Friday's exhibition, which he and Clijsters won 10-7.
Following the match, the four players met with the media to discuss The Breakers' new $12 million tennis and racquet complex, which features 16 state-of-the-art, open-air courts, including four grass courts, six clay courts, two hard courts, two pickleball courts and two padel courts.
"It's beautiful," Agassi said of the facility, which also is equipped with comfort stations adjacent to each court for rejuvenation and refreshments, a fully-equipped stretching deck, and shaded structures. "I got to see it under construction. I was here last fall. I could see them laying the grass. It's gorgeous. To have grass and clay and pickle and padel, it's a great addition to the environment. I would come back in a heartbeat."
"It's gorgeous," added Graf, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion who lived in Boca Raton as a teenager and has had a second home there for years. She and Agassi now reside in Las Vegas. "I grew up here. When I was 15, 16 years old, I lived down at the Polo Club of Boca Raton. The whole area, from Delray Beach to here, is so familiar, and I have lots of good memories."
Graf said she was happy to see grass courts at the new facility, which is fully operational aside from the two padel courts, which The Breakers CEO Paul Leone said are expected to open next month.
Friday's exhibition provided an exciting introduction to the resort’s new tennis center, he told the Daily News.
"It's thrilling to have such amazing world-class players at this world-class resort," he said. "That's a marriage. The Breakers was designed to be one of the greatest resorts in the world, and now we have some of the greatest tennis players on this beautiful day in Palm Beach. What more could you ask for?"
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: The Breakers in Palm Beach hosts charity event featuring tennis champions
Continue reading...
Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters, who won 35 Grand Slam singles championships among them, participated in a mixed doubles match as part of the Palm Beach resort's "Grand Slam Weekend."
The two-day event, which also includes a "Tennis Ball" gala Friday and pro-am tennis competition Saturday afternoon, benefits First Serve USA, a West Palm Beach-based nonprofit organization that uses sports to positively impact the lives of at-risk youth.
The organization provides sports instruction, educational programs and mentoring opportunities for children throughout Palm Beach and Martin counties. The Breakers is one of its community partners.
"We are truly honored to collaborate with this incredible partner and believe that investing in education and mentorship is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen our communities," Ken Thompson, The Breakers' director of tennis, told guests before the exhibition match got underway. "We look forward to working together to help shape a brighter future for Palm Beach County youth."
Friday's exhibition match, which was played in a 10-game pro-set format on one of the tennis facility's four grass courts, featured Graf and Agassi, who have been married for more than two decades, competing against Clijsters and Roddick.
Emmy award-winning comedian and author Michael Kosta served as the match's umpire. Five teenagers who receive services from First Serve USA's Hobe Sound chapter were ballboys.
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Guests were treated to nearly an hour of extended rallies, acrobatic volleys and playful banter among the four tennis stars.
Roddick, a former high school tennis standout at Boca Prep International School and 2003 U.S. Open champion, and Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam singles championships, were the chattiest on court.
After Roddick won a point for his team following a long rally with Agassi, Roddick told Agassi, "In 30 years, that's the first backhand crosscourt rally I've ever won against you."
You must be registered for see images attach
After Roddick served an ace to Agassi's side, Agassi told him, "So impressive, Andy."
Kosta noted later in the match that Roddick had notched 9,074 aces during his career.
Roddick served several additional aces during Friday's exhibition, which he and Clijsters won 10-7.
Following the match, the four players met with the media to discuss The Breakers' new $12 million tennis and racquet complex, which features 16 state-of-the-art, open-air courts, including four grass courts, six clay courts, two hard courts, two pickleball courts and two padel courts.
You must be registered for see images attach
"It's beautiful," Agassi said of the facility, which also is equipped with comfort stations adjacent to each court for rejuvenation and refreshments, a fully-equipped stretching deck, and shaded structures. "I got to see it under construction. I was here last fall. I could see them laying the grass. It's gorgeous. To have grass and clay and pickle and padel, it's a great addition to the environment. I would come back in a heartbeat."
"It's gorgeous," added Graf, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion who lived in Boca Raton as a teenager and has had a second home there for years. She and Agassi now reside in Las Vegas. "I grew up here. When I was 15, 16 years old, I lived down at the Polo Club of Boca Raton. The whole area, from Delray Beach to here, is so familiar, and I have lots of good memories."
Graf said she was happy to see grass courts at the new facility, which is fully operational aside from the two padel courts, which The Breakers CEO Paul Leone said are expected to open next month.
Friday's exhibition provided an exciting introduction to the resort’s new tennis center, he told the Daily News.
"It's thrilling to have such amazing world-class players at this world-class resort," he said. "That's a marriage. The Breakers was designed to be one of the greatest resorts in the world, and now we have some of the greatest tennis players on this beautiful day in Palm Beach. What more could you ask for?"
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: The Breakers in Palm Beach hosts charity event featuring tennis champions
Continue reading...
