For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Edie Brown
Media Contact (410) 627-9600
Heather Shaffer/Courtney Butler
1st Mariner Arena (410) 347-2090
Gengy Vaikness/Marc Kantrowitz
Charity Tennis Challenge (410) 296-2929

MARIA MANIA HITS BALTIMORE;
2004 WIMBLEDON CHAMPION MARIA SHARAPOVA
HEADLINES SHRIVER’s 2004 CHARITY TENNIS CHALLENGE

Baltimore, September 13 – Tournament Chairman and Founder, Pam Shriver announced that current Wimbledon Champion Maria Sharapova will lead an all-star cast of tennis superstars at the Mercantile Tennis Challenge presented by The Baltimore Sun. Sharapova, the new “it” girl of tennis, will headline the Event’s Feature Singles Match at the 1st Mariner Arena on Friday evening, December 17, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.

“2004 has been such an exciting year for me,” said Sharapova. “Winning Wimbledon was an unbelievable experience. I look forward to coming back to Baltimore in December to get ready for 2005 and to help support Pam in her charitable efforts.”

The 2004 Mercantile Tennis Challenge, the area’s premier charitable sporting event, will celebrate its 19th anniversary in Baltimore thanks to the support of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, The Baltimore Sun, Northrop Grumman and many other loyal sponsors and contributors.

The 17-year-old Sharapova shocked the tennis world by defeating reigning Champion Serena Williams at this year’s Wimbledon Championships to capture the singles crown, the first Grand Slam of her young career. Currently ranked No. 7 in the world on the WTA Tour, her meteoric rise to the world’s elite players began with a big splash at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships, where she reached the fourth round in her first main draw singles appearance. She improved 154 spots in the WTA Tour rankings, finishing the year at No. 32 with singles titles at Japan and Quebec City. In 2004, her success has continued, sweeping the singles and double titles in Birmingham before her dramatic run to the title at Wimbledon.

“I am so excited that Maria has made playing in Baltimore part of her year-end plans,” Shriver said. “To be featuring the current Wimbledon Champion is like a dream come true. She is one of the hottest stars in the world right now on and off the court and the fans in Baltimore are in for a real treat.”

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“Baltimore has really embraced Pam and her charitable efforts,” added Edward (Ned) J. Kelly III, Chairman, President & CEO of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation. “We are delighted to be returning as the title sponsor of the Tennis Challenge and look forward to being able to join together with Pam to help make a difference in the community.”

Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, with $14.1 billion in assets, is a regional multibank holding company with headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. It is comprised of Mercantile Bank & Trust, 12 community banks and a mortgage banking company. Its 13 banks serve communities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula and southern Pennsylvania. The largest bank, Mercantile Bank & Trust, represents approximately one-third of total assets and operates 26 offices in Maryland and one commercial office in southern Pennsylvania. The largest bank also provides investment and wealth management services, with $46.2 billion in assets under administration, of which $21.4 billion are discretionary assets under management.

The Mercantile Tennis Challenge presented by the Baltimore Sun is played to benefit the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF), a publicly endowed nonprofit organization that donates proceeds to area children’s charities. Since the event’s inception in 1986, over $3.4 million has been distributed through the BCF Tennis Challenge Fund to child-related causes.

Tickets for the 2004 Mercantile Tennis Challenge presented by The Baltimore Sun go on sale September 14 at 10:00 a.m. and range in price from $20-$100. Tickets can be purchased at the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office 410/347-2010 and all TICKETMASTER locations. To charge by phone, call 410/547-SEAT. Additional ticket and sponsorship information can be obtained by calling the Tournament Office at 410/296-2929 or via www.tennischallenge.org.

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