DIRECTV offering simultaneous coverage of Australian Open through January 22
Do you have the urge to see even more live coverage of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park? If you said yes, you are in luck. Through Sunday, January 22, DIRECTV will have complete coverage of the first Grand Slam event of the year by showcasing multiple live matches simultaneously and it is all free of charge. With the special mix channel (channel 701), tennis enthusiasts can watch up to six live matches all at once or matches individually on channels 702-707. One of the matches featured in the mix will be the current match shown on ESPN2 or Tennis Channel, while the other five will be side-court matches. Announcers on the mix channels include former ATP World Tour players Fred Stolle and Jeff Tarango. The special DIRECTV offer has also been featured in the past during the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
Tennis Channel, Verizon FiOS TV sign new carriage agreement
According to a recent press release, Tennis Channel and FiOS TV have reached a new multiyear carriage agreement, it was announced by Patrick Wilson, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Tennis Channel, and Terry Denson, Vice President of Global Content Strategy, Verizon. Verizon has started rolling out Tennis Channel – with Grand Slam coverage of Wimbledon, the US Open, French Open and the Australian Open, as well as Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and the men’s and women’s year-end championships – to FiOS TV subscribers in time for its 2012 Australian Open coverage. The channel is now available in the Texas, Florida, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and upstate New York FiOS TV markets and will be available in all other FiOS markets by Wednesday (Jan. 18). From 2005 to this past September, Verizon FiOS TV carried Tennis Channel through its affiliation with the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC). When Tennis Channel and the NCTC entered into a new carriage agreement on September 3, FiOS TV opted to work directly with Tennis Channel for its own licensing arrangement. The result is a new, multiyear agreement that returns Tennis Channel to all FiOS TV customers who previously had access. Starting immediately, Tennis Channel is available to FiOS TV customers who subscribe to the FiOS TV Ultimate HD package, as well as the premium Sports Packages. Verizon plans to more widely roll out Tennis Channel next year. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer Tennis Channel to our FiOS TV customers again,” said Denson. “Our customers have waited patiently for this channel to return to their TV screens, and we’re happy to have it back. This new direct carriage agreement with Tennis Channel means FiOS once again offers a daily viewing destination for tennis fans.”
Dubai Duty Free and WTA extend partnership through 2014
Just last week, the WTA announced that they are extending their longstanding global sponsorship with Dubai Duty Free, the world’s leading airport retailer, through 2014. Under the new three-year, multi-million dollar deal, Dubai Duty Free will continue to serve as one of the WTA Tour’s premier sponsors and benefit from a series of original and unique benefits highlighted by (i) a new Dubai Duty Free Player Ambassador Program supported by star WTA players, with the players to be included in the program for 2012 to be named in the near future; (ii) a “Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises Travel Show”, a unique short form-travel series that will be aired on TV and online and hosted by and feature WTA stars; (iii) sponsorship of the WTA’s year-end World No.1 singles and doubles awards; and (iv) Presenting Sponsorship of the WTA’s Pre-Wimbledon Party, the No.1 tennis party of the year, held in London and attracting the world’s best tennis players and a host of celebrities annually. The core elements of the new partnership are designed to align Dubai Duty Free’s standing as the No.1 duty free retailer in the world with many of the WTA’s premium assets. “Dubai Duty Free has been a loyal partner to the WTA for many years and I am thrilled that the world’s leading duty free retailer and the No.1 global sport for women will continue our successful partnership,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO of the WTA Tour. “A supporter of equal prize money and a true visionary for the sport in the Middle East and beyond, Dubai Duty Free has been a longstanding leader in growing women’s tennis around the world.”
Zvonareva signs endorsement deal with Fila
World No. 7 Vera Zvonareva has signed an endorsement deal with Fila, the leading manufacturer of sport and leisure footwear and apparel worldwide. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “Vera is a proven champion and we are elated that she has become an ambassador for the Fila brand,” said Gene Yoon, Chairman of Fila. “The Fila brand has been worn by champions in tennis for almost 40 years, and Vera’s style and grace are synonymous with Fila’s core design philosophy of visualizing the beauty in sport. To see the full collection of Fila gear that the 27-year-old Russian will be wearing, visit www.fila.com.
USTA names D.A. Abrams new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
D.A. Abrams was named the USTA’s new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer on Tuesday and will work out of the USTA’s headquarters in White Plains, N.Y. Abrams, who will report to USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Gordon Smith, began his career at the USTA in 1993 as a national coordinator for the National Junior Tennis and Learning program. A former collegiate tennis player at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, Abrams’ new role will focus on developing and innovating the USTA’s diversity and inclusion initiatives on both a national and grassroots level. Abrams was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he was a participant in the city’s NJTL program.
USTA Serves awards more than $1.5 million in grants and scholarships in 2011
USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association, announced that they have granted 41 community tennis and education organizations in the United States more than $400,000 in grants. Combined with scholarship awards, USTA Serves distributed more than $1.5 million in 2011. The bi-annual grant process, a national initiative of USTA Serves, was developed to provide disadvantaged, at-risk children with the opportunity to learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format, and to help combat childhood obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles. To date, USTA Serves has awarded more than $10 million to a variety of programs that share those aims. “USTA Serves is thrilled to continue to support great organizations throughout the country who go above and beyond in their efforts to make a difference in the lives of America’s youth by using tennis as a vehicle for change,” says Mary Carillo, President, USTA Serves. “These organizations share our belief that tennis, combined with education, can have a lasting effect on the lives of children and help pave the way to a brighter future. It’s an honor to support such organizations, and we applaud them in their efforts.” The grant recipients are chosen by a Grant Proposal Review Committee comprised of USTA Serves board members and USTA national staff, with important input from USTA sections. Grants are awarded to programs that successfully combine tennis and education and help children pursue their goals and highest dreams by leading healthier lives, succeeding in school and becoming healthier citizens. Programs that were awarded with grants by USTA Serves in 2011 includes: Academy Cares – Boys & Girls Club Newark (Chatham, N.J.), Battlefield Community Tennis Association (Jackson, Miss.), Break the Barriers, Inc. (Fresno, Calif.), City Parks Foundation (New York, N.Y.), Dade County Sports Foundation (Miami, Fla.), Harper for Kids (San Francisco, Calif.), HERO, Inc. (Purchase, N.Y.), I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County (Boulder, Colo.), Kids and Police Tennis Association (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Our Military Kids Inc. (McLean, Va.), Shinnecock Indian Education (South Hampton, N.Y.), Special Olympics Alaska (Anchorage, Alaska), Tennis for Charity, Inc. (Cincinnati, Ohio), United Neighbors, Inc. (Davenport, Iowa), YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.), Zina Garrison All Court Tennis Academy (Houston, Texas).
Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis announce Direct Acceptance List
The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, which will be played at the Racquet Club of Memphis from February 17-26, has announced their direct acceptance list for this year’s event. The men’s 32-player draw includes three-time champion and former world No. 1 Andy Roddick, Gael Monfils, John Isner, Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, Jurgen Melzer, Donald Young, James Blake, Ivo Karlovic, Sam Querrey and Lleyton Hewitt. The 2012 field features players from 16 countries. “We are extremely excited about having our strongest field ever for the 2012 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships,” said Peter Lebedevs, Tournament Director. “The field is comprised of what Memphis fans really enjoy most – the best veteran players and the top newcomers – guaranteeing ten days of high-intensity tennis.” A special for the fans on Monday night will feature past Regions Morgan Keegan Champion and seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe headlining a doubles exhibition match with American teenager Jack Sock, former Top 10 player James Blake and former Memphis singles and doubles winner Sam Querrey. Individual tickets to the 2012 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships are on sale now and available at The Racquet Club of Memphis, online at Ticketmaster or by calling (901) 765-4401. For more information about the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, visit www.memphistennis.com.
Legg Mason Tennis Classic named No. 1 sporting event in Washington, D.C.
For the third consecutive year, the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, an ATP World Tour 500 tournament, has been named the No. 1 sporting event in Washington, D.C. The 2012 Legg Mason Tennis Classic will take place at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center from July 30-August 5. “This men’s tennis tournament brings in some of the world’s top players and features a surrounding week of parties, exhibitions, and charity events,” wrote BizBash, which also rated the State Of The Union Address, Kennedy Center Honors and the National Cherry Blossom Festival first in their respective categories on their list of Washington’s Top 100 Events of 2011. “Each year we strive to raise the bar in providing the very best fan experience possible,” said Jeff Newman, Tournament Director. “Being recognized as D.C.’s top sporting event for the third straight year by such a reputable publication as BizBash is a testament to that, resulting from an on-going collective effort by our staff, sponsors, volunteers and most importantly the loyalty of our fans.”
San Diego selected as host city for 2012 International Tennis Federation Seniors World Championships
The city of San Diego will host the 2012 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Seniors World Championships from February 5-11, an event that will feature 40 players from the United States. The 32nd annual event is the seniors equivalent of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup competitions. The 40 Americans will compete alongside 1,000 players from 35 countries at seven venues throughout San Diego. The United States team will be defending its championships in five of the ten age divisions. The titles the U.S. team will be defending are the Young Cup, Margaret Court Cup, Maria Esther Bueno Cup, Maureen Connolly Cup, and Fred Perry Cup. The five other Cups the U.S. will be looking to capture are the Italia Cup, Tony Trabert Cup, Dubler Cup, Austria Cup, and the Suzanne Lenglen Cup.