Guinness World Records® Title of Longest Pickleball Rally Attempt to Happen October 10th

The Identical Twin Rossetti Brothers attempt the feat to raise awareness and funds for charity

Media Contacts:
Angelo A. Rossetti 203-996-4417, pickleball@rallyforcharity.org
Ettore Rossetti 203-919-2215, pickleball@rallyforcharity.org

WATCH THE EVENT LIVESTREAM ON FACEBOOK

ROCKY HILL, CONN. –

Pickleball is the world’s fastest growing sport, in addition to being the USA’s (and Connecticut’s) fastest growing sport as well. Although some think it is an “older” players’ sports, the trend now is pickleball is for everyone, including children. The Rally for Charity event being held on Sunday, October 10, 2021 will not only raise money and awareness for charity but also awareness that pickleball is a sport of all ages even in underprivileged children in the U.S. and around the world. October 10 is World Mental Health Day, which is so important especially during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“USA Pickleball is fully supportive of the Rossetti brothers’ attempt for the Guinness World Records® title for the longest pickleball rally,” said Stu Upson, USA Pickleball CEO. “Events such as this are great for the sport and demonstrate the positive impact pickleball can have in communities across the country.”

“It’s about serving others and helping children around the world to experience pickleball and to be aware of the mental fitness of sport,” stated Angelo A. Rossetti, who also serves as the Director of Racquet Sports at the Tennis & Fitness Center of Rocky Hill (TFCRH).

Guinness World Records™ Ltd. has set the bar at 15,000 consecutive shots in order to earn the title. This figure is symbolic of the daily child mortality figure: Every day, 15,000 children under age 5 die from preventable causes, such as pneumonia, malnutrition and malaria. The last record set by the Rossetti Brothers was the Longest Tennis Volley Rally, volleying a tennis ball 30,576 times, a record that still stands today. More importantly, they raised more than $100,000 for Save the Children and received their Humanitarian Stream Team award.

“I admire and support the Rossetti Brothers on their continued efforts to inspire and to serve children. We are honored to host this wonderful event,” Peter Parrotta, owner of the Tennis & Fitness Center of Rocky Hill and past president of USTA New England & USTA CT.

“Being recognized as a humanitarian who makes a positive difference for people, especially reducing child mortality in the US and around the world, is a bucket list item that is more important to me than setting a world record” stated Ettore Rossetti, who serves as senior advisor at Save the Children.

The event will include a free pickleball social, including lessons, clinics, cardio pickleball called “Pick ‘n move” by Ahmad “the pickleball hulk” Elliot, as well as open round robin match play, all for fun and to raise money for charity. All participants are encouraged to make donations of any size at www.rallyforcharity.org. To volunteer for the event, email pickleball@rallyforcharity.org. IPTPA Certified Pickleball Teaching Professional & Coach “Z”orano Tubo, who also serves as Director of Public relations will be on hand to organize the pickleball activities as well as Steve Rogers and Ahmad Elliot, both of whom work at TFCRH.

The festivities and official rally attempt start at 9 a.m. and are planned to continue until 6 p.m. The brothers hope to add to the tally at least $15,000 to match the rally count for Save the Children and the IPTPA to support underprivileged children around the world to be introduced to the wonderful and world’s most popular sport of pickleball. “Tennis improves your pickleball and playing pickleball improves your tennis” stated Angelo. “Tennis starts with love and a first serve, serve first in tennis and in life and the same with pickleball” stated Ettore. The event will be live streamed on www.rallyforcharity.org so fans can watch the attempt. To support as a volunteer, participant or to make a donation, email pickleball@rallyforcharity.org.

Special thanks to the venue host the Tennis and Fitness Center of Rocky Hill for their support of the event. This is an all-inclusive event so organizations including USA Pickleball, IPTPA, USPTA, USTA, and PTR are welcome to promote and support the event.

The brothers had previously held the title of 25,944, recognized as the “longest tennis rally” lasting for five years after setting it on August 9-10, 2008. The feat took 14 hours and 31 minutes with the fuzzless ball still on exhibit at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. In 2015, on Roger Federer’s birthday, the Rossetti Brothers broke their previous 2008 record in less than one third of the time, rallying more than 30,576 consecutive volleys in 5 hours and 28 minutes, setting the Guinness World Records™ Title of the “longest tennis volley rally.”

Their purpose, effort, and personal sacrifices inspired many others based on the outpouring of support. The Rossetti Brothers’ achieve their goal to inspire children and adults with their feat. They called it the Four Gs to have balance and success in tennis and in life: Get a Dream, Goals Set, Goals Get, and Give Back. This charity event will raise funds and awareness for Save the Children. Save the Children helps children in 120 countries, including the United States, providing support for health, education, protection, disaster relief and so much more. With nearly 1 in 4 American kids living in poverty, Save the Children invests in education, health and emergency programs right here in the United States. “We are raising awareness and funds for those children who don’t survive beyond age five around the world and those who don’t have the opportunity to learn here in the U.S.,” said Ettore, who is a certified pickleball teaching professional through IPTPA as is his brother Angelo.

About The Rossetti Brothers

The Rossetti Brothers, Angelo and Ettore, are certified USPTA Elite tennis teaching professionals for more than 25 years. The brothers are also USTA members and USA Pickleball members. Angelo is also a PTR and IPTPA certified tennis and pickleball teaching professional who serves as the Director of Racquet Sports at the Tennis & Fitness Center of Rocky Hill. Ettore serves as Sr. Advisor of Digital, Marketing & Innovation at Save the Children. The brothers received Save the Children’s Stream Team Humanitarian award in for raising more than $100,000 for the organization through its rallies. Follow the Rossetti Brothers on the Web: www.RallyforCharity.org, www.tennacity.org and on social searching for @rallyforcharity, #pickleballrallyforcharity or #twinpossible.

About World Mental Health Day

October 10 is World Mental Health Day as recognized by the World Health Organization. The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

About Save the Children 

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. Follow Save the Children on social media @savethechildren and on the web at www.savethechildren.org.