Ross School honors Agassi

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Legendary tennis star Andre Agassi was honored at a special exhibition match featuring former grand slam winners at the Ross School Tennis Center on Sunday.

The big match pitted 1993 French Open men’s doubles winner and Tennis Channel personality Murphy Jensen and multiple Grand Slam winner Rennae Stubbs in a doubles match against 1998 Australian Open winner Petr Korda and Ross pro Alejandro Tejerina. Mr. Agassi didn’t play, but he presided over the match. Beforehand, he was honored for his humanitarian efforts and bestowed with a lifetime membership with the Founders Circle at Ross.

Celebrity guests, including Alec Baldwin and Christie Brinkley, also played with the pros in doubles matches after the main event. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Korda played Vince Van Patten and Ms. Brinkley, and Michael Gelman and Mr. Korda played Luann DeLesseps and Mr. Van Patten. Ms. Brinkley will be featured on a new show, “Celebrities and Tennis,” on the Tennis Channel this November and the production team was filming throughout the day on Sunday.

“I think these events are helping us to bring people to see the facility,” Ross School Director of Tennis Vinicius Carmo said, noting that the event raised money for Ross School scholarships and athletic programs. Since its official opening this summer, the Tennis Center has been embraced by the community and participation in its programs is growing, Carmo said. “It’s been a great experience.”

Mr. Jensen appeared at the facility’s grand opening Pro Am Tournament in June, and representatives for the school said he’s been a valuable supporter of the center.

“He’s been so helpful to us,” Mr. Carmo said, noting that Mr. Jensen also donated an afternoon with him covering this year’s U.S. Open, a rare opportunity that was put up in a silent auction that raised more than $20,000 for Ross scholarships and programs on Sunday.

Mr.Agassi wasn’t able to make the Pro Am in June, but Ross publicist Diana Aceti said he visited the school last summer and was very excited about the Tennis Center. His Andre Agassi Foundation is dedicated to giving educational enrichment opportunities to underserved youth and Ms. Aceti said the Ross School shares a similar mindset. “He’s a great humanitarian, really,” she said.

At noon on Sunday, kids were treated to a tennis clinic with Mr. Agassi’s former trainer and one of the best coaches in the business, Nick Bollettieri. Mr. Bollettieri has trained 10 number-one players and he donated a one-week clinic at his tennis academy in Florida for the silent auction.

Rufus Wainwright, “Real Housewives of New York City” stars Ramona and Mario Singer and Kelly Bensimon, and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Jessica Gomes also attended.

The Tennis Center will continue to host high profile events and fund-raisers and it’s available for birthday parties and rentals, but Mr. Carmo said its primary focus is on Ross students. “That was the goal of the place, just to serve the kids,” he said.

The Ross tennis camp ended last week and it was so successful that 36 youngsters entered an extended program, he added, noting, “We are extremely busy with the kids.” He explained that the Ross tennis team can now practice 12 months a year at the new facility and their game will improve because of it.

The Tennis Center will begin a night league this fall, a junior program is slated to launch on September 14 and the facility will return to indoor tennis when they erect a large dome over the courts in the third week of October.