Novak Djokovic named Brand Ambassador for Audemars Piguet
To coincide with the start of the US Open, Audemars Piguet, the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its original founding families, announced the signing of top-ranked ATP World Tour player, Novak Djokovic, as its newest Brand Ambassador. In a secret visit several months ago to the watch company in Le Brassus, Djokovic expressed his high regard for the brand’s latest watches. The three-time Grand Slam champion stated that he had been deeply impressed by “the beauty and the complexity of the movements,” produced there. “I have discovered a new passion for fine watchmaking and I truly admire both the traditional and modern aspects of the work accomplished by Audemars Piguet.” Djokovic, who is 58-2 this season following his first round win on Tuesday at the US Open, joins a star-studded Brand Ambassador team including Michael Schumacher, Leo Messi, LeBron James, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and golfer stars Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. “We are particularly honored by the friendship we enjoy with this great champion who expresses through his sport our own values of excellence and audacity. We wish him a warm welcome and the best of luck for the rest of the season, which he has dominated so far, but the battle with his rivals isn’t over yet,” said Philippe Merk, CEO of Audemars Piguet.
USOpen.org to offer more live streaming on more devices than any event in history
According to a press release, the USTA and IBM announced on Monday that USOpen.org, the official website of the 2011 US Open, will engage more fans for free on more platforms in more ways than any sporting event in history. The official site will be optimized for multiple platforms, including computers, tablets, and mobile devices, and each platform will contain device-specific features. In addition to an enhanced mobile-friendly site, the US Open will, for the first time, offer an Android App, and for the third year, an iPhone App also will be available. In addition, for the second consecutive year, USOpen.org will be optimized for use on iPads. “We want to enhance the US Open fans’ experience whether they’re attending the event, sitting in the office or on vacation at the beach. We tailor the digital experience so they can get what they want when they want it and how they want it,” said Phil Green, Senior Director, Advanced Media, USTA. “Our fans are interacting with the tournament in multiple ways. Whether it’s watching live video, using our mobile options or engaging through social media, the US Open is easier than ever to enjoy.” USOpen.org generated more than 40 million visits during the 2010 US Open with mobile traffic more than doubling and live streaming activations increasing by nearly 50 percent. IBM, the USTA’s exclusive information technology solution provider, developed and hosts the site. “Each year we challenge ourselves to create new and engaging ways to reach fans whether they are sitting courtside, watching on television or following scores on USOpen.org,” said Rick Singer, VP Client Marketing, IBM. “This year we’re able to offer an enhanced version of PointStream, which provides rich analysis for each match and player unlike anything we’ve had in place before. We’re excited to also offer live video coverage from additional courts to provide fans with even more live content.” Some of the 2011 US Open highlights include, US Open Live, US Open PointStream, Extensive On-Demand Video Programming, Stars at the Open presented by Heineken, 3-D Streaming presented by Panasonic, USOpen.org Radio presented by American Express, US Open Bracket Challenge presented by Xerox, Rock the Set, US Open CourtConnect and the ICON Awards.
USTA expands its Green Initiatives at the 2011 US Open
On Tuesday, the USTA announced a further expansion of if its environmental initiatives at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, home of the US Open, which hosts more than 700,000 fans each year during the two-week tournament. Alec Baldwin and Billie Jean King will continue to serve as spokespersons in a comprehensive awareness campaign to promote environmental consciousness among fans through its US Open Green Initiative. During this year’s US Open, service ware in the food village will be 100 percent compostable. Stoneyfield Café located in the US Open Food Village, will feature a grab-and-go dining option serving healthy food—fast. Options are all-natural and/or organic and locally grown. The USTA will also conduct a consumer waste recycling program throughout the grounds to recycle plastics and cans. This year, Hybrid vehicles will make up 60 percent of the Mercedes-Benz player and VIP transportation fleet. Just 20 percent of vehicles were Hybrid when the program started in 2008. To encourage fans who attend the US Open to utilize mass transit, Esurance, the car insurance company, will award 125 fans a $4.50 MetroCard each day during the two-week event.
Heineken celebrating its 20th year as official sponsor of the US Open
Heineken USA, the nation’s leading beer importer, will be celebrating its 20th year as the official sponsor of the US Open this year in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Heineken will have a strong presence on the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which includes the Heineken Red Star Café. The Heineken Red Star Café will provide fans 21-and-older a chance to wind down and enjoy matches in a energetic sports bar-type atmosphere, while the Heineken Light Lounge will be the place where patrons will be able to purchase Heineken-branded apparel. The beer importer will also host numerous contests and fan giveaways throughout the tournament.
