Serena Williams to play with Mardy Fish at Tennis & Music Fest

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Another tennis great has joined the all-star cast for the sixth annual Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest — Serena Williams.

Williams, who has won 27 Grand Slam titles, will be Mardy Fish's doubles partner in a third exhibition match at the Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club on Friday night.

"She is a fierce competitor and one of the all-time greats of our sport and I'm so excited that our hometown crowd will get to see her in action," Fish said of Williams, who will remain in Vero Beach over the weekend to take in Saturday night's concert.

"I'm just glad I won't be playing against her."

The tennis exhibition lineup now has Fish facing Sam Querrey in the first match at 7:30 p.m., followed by a doubles match between Fish-Querrey and Mike and Bob Bryan.

Fish will then team up with Williams against a doubles team that has yet to be announced.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the Jake Owen Concert — with special guests Chris Young and Eric Paslay — will be held in Holman Stadium at the Vero Beach Sports Village.

Williams, considered one of the greatest women's tennis players of all time, has 27 Grand Slam titles — 13 singles (four Wimbledon), 12 doubles and two mixed doubles — placing her ninth on the all-time list. She has been ranked as the No. 1 women's tennis player five times, the first on July 8, 2002 and the last on Nov. 2, 2009.

Williams, a Palm Beach Gardens resident, also has won two Olympic gold medals in women's doubles and has won more money ($34,751,934) in her tennis career than any other female athlete.

Known for her colorful outfits and rocket serves on the court, Williams has become increasingly active in the fashion/entertainment world and with her charity work in recent years.

The Serena Williams Signature Statement Collection — including fashion, jewelry and accessories — is featured on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). She has made numerous guest TV appearances, including ER and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has appeared on MTV, and in television commercials. She also funded the Serena Williams Secondary School in Natooni, Kenya, in 2008 and last year helped form a charity event to aid Haiti earthquake victims.

For more information on this weekend's events, call 866-333-7623 or visit www.chevents.com

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