Four-time Grand Slam winner Hana Mandlikova jets into Bermuda tonight, the first of the big names to arrive ahead of next week?s Elbow Beach Celebrity Classic.

Mandlikova will be joined by Wendy Turnbull ? who she beat in the 1980 Australian Open final ? former top doubles player Katrina Adams and former New York mayor David Dinkins for the four-day event.

The Celebrity Classic, resurrected from 2002, is a significant fundraiser for the junior programme in the form of the Bermuda Tennis Development Foundation.

Events begin with a cocktail party at Elbow Beach for sponsors on Wednesday followed by a chance for sponsors to hit with the stars on Thursday morning and then another evening meet? ?n? greet at Bacardi in the evening.

On Friday, following another private session at Elbow Beach, the show moves to the WER Joell Stadium where up to 1,000 youngsters from schools across the Island get a chance to meet the stars.

Drills, exhibitions, tennis giveaways, coaching clinics, doubles games and a question and answer session will be featured on a day when local juniors will also get a chance to hit against some former greats.

?It?s a very special event for us,? said David Lambert, the man behind the event and a former Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president.

?This is a significant fundraiser for the junior programme with the money being used to send our top juniors away to ITF ranking events to earn them ranking points to, hopefully help them get college scholarships.

?Our players have as much talent as players from other countries but we have to travel more to get the same exposure and opportunities.

?And that is what this money is for, to help give our young players a chance to compete and progress in the sport.?

Boxer Laila Ali, daughter of the legendary champion Mohammed, is unable to attend because of fight commitments while former NFL star Curtis Conway has withdrawn through work commitments after taking up a coaching post in gridiron.

More information on the schedule of events and the celebrities attending can be found on the website, www.btdf.bm.