OPTUS/WHEELCHAIR SPORTS WA HOST WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TALENT CLINIC

For the first time on the West Coast, David Hall, six-time World Champion Wheelchair Tennis Player and Optus National High Performance Wheelchair Tennis Advisor together with Tennis Australia and Wheelchair Sports WA, will be searching for new talent and showcasing wheelchair tennis in Burswood. Wheelchair tennis is one the fastest growing international sports for disabled athletes. With Optus' support, it continues to grow with a number of athletes competing for over $1 million in prize-money on the International Wheelchair Tennis Federation (ITF) tour. The clinic welcomes anyone who has played wheelchair tennis in the past or people who are new to the sport and generally interested in seeing the experts demonstrate their talent. Ben Ettridge, Wheelchair Sports WA, said, "Wheelchair tennis is in its 32nd year, we are very proud to be supporting this clinic, and it's great the sport is generating greater interest and companies are getting behind wheelchair tennis in order to foster talent. "As well as David Hall, we are also lucky to have Kim Robbins, a local champion also attending, offering top level advice on the game." Mr Ettridge said. David Hall, Optus National High Performance Wheelchair Tennis Advisor, said, "Over the last couple of years I've made the transition from player to adviser. I've had time away from the game and I'm now committed to working with our current crop of players. I know what it takes to get to the top of the sport. "Clinics like this one are invaluable, I'm really looking forward to visiting Western Australia to try and find some untapped talent to further our wheelchair tennis prospects for the future," Mr Hall said. "We are proud that our sponsorship continues to encourage athletes to develop their talent from grass roots to elite stages of the game," Jann Kohlman, Optus Group Manager, Sponsorship and Community Programs, said. Event: Optus Wheelchair Tennis Talent Clinic Date: Saturday 24 May 2008 Venue: State Tennis Centre, Victoria Park Drive, Burswood. For further information and details on the clinic, please contact Ben Ettridge at Wheelchair Sports WA on (08) 9443 4833. Please note: Media interviews can be arranged with David Hall or John Newcombe. Media contact: Tracy Monkman, Optus Corporate Affairs, Tel: (02) 8082 5302 Tanya Newcombe, Newk's Group, Tel: 0412 677 168 Note to Editor:

• Optus has been the major sponsor of tennis in Australia since 2001. It provides support to nurture talent at all levels of team tennis, including Fed Cup, Davis Cup, Junior Davis Cup, Junior Fed Cup, wheelchair athletes and High Performance Players.
• Optus also supports wheelchair tennis athletes by sponsoring the annual Wheelchair Scholarship Awards. These awards provide vital funding that keeps Australia's athletes competing on the world stage.
• Optus is proud to be associated with wheelchair tennis and looks forward to the continued success of Australia's players in international competition.