Tough act to follow

At this rate, Family Circle Cup officials will have to book an Andre Agassi-Pete Sampras cage match for next April.

It isn't easy to top a tennis exhibition in which only one of the four players involved requires an introduction using first and last names.

Add on-court interviews and microphones attached to participants Saturday night. Chris Evert and John McEnroe vs. Martina Navratilova and Todd Martin was more fun than a clown car.

"Chris, you better serve, that's looking pretty good," McEnroe said of Evert's practice serves.

Chris: "What? I'm serving well for 30 mph. Be quiet over there. I don't want to hear anything from you."

Of course, everyone on the stadium court got an earful from "The Bad Boy of Tennis."

The inaugural Game, Set, Rock concept was a hit last year. Attendance of 8,409 in 2010 was the difference in a record year for Family Circle Cup attendance in

Charleston and the worst since 2003.

It's quickly become the hottest ticket of the week, insurance against the injuries and withdrawal habits of top active players.

The crowd was not as large Saturday night, probably in big part to the chilly weather.

Women over 75

"I thought the only people to call me 'Johnny' were my mom and uncle," an appreciative McEnroe told fans after a 7-5, 6-3 singles victory over Martin.

But people came for the mixed doubles, won by Martina and Martin, 9-8.

"My biggest fan base is women over 75," McEnroe said to Martina.

And then, early …

Predictably …

"You CANNOT be serious!" McEnroe screamed.

Evert, 56, went 50-3 at the Family Circle Cup and won eight titles when the tournament was held on Hilton Head Island Island.

Navratilova, 54, won four Family Circle Cup titles on Hilton Head. She has played singles and doubles in the Family Circle Cup since it moved to Charleston.

McEnroe, 52, was a Game, Set, Rock hit in 2010 while mixing it up with Monica Seles, Anna Kournikova and Jim Courier.

Martin, 40, was well cast in his role as the fifth Beatle in this four-person show. The former touring pro reached the U.S. Open final in 1999 (losing to Andre Agassi) but is best known for being a nice tall guy (6-6 without sneakers).

'The best'

Martin placed hands on hips and shook his head when an early line call went McEnroe's way.

There were lots of unforced errors and awkward lunges in the men's match, but McEnroe still has that artful creativity of yesteryear. He takes his exhibition tennis relatively seriously, and got better as the match went on.

The best way to defeat McEnroe?

"Hit it real close to the lines," Martin said. "It seems to bother him."

Regal rivals Martina and Chris met 80 times on tour with Navratilova holding a 43-37 edge.

They never met in Family Circle Cup competition. But tournament memories can be beautiful.

As Evert was putting the Family Circle Cup on the television map, her big wins were broadcast live nationally with Dick Enberg and Bud Collins calling the action.

Evert expressed her adoration for Family Circle Cup history, and Hilton Head fun that came after indoor seasons in which she "got killed" by Martina on the carpets. South Carolina, more like her native Florida, was a comfort zone every April.

"The sun and the wind and being outside and playing on clay," Evert said. "Family Circle, you're the best."

If only they had live microphones on the players back then.