TENNIS megastars Anna Kournikova and Serena Williams could provide a massive boost to the star appeal of this year's Lori McNeil / Elbow Beach Celebrity Classic, if organisers get their way.

The two players are among an impressive batch of celebrities who have already expressed an interest in coming to the island to take part in an event which will help to meet the costs of sending Bermuda's best junior players to overseas tournaments.

The news transpired in the same week as the proceeds from last year's inaugural event - $10,000 - were handed over by Kendaree Burgess-Fairn, communications director of main sponsors the Elbow Beach Hotel, to Terry Smith, the president of Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association.

Williams and Kournikova are two icons of the WTA Tour and would be a huge draw, appealing to more than just tennis fans.

According to leading Classic organiser David Lambert, McNeil has spoken to both players in Melbourne, where she has been for the past fortnight working as coach of South African Amanda Coetzer.

Williams, from the US, is one of the world's top players and won the US Open two years ago. Last year she reached the final in New York again, where she lost to her big sister Venus in an emotional family showdown.

Russia's Kournikova has so far failed to live up her potential on court and has yet to win a WTA Tour singles title. But her supermodel figure and smouldering good looks have ensured that she is one of the best-known faces in tennis and earns more from endorsements than from the sport itself.

At the Australian Open being played in Melbourne right now, Kournikova was knocked out by top Belgium Justine Henin in a tough opening round match but she is still in with a chance to take the doubles title with Martina Hingis. They defeated top seeds Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs in the semifinals and will play Daniela Hantuchova and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the finals today. The Russian beauty also came in for some teasing from the newspapers Down Under over her outfit. The Sunday Herald Sun criticised Kournikova's new blue hot-pants outfit as well as taking a shot at Coetzer's low cut top which it declared "out of bounds". Coetzer was very popular in Bermuda last year during the Classic.

In fact all six of the celebrities who attended last year's Classic - actress Robin Givens, former New York mayor David Dinkins, boxing stars Laila Ali and her husband John Mclain, as well as McNeil and Coetzer - have already expressed an interest in this year's four-day event, scheduled for September 18 to 21.

American comedian Bill Cosby, actress Victoria Principal, former Wimbledon champion MaliVai Washington and four-time Grand Slam winner Hana Mandlikova are also interested in attending.

Last year's Classic was badly affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks, because of which some of the lined-up stars did not attend as they did not want to fly.

Three of those who did not show then would like to come this year - former top tennis player Zina Garrison and former NBA basketball stars Clyde Drexler and John Lucas.

Lambert said last year's Classic proceeds had totalled much less than hoped and said repercussions of the terror attacks, which took place just two weeks before the fundraiser, had taken their toll.

"Some of our sponsors could not meet their agreed commitments as they lost a lot of money because of September 11," said Lambert. "These things happen. We would normally like to raise between $25,000 and $30,000."

Last year's money will allow Bermuda to send two teams of four to Trinidad to compete in an International Tennis Federation junior tournament.An 18-and-under team and a 14-and-under team will each comprise two boys and two girls and will travel to the Caribbean in the first wek in April.

The BLTA's National Select Committee will pick those players after the first two junior tournaments of the year, the Elbow Beach tournament which starts this weekend and next month's Cromwell Manders tournament. Terry Smith was delighted to receive the $10,000 cheque on behalf of the BLTA.

"We are very pleased and I'm sure our juniors will be very pleased too," said Smith. "Overseas exposure is always very important.

"Here our young players play amongst themselves over and over. It's good for them to be able to go out and compare themselves with juniors from other countries in events of this magnitude."

Funds raised from this year's Classic will go into the coffers of a new charity currently being formed, the Bermuda Tennis Development Foundation. Youngsters under the auspices of the BLTA will be able to apply for financial help from the Foundation to help them in their tennis development.

Lambert said he was impressed that stars of the calibre of Williams and Kournikova were interested in being part of the next Classic.

"It shows their commitment to help raise money for children in the sport," said Lambert. "The BLTA's pyramid structure is in place and by these stars coming down to lend their time and services to raise money for kids, hopefully some will be able to earn tennis scholarships.

"Tennis is not just a way to make a living, it can be a means of getting an education."

Bermudian youngster Ashley Brooks bagged another title in Florida last weekend and now her coach wants her to compete in a higher age group.

The 13-year-old student of Palmer Tennis Academy won the 14-and-under girls singles title at the Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, living up to her number one seeding.

"Her coach has told her he wants to put her in the 16-and-unders now," said Ashley's mother Kim Brooks. "He feels it would really benefit her to play in a higher age group. "He was honest about it and said the competition would be very tough and she might not make it through the first round."

Brooks has come on in leaps and bounds since starting at the academy last fall, where she spends several hours a day playing tennis under the watchful eye of expert coaches. Both she and fellow Bermudian Palmer student Gavin Manders have won silverware in the Sunshine State.

Brooks' fine form may put her in the frame for a Federation Cup place.