The O2

Tennis like you've never seen it before

Today (20th June 2007) sees the launch of a brand new sport, Turbo Tennis.

Forget strawberries and cream. Forget white clothing, deuce and net calls, Turbo Tennis has arrived and it's fast, edgy and urban. With some of the very best players in the world - Andy Murray, James Blake, Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Pat Cash and Jamie Murray - already signed up for the UK event, this new game is set to launch with a roar.

A Turbo Tennis event will take place over the course of one afternoon and will see six world-class players, in compulsory coloured kit, battle it out in matches lasting just 30 minutes. When the klaxon sounds, the game is finished and the player in the lead wins. After five knock out matches a champion is crowned and the winner will walk away with $100,000. Betfair, the world's leading online betting exchange, have signed up to sponsor this innovative new sport.

On the launch of this new game, Peter Worth from Quintus, the event organisers, said: 'This is an exciting time for tennis and, with the outstanding support of our title sponsor Betfair, we have launched this game to bring the sport to a new and wider audience. Some have described the game as the tennis equivalent to Twenty20 cricket and this is a great analogy. We will be completing a world-class tournament of knock out matches within a 3 ½ hour time frame and we look forward to giving the audience an afternoon's entertainment to remember.'

Tim Henman, who will be competing in the first event, said: 'I think it's fantastic that we are doing something to broaden the appeal of tennis as a sport and, more importantly, as a form of entertainment. We want to get the message out there that tennis is fun, accessible and all-inclusive, and Turbo Tennis can help us do just that. I am all for something that will raise the profile of tennis in Britain and get more people both playing and talking about tennis.'

The first event will be held at The 02 Arena on 15th September with 6 players, 4 from the ATP Tour (Andy Murray, James Blake, Tim Henman and Jamie Murray) and 2 former champions (Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Cash). Tickets will be in hot demand so to book your seat on the day and be one of the first to experience this new sport call now on 0871 984 0002 or by visiting www.the02.co.uk.

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