Tuesday, September 16, 2008
BUSINESS NEWS
LTA Signs Historic Sponsorship Deal with Financial Company AEGON
Britain may have awoke to new anxieties about the current financial situation after going to bed with news of the biggest shake-up on Wall Street in decades but the Lawn Tennis Association stunned even the most optimistic of tennis analysts by announcing their new£30 million ($53 million) mega-deal sponsorship deal with the life insurance and pension group AEGON.After months of skepticism that the LTA would struggle to find a 'lead partner' to supply long term backing for British tennis and present some form of financial independence from support of Wimbledon, chief executive Roger Draper proudly unveiled the five year deal.
Not unsurprisingly, given the rise of Andy Murray to a place as the world's fourth best male tennis player after reaching the US Open final, the backers have Scottish roots. AEGON's UK headquarters are not in London but Edinburgh and were formerly known on the British financial market as Scottish Equitable.
Other companies sounded out for the deal were international bankers Barclays, the fruit juice manufacturers Tropicana and Betfair before on-line gambling concerns became decidedly unsavoury in tennis circles.As the Lead Partner, AEGON will be involved in all aspects of the sport including the parks and schools programs, supporting key junior elite athletes, as well as holding the naming rights to the British international grass court events that provide the build up to Wimbledon including the AEGON Championships held at London's The Queen's Club (formerly known as both the Stella and more recently the Artois Championships), the AEGON International at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park , and the AEGON Classic at Egbaston's Priory Club in Birmingham. AEGON will be involved in all aspects of the development of the sport making it a true partnership that will help promote and build the sport of tennis across Britain. AEGON UK Chief Executive Otto Thoresen said: "British Tennis is at a breakthrough stage in its development and it is a very exciting time to be involved in the sport. AEGON is delighted to become the Lead Partner of British Tennis and our investment over the next five years will enable the sport to grow from grassroots level, encouraging more young people to take up the sport, through to elite performance level, where we can support our leading athletes as they seek to make an impression on the world stage."
"We see a number of similarities between British Tennis and AEGON as we look to take our UK business on to a new phase of growth. It's a strong partnership and we're looking forward to being a part of it."The deal will be particularly welcomed by Draper who stressed as one of his aims when succeeding John Crowther as CEO more than two years ago that he wanted to secure the LTA's financial future without relying on the support of the All England Club – last year's Wimbledon surplus payment to the LTA for the furtherance of British tennis amount to £25.1 million ($35 million) and this year's figures are expected soon.Draper said: "We are delighted that AEGON has joined us as the Lead Partner of British Tennis in what is a very exciting time for the sport. We are looking forward to developing a close working partnership with them over the coming years. We share a joint desire to grow the sport at all levels from our major international events and supporting elite young players to improving facilities and access across the country and AEGON will play a vital role in this."AEGON UK Marketing Director Steve Clode said: "As the Lead Partner of British Tennis, AEGON has an exceptional opportunity to develop our brand in the UK market. People of all ages enjoy tennis, and it's one of the country's most exciting and fast growing sports. We're delighted to have secured the sponsorship - it's a significant step forward in our brand strategy."
The architect of the deal has been LTA Director of Communications and Commercial Affairs, Bruce Philipps. He said: "Our strategy has always been to partner with one lead company to make sure we are bringing the sport together rather than 'selling off' individual parts. AEGON's investment in our sport will ensure we have more resources to invest in British Tennis. We are confident this new model will help accelerate our progress in all areas."
