Anna Kournikova To Compete In Mixed Doubles Exhibitions At Outback Champions Series Event In Dallas

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment | September 2, 2008



Anna Kournikova To Compete In Mixed Doubles Exhibitions At Outback Champions Series Event In Dallas

Courier, Martin, Philippoussis and Ferreira Headline Field at The Stanford Championships Held at SMU

NEW YORK, N.Y., September 2, 2008 - InsideOut Sports & Entertainment today announced that Anna Kournikova will compete in special mixed doubles exhibition matches at The Stanford Championships, the sixth of eight events on the 2008 Outback Champions Series tennis circuit, to be played October 22-26 on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas.

Kournikova, a former top 10 player, is one of the most popular female athletes of all-time, still gracing magazine covers, including this month’s Maxim. She will compete in mixed doubles exhibitions during both the day and night sessions on Saturday, October 25 with a to-be-announced fellow female player as well as to be announced players chosen from the field of eight men’s players competing in the tournament field. Confirmed players for the event include two-time French and Australian Open champion Jim Courier, defending champion and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Wayne Ferreira of South Africa, 2003 Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis and 1999 US Open finalist Todd Martin. The final four players in the field, as well as the schedule of play in the round-robin event, will be announced in the near future.

Tickets for the event are available now and can be purchased by calling 877-332-TIXX (8499). Ticket prices start at $12. Full ticket information can be found at www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

Kournikova, from Russia, was ranked as high as No. 8 in the world in singles in 2000 and ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles in 1999. She won 16 career WTA Tour doubles titles, including two Australian doubles titles with Martina Hingis in 1999 and 2002. Known as one of the most popular tennis players in the world, Kournikova reached the singles semifinals at Wimbledon in 1997.

Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team.

The Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2008 schedule, with each event featuring an eight-man round-robin match format. The winner of each four-player division will meet in the title match while second place finishers in each division play in the third-place match. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end Stanford Champions Rankings No. 1. Beginning in 2008, the year-end champion will receive a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Stanford Financial Group, the official rankings sponsor of the Outback Champions Series. Through the first four events in 2008, Courier holds the No. 1 ranking with 2200 points. McEnroe holds the No. 2 ranking with 1800 points while Ferreira is in third position with 1050 points.

The 2008 Outback Champions Series kicked off March 12-16 in Naples, Fla.., at The Oliver Group Champions Cup where Martin defeated McEnroe in the final. Courier won the second event of the season at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Legends Championships April 16-20, defeating Ferreira in the final, while McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series even in Boston April 30- May 4, defeating Krickstein in the final. Pat Cash won his first Outback Champions Series event in Newport, R.I. in August, defeating Courier in the final. The next four events on the 2008 Outback Champions Series calendar are stops in Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Texas, Surprise, Ariz., and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. More information can be obtained by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night "Legendary Night" exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com