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Roddick, Courier to play charity match in Cashiers

art frThe 2nd annual United Community Bank Mountain Challenge featuring American tennis legends Andy Roddick and Jim Courier will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Cedar Creek Racquet Club in Cashiers.

The event will be hosted by the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce and benefits the nonprofit organizations Mountain Youth Charities and the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau.

A “Summer Soiree” gala dinner will start at 5 p.m. Friday, July 25, at Lake Fairfield in Sapphire Valley. The evening will also feature performances by Grammy-winning bluegrass/Americana groups the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Steep Canyon Rangers.

With nearly $200,000 raised in last year’s inaugural match, the funds generated provided Mountain Youth Charities with the means to launch an initiative with community partner the Boys & Girls Club of the plateau. The initiative will provide grants to existing youth programs in the area and begin work to create after-school and summer programs for local children.

Following his Grand Slam singles victory at the 2003 U.S. Open, Roddick was ranked the number one player in the world. He’s also the last North American player to win a Grand Slam singles championship. During his career he claimed 32 ATP titles before retiring last year. 

With 23 ATP victories, including four Grand Slam titles, Courier was also ranked number one in the world four times during the 1990s. Currently, he’s the last tennis player to win in the Australian Open and French Open back-to-back, a feat accomplished in 1992. In 2005 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 

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In his hometown of Austin, Texas, Roddick has been involved in a variety of youth programs, which eventually led to the creation of the Andy Roddick Foundation. And with setting up the Mountain Challenge, Roddick called up his friend and colleague Courier to see if he would like to compete for a good cause.

Roddick is currently married to Brooklyn Decker, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and actress. The couple have a home in Cashiers.

 

 

Want to go?

The United Community Bank Mountain Challenge will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Cedar Creek Racquet Club in Cashiers. 

There will be three matches, with the main event featuring an exhibition between American tennis legends Andy Roddick and Jim Courier. A “Summer Soiree” gala dinner will start at 5 p.m. Friday, July 25, at Lake Fairfield in Sapphire Valley. 

For more information on the event and tickets, go to www.cashiers.com or 828.777.9145 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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