THE TENNIS CHANNEL TO HELP PITTSBURGH-AREA SINGLES FIND LOVE WITH FIRST MEET YOUR MATCH TENNIS MIXER

SANTA MONICA, August 2, 2005 —

August 13 Event coincides with The Tennis Channels Free Trial Period on Comcast, follows Citys Fourth Year near the Bottom of Forbes Best Cities for Singles List

To help Pittsburgh continue its long climb from the bottom of Forbes magazines Best Cities for Singles list (this summer slicing its way to No. 29 of 40, after three-straight years at the very bottom), The Tennis Channel today announced the first-ever Meet Your Match tennis mixer, open to all single Pittsburgh-area residents. The social tennis event, in conjunction with the launch and free preview availability of The Tennis Channel on Pittsburghs Comcast Cable, will take place on Saturday, August 13, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford, Penn.

The afternoon is best described as speed-dating meets the tennis court. Utilizing the naturally rapid tempo of the sport, the mixer offers a series of fun, tennis-themed partnership activities, with introductions to a number of potential suitors throughout the day. And while the tennis action removes the awkwardness typically associated with the match-making scene, whether or not a participant finds The One has nothing to do with his or her particular on-court athleticism. The event, foremost a singles mixer, is open to players of all tennis abilities, including those who have never even picked up a racquet. A social court away from the action will offer the chance to take a break, relax and mingle over drinks.

Tennis is the most gender-equivalent sport in the world, and knows no boundaries of age, skill, color or creed, said Steve Bellamy, president and founder, The Tennis Channel. This event is open to everyone, regardless of whether theyve ever played tennis. The people who will be there running the activities expect plenty of beginners, and theyve prepared an agenda that reflects that. This is above all else a chance to meet people in a fun setting.

Beyond tennis obvious connections to romance via phrases like love, singles, mixed doubles and match, the sport, with its equal opportunity for players of both genders, is a perfect place for singles to find the men or women of their dreams, according to Bellamy, who himself is married to a past NCAA and US Open Juniors champion.

I actually met my wife through tennis, said the former player and tennis pro. Its a lifestyle sport and a great way to meet people from all walks of life, have fun and stay fit at the same time. A tennis mixer brings together everything singles are looking for a high-energy atmosphere with music, food and sports and maybe helps Pittsburgh up the best for singles list in the process.

From 2002 to 2004, Pittsburgh was ranked last in Forbes magazines 40 Best Cities for Singles list. This year it has just started to eke up from the bottom rung, coming in at No. 29, and leaving the No. 40 spot to Greensboro, N.C.

During the three-hour Meet Your Match players will be separated into various groups for a series of mixed doubles competition, and fast, fun live ball exercises. Participants will rotate into different sets throughout the mixer, and have access to a social court away from the action, with the opportunity for drinks and conversation with others on break. Refreshments will be provided, and prizes will be both raffled and won outright between the white lines of the court.

While The Tennis Channels Meet Your Match is open to all, advanced registration is required to ensure a spot in the tennis rotation, and limited to the first 150 participants. Those interested can register and learn more at www.thetennischannel.com/pittsburgh. Pittsburgh City Paper is a media sponsor of the event.

In the event that there is a significant turnout, an additional day is being considered.

The Tennis Channel launched on Comcast Cable in Pittsburgh on June 1, and is available via free preview to all subscribers through the end of August. The summer promotion allows area tennis fans to catch the networks live coverage of the US Open Series, a week-after-week lineup of many of the best tournaments and players in tennis.

The Tennis Channel (www.thetennischannel.com) is the 24-hour cable television network devoted to tennis and other racquet sports, and provides unparalleled coverage of the game, its elite championships and its superstar athletes. The networks comprehensive coverage includes telecasts of the US Open Series, ATP Masters Series, top-tier WTA Tour championship competitions, Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, Fed Cup and Hyundai Hopman Cup. The Tennis Channel also showcases instruction from the finest teachers, legendary matches, in-depth profiles of the greatest players, analysis and news, the latest on equipment, and tennis getaways.