Friday, February 27, 2009

BUSINESS NEWS

The WTA Tour is Selling Tennis to the Public

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is embarking on a global campaign to broaden coverage of its tour and players to include more lifestyle and business media.
It enlisted public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard to amplify its coverage outside the sports media. The effort will focus on conveying the tour's business success through its executives and off-the-court stories of its athletes, in addition to generating consumer and lifestyle coverage, said Andrew Walker, VP of global marketing and communications at the tour.
“We have a good story to tell,” he added. “The growth of the tour has been successful from a business perspective and our players are lifestyle ambassadors.”
The USTA, under then-head of communications Page Crosland, made a similar effort years ago. Expanding tennis awareness from the sports pages is certain to help tennis grow.
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Laura Robson Signs Long Term Endorsement Contract with Wilson

Wilson Racquet Sports announced that they have extended a long term contract with Laura Robson.
The 15 year old from the UK started with Wilson at the end of 2007, and shortly after, reached the final of Petits As - a Top U14 tournament in Europe. Robson pushed her game into the ITF Under 18 circuit which led to her winning the 2008 Wimbledon Junior championship and was one of the youngest players in history to win a Junior Major. Throughout 2008, she continued on WTA tour and defeated several WTA Top 150 players.
Robson has continued her momentum in 2009 by reaching the finals of the Junior Girls’ Championship of the Australian Open.
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Murray Might be Asked to Cut His Endorsement Fee

The world financial crisis might make itself felt in Andy Murray's bank account, with one of his main sponsors, the Royal Bank of Scotland, posting the biggest corporate loss in British financial history.
The one-time high-flying institution which swallowed up a Dutch banking conglomerate whole during the go-go years, lost around $35 billion last year. Talk is already circulating of massive cutbacks in sports sponsorship for the crippled giant.
Murray has already said that he hopes to work with his longtime sponsor during their crisis. But the Scot fell short of saying he'd provided a refund on his presumably rich contract. He's been working with RBS since  age 13.
The bank has already said it will cut sponsorship of the Williams Formula 1 racing team at the end of 2010. The British government now has a stake of around 70 percent of the bank and is set to buy off its toxic debt for around 370 billion dollars.
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USTA Launches “Tennis Night in America” Monday

The USTA announced that more than 700 tennis facilities, recreation departments and community centers across the U.S. will host the first-ever national youth registration initiative for all spring and summer tennis programs on Monday, March 2. The launch is part of the “Tennis Night in America” celebration, and will also feature demonstrations for kids and parents.
“Tennis Night in America” also includes the “BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup” at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Showdown features four of the top women’s players in the world—Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic—playing in a one-night, single-elimination tournament for the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup before a live national TV audience on HBO.
National Youth Registration Night events serve as “opening day” for parents to sign up their kids for league and team tennis play, including USTA Jr. Team Tennis. Facilities and clubs across the country, in cooperation with HBO, will also be offering live viewing parties for the “BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup” to complement the kick-off of the 2009 tennis season.

“Tennis Night in America is a great opportunity to bring together the best of the pro game with our grass-roots efforts,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “We have made a commitment to make tennis more accessible to all through our various programming and initiatives. This year, and the years ahead, Tennis Night in America promises to be an important component in our efforts to grow the game.”
Tennis participation in the U.S. has grown more than any other traditional sport since 2000. According to the annual research survey conducted for the Tennis Industry Association and the USTA by the Taylor Research Group, nearly 26.9 million people played tennis in 2008, the highest number of participants in 15 years. That marked a 7 percent increase over the prior year and an increase of more than 30 percent since 2000. In addition, the number of new tennis players increased by 3 percent last year to more than 5.9 million.
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Security Enhanced for Sweden-Israel Davis Cup Tie

Security measures for a Swedish sporting event have never been more stringent with Malmo police set to mobilize up to 1,000 officers next weekend in a bid to guarantee the safety of players and officials during the ‘behind closed doors’  Davis Cup tie with Israel.
However Swedish police authorities have turned down a request from the Israel embassy for the bodyguards attached to the visiting team be allowed to carry handguns.
Demonstrations with an attendance of up to 12,000 protestors from the Malmö-based 'Stop the match' network are expected a protest against Israel's recent war in Gaza.
But police are primarily concerned about the participation of groups from the extreme left wing autonomist movement. "They have stated that they want to stop the Davis Cup match at any cost," said Malmö police chief Håkan Jarborg Eriksson.
Local police have requested back-up from Stockholm and five other counties in a bid to guard the area near the arena and surrounding neighborhoods. Police will also provide protection for Swedish and Israeli players and functionaries both at their hotels and while traveling to and from the arena.
Police in Malmö are expecting a foretaste of possible disturbances this Saturday, when autonomist groups plan to March between the city's two police stations in protest against recent revelations highlighting instances of xenophobia and racism in the regional Skåne police force. "That could have an effect on events during Davis Cup week," said Eriksson.
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Britain’s Davis Cup’s Hopes are Shattered

