Chanda Rubin will return to the court for a cause.
The Lafayette, La., native, who has often been recognized for her community service, will be back on court to play the December 8 Advanta WTT Smash Hits at
Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge.
Co-hosted by longtime friends Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King, the 17th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits is a charity tennis event that raises funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and Baton Rouge area AIDS charities. Rubin joins a field that features Andy Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay Davenport, No. 18 ranked Tommy Haas and world doubles No. 1 Liezel Huber.
Reserved tickets are $30, $65 and $100, and are available through the LSU Box Office or by calling 800-960-8587. Tickets can be ordered online at www.wtt.com/smashhits.
Rubin has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the world in singles. She has won seven singles and ten doubles titles during her WTA career, including the 1996 Australian Open doubles championship, partnering Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in a three-set win over Davenport and Mary Joe Fernandez in the final. Rubin has career singles wins over a number of top players including Davenport, Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams. She also represented the United States in the
1996 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Rubin has been lauded for her philanthropy throughout her career, having received the Arthur Ashe Leadership Award and Family Circle Player Who Makes A Difference award for her community service. She also founded the Chanda Rubin Foundation which supports a number of local charities and tennis programs.
Captained by King and John, the Smash Hits players will form two teams and play the World TeamTennis format. John will also participate in a celebrity doubles match to open the event. Haas and Roddick are expected to face off in the evening's men's singles showdown.
Special VIP ticket packages are also available through the Pennington Family Foundation for $1,000. These tickets include exclusive VIP courtside seating and admission to the Smash Hits VIP Reception and Auction which will be attended by John, King and all players. Auction items are expected to include a tennis
lesson with Roddick, John's piano bench and King's personal Centre Court Wimbledon tickets. For more information on the VIP Reception, please call Paige Sharber at (225) 928-8346.
