Roger Federer and Nationale Suisse Extended Partnership
According to a press release, Roger Federer is the ideal brand ambassador for Nationale Suisse. Hans Künzle, CEO of Nationale Suisse, says: “We are proud to have been able to extend our successful partnership with Roger Federer for a further four years.” The global tennis star and philanthropist embodies the corporate values of the Swiss insurer: “personal, successful and caring”. Federer adds: “Nationale Suisse has been a loyal partner and the collaboration with them has been amazing. They were one of the first companies that believed in me and I am excited to continue to work with them and be part of their family for the years to come.” The partnership between Nationale Suisse and Federer began 2007 and is more than just an ordinary advertising contract. For instance, besides being used in TV, print and digital advertising campaigns, Federer has also lent his name to the Nationale Suisse locomotive, which has been transporting passengers around Switzerland for a year now. For every kilometer travelled, Nationale Suisse makes a contribution to the Roger Federer Foundation which focuses most of its efforts on educational projects for children in Africa. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Mylan World TeamTennis Smash Hits Event in Pittsburgh Raises $1 Million
Last Tuesday at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Sir Elton John and tennis legend Billie Jean King hosted the 20th Mylan World TeamTennis Smash Hits event. The annual event, which Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick, Martina Navratiolva and many more participated in this year, raised $1 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and locally to the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. Before the highly anticipated matches, 400 guests paid $500 to attend an exclusive VIP reception with Sir Elton John and the players. Following dinner by Bob Sendall’s All in Good Taste, an auction took place, with former doubles Grand Slam champion and current tennis broadcaster Renee Stubbs serving as auctioneer. A tennis lesson with Hall of Famer Andre Agassi went for $55,000, while four tickets to the Wimbledon final went for $20,000. Two fans each walked away with two tickets to an upcoming concert of Sir Elton John in Las Vegas followed by a private dinner with him and King. Each winner paid $100,000 for those packages. Special guest coaches during the matches were Anna Kournikova and Franco Harris.
Party Rock Open Founder Weekes Named Official Tennis Partner at The Cosmopolitan-Las Vegas
CourtThink, LLC, Founder and Party Rock Open co-tournament director Tyler Weekes has been named the official tennis partner at The Cosmopolitan-Las Vegas. “There is a rich and storied history between tennis and Las Vegas,” Weekes said. “By bringing CourtThink to The Cosmopolitan-Las Vegas, we are primed to promote tennis to one of the wealthiest and most high-end clientele in the world, while also catering to the tourist who just can’t stay away from the game of tennis while visiting Las Vegas.” Weekes formerly ran his CourtThink tennis program out of the Red Rock Country Club in Summerlin, and more recently the Longevity Sports Center (formerly the International Tennis Centre). Both facilities were named USTA Nevada Facility of the Year during CourtThink’s tenure and Weekes’ leadership. “The two courts at The Cosmopolitan are currently available for match play, ball machine rental, as well as racquet rental,” said Weekes, who added the courts sit on the rooftop of the 14th floor, next to the Sahra Spa and Fitness Center at The Cosmopolitan. To many guests delight, the courts are shaded from the summer heat of Las Vegas by surrounding buildings. “If you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas, check out tennis at The Cosmopolitan for a truly unforgettable experience.” Weekes also founded what is currently Las Vegas’ only professional tennis tournament, a USTA $50,000 women’s event four years ago. Teaming with long time friend and WTA-certified sports agent Jordan Butler of Agent Atleta, Weekes has continued to innovate in the tennis industry with this professional event. Proof of his innovation was the huge success of last month’s Party Rock Open which was conceived after Weekes met LMFAO’s front man Redfoo during a lesson at the Cosmopolitan. Weekes said one major component that will likely come out of the Party Rock Open will be the Party Rock Open Fantasy Tennis Experience where individuals will have the chance to stay at The Cosmopolitan, take a lesson with Weekes, meet and spend time with LMFAO’s Redfoo, and be given VIP access to Redfoo’s private table inside of one of the world’s top nightclubs, the Marquis at The Cosmopolitan. Weekes is being assisted at The Cosmopolitan by his Company Director of Tennis David Bryner. Weekes reported that The Cosmopolitan is now an official CourtThink Camp site, along with locations at the Green Valley Spa in St. George, Utah and the Westward Look Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
Report: Paris Bercy Masters 1000 could move to February, starting in 2014
According to a report by Matt Cronin of TENNIS.com, Paris Bercy Tournament Director Guy Forget says the ATP could soon vote to move the tournament’s dates from the week before the ATP World Tour Finals in London to sometime in February, beginning in 2014. As part of the restructuring of the ATP calendar to give players a longer off-season, the ATP eliminated the idle week in between the Paris/Bercy Masters and the ATP World Tour Finals, which makes it difficult for the French Tennis Federation-owned tournament to insure high quality fields. The event is mandatory but with some exceptions; many of the singles players who have already qualified for London don’t want to risk injuring or exhausting themselves the week before the season-ending championship. “To stay glued to the (ATP Finals) is extremely dangerous for us,” Forget told the French media. “Upon my arrival (as tournament director), I told (French Federation CEO) Gilbert Ysern the need to find an alternative solution.” Finding a date in February won’t be easy under the current calendar. Next year, the first round of Davis Cup will be played during the first week of the month, which is the week after the Australian Open ends. There are then three weeks of tournaments before the Indian Wells Masters, and all those weeks have three tournaments occurring simultaneously. In order to put a Masters event in one of those weeks, three of those tournaments would have to have their dates changed outside of the month of February. “We would go from one extreme to another but I prefer this option,” said Forget. The 2012 Paris Bercy Masters begins on October 29. An ATP spokesperson told TENNIS.com that the topic will be on the ATP Board of Directors agenda during their meetings in London next month, but “absolutely nothing has been decided.”
