Star-Studded Tennis Event Raises Money For AIDS Charities
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Legendary performer Elton John paid a visit to Pittsburgh Tuesday, not to perform though. Instead, he was playing tennis to raise money for a good cause.
And he brought some famous friends with him.
It was a music legend meeting a sports icon when Elton John and Billie Jean King walked out onto the court at the Petersen Events Center in Oakand.
The Mylan World Team Tennis Smash Hits Charity Night paired legends of the game with current stars for a star-studded fundraiser.
"This is fantastic. I mean Roddick, Agassi, Graf, plus Navratilova, Elton John, it's absolutely fantastic seeing this quality of tennis and just entertainment," said Randall Sulkan, a tennis fan.
"I'm so excited," added Chelsey Calderone, another fan. "Andre Agassi has been my hero since I was 7 years old."
The Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force is the local beneficiary.
"This is very important because if people are going to turn out and give money in the community to come and see us play tennis, it's only right that some of the money stays in the community," said John. "We've done it for 20 years now, and this seems to be a really good fit in this auditorium. I think we're going to have one of our biggest crowds ever."
"One of the things, we do go to different cities every year so we can leave money locally," added King. "That's why we change venues all the time."
And this year, they are celebrating their 20-year milestone in Pittsburgh with sponsor Mylan. The celebrity-filled lineup spawned from a performer with a genuine love for the game.
"I've been a big tennis fan for a long time," John said. I love to watch it, I love to play it and it gives me a chance to be on court and watch my idols play close up."
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