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ATP Might Look for Next Chief Close to Home
By Charles Bricker
According to a source close to the ATP, two of the candidates to succeed CEO Etienne de Villiers are already in the tour’s front office – Mark Young and Brad Drewett.Young, who has been an ATP executive since the tour was formed in 1990, is ceo of The Americas, and Drewett, with the ATP since 1993, is ceo of the tour’s International Group.de Villiers, a tennis outsider with a sterling record as a chief executive with the Disney Corporation, made a lot of significant changes during his three-year tenure with the ATP, which will end on Dec. 31. But he was brought down by his lack of communication and closeness with key players on the tour and with the ATP’s advisory Player Council.Young and Drewett have long records of strong connection with players. Young has served a variety of functions for the tour. He was the tour’s general counsel for years and was the point man on development of the ATP’s anti-doping program.Drewett is a former top-40 player who has negotiated some of the ATP’s biggest sponsorship deals. He has been Masters Cup tournament director since 2001.They’re not the only two men being named as sources as possible successors. The name of former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee has been heard.According to the source, there also has been some “thinking out loud” about the possibility of merging the men’s and women’s tours with WTA CEO Larry Scott as the head of the combined tours, but the source doubted that discussion would get serious, even if it was a phased merger over a number of years with a separate ATP ceo in place until the final merger.
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Becker Doesn’t Like the Grunting on Court
The fire-siren screech from Serena Williams in the heat of battle is off-putting in the extreme to Boris Becker. The all-round tennis commentator has said that he fins the decibel level on court at some WTA matches more than sufficient, adding that players need to tone it down."I'm amazed whenever I watch Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova," the three-time Wimbledon champion and current Swiss businessman told German media."I can't help thinking it's bad for their vocal chords. It can't be healthy and it can't go on," he added. And with Teutonic finality, Becker laid down his law: "Grunting serves no athletic purpose and should be banned."
Williams was most lately heard in full throat at the US Open where she defeated Jelena Jankovic for the title this month. Sharapova, whose screech has been measured at 100 decibels - about the same as a light aircraft according to some scientists - is presumably resting her vocal chords as well as her right shoulder until the start of 2009.Becker, always thought of as a ladies man, said that the grunting has a sexual overtone which he finds unattractive. "It's symptomatic of all that's gone wrong with tennis," said Becker, who added: "You hear them grunt more than you'd like.
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Safin Drops Davis Cup to Concentrate on Getting ATP Points
Just five days before Russia face the task some might call Mission Impossible and try to end a ten year run of Argentine home dominance in the Davis Cup, Marat Safin has pulled out of the team for the semi-final in Buenos Aires citing 'personal commitments.'Marat Safin has put his ATP campaign first by pulling out against Argentina in order to be fresh for a flight to Bangkok and next week's Thailand Open."(Safin) needs to keep getting points before the end of the year and feels the trip from Buenos Aires to Bangkok would be very long and tiring," read a note on his website. The No. 39 added that "personal commitments" would make his participation impossible.Safin will leave the Davis Cup duties to others, with the visiting Russians to be led by "rehabilitated" Nikolay Davydenko - cleared of any wrongdoing in an ATP anti-corruption probe which netted no evidence in 13 months - Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Kunitsyn set to carry the load on clay. Russia won the competition in 2002 and 2006. Safin's decision saved him a flight from Moscow to Argentina, followed by a trans-Pacific to get to Bangkok for Monday's start.
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USA’s Querrey is Ready for Davis Cup Debut with Spain
Eager substitute Sam Querrey is keen to make a good impression as he jumps into the breach with a Davis Cup debut this week against Spain on clay in Madrid.
The 20-year-old was picked by Captain Patrick McEnroe when regular James Blake begged off from the date citing fatigue and leaving Andy Roddick without a backup singles player.Querrey's Monte Carlo quarter-final last April suddenly rang some bells, with the youngster quickly added onto on the team.But Querrey won't be there to merely make up the numbers when the Americans clash with Rafael Nadal's squad on the clay court of a Spanish bullring. "It's not the easiest tie to start off your Davis Cup career with," he admitted. "I would have probably preferred a home tie on hard court. But to jump in against Spain in the semi-finals is a nice introduction to the Davis Cup, but it will be tough.'Querrey, who claimed his first career title this year in Las Vegas on hardcourt, said he feels confident in his challenge. "I feel very good and I think my game suits the clay court."