Nadal Commits to Mexican Open in February 2013
World No. 3 Rafael Nadal has confirmed that he will compete in the Mexican Open, which will be played from February 25-March 2, 2013 in Acapulco. Nadal has not played a competitive match on the ATP World Tour since losing to Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon in June due to a left knee injury. Many reports indicate that the Spaniard will play more clay courts events starting in 2013 because his knees were bothered previously on hard courts.
Serena confirmed for clay-court event in Sweden in 2013
Tournament officials at the WTA Bastad event in Sweden announced that Serena Williams has committed to the event, which takes place right after Wimbledon and just one week before the Stanford event. “I’ve never been to Sweden but I’ve heard it’s a lovely country with a lot of tennis fans,” said Williams in a statement. “I can’t wait to come and enjoy it for myself. I’m really looking forward to come to the courts where Borg, Edberg and Wilander grew up.”
USTA Eastern Section Military Family Play Days Set for November
In honor of Veterans Day, Park and Recreation departments will be teaming up with local Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) to host Military Family Tennis Play Days across the country. The goal of the project is for communities to reach out to local military and veteran families and invite them to a free community tennis play day. The USTA’s Tennis in the Parks Committee Chair, Mary Henderson, said, “We are encouraging parks and recreation departments to offer Play Days on, or around, Veterans Day (November 11) to thank veteran and military families in communities for their service to our country.” The program is being modeled after USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative Play Days and expanded to include military family members of all ages. This same format has been used this summer during the US Open Series’ tournaments that featured Military Appreciation Days and hosted tennis clinics for military kids and families. Information on how to register your Play Day and contact military families in your area can be found at www.usta.com/veteransday. Play days in November in the USTA Eastern Section will take place at South Towns Tennis Club in Orchard Park (November 2), Greenview Park in Pequannock (November 10) and the Harlem Armory in New York City (November 12).
USPTA Competitive Player Development Conference Set for December 7-9 in Naples
The United States Professional Tennis Association Competitive Player Development Conference will take place at the Academia Sánchez-Casal in Naples, Fla., from December 7-9. The conference will allow attendees to learn the Spanish method for developing players. The Academia Sánchez-Casal, considered the best tennis academy in Europe, will officially open its branch in Naples, Fla., on November 1 (although doors opened for members on October 1). It will be the largest clay court facility in the country, which is a key factor for the Academy to implement its training system based in Spanish tennis. This system has developed top players including Andy Murray, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Juan Monaco and Daniela Hantuchova, among many others. The Academy just opened its programs for juniors, ATP-WTA players, coaches and after-school tennis for kids. It will follow the same successful structure that it has in Barcelona: the Academia Sánchez-Casal Tennis Club, a traditional club for families with numerous social activities and great tennis programs for local kids, combined with the high performance Academy programs. Featured speakers for the conference include Emilio Sanchez Vicario, Luis Mediero and Derek Touchette. Early registration for the conference is $300 for USPTA members and includes all materials. The deadline for early registration is Nov. 1. The conference will be presented in English. For more information about the conference, including a detailed agenda, click here. For more details and to register, visit sanchez-casal.com, call (239) 641-0010 or e-mail florida@sanchez-casal.com.