VOA标准英语2010年-Tennis Stars Join Elton John for Annua

World Team Tennis held its 18th annual Smash¹ Hits fundraising event on November 15, co-hosted by British pop singing star Elton John and U.S. tennis legend Billy Jean King. And for the first time, Washington served as center court. It was a night that included entertaining and serious tennis, featuring well-known legends of the game -- including Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and husband Andre Agassi. But it was also a charitable event, benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Organizers say half of the proceeds from a live auction² goes to local organizations to improve HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and care services. This year's auction raised more $100,000 for local charities.
Co-host Billy Jean King, herself a former tennis champion, said it was important to stage this year's event in Washington. The city's HIV infection rate is 12 times the national average.
"It's wonderful to be here because it's the hub," King said. "It's the capital of our country."VOA - K. SoongElton John's usual game is singing and song writing, not tennis. But he takes to the court each year for the Smash Hits pro-celebrity doubles match.
"Of all the sports, tennis people were on the page first when it came to supporting AIDS and becoming aware and helping³ out. And so it's all credit to the tennis community," the singer said.
The now retired⁴ Agassi and Navratilova say it is a privilege to participate.
VOA - K. SoongAndre Agassi warms up before tennis fundraiser as Martina Navratilova looks on "Whenever I can, when they ask me I show up," she said. "It's great to be on the court with all of these legends and great to make a difference.""I do love getting out there and seeing what a little effort can go such a long way," added Andre Agassi, "and I think that's what we see every time we perform at this event."And the fans come out not only to open their wallets and purses for charity, but also to enjoy the matches.
VOA - K. SoongAndre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf look on during HIV/AIDS fundraiser auction"This is my 10th Smash Hits, so I'm a big fan of Smash Hits and a World Team Tennis fan. I love the format⁵. Everybody comes out. Obviously there are some great players here, some legends. It's cool. It's fun," said tennis fan Claude Okin.
"They're such natural, wonderful people that really it's obvious how much they all love giving back after they've given all of us so much on the tennis court, and they're really doing a wonderful job giving back," fan Christine Cornish added. So does it really matter to Elton John who wins the annual charity tennis match?
"It does matter to me actually," John said, "but that's because Billy Jean and I are so competitive⁶ and we've been friends for so long." But on this night in Washington, it was Billy Jean King's team that beat Team Elton John, 19-15.

1 smash   

v.粉碎，打碎；n.轰动的演出，巨大的成功

参考例句：

• We heard the smash of plates breaking in the kitchen.我们听到厨房里盘子破碎的声音。
• The gifted author wrote one smash after another.这个天才作家创作了一篇又一篇轰动一时的作品。

2 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

6 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。