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US Open Monday Rain Delay Finals Suffered Big TV Drop in Viewers
The remnants of Hurricane Hannah blew hot and cold for the US Open's television ratings. The storm that hit Flushing Meadows 10 minutes before its' forecast arrival on the afternoon of what supposed to be Super but turned out to be Saturated Saturday forced the Men's final to be put back to late Monday afternoon but ensured the Women's Final would get a prime time spot on Sunday night.
CBS definitely have cause to lament their decision to give Roger Federer's final lap of a fifth successive US Open against Britain's Andy Murray a 5pm start time on the extra day. The rather one-sided encounter drew a 1.9 national rating and a 4 share which meant a considerable 49 per cent down from last year's figures (when Federer beat Novak Djokovic in the customary Sunday spot right after the first NFL Sunday screening of the season) of 3.7 and 7.In contrast CBS might toast the fact the rains caused a 24 hour delay of the Women's final between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic. It's a more attractive night, when more people tend to watch TV on Sunday nights rather than Saturday and Serena Williams's victory earned a 3.3 national rating and 6 share, up 57 per cent from the 2.1 and 4 when the now retired Justine Henin of Belgium beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2007.
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Bryan Twins Will Move From California to Texas
Undeterred by the recent ravages of Hurricane Ike, U.S. Open doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan are planning to relocate their homes from California to Central Texas.The 30-year-old twins, who have now amassed six Grand Slam titles and are the world's top doubles team, last week toured 20 properties at Horseshoe Bay, a resort community south of Marble Falls on the shores of Lake Lyndon Baines Johnson. They said they hope to make a decision after they face Spain in the Davis Cup semi-final later this week in Madrid. "We love the lakes," said Bob Bryan. "It was quiet. It was beautiful." Mike added: "It's got everything you need to train."The brothers traveled around Central Texas making appearances for charity and play in the Tennis Classic of Austin at the World of Tennis. The exhibition match, which also included Austin resident Andy Roddick and Davis Cup teammate Sam Querrey, benefited the Children of Fallen Soldiers.
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Murray Wins, But He Could be a Bad Example
After reaching the US Open final and moving to fourth place in the world rankings, many might think Andy Murray would be viewed as a hero in his native Scotland. However the 21 year-old from Dunblane has been accused by the leader of the main Scottish Head Teachers' Union of setting a bad example to children by swearing and losing his temper on court. Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, said Murray, who admits his language on court is hardly choirboy like, should show more respect for officials and curb his volatile behavior.
In his autobiography, Hitting Back, Murray said swearing is a way for him to let off steam, but admitted he was trying to control his outbursts. In May this year he was heard swearing during a match with Juan Martin del Potro, after the Argentine insulted his mother, and the following month was reprimanded for his language during Wimbledon. In 2006, the British Davis Cup team was fined £1,434 after Murray swore at an umpire during a doubles match and he let rip with another outburst at Wimbledon later that year. "If he continues like that, somebody needs to have a word with him," said Cunningham. "All that goes into making him great goes alongside the other bits and pieces, and there's another bit of his life that he needs to sort out. "He is a very successful role model in terms of success, but you have to put it in context. It's not just about being successful, it's about being successful and positive in terms of your contribution to society."
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Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic Date Set
Chris Evert will be hosting the 19th annual Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic, when the event is held November 1 and 2 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.Among the stars scheduled to join Chris Evert and compete in the two days of tennis action are tennis greats Jim Courier, Jana Novotna, Lindsay Davenport, Murphy Jensen and Vince Spadea. They will be joined by television stars Scott Foley (“The Unit”), Alan Thicke (“Growing Pains”), Maeve Quinlan (“South of Nowhere”), comedian and film star Jon Lovitz (“Saturday Night Live”), musician Gavin Rossdale and golfing legend Greg Norman. The tennis competition is scheduled for 11 a.m. on both Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. To date, the Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity has raised more than $16.8 million to fight drug abuse and assist neglected and abused children in Florida.
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We Hear—
--that Bob Bryan did not go to Madrid for Davis Cup action as he stayed home rehabbing his injured left shoulder. Mardy Fish is in Madrid and is expected to be named as Mike Bryan’s partner in the doubles rubber on Saturday.
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