Thursday, September 10, 2009
BUSINESS NEWS
Oudin Becomes a Marketing Figure for adidas
Melanie Oudin’s US Open finally came to a close but her distinctive pink and yellow adidas Barricade V's, complete with navy blue laces, obligatory three stripes and of course the plate embossed with the mission statement ‘Believe’ on each heel, have become the most required fashion item at Flushing Meadow this year.
The German company adidas was in a win-win situation in Oudin’s quarter-final. Across the net was Denmark’s teenager Caroline Wozniacki who recently became the face of the exclusive range designed by Stella McCartney. But a company spokesperson reported the Oudin shoes have resulted in traffic and sales on the adidas website has increased five-fold.
Those who wish to be shod the same as the 17 year-old from Marietta, Georgia can simply long onto www.miadidas.com and click to buy the shoes. The ‘mi’ in the website’s name stands for ‘My Individual’ and alternatively customers can substitute their own colour picks from a huge palate for the midsoles, mid-foot, laces, outsole and uppers on a computer model for $US140. There is also the option of inscribing a personal message on the side of the shoes in the same way Oudin elected to use the word ‘Believe’.
Oudin has been connected with adidas for three years since being talent scouted at the Racquet Club of the South in Atlanta. She was invited to join the adidas National Junior Team, a group of about 25 boys and girls in the United States who are supplied apparel and footwear.
***
Oudin’s Performance in New York Brings Endorsement Deals
BackOffice Associates, LLC and BEST (Blue Entertainment Sports Television) announced a multi-year promotional partnership with Melanie Oudin. The partnership will include promotional and endorsement opportunities as well as appearances. Oudin will join other BackOffice Associates sponsored athletes including James Blake and golfer Boo Weekley.
Headquartered in South Harwich, Massachusetts, BackOffice Associates, LLC, a world leader in SAP data quality transmission.
If you looked closely on Melanie’s wrist during her US Open run, you would have seen that was she one of the only players wearing a watch during matches, her pink Timex Ironman Sleek 50-Lap watch is a style traditionally favored by world triathletes.
***
Jail Time Looms for the Nadal Kisser
The US Open fan who accosted Rafael Nadal after rushing onto the court of Arthur Ashe Stadium could face a year in jail and a $5,000 civil penalty after being charged with trespassing.
Noam U. Aorta, aged 23 of Briarwood, Queens, New York City dashed out of the stands after Nadal’s fourth-round win over Gael Monfils to hug and attempt to kiss the tournament’s third seed as he was changing shirts on the sideline.
Aorta was yesterday awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on charges of third-degree criminal trespass and interfering with a professional sporting event.
Nadal tried to make light of the incident. In his post-match press conference the Spaniard said: “For me, it wasn’t a problem. The guy was really nice. He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me.”
District Attorney Richard Brown viewed things very differently and termed the incident “particularly disturbing” because Aorta made physical contact with Nadal. Brown noted that Monica Seles was stabbed in the back in 1993 by a spectator on a tennis court in Hamburg, Germany and tennis authorities are also wary of the dangers after another spectator interrupted play during this year’s French Open final between Roger Federer and Robin Soderling, approaching the eventual Swiss champion.
A day after Aorta intrusion, the number of on-court private security personnel was upped from six to nine. "There was a breakdown," U.S. Open spokesman Chris Widmaier said.
***
Murray’s Playing Future is Uncertain
Andy Murray, the US Open second seed whose campaign to make the final for the second year in succession was ended by Marin Cilic, underwent an MRI can on his troublesome wrist the day before his fourth round tie and intends to undergo more intensive examination when he returns to London.
Murray is understood to be suffering from tendonitis in his wrist but insists the injury will not prevent him playing for Britain in the Davis Cup against Poland in the Euro/African Zone Group One play off in Liverpool, beginning in eight days time.
“I plan on playing just now,” said the 22 year-old Scot. “I will go home and rest. I will make sure I do all the right things and hopefully be okay. I know what the problem is but try not to discuss injuries. I leave it to my doctors and physio to let me know what I should be doing with it and how much I should be playing and how much time I need to take off.”
Britain has to win to avoid dropping down into the competition's third division. If Murray does not play in Liverpool, his next competitive tennis will come in next month's Tokyo tournament, and he is then scheduled to feature in Shanghai, Valencia and Paris before ending his year with the eight-man tour ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena.
Murray's autumn schedule could change. "I will have to discuss what I will do and which tournaments I will play for the rest of the year," Murray said. "I will have to see what my goals are. Rankings-wise, I got to my highest this year. But the next step is to win a grand slam, and unfortunately there aren't any left this year. I will go and work on my game and not worry too much about my results at the end of the year and make sure I am ready to win a slam next year."
***
Del Potro Feels Confident With What he Faces at the US Open
Juan Martin Del Potro is right there where he wanted to be, on the brink of his first US Open semifinal.
Unlike other Argentine players, who dream about winning French Open, for Del Potro favorite major is on the courts of Flushing Meadow. “I feel very well and I am very satisfied with everything on my way to the quarterfinal”, commented Del Potro before his duel with Croatian Marin Cilic.
With a game suited to hard courts, #6 got enough wins before coming to New York to gain momentum. “I defended title in Washington, beating very dangerous Roddick. After that a lot of people started to consider me as one of favorites to win US Open and I like it. I like when people believe in me.”
A week later came another success. Del Potro played final in Montreal, losing title to Andy Murray. “It was very important to have an opportunity to play good players in those two tournaments. All those wins gave me self confidence to start well in New York.”
A setback was in Cincinnati. “I suffered a lot because of heat and my coach has a good decision to pull out from Cincinnati, and I've been working, been training with my physic. I'm here in good shape, so that was a very good decision for me, for us,” explained Delpo how he used this problem to strengthen himself.
He is only five days older then his quarterfinal opponent, Marin Cilic, both born in September of 1988. “We know a lot. We play since juniors. We play many times.
But if I be good with my weapons, with my game, I can beat him. So I will try,” added Del Potro who won the only match on ATP level between them. He beat Cilic in Australian Open this winter.
***
We Hear---
--that members of the US Tennis Writers Association have elected board of directors for 2009-10; Cindy Cantrell, Paul Fein, Ann Lo Prinzi, Richard Kent, Jim Martz and Art Spander.
***
THIS WEEK
MEN
US Open
WOMEN
US Open
***
NEXT WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup Semifinals
WOMEN
Guangzhou
Quebec City
***
Bob Larson’s Stock Report
Wednesday Stock Prices
Stock
Last
Change
Adidas
24.75
+1.20
Amer Sports
4.85
0.00
Head
0.40
0.00
K-Swiss
9.43
+.04
Nike
55.35
+.11
Bob Larson Tennis Stock Index $94.78
* The index is based on the total value of one share of each stock we report daily.
***
Results
For complete ATP and WTA results, please see our web site at www.tennisnews.com
Bob Larson - Publisher
Cort Larson - Editor
Bob Larson's Daily Tennis is published
Monday through Friday except Holidays
Monday and Thursday in November and December.
Delivery via e-mail to all countries
Subscription rates are; $97USD a year,
$57USD for Six months, $37USD for Three months.
Bob Larson Tennis
P.O. Box 24256
Edina, MN 55424 USA
952-920-8947 (voice) or 952-920-8940 (fax)
E-mail address bob@tennisnews.com
Visit our website at: www.tennisnews.com
(c) Copyright 2009. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis
Subscribe