Serena and Team Elton: WTT Smash Hits (12/8)

Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King take their coaching roles seriously for their annual charity tennis event, WTT Smash Hits, set for Dec. 8th at 7 p.m. at the Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. Elton John tabbed Serena Williams to head up his squad while Andy Roddick takes the lead for Team Billie Jean. Joining Williams on Team Elton is former world No. 1 in doubles Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, and former top 15 player Jan-Michael Gambill, a WTT favorite with the Boston Lobsters. Along with Roddick, King rounded out her roster with Lindsay Davenport, Liezel Huber, 2009 NCAA singles champion Devin Britton and local favorite Chanda Rubin of Lafayette, La.

In its 17-year history, WTT Smash Hits has raised more than $9 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF). The event, presented by the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation and hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), will benefit EJAF and AIDS charities serving the Greater Baton Rouge area.

The two teams will face off in a modified World Team Tennis match, playing one set each of men’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Sets are first to five games with a 9-point tiebreaker at 4-4. Games are no-ad, scoring is cumulative and service lets are playable. Reserved tickets for the 17^th annual WTT Smash Hits are $30, $65, and $100. Tickets are available through the LSU Box Office or by calling 800-960-8587. Click here to order tickets online.

Pro-Celebrity match: Evening begins at 7 p.m. with a special celebrity match featuring Elton John/Serena Williams vs. Andy Roddick/Anna Kournikova. (Note: Pro-Celebrity set does not count toward total scores)

Mixed Doubles: Tommy Haas/Serena Williams (Team Elton) vs. Andy Roddick/Chanda Rubin (Team BillieJean)

Women's Doubles: Serena Williams/Anna Kournikova (Team Elton) vs. Liezel Huber/Lindsay Davenport (Team Billie Jean)

Men's Doubles: Tommy Haas/Jan-Michael Gambill (Team Elton) vs. Andy Roddick/Devin Britton (Team Billie Jean)

Men's Singles: Tommy Haas (Team Elton) vs. Andy Roddick (Team Billie Jean)