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Tennis Pro Alexandra Stevenson To Visit Staten Island Academy on October 26

October 25, 2006 – Tennis Pro Alexandra Stevenson will provide a motivational talk to Staten Island Academy Grade 5 and 6 students on October 26 at 9:30 AM in the school’s O.J. Buck Gymnasium.

Ms. Stevenson made her pro debut as an unranked amateur in 1996. Since then, she has garnered many titles. Her career highlights include winning the 1998 International Tennis Federation match in the United States; ending as a semifinalist in Wimbledon in 1999; and being a quarterfinalist in 12 competitions spanning a four-year period. Ms. Stevenson has competed in both doubles and mixed doubles play, partnering with Serena Williams among others. She was named TENNIS Magazine’s 1999 Rolex Rookie of the Year.

Ms. Stevenson began playing tennis at age 9, with Margaret Court and Steffi Graf as role models because “of their performance under pressure,” she said. She is childhood friends with Venus and Serena Williams and played against Venus as a child. Since her tour debut, she has appeared in many local, national and international television markets, including CNN and ESPN.

Ms. Stevenson has used her position as a successful tennis player to raise awareness for various causes. In 2002, she met with South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges to talk about taking the Confederate Flag down from the Statehouse and was invited by the Governor to speak before the General Assembly. From April to September of 2002, she participated with Monica Seles in Bayer Aspirin for American Heart Association Aces, a program in which Bayer donated $1,500 to the American Heart Association for each ace serve. Stevenson served 127 aces during this time period, and the program continues as Alexandra’s Aces.

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Press Contact: Liz Campbell, 718-303-7813, communication@statenislandacademy.org