|
Local Tennis Exhibition Features Top Touring Pros, including People Magazine’s “Sexiest Athlete” Livingston, N.J. -- Justin Gimelstob’s Fourth Annual Tennis Challenge on Sunday, December 15, at Center Court Tennis Club in Chatham will feature some of the world’s top tennis professionals, including James Blake, recently named “Sexiest Athlete” by People magazine. The 22-year-old Blake — who left Harvard after his sophomore year to turn pro — appears in the current issue of People that features actor Ben Affleck on the cover. Accepting Gimelstob’s invitation to play at his annual charity event offers Blake and other pros an opportunity to follow in Gimelstob’s footsteps by trading in on their celebrity to do good in their community. Gimelstob, 25, has earned a reputation for being one of the most quotable players on the ATP Tour. After reaching the U.S. Open as a wild-card in 1995, he said, "I'm only seven matches away from my first Grand Slam title." He also has demonstrated his commitment to giving back to the community, particularly to children being treated at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, where he was born. This year’s event will benefit the Saint Barnabas Pediatric Department’s Child Life Program, which helps to create a sense of normalcy for children while in the hospital. “After all, kids don’t stop being kids, even when they’re sick,” Gimelstob said. John F. Bonamo, M.D., Executive Director of Saint Barnabas Medical Center, noted “Saint Barnabas offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art pediatric care and we are very grateful to Justin for his efforts, which directly impact our ability to ensure such high standards of pediatric services in our community.” The day’s highlight will be the exhibition matches between some of the tennis world’s most prominent pros – including Gimelstob, James Blake, Patrick McEnroe, Ashley Harkleroad, Lisa Raymond, Paul Goldstein and Luke and Murphy Jensen. The matches begin at 1 p.m. and will be umpired by Olympic Gold Medalist and sports commentator Summer Sanders. Virtually every major pediatric sub-specialty service is represented in the Saint Barnabas Pediatrics Department including allergy, cardiology, child development, emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, hematology/oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, intensive care, neonatology, nephrology,neurology, pulmonology and rheumatology. Surgical specialty areas include craniofacial surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, transplant and urology. Currently, its 44-bed inpatient facility provides treatment for children and adolescents in an age-appropriate, cheerful environment, and construction is underway that will double the size of the unit. Prior to the Exhibition Matches, a beginner clinic starting at 9 a.m. and an advanced clinic beginning at 10:30 a.m. will be held, but are limited to the first 80 registrants. Both clinics are 90 minutes long and consist of 60 minutes of playing time and a 30-minute question and answer session with the pros. The afternoon will also feature a Pro-Am, your chance to play with the pros in a doubles format from 12 to 1 p.m. All events will be held at Center Court Tennis Club, located on 222 North Passaic Avenue in Chatham. General admission tickets to the exhibition match are priced at $30 each and a limited number of courtside box seats are available for $75. Sponsorship information and tickets are available by phone at (973) 322-4330. Exhibition match tickets also can be purchased at Center Court or at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation, located at 95 Old Short Hills Road in West Orange. For more information on the clinics or the Pro-Am, please call (973) 635-1222. [ top ] |
|
||||||||||||
