Becker Forced To Withdraw From The Stanford Championships In Dallas

DALLAS, October 22, 2008 - InsideOut Sports & Entertainment today announced that Boris Becker has withdrawn from competing in The Stanford Championships this week at Southern Methodist University due to a back injury. Becker, scheduled to make his debut on the Outback Champions Series circuit, will be replaced in the field by former U.S. Davis Cup player Justin Gimelstob.

“I am disappointed that I will be unable to play in Dallas due to a back injury,” said Becker. “I went to my doctor in Munich for treatment on Monday and it was fine but the long flight to the States Tuesday made it worse and after trying to hit for 30 minutes today it was clear that I would be unable to play tomorrow night. I am sorry I won’t be able to play this week as I was looking forward to playing the Stanford Championships in Dallas very much but I hope to play in an Outback Champions Series tournament soon.”

Two-time French and Australian Open champion Jim Courier headlines the field of players in Dallas along with 1992 Olympic silver medalist and defending champion Wayne Ferreira and 1999 US Open finalist Todd Martin. Anna Kournikova, the former top 10 star of the WTA Tour, will also be in Dallas competing in special mixed doubles exhibition matches during the day and night sessions on Saturday, Oct. 25. Play begins tonight and runs through Sunday, October 26. Becker was scheduled to play his first match against Ferreira on Thursday evening.

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

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 many 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. Each event also has the right to choose a “wild card” entrant.

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 meets 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 five events in 2008, Courier holds the No. 1 ranking with 3000 points. McEnroe holds the No. 2 ranking with 1800 points while Ferreira is in third position with 1450 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 title in Newport, R.I., in August, defeating Courier in the final, while Courier won his second event of the season in September in Charlotte, defeating Martin in the final. The next three events on the 2008 Outback Champions Series calendar are Dallas, Surprise, Ariz., and Dubai, U.A.E. 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



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