Haute Event: Take on the Pros at the 2011 Ritz-Carlton All-Star Charity Tennis Event

Want a chance to return Andy Roddick’s legendary 155 mph serve? Or just sit back, sip champagne, nosh on hors d’oeuvres, and enjoy the action, if that’s more your speed. On Tuesday, March 22 from 4 to 8 p.m., daring fans and spectators alike can take it all in at the Second Annual Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne All-Star Charity Tennis Event to benefit the Greater Miami Tennis & Education Foundation at the hotel’s Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center. The action-packed event will be attended by an all-star guest list of the 2010 Sony Ericsson men’s and women’s winners for the eve of the Sony Ericsson tennis tournament.

Lucky locals will get the opportunity to put their tennis skills to the test as Grand Slam legend Cliff Drysdale hosts the event along with Tennis Director Mark Chellas and ESPN tennis analyst Daren Cahill. These pros will provide the local players a tennis star experience with coaching tips and commentary. The intimate gathering’s proceeds will support the Greater Miami Tennis & Education Foundation, which helps economically and socially challenged youths learn tennis and valuable life skills. The kids of the foundation benefit from participation in free and affordable DMTEF tennis and education programs throughout the school year and during the summer. Kids from the foundation will be at the events as ball boys and girls.

Select locals will be have the opportunity to play in a Round Robin qualifying tournament, with the winners getting their chance to take one the world’s top players and try to return Andy Roddick’s famous serve. Want to know if he was being nice on that serve? A radar gun will be on hand to determine that.

The event has an unprecedented all-star lineup. In addition to Roddick, pros attending include Caroline Wozniaki, Kim Clijsters, Guillermo Cañas, and 18-year-old Ryan Harrison, a wild card entry that went on to beat Milos Raonic to set up a round clash with Roger Federer, and is now considered by many to be the next great American men’s tennis player. Guests can enjoy champagne and hors d’oeuvres and settle in to watch exhibition matches with the top stars, a pro Round Robin, and a “King of the Court” challenge match with the amateur Round Robin winners taking on the pros.

This event is open to the public by reservation and is limited to the first 150 spectators and 33 players who RSVP to the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center at (305) 365-4300 or contact Mark Chellas by email at Mark.Chellas@ritzcarlton.com. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Greater Miami Tennis & Education Foundation. For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com.