Andy Roddick Among Stars Playing in Chatham Tennis Exhibition

A tennis exhibition hosted by New Jersey native and retired tennis champion Justin Gimelstob will bring tennis stars and celebrity fans to Chatham to support children's charities.

The Justin Gimelstob Children’s Fund Tennis Exhibition is scheduled for Dec. 6 at Centercourt Athletic Club in the borough.

Gimelstob, now a sports broadcaster and player representative on the ATP World Tour Board of Directors, will be joined by former world No. 1 and US Open champion Andy Roddick, former world No. 4 James Blake, current top American player John Isner, former Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe, and former world No. 33 and current ATP World Tour player and New Jersey resident Alex Bogomolov, according to an announcement for the event.

The players will be supervising junior and adult tennis clinics ($100 per session), as well as a free clinic for children 10 and under beginning at 4 p.m. Exhibition matches begin at 7 p.m.

The event raises money for a variety of children’s charities, including The Valerie Fund, a nonprofit organization supporting comprehensive healthcare services for children with cancer and blood disorders. 

 “When we started this event and my foundation fifteen years ago, I could never have imagined it would have grown into what it is today," Gimelstob said in a news release. "It brings me so much pleasure to come back home and bring world-class tennis with me ... all for a great cause.”

“We are going to put on an entertaining show Dec. 6, and I look forward to expanding my undefeated record against Justin, as well as supporting the Valerie Fund!" Roddick said.

Gimelstob's friends and tennis enthusiasts Golden Globe Award-winner David Duchovny and internationally acclaimed model Anne Vyalitsyna also are expected to attend, the announcement says.

Isner said he is "happy to help a good friend and support a great cause."

"I’ve heard excellent things about the event from some of the past participants, so I’m thrilled to join the other great players he has assembled this year," he said.

General admission tickets are $50 and courtside box seats are $200. The proceeds from live and silent auctions, which feature unique tennis and entertainment memorabilia, as well as raffle sales, will go toward helping the patients at The Valerie Fund, which has seven, not-for-profit Valerie Fund Centers in New Jersey, New York and metropolitan Philadelphia staffed with social workers, counselors, psychologists and child life specialists. More than 4,000 children with cancer and blood disorders are treated by the centers each year. 

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.thevaleriefund.org/jgcf/.

For more information about The Valerie Fund or the exhibition email Bunny Flanders, director of marketing and communications, at bflanders@thevaleriefund.org.