Four time Grand Slam winner Hana Mandlikova is the latest sporting star set to grace this year's glittering Celebrity Tennis Classic at Elbow Beach.

Mandlikova joins boxing champion Laila Ali, ex-NFL wide receiver Curtis Conway, fellow former tennis player Katrina Adams as well as former Mayor of New York City David Dinkins.

All five big names arrive in Bermuda on Tuesday night ahead of the four-day tennis spectacular, which acts as significant fundraiser for the junior programme in the form of the Bermuda Tennis Development Foundation (BTDF).

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

On Friday the show moves to the WER Joell Tennis Stadium where up to 1,000 school children across the Island get a chance to meet the stars.

Drills, exhibitions, tennis give-aways, 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 for free.

Organised by the BTDF, the Celebrity Classic raises funds to send tennis starlets abroad to compete in world-ranking tournaments.

"It's a very special event for us," said David Lambert, the man behind the event and the 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."

Boxer Laila Ali, daughter of the legendary champion Mohammed, has been the major draw in women's boxing for years. She is the current undefeated Super Middleweight Champion of the world with a 24-0 record and is married to former Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers football player Conway.

Conway, whose 4,498 receiving yards rank him 5th on the Bears all-time yardage list, is now a sports broadcaster on ESPN's popular television show "Jim Rome is Burning".

Adams competed on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour for 12 years and is currently serving a two-year term as Director at Large on the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

A professor in the practice of public affairs, David Dinkins was the 106th Mayor of New York City from 1989-1993.

In May junior tennis was given a major financial boost when $15,000, raised from last year's event, was given to the BLTA Junior Development Committee to help Bermuda's young stars compete in ITF events in the Caribbean this summer.

Corporate sponsorship packages are available for the entire three-day event. More information can be found at www.btdf.bm - the foundation's website.