Dunlop Becomes Official Ball Partner of Australian Open
August 30, 2018
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2018) — Dunlop will be the official ball partner of the Australian Open in January 2019. The multi-year partnership will see Dunlop provide the official ball for the Australian Open and granted the rights to sell Australian Open branded tennis balls globally.
Dunlop was chosen by Tennis Australia due to its strong reputation for quality on the tour and as a partner perfectly positioned to give the Australian Open greater exposure throughout Asia and the world. The partnership is Dunlop’s first with the Grand Slam and showcases its ambitions for the Australian market following the announcement of an ambassador deal with tennis icon Rod Laver.
Dunlop has existing official ball partnerships with