The world-record-breaking Rossetti brothers will be running the third annual “Rally 4 Charity” Saturday at the Milford Indoor Tennis Club.But unlike in past years, the Rossetti brothers won’t be the ones rallying this time.
Consequently, Isidro Martinez and Paul Coorssen, teachers at the Milford Tennis Club, will be competing for a new world record. If they are able to beat the Rossettis’ “longest tennis rally” world record of 25,944 continuous strokes, set Aug. 9, 2008, they will win $1 million from the Odds On Promotions Co.
“They’ve had the dedication and stamina to come in first,” says Angelo Rossetti about Martinez and Coorssen.
On Aug. 1, teams were able to compete until midnight in one-hour tennis rallies, to try to accumulate the most continuous strokes. In order to qualify to win $1 million, each team made a minimum donation of $100.
The teams were from Milford Indoor Tennis, Trumbull Racquet Club, Kings Highway Tennis, Shippan Racquet Club, Fairfield Indoor Tennis and Oak Hills Tennis. Martinez and Coorssen came in first by amassing 5,916 consecutive shots in a mere hour. With much perseverance, they were able to surpass the other teams of William Boe-Wiegaard and Peter George; Michael McManus and Adam Mirsky; Chris Gaudrea and Jim Malesko; Jackie Visinski and Shelley Visinski; and Devon Jerome and Tom Boe-Wiegaard.
In preparation for Saturday, they have been practicing their rallying technique.
The $1 million challenge is only one part of the Rally 4 Charity Event, which will be taking place from 9 a.m. until midnight. The main goal of Rally 4 Charity is to raise money for four charities, including Save the Children, The ALS Association, Susan G. Komen Rally for the Cure, and the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation.
The Rossetti brothers’ goal is to raise $25,944 for charity to match their world record number of volleys.
As of Tuesday, they had raised between $13,000 and $14,000.
“Our goal to raise $25,944 became a symbolic cause,” says Ettore Rossetti. “So many children die of curable diseases, and we want to reach a symbolic mark.”
Thus all day long there will be different activities to raise money for charity. For instance, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. there will be a silent auction, including items from professional tennis players Maria Sharapova and Andre Agassi. There will also be a car wash, starting at 10 a.m., from which the profits will be donated to the charity funds.
Throughout the day, there will be free hour-long tennis clinics, cardio tennis classes, and grassroots clinics offered; people will be encouraged to make a donation for the cause.
If individuals donate a minimum of $10, they will receive either signed tennis balls or a signed poster.
Moreover, if the donation is a minimum of $30, they will receive a copy of the DVD “Tennis Begins with Love,” which the Rossetti brothers created.
It tells their story and aims to inspire others to follow their goals.
It is available at www.rossettibrotherstennis.com/movie.
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