Billie Jean and Elton play doubles: Long-term friends look strikingly similar as they take to the court for a charity tennis event 

  • Pair could pass as twins while they attend tennis event in matching outfits 
  • The old friends stepped onto court together for a Las Vegas charity event
  • Watching fans thought they were seeing double at the AIDS fundraiser

By Laura Lambert For The Daily Mail

Published: 18:43 EST, 11 October 2016 | Updated: 19:11 EST, 11 October 2016

Sporting identical tracksuit tops, the same haircut and similar glasses, Elton John and Billie Jean King could pass as twins.

And as the long-term friends stepped onto the court at their joint charity tennis event in Las Vegas, their fans were left thinking they were seeing double.

Indeed, the confusion was only alleviated at the AIDS fundraiser when Sir Elton, 69, picked up his tennis racket and demonstrated his novice abilities.

Billie Jean King, 72, could be the twin of old friend Elton John, 69, and fans at their joint AIDS fundraiser thought they were seeing double. The strikingly similar pair raisedalost £500,000 at the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event
Sir Elton demonstrated his abilities with a racket at the busy charity event, which controversial doper Maria Sharapova also attended

Billie Jean King, 72, could be the twin of old friend Elton John, 69, and fans at their joint AIDS fundraiser thought they were seeing double. The strikingly similar pair raisedalost £500,000 at the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event

Meanwhile, Miss Jean King, 72, showed off her wealth of experience as a multiple grand slam winner as she coached the players from the side-lines.

Russian doper Maria Sharapova was also in action at the World Team Tennis Smash Hits event, in what was her first appearance on court since she was banned earlier this year for failing a drugs test.

And although the 29-year-old has been keeping up with training, her lack of competition in the last ten months appeared to take its toll as she lost her doubles match with teenager Taylor Johnson.

Last week she earned a reduction to her ban for taking the banned substance meldonium, meaning she will return to tennis in April.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation received almost half a million pounds as a result of the event in Las Vegas, where he and friend Mrs jean King were seen in similar tracksuits and glasses

The Elton John AIDS Foundation received almost half a million pounds as a result of the event in Las Vegas, where he and friend Mrs jean King were seen in similar tracksuits and glasses

And the news seems to have boosted her mood as she smiled throughout the competition, which saw her team up with Andy Roddick and John McEnroe.

Her fellow players seemed undeterred by her doping ban, which she interrupted to take part in the exhibition event, as they posed for photos and laughed with her.

The night raised £490,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Sir Elton returns to the venue tonight for the first of ten tour dates with his band.

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