Pink, Robin Thicke test out their tennis skills at Desert Smash charity event

“Singing is so much easier!”

The exclamation from Pink came just a few minutes into her match at the Desert Smash tennis event, perhaps as a reminder the renowned pop star is just a couple years into working on her game.

The singer let out an occasional shriek as the tennis ball flew her way — “This is so scary!” she shouted to laughs from onlookers — and may have ducked a few times, but she managed to have a good time alongside pro tennis player Grigor Dimitrov.

The pair’s game against pro tennis player Victoria Azarenka and singer Robin Thicke was among the headlining matchups Tuesday at the 19th annual Desert Smash, held this year at the La Quinta Resort & Club. For those keeping score at home, Azarenka and Thicke won.

The event, which also included a live auction on such pricy items as Taylor Swift concert tickets, raised money for the Playing for Change Foundation, a global non-profit promoting musical education for kids. Desert Smash, which has drawn other stars such as Justin Bieber and Will Ferrell, benefits a different charity every year.

ESPN journalist Chris McKendry helped emcee the event, telling the crowd she was “shamelessly fangirling” for Pink. After noting International Women’s Day is Wednesday, McKendry briefly chatted with Pink and Azarenka about navigating their respective careers as moms.

“My dressing room went from whiskey and cigarettes to ball pits and stuffed animals, but it’s the most rewarding thing to be able to show your kids the world. It’s not lost on me,” the pop singer told McKendry.

Plenty of fans in the stands were dressed in (you guessed it) pink as they cheered on the singer, who promised the crowd she’s “good at other things” during the match.

Pink and Thicke (who was less chatty as he played) were not the only stars in the building. Actor Sean Penn, perhaps in town as the BNP Paribas Open gets underway in Indian Wells, also briefly took in the action Tuesday afternoon.

The annual event drew several top players in pro tennis, with Casper Ruud, Frances Tiafoe, Jack Sock, Donna Vekic and Marta Kostyuk getting in some work before the true competition gets underway this week.

While the event’s purpose was for charity, there were still a few moments of light-hearted competition. During her matchup with Kostyuk, Vekic jokingly disagreed over a call by the umpire, in this case former NBA player Jason Collins, the league’s first openly gay player.

Collins teased that it was merely a “social game.” But in a match between pro athletes, it’s hard to stamp out that competitive nature.

Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Pink, Robin Thicke attend Desert Smash charity tennis event