Cellular South Cup Brings Tennis Superstars to Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular South, the nation's largest privately owned wireless communications provider, is bringing some of the most well-known names in professional tennis to Memphis.  The 2010 Cellular South Cup kick-off event featuring fan-favorite and tennis superstar Maria Sharapova is scheduled on Sunday, Feb. 14.  The private VIP party will unite community leaders and tennis fans to support Cellular South – an eight-year title sponsor – and the female superstars headlining the tournament.

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2010 Cellular South Cup match play runs Monday, Feb. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 20 and features many of the world's top women's players, including three-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1 Maria Sharapova (RUS), teenage sensation Melanie Oudin (USA), 2005 Cellular South Cup semi-finalist Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) and 15-year-old Catherine Harrison of Memphis, one of the country's top junior players.

"We're excited to be partnering with some of the greatest names in tennis to bring these world-class athletes to Memphis," said Kevin Hankins, chief operating officer for Cellular South.  "Being the title sponsor for eight years has helped embed our company in the community and allowed us to interact with our customers on a more personal, social level."

2010 Cellular South Cup Schedule of Events

Cellular South customers can get special pricing and discounts up to 20 percent for tickets to the tournament.  For priority handling and quality seats, call the Racquet Club at 901.765.4401 or go to www.memphistennis.com/cellularsouth.

Saturday, February 13

• Cellular South Cup Tennis Photo Booth – Ever dream of smashing an overhead like Roger Federer or sending a sizzling forehand down the line like Serena Williams?  All your dreams can come true in front of the life-sized tennis court at the Cellular South Tennis Photo Booth while you get your picture taken by a professional photographer free of charge.  While you're there, pick up a card with instructions on how to download your photo from a special online 2010 Cellular South Cup album.  View and download your photos anytime by going online at www.cellularsouth.com/cscup.  Photo booth hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from Feb. 13-Feb. 20 and from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 21.

Sunday, February 14

• 2010 Cellular South Cup Kick-Off Event, headlined by Maria Sharapova – Tennis superstar and three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova will headline the exclusive 2010 Cellular South Cup private VIP party and reception kick-off event with Cellular South and the Racquet Club of Memphis.  Local Memphis influencers will join Cellular South – the title sponsor for eight years running – to recognize Sharapova and the extensive line-up of world-class athletes scheduled to compete in the tournament.  Reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Racquet Club's Walnut Room.  Media representatives welcome.

Monday, February 15

• First of two free "Getting the Most Out of Your Wireless Device" Discover Mobile IQ Lunch n'Learn seminars for consumers and business executives at 11:30 a.m. in the Walnut Room of the Racquet Club of Memphis.  Cellular South is teaming up with Research in Motion, Inc., the maker of its BlackBerry smartphone product line, and HTC Corp., the manufacturer of the HTC Hero Android touchscreen smartphone, to sponsor the session, where representatives from the three companies will discuss the latest trends in wireless and offer specific tips, insights and tricks on how to use mobile devices more effectively.  Whether it's examples of free consumer and business applications on the mobile web or tips and advice on how to get more out of a wireless device, Cellular South's Discover Mobile IQ seminars will have consumers thinking in a whole new way about their devices.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – some of the top women's players in the world will visit children at St. Jude's.
• Women's first round matches begin, including a 7 p.m. match featuring No. 1 seed Maria Sharapova and Shenay Perry (USA).

Tuesday, February 16

• Women's first and second round matches, including an evening first round match featuring American teenage sensation Melanie Oudin, fresh off her exciting run through the U.S. Open quarterfinals last year and the $700,000 Open GDF Suez Fed Cup tennis tournament in Paris this week.

Wednesday, February 17 – Friday, February 19

• Women's quarterfinal matches continue.
• Second of two free "Getting the Most Out of Your Wireless Device" Discover Mobile IQ Lunch n'Learn seminars for consumers and business executives at 11:30 a.m. in the Walnut Room of the Racquet Club of Memphis.  Cellular South is teaming up with Research in Motion, Inc., the maker of its BlackBerry smartphone product line, and HTC Corp., the manufacturer of the HTC Hero Android touchscreen smartphone, to sponsor the session, where representatives from the three companies will discuss the latest trends in wireless and offer specific tips, insights and tricks on how to use mobile devices more effectively.  Whether it's examples of free consumer and business applications on the mobile web or tips and advice on how to get more out of a wireless device, Cellular South's Discover Mobile IQ seminars will have consumers thinking in a whole new way about their devices.

Friday, February 19

• Kids' Day – More than 500 young fans from Memphis public schools will take the courts with ATP and USTA Southern region tennis professionals who will serve up tennis tips, contests, geography lessons and a question-and-answer session.  Admission is free for children ages 15 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket.  Ticket holders will also gain admission to qualifying first-round matches on Sunday.

Saturday, February 20

• Women's Final, Cellular South Check Presentation – Cellular South executives will recognize the singles and doubles champions of the 2010 Cellular South Cup tournament and present the championship trophy.

"We're proud to work with such great organizations as St. Jude's, Regions Morgan Keegan and the Racquetball Club of Memphis to support the city of Memphis," said Hankins.  "Cellular South is dedicated to the Memphis community, whether it's sponsoring special events like the Cellular South Cup or continuing to make investments in our network in order to provide a industry-leading reliable wireless network."

The Cellular South Cup is just one example of Cellular South's many athletic sponsorships.  Cellular South was a major sponsor of the 2009 St. Jude Golf Classic and recently announced its sponsorship of the 2010 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, a PGA Tour Champions golf tournament.  

In 2009, the company also launched the expansion of its groundbreaking Cellular South Gameplan education program, which aims to help high school student-athletes qualify for college, in Alabama and developed and implemented a first-ever sports programming and customer engagement initiative focused on five of the oldest and biggest high school football rivalries in the South.  Games were professionally broadcast in prime time on major national television network affiliate stations on Friday nights last fall and featured NFL caliber pyrotechnics, professional skydivers, aerial video and a giant jumbotron video messaging and display board.

ABOUT CELLULAR SOUTH

Cellular South is a privately-owned diversified mobile communications company passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless devices and services.  The nation's largest privately owned wireless carrier accomplishes this goal by providing the most reliable and advanced 3G nationwide voice and data network, offering industry-leading family and unlimited flat rate voice, text and mobile web plans and through its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and convenient tools, tips, advice and information to get the most out of their mobile phone.  For more information, visit www.cellularsouth.com.

SOURCE Cellular South