MERCEDES-BENZ CLASSIC III

APRIL 5, 2006 - TAMPA, FL
TENNIS/CELEBRITY CHARITY EVENT - HOSTED BY JIM COURIER



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Stars with Hearts: Courier, Kournikova, McEnroe and Evert join Forces in Tampa to Help Local Children

Tennis superstars Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Anna Kournikova and Chris Evert dazzled the crowd for a night of legendary tennis at the St. Pete Times Forum on April 5 for the third annual Mercedes-Benz Classic. The tennis stars donated their time to help raise money for Raymond James Courier’s Kids (RJCK), a foundation committed to helping kids develop life skills through tennis.

The Mercedes-Benz Classic III gave Tampa tennis fans a night of unforgettable entertainment. The evening began when American tennis legends and Outback Champions Series rivals John McEnroe and Jim Courier battled it out for the win at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Tampa crowd was treated to an intense match-up with the tennis hall of famers and former world #1s splitting sets, each set ending with a tie-break. In the deciding super tie-break, the four-time Grand Slam champion Courier relied on his blistering ground strokes to pull through to a 10-6 victory.

Next, the ladies joined in on the action when tennis icons Chris Evert and Anna Kournikova paired with the men for a set of entertaining mixed doubles. Team Kournikova/McEnroe took on Team Courier/Evert. With microphones attached during play, the crowd was treated to witty banter from the talented foursome and saw Kournikova/McEnroe clinch the victory despite a strong effort from the team of former world #1s Evert and Courier.

All players participated earlier in the day in a tennis clinic at the St. Pete Tennis Center with kids who benefit from the RJCK program and experienced the positive impact of their efforts firsthand. Kournikova noted, “Kids have always been a passion of mine...something just happens to me when I am around kids." McEnroe, Evert, Courier and Kournikova shared te

nnis pointers with local kids as they worked on groundstrokes at the tennis center recently re-furbished with support of the RJCK program. Former participants in the Mercedes Benz Classic series in Tampa include Andre Agassi, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles, Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and James Blake.