Agassi, Graf, Navratilova and Tennis Legends Help First Serve New Mexico Raise $1.5 Million
Oct 21, 2026
Santa Fe turned into a gathering place for tennis royalty this past weekend, with Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Martina Navratilova and a deep roster of Grand Slam champions helping First Serve New Mexico raise $1.5 million for its youth programs.
The star-studded group featured International Tennis Hall of Famers and major champions Navratilova, Graf, Agassi, Mats Wilander and Tracy Austin, along with Bob and Mike Bryan. Luke and Murphy Jensen and Mark Knowles also joined the event.
Former ATP Tour players Jan-Michael Gambill, Brad Gilbert, John Isner, Steve Johnson, Brian MacPhie, T.J. Middleton, Nick Monroe and Sam Querrey were among those participating, along with Christina and Lauren McHale and other players.
The weekend began Saturday at Forked Lightning Racquet Club, where the pros hit with First Serve New Mexico students and offered instruction before taking part in a team event for more than 500 club members.
Photo credit: Kat Walsh, High Vibe Brands
That evening, 700 sponsors and VIP guests attended the sold-out Legendary Gala. Live and silent auctions, combined with donor contributions, helped generate $1.5 million for First Serve New Mexico. Agassi personally donated another $100,000.
“FSNM exceeded their goal this year at our gala and these numbers tell a larger story,” said First Serve New Mexico president Angelique Cook Lowry. “Our mission is to help every student reach their full potential, creating champions on and off the court. With students taking their first steps into competitive tennis, preparing for college, building confidence through mentorship, and discovering opportunities to support with classroom tutoring. This allows us to open up our PE pilot program and our facility program serving more students in the Santa Fe Public Schools.”
Agassi and Graf returned to Santa Fe for the second consecutive year.
“It's been wonderful and we came here last year and kind of got introduced to the community,” said Graf. “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.”
Agassi also credited First Serve New Mexico board members and philanthropists Scott and Kimberley Sheffield.
Photo credit: Kat Walsh, High Vibe Brands
“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,” Agassi said. “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. It's a gift to these kids that otherwise wouldn't have this opportunity, this whole facility, hard not to come support it.”
Navratilova, making her first appearance at the event, received a surprise early birthday greeting from the Bryan Brothers Band.
“It's great to see the kids hitting tennis balls and shows how much they love the sport,” Navratilova said. “The program is fantastic and gives kids something to focus on, gives them positive reinforcement and learn lessons from tennis that applies to life. It puts kids on a better path and they also see that people care about them.”
Wilander, also attending for the first time, emphasized tennis as a lifelong sport.
“Obviously to see that tennis could make a big impact on kids' lives, whether they are good players or not, just the fact you learn the etiquette, respect the rules and have a lot of fun,” Wilander said. “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. Good technique is really hard to come by when you get older but if you learn it as a kid, you're golden.”
Founded in 2003 by philanthropists Eleanor and Richard Brenner, First Serve New Mexico provides free after-school and summer programming for students in grades 3 through 12 across Santa Fe. Its curriculum combines academic tutoring, life-skills coaching and tennis instruction, with much of the programming based at Forked Lightning Racquet Club.
Video Overview
By Florida Tennis Staff. Sources: First Serve New Mexico; press materials provided by Greg Sharko. Photo credit (top): Kat Walsh, High Vibe Brands.
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