Before they got to the business agenda at this week’s Elton John AIDS Foundation board meeting in New York, long-time friends Billie Jean King and Elton John took care of some important tennis business.

King and Elton selected their teams for their upcoming charity tennis event – Advanta WTT Smash Hits on October 10, 2007 at Villanova University near Philadelphia.

The 15th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits is a co-ed tennis event utilizing the WTT format. Elton John will open the evening with a celebrity doubles match before the two teams of top professionals hit the courts for five sets of WTT action. Elton and King will each coach a team.

“My team has been on a winning streak for five years so Elton really wants to beat us this year,” said King. “He loves tennis and knows so much about the game so he was very focused on putting together a winning lineup. Of course, I think I’ve got a team that can beat him. We’re close friends, but very competitive. It will be a great night of tennis.”

Elton John went for power and experience in his lineup. American newcomer John Isner and his 140mph serves will join veteran Lindsay Davenport on Team Elton. Davenport, who gave birth to her son Jagger in June 2007, has staged an impressive comeback this summer. The new mom played World TeamTennis for the Sacramento Capitals just six weeks after giving birth. In her first singles competition since her son was born, Davenport, a former number one and three-time Grand Slam singles champion, won the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event in Bali earlier this month.

Two-time doubles Grand Slam champion Anna Kournikova and US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe round out the music superstar’s team.

The lineups will set the stage for some interesting matches, especially in singles. King will rely on Andy Roddick to out duel Isner in a serving showdown. Roddick, who last weekend led the US Davis Cup team to a semifinal win over Sweden, holds a 1-0 edge over Isner on the ATP Tour. He defeated Isner in the finals of the Washington, D.C. ATP event this summer.

The WTT co-founder also selected an American up-and-comer, 17-year-old Madison Brengle of Dover, Del. Brengle, who recently turned pro, reached the girl’s singles final at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2007. Joining Roddick and Brengle on Team Billie Jean are doubles standout Corina Morariu and former French Open doubles titlist Luke Jensen.

In its 15-year history, Advanta WTT Smash Hits has raised more than $8 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Proceeds from this year’s event and a pre-match auction will also benefit a Philadelphia area charity, ActionAIDS. Tickets for the event are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling +1 (215) 336-2000.

TEAM ELTON: Elton John (coach), Lindsay Davenport, John Isner, Anna Kournikova and Patrick McEnroe.

TEAM BILLIE JEAN: Billie Jean King (coach), Andy Roddick, Madison Brengle, Luke Jensen and Corina Morariu.

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