Date of issue: 13th June 2005

ACCOUNTANTS KEEP SCORE AS TENNIS ACES HIT BIRMINGHAM

Chartered accountants Clement Keys, Birmingham are auditors to the Edgbaston
Priory Club, organisers of the successful DFS Classic International Women's Tennis Tournament, which finished last week.

Last year Russian teenager Maria Sharapova took the tennis world by storm when she won the DFS Classic and then went on to triumph at Wimbledon. The tournament is often viewed as an ideal warm up event for Wimbledon, the game's only grass court Grand Slam, but it has been a key fixture in the WTA Tour calendar for the past 24 years.

"The DFS Classic has long been regarded as one of the major tournaments the top women tennis players turn to in order to sharpen their skills on grass," says Michael Meakin, managing partner at Clement Keys, Birmingham.

"When up and coming talent like Maria Sharapova add their names to the winner's trophy, the future of the tournament is assured and interest in tennis is renewed as youngsters are encouraged to pick up a racquet.

"Maria has achieved a great deal since last summer and it is very gratifying for the organisers and sponsors of the DFS Classic that she has returned to defend her title."

The 2005 DFS Classic has attracted 64 of the world's top women tennis players. In addition to Maria Sharapova - who is playing in her first singles matches on grass since last year's Wimbledon success - entrants include fellow Russian and world number eight Alicia Molik plus seven of the world's top 30 ranked women, including Jelena Jankovic and last year's beaten finalist Tatiana Golovin. Established names like Lisa Raymond and 2003 champion Magdalena Maleeva have also returned to Edgbaston, while Elena Baltacha is flying the flag for Great Britain.

"The DFS Classic continues to go from strength to strength and with an increased centre Court capacity record-breaking ticket sales have been achieved once again this year,"
says Michael.

"The final three days of the competition were sold out long before the event began, yet another first for this prestigious tournament, and that can only be great for the sport, great for the event and great for Birmingham."