TENNIS AUSTRALIA SAY 'YES'

Optus announced today that it is to extend its successful sponsorship of Team Tennis Australia for a further two-year period in a move that will continue the development of future tennis talent in Australia.

President of Tennis Australia, Geoff Pollard, said, "We're delighted that Optus has chosen to extend its valuable support to all of our national teams."

"In the first three years of our partnership with Optus we saw Australia appear in two Davis Cup finals and the Fed Cup team reach the world group finals. "Their support of our talented players through the Optus Achievers program has accompanied the emergence of up-and-coming young players, such as Samantha Stosur and Peter Luczak; as well as continued world class performances from wheelchair tennis players such as five-time world champion David Hall," Mr Pollard said.

Stephen Cameron, Optus Director of Corporate Marketing, said Optus was proud to be helping Australian tennis grow through its sponsorship. "This sponsorship sees Optus support Australian tennis at all levels, from juniors to the Optus Achievers squad, the wheelchair tennis players, through to the Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams. "Competition, teamwork and partnership make champions - principles that are reflected in the way Optus does business. Optus is very pleased to be able to provide support ensuring a bright future for Australian tennis," Mr Cameron said. The Optus Australian Fed Cup team will begin 2004 with the first round tie in Russia in April with Captain Evonne Goolagong Cawley and the recently appointed Coach, Mark Woodforde.

The Optus Australian Davis Cup Team will begin its defence of the trophy on 6 February with the first Tie of the year in Adelaide against Sweden. About Optus Team Tennis Australia Optus Team Tennis Australia aims to develop a united national team culture among players at every level, from juniors who are just starting their careers through to the world famous stars of Davis and Fed Cup, and our talented wheelchair players. Optus Team Tennis Australia sponsors the following:

• Optus Australian Davis Cup Team
• Optus Australian Fed Cup Team
• Optus Australian Junior Davis Cup Team
• Optus Australian Junior Fed Cup Team
• Optus Achievers Squad
• Optus Junior Touring Teams
• Optus Wheelchair Touring Teams
• Optus Wheelchair Ranking Improvement Awards
• Support sponsor of the Satellite and Challenger event tour conducted by Tennis Australia
• Optus Director of Tennis, Tony Roche, to identify and coach talented players
   

For more media information, please contact:

John Lindsay, Tennis Australia, Tel: 03 9272 1022 or 0413 240 171

Simone Bergholcs, Optus Corporate Affairs, Tel: 02 9342 7850 or 0412 206 602