Wilson and USTA Continue Partnership
September 7, 2010
*WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — * The USTA announced today that Wilson Racquet Sports, the #1 brand in tennis globally, has extended its support of the USTA and continues as the Official Ball of the US Open in a new long-term partnership. Wilson supports tennis on every level, from community programs in local communities across the country, to the heights of the professional game.
Over 90,000 Wilson balls are used throughout the duration of the US Open, the world’s largest annual sporting event. The US Open ball is the #1 premium ball in US, #1 Ball in Canada, Official Ball of JTA, #1 ball in Europe. With the renewal of the partnership, the direct support of Wilson to the game of tennis is continued and by purchasing Wilson US Open products, it supports the USTA’s mission to promote and develop game.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Wilson will provide a wide range of support for the USTA’s professional tennis and player development programs. In addition to continuing as the Official Ball of the US Open, Wilson is the official ball of the USTA National Championships, the USTA Pro Circuit, USTA Player Development, USTA Training Centers, the Men’s and Women’s Hard Court Championships, the USTA National Clay Court Championships, and for home ties of the U.S. Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams.
Wilson is building its support as the Official Ball of the US Open and other major initiatives, by becoming the official USTA partner for transitional balls now being used for Kids Ten & Under Tennis. Kids Ten & Under Tennis is a USTA initiative committed to teaching young players the sport in new ways, with children playing with the right-sized racket, balls and court. Other youth initiatives being supported by Wilson include the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day and interactive “SmashZone.”
“Wilson has been a tremendous partner of the USTA for more than thirty years, and this new agreement exemplifies their continued commitment to tennis,” said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “Throughout our long partnership, the purchase of Wilson US Open products has directly funded—through its licensing royalties—the USTA’s mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis.”