SUBURBAN BOCA RATON, FL -- No matter how you slice it, the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic is a hit.
Hollywood celebrities and tennis professional team up for one-set matches.
"What's lacking in their tennis, they'll make up for it in funny comments," says Chris Evert.
The 2008 Pro-Celebrity lineup includes: Chevy Chase, Bud Collins, Jim Courier, Billy Crystal, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Jon Lovitz, Greg Norman, Jana Novotna, Maeve Quinlan, Gavin Rossdale, Vince Spadea, Alan Thicke, and Dara Torres.
Money raised from the event helps fight drug abuse and supports South Florida's at-risk children.
"Drug abuse is not a glamorous cause by any means but it's a reality and it's something that takes place and it's something that has affected everybody in their lifetime," says Evert.
The Tennis Classic has raised more than $16.8 million over the past 19 years.
Chris continues to impact the South Florida community, but she is not the only Evert improving the game of tennis around here.
Younger brother John is the Executive Director of the Evert Tennis Academy.
The Evert Tennis Academy is an international academy in Boca Raton that focuses on the student-athlete.
The Evert Tennis Academy has recently teamed up with the United States Tennis Association.
Older brother Drew coaches at the Evert Tennis Academy and runs the Evert Adult Camp at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
"They say 'Oh, you're Crissie's brother,' I say 'No she's my sister,'" says Drew.
Chris calls Drew...
"Droodles, but I can't say what I call John," says Chris.
John even partnered with Chris at Wimbledon one year.
John, Chris, Drew, and siblings Jeanne and Clare learned to play and to love the game of tennis together.
Clare has been a longtime tennis coach and Jeanne is the Director of Women's Leagues at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
"And my dad always said initially he got us involved in tennis because he didn't want us on the streets. He didn't want us just doing anything after school so it gave us a purpose. It gave us focus and it taught us lifetime skills. You know, it taught us about competition, and about sportsmanship, about discipline, hard work and because tennis is an individual sport it helped each of us create an identity," says John.
Chrissie helps out at the Evert Tennis Academy several days a week.
She's also busy with her three boys, ages 12, 14, and 17, and her groom as of June.
"They're great kids and I'm proudest of them," says Chris of her sons.
"It was great and it's nice to know that, after 50, you too can find happiness," says Chris of her husband, Greg Norman.
"Whenever I go out and play golf with him, he makes one comment, I tighten up and it just, the wheels come off. The wheels come off," says John.
It is a year of great matches for the Evert's.
John is getting married in Boca Raton in November.
"We'll be a footnote compared to Chrissie and Greg's I'm sure," says John with a laugh.
There have been so many exciting steps that have made this South Florida family what it is today on and off the court.
The Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic takes place next weekend, October 31st through November 2nd.
Tickets are still available for the Delray Beach Tennis Center action and the Boca Raton Resort & Club Gala dinner.
The Commodores will be providing the entertainment at this year's Gala.
Contact Chris Evert Charities at 561-394-2400 or www.chrisevert.org for tickets.
GALA ENTERTAINMENT: The Commodores
The Commodores have been pumping out Motown hits such as “Brick House”, “Three Times a Lady” and “Sail On” for over three decades. After selling over 60 million records for Motown, the Commodores have continued to make new records on their own record label. Well known for their incredible live shows, The Commodores’ “Night Shift” won a Grammy-Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
FEATURED AUCTION ITEMS(subject to change):
• Dinner and a game of pool in New York with Chevy Chase
• VIP tickets and a tour of the set of Live! With Regis and Kelly (tour conducted by Regis Philbin)
• VIP tickets and meet Oprah Winfrey on the set of Oprah
• VIP tickets to a taping of Chelsea Lately on E!, including meeting Chelsea Handler and 2 signed books
• Copy of Good Will Hunting book signed by Matt Damon
• VIP tickets to The Ellen DeGeneres Show
• VIP tickets to a taping of Dr. Phil and meet Dr. Phil after the show
• Tickets to the U.S. Open and Wimbledon
• Visit the set of a Maria Sharapova commercial shoot for Canon and meet Maria
• Two-night hotel stay at Atlantis in the Bahamas
