Tennis Great Andy Roddick’s Grand Slam In Cashiers, NC
August 8, 2013
CASHIERS, NC – August 9, 2013 – Retired world #1 tennis champions, Andy Roddick and Jim Courier, hit the courts Saturday July 27th under the sunny skies of Cashiers, North Carolina. Headlining the United Community Bank Mountain Challenge, they exchanged fast volleys as well as mutual quick wit. When the score was tallied, Roddick carried the day with two sets 6-4 each.
Presenters McKee Properties, Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce and Cedar Creek Racquet Club rallied the community to benefit Mountain Youth Charities in an outstanding display of volunteerism and enthusiasm. More than 1,500 spectators enjoyed the day in the upscale village which is becoming known for its first class recreation and relaxation opportunities. Roddick has a home in Cashiers, saying that he and his wife, actress Brooklyn Decker, plan to be there to relax and ‘pump the brakes’ a lot in the context of a lifetime.
The inaugural event raised funds for a new non-profit organization targeting at-risk youth. William McKee, event chair, described the day, The weather was great and so was the tennis and fun. This shows what we can do when we all work together and think big.
We were so pleased to see a packed house and support this worthy cause, said Lynn Harton, United Community Bank Chief Operating Officer. The real winners today are the children of Western Carolina whose lives will be improved with this support, he said.
Roddick explained that earlier in his career, tennis superstar Andre Agassi told him that he wished he hadn’t waited so long to start his foundation. So at the age of 17, Roddick immediately set about organizing his first events to benefit children less fortunate than himself. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to effect change for the better and I feel lucky to have it, he said.
Roddick invited current US Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier to participate in the event, affectionately calling Courier the most interesting tennis player in the world. Courier talked to reporters about the global nature of tennis and called it a sport of a lifetime because even as an 85 year-old, one could be on the court playing with grandchildren. He said his commitment continues to mentor good junior players and identified Roddick as one of the best players out of his generation.
Kevin Moir and Ann Goldman, of Country Club of Sapphire Valley, won the local tennis club Pro-Am Championship for the opportunity to face Roddick and Courier on the court during the event. And 12-year-old North Carolina tennis player, Conner Stroud, who was born without hips or femurs but loves the sport, volleyed with Roddick .
More than 250 guests attended a Friday evening gala fundraiser with special appearances by Roddick and Courier. A children’s clinic and Pro-Am tournament also were held in conjunction with the event.
Ranked No. 1 in the world in 2003 and one of the few American players to hold both a prestigious Grand Slam title and the ranking in the same year, Roddick was also named Player of the Year at that time by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
Courier was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005 and now serves as a tennis analyst and founder of InsideOut Sports Entertainment, a NY-based event production company.
Photos courtesy of Rick Stargel/HighSouth.biz
