Anna Kournikova among stars at Las Vegas ping pong tourney

By Melissa Arseniuk

Monday, June 29, 2009 | 3:52 p.m.

Erik Kabik/ RETNA

Tennis star Anna Kournikova was on hand for last weekend’s (June 27-28, 2009) Hard Bat Classic table tennis tournament at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

Erik Kabik/ Retna

"30 Rock" star Judah Friedlander was among the celebrities who were on hand over the weekend for the first annual Hard Bat Classic at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

Melissa Arseniuk

Judah Friedlander, star of TV's "30 Rock," (center) was on hand for this weekend's first annual Hard Bat Classic table tennis tournament at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

What do former pro tennis player Anna Kournikova; actor Antonio Sabato Jr.; Autumn Reeser of "the O.C." and "30 Rock" funnyman Judah Friedlander have in common?

Besides all enjoying varying degrees of celebrity and appearing on TV in one capacity or another, most people would think the answer would be "absolutely nothing."

However, the four seemingly different stars recently aligned at the Palazzo, united by the love of ping pong.

The first annual HardBat Classic was held at the Sands Expo Center this weekend and yesterday the tournament featured a handful of familiar-faces during exhibition play.

After play wrapped for the day, everyone -- A-listers, B-listers and ping pong players of no star status whatsoever -- gathered at the Palazzo Sports Book for a post-play reception.

From there, some of the star talent moved the party to Lavo, where they mixed and mingled in the VIP.

On Sunday afternoon, a fresh-faced Friedlander was back at Expo Hall C as the final match was being played.

The comedian, who did not partake in the early-morning revelry at Lavo Saturday night, is no stranger to table tennis.

"It's the fastest game on Earth," he said.

Friedlander said the retro-styled HardBat Classic is a great thing for the modern-day sport.

"It's enhanced the profile of table tennis," he said.

While Friedlander didn't play himself, he said he still had a blast during the last few days.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "It was great."

The final stage of competition saw 23-year-old Jack Baker take on 73-year-old Wayne Obertone in a best-of-three match-up.

The young Mobile, Ala., resident defeated Obertone in two straight games to win the title.

A cloud of silver confetti burst overhead as Baker scored the 21st and final point in game two to win the grand prize.

As the bleachers erupted with applause, a collection of frat boys rushed onto the court to congratulate their buddy as he became $100,000 richer.

Baker said he had no clue who his enthusiastic supporters were, but smiled and posed for photos with them anyway.

The Gravesend, England-native was presented with a "Deal or No Deal"-style briefcase of cash and posed with a collection of Vegas-style showgirls after his victory.

He will soon take his winnings back to the University of Southern Alabama, where he began his studies in sports management on a tennis scholarship and where he is set to graduate later this year.

Baker was an unranked ping pong player who stumbled upon the tournament after a friend suggested he play in a qualifying round held in a local bar.

He said he heard it was sponsored by Bud Light and thought he'd give it a shot.

Baker won the contest at the pub and soon found himself on a plane for Las Vegas.

Despite his qualifying round victories and previous success on the full-size tennis court, the Brit didn't expect to walk away a winner Sunday.

"I was just happy to come here for a free trip," he said.

As far as his plans for his weekend's worth of winnings, he said he would probably give much of it to his parents, who have supported him tremendously in the past.

As for the remaining sum, he said he wasn't sure.

"I really don't know," he said. "I'm still in shock."