Twice Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association has designated Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow, as the site for a Davis Cup tie to celebrate a glorious homecoming for the nation’s tennis hero Andy Murray. Twice it seems the plans are going to be scuppered by illness to the world no.4.
Murray plunged British hopes for next week’s Euro/African Zone Group One tie against the Ukraine into grave doubt when he pulled out of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships with a recurrence of the virus infection that troubled him during the Australian Open.
The 21 year-old was due to play a re-run of his memorable Wimbledon encounter with Richard Gasquet in the Dubai quarter-final but awoke feeling extremely unwell during the night and just hours before court time was forced to submit his apologies. Initial prognosis suggests he might be suffering from mononucleosis (glandular fever). However Murray will undergo extensive blood tests when he arrives back in London.
Telephone lines between Dubai and the LTA’s National Training Center at Roehampton were busy after Lloyd initially missed Murray’s call because the British captain too was suffering from an upset stomach. The news was hardly the sort of thing to make him feel better.
“What can you do?”  said Lloyd who after this week’s play-offs has named Josh Goodall and Chris Eaton in a four man team alongside Murray and doubles specialist Ross Hutchins with James Ward and Colin Fleming placed on standby. “I know Andy was desperately keen to play in this match. This was going to be a big test for whoever made it into the team, it may be a bigger one now.”
Lloyd refused to go back on his original plan to drop both Murray’s elder brother Jamie and second ranked singles player Alex Bogdanovic from the line-up that lost to Austria in last September’s World Group play off on the grass of Wimbledon’s No.1 Court.
Andy Murray revealed he has not been feeling 100 per cent since returning from Melbourne, even though he managed to win the ABN/Amro title in Rotterdam two weeks ago. “I woke up in the middle of the night sweating,” said the 21 year-old who two years ago could only face Serbia and Montenegro in the doubles after being stricken by another virus.
“I got some anti-virals from the doctor but they didn’t help much. I had some breakfast and then slept again for three hours. The guys woke me up and I was just not feeling good.”
Murray maintained he had blood tests carried out in London earlier this month which would seem to rule out mono that recently affected Roger Federer and seriously hampered the career of Croatia’s Mario Ancic. However his symptoms are ominous. “It’s the head, the throat and just aching generally,” he said. “My arms and legs are just feeling stiff and sore. Everything but my stomach is not feeling great.”
There were no obvious signs of Murray’s problems as he cruised past Frenchman Arnaud Clement in straight sets the previous evening. His form in his the 6-2,6-3 victory was of the finest quality and the only worry was the sore ankle with which he has been playing all week.
However he revealed: “In between the set I felt so tired and really weak. When the adrenaline sort of wore off, I felt very cold and sort of shivery. I felt my temperature was up and my body was just aching a little bit. So I need to take some time off.”
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Andre Agassi to Play World TeamTennis This Summer

Andre Agassi will return to professional team tennis competition this summer, playing two matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms of the Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League.
The 2009 Advanta WTT schedule includes 73 matches in 10 markets, beginning July 2 and running through July 26. The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will battle for the WTT Championship title on July 26.
Agassi, who previously played World TeamTennis from 2002 to 2004, will play for the Freedoms on July 10 in Philadelphia and one road match on July 17 in Newport Beach, Calif.
Team lineups will be finalized at the Advanta WTT Roster Draft on March 31 in Miami. Marquee players typically play a limited schedule while roster players play the full 3-week season.

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Hall of Fame to Honor Butch Buchholz

The International Tennis Hall of Fame and First Serve will host a special evening honoring 2005 Hall of Famer Butch Buchholz while also celebrating the 25th Sony Ericsson Open.  The event will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, Florida.
A cocktail reception and silent auction will take place 7:00pm to 8:00pm, with dinner and event program starting at 8:00pm. Honorary Chairs for the event are Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, The Honorable Jeb Bush and Hall of Fame President Tony Trabert.  Cliff Drysdale will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.  
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005 as a Contributor to the sport, Buchholz has played key roles in the evolution of both professional and amateur tennis. He has been a pioneer in developing both men’s and women’s tennis, using his expertise in fundraising, sponsorship and marketing to help create a wider audience for numerous events throughout the world.
He has served tennis in many professional and administrative capacities, including Commissioner of World TeamTennis (1977-78), ATP Executive Director (1981-82) and member of the men’s pro council (1981-83). He has also worked as Tournament Director for numerous events, including the prestigious Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, which got its start in 1985.

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We Hear---
--- that Babolat is launching its new line of 10 shoe models featuring Michelin technology at a party during the Indian Wells tournament.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Acapulco
Delray Beach
Dubai
WOMEN
Acapulco
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NEXT WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup
WOMEN
Monterrey
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Bob Larson’s Stock Report
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