SMS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE OPTUS AUSTRALIAN FED CUP TEAM

Tennis fans can send messages of support via Optus SMS to the Optus Australian Fed Cup Team as they prepare to take on Thailand for a spot in the elite World Group II.

The World Group Qualifying Tie will be held in Bangkok on 10 - 11 July and Optus is giving you the chance to show your support by sending a good luck SMS text message from your mobile phone to the Team on the number 0421 264 264.

Supporting the Fed Cup Team will also help the next generation of talented Australians. Optus is donating ten cents from every SMS good luck message sent to the above number from an Optus mobile phone to Tennis Australia's Junior Travelling Teams.

Falling under the banner of Optus Team Tennis Australia, the Junior Travelling Teams compete in events such as Junior Davis Cup, Junior Fed Cup, the World Junior Tennis Competition and tournaments across Europe, Asia, USA and Oceania.

Optus Australian Fed Cup Captain, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, said, �Receiving messages of support from home will mean a lot to our players who are very proud to be representing their country.

"Australia has not played Thailand before in Fed Cup competition, so the more support from home the better. We're looking forward to receiving 'Go Aussie' good luck messages from the fans."

Australia�s Fed Cup Team will consist of world No.41 Nicole Pratt, who returns to the Team having missed Australia's first round Tie against Russia through injury, Samantha Stosur '86', Christina Wheeler '241' and Lisa McShea '38 in doubles'.

A log of good luck messages and tally of monies raised for the Optus Australian Junior Travelling Teams will be available online. The website will also have updates on the progress of the Fed Cup Team during the Tie.

A win against Thailand will secure the Optus Australian Fed Cup Team a position in World Group II for the 2005 competition of tennis' premier women's team event.

Additional information:
Optus. Helping to grow Team Tennis Australia. Optus Team Tennis Australia is a partnership between Optus and Tennis Australia. It provides support to nurture talent at all levels of team tennis, including Fed Cup, Davis Cup, Junior Davis Cup, Junior Fed Cup and wheelchair teams. By funding initiatives including scholarships and excellence awards, Optus is proud to play a role in the continued success of Australia's tennis teams in international competition.

For further media information please contact:
Eloise Tyson, Media & PR Coordinator, Tennis Australia: 03 9286 1202 or 0409 534 960
Simone Bergholcs, Optus Corporate Affairs: 02 9342 7850 or 0412 206 602