ATP Tour

Agassi, Wilander help raise $1.5 million for New Mexico youth

ATP No. 1 Club members Andre Agassi and Mats Wilander were among an elite list of tennis icons to help raise $1.5 million in proceeds for the First Serve New Mexico Foundation.

Held on 17 October at Santa Fe’s Forked Lightning Racquet Club, the event featured a mix of on-court action, including an exhibition, a legends clinic, an opportunity for kids to hit with the pros, and a star-studded gala.

Joining Agassi and Wilander in New Mexico were Martina Navratilova, Stefanie Graf, Tracy Austin, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Luke Jensen, Murphy Jensen, Mark Knowles, Jan-Michael Gambill, Brad Gilbert, John Isner, Steve Johnson, Brian MacPhie, T.J. Middleton, Nicholas Monroe, Sam Querrey, Christina McHale and Lauren McHale.

_{^{Credit: Kat Walsh/High Vibe Brands}}

The live and silent auctions combined with generous donations netted $1.5 million for First Serve New Mexico. Agassi, who was at the event with his wife Graf for the second consecutive year, made a personal donation of $100,000.

Agassi praised philanthropists and First Serve New Mexico board members Scott and Kimberley Sheffield.

“Racquet sports not only add a great deal of health and sort of benefit to your life in the short term, but it’s proven to extend your life, proven to build self-confidence,” Agassi said. “It's a gift to these kids that otherwise wouldn't have this opportunity.

“This is just so cool and I look at what Scott and Kimberley have done with their lives in order to put themselves in this position to do all this for these kids.”

Graf added: “It's been wonderful and we came here last year and kind of got introduced to the community. Andre and I are both involved in different charities and we have our own foundation so we know how important it is to help the younger generation. They are doing it through tennis and with all the incredible players here and we try to encourage them to stay with the sport.”

_{^{Stefanie Graf was among those to take part in on-court action alongside local youth. Credit: Kat Walsh/High Vibe Brands}}

Wilander enjoyed his first experience at the event and highlighted the importance of introducing tennis to young kids.

“This is a sport for a lifetime so you could pick up tennis when you're young and you could play it until you're very, very old,” said the Swede. “Good technique is really hard to come by when you get older but if you learn it as a kid, you're golden.”

First Serve New Mexico was founded in 2003 by philanthropists Eleanor & Richard Brenner. First Serve’s mission is to transform Santa Fe’s students into champions both on and off the court by empowering them to reach their full potential and become lifelong learners and leaders.