John McEnroe Tennis Academy announces partnership with New York Junior Tennis League
The John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME Randall’s Island recently announced a partnership with the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) that will increase the training and support opportunities for New York City area inner-city youth with a strong interest in the sport of tennis. The partnership is the latest effort by the John McEnroe Tennis Academy to increase the growth of tennis among youth in the New York City area. “We are very excited to work with NYJTL and their participants to get even more New York kids the best possible training in a state of the art facility right in Manhattan,” said John McEnroe, Academy founder and lifelong New Yorker. “NYJTL has assisted thousands of kids over the years by learning life skills and healthy living through our great game of tennis.”The partnership will give an expanded group of NYJTL program participant’s added instruction, court time and evaluation at SPORTIME Randall’s Island, the home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, under the combined guidance of NYJTL and JMTA instructors. This summer, SPORTIME Randall’s Island has hosted the NYJTL Advanced Tournament Training group at no cost to the players or their families. The Academy and NYJTL will also identify a select number of top NYJTL players to attend the second session of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which will begin this fall. “NYJTL has always been about giving inner city youth the opportunity to use the lessons of tennis to excel in life, and we believe that this partnership will give more young people this chance,” said Deborah MacFarlane Antoine, NYJTL President and CEO. “We are both proud and fortunate to partner with the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and SPORTIME Randall’s Island on this exciting new project.”
Sabine Lisicki named winner of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Hot Shots contest
On Saturday, 2011 Wimbledon semifinalist Sabine Lisicki was announced as the winner of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Hot Shots competition after months of speculation during a party at the Red Bull Studios in SoHo in New York City. The up and coming German star received the most votes from fans around the world through the contest that launched in March in Miami during the Sony Ericsson Open. By winning the coveted prize, Lisicki receives $100,000 (Europe). The competition followed Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Sorana Cirstea, Heather Watson, Alize Cornet, Dominika Cibulkova and eventual winner Lisicki as they realized their dreams on and off the court, through exclusive access to the worlds of music, film, gaming and fashion. Fans were given firsthand access of the players’ lives through the Facebook fan page and YouTube channel. During the competition, 820,000 people became fans of the Facebook page, while the YouTube channel had 3 million views and 100,000 downloads on the mobile apps. The campaign was created by Sony Ericsson to raise awareness of its Xperia Smartphones and to amplify their sponsorship of the WTA Tour. “As Xperia Hot Shots wraps up in New York, it’s great to look back at a very successful campaign for Sony Ericsson. Being known for our innovation in Smartphones, we have always been keen in driving innovation with our tennis sponsorship and we believe we have done that with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Hot Shots campaign. The insight we started with – that people have a desire to get closer to the real personalities behind the sport – has proven true and so the behind the scenes format of the web-based TV show has proven very popular. After such tremendous feedback from fans, players and everyone else involved we will definitely be taking the campaign in to a second season,” said Stephan Croix, Vice President, Head of Global Marketing Partnerships, Sony Ericsson.
Bob and Mike Bryan to host Bryan Brothers Tennis Fest & Wine Tasting Event on October 23
Bob and Mike Bryan, the top-ranked ATP World Tour doubles duo and owners of 73 doubles titles including 11 Grand Slams, announced they will once again host the Bryan Brothers Tennis Fest on Sunday, October 23 at the Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo, Calif. The day will include a pro-am, wine tasting event and pro exhibition, all taking place from noon-5 p.m. General seating tickets are currently available for $100 and VIP tables start at $500. Tickets can be purchased through the event’s official website at www.bbtennisfest.com or by contacting the Spanish Hills Country Club. This year’s Bryan Brothers Tennis Fest is presented by Merrill Lynch, and sponsors include: Prince, Ace Authentic, Wilson, Oakley, Hampton Inn and the Ventura County Star. Last year’s event raised more than $80,000 for the Bryan Bros. Foundation, which also awarded a $5,000 grant to both the Ventura County Junior Tennis Association and the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons to help financially assist a promising junior player from both areas. For more information on the Bryan Bros. Foundation, visit www.BryanBros.com/about-the-foundation.html.
Sony Ericsson Open ticket packages now on sale to public
Ticket packages are now on sale for the 28th edition of the Sony Ericsson Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Miami, Fla., which will take place from March 19-April 1, 2012. Last year’s Sony Ericsson Open set a record by having more than 316,000 fans attend the tournament during the two week event. Ticket packages start at just $102. To secure your tickets for the 2012 tournament, visit www.SonyEricssonOpen.com or by calling the Sony Ericsson Open ticket office at (305) 442-3367. You can also email the ticket office at tickets@imgworld.com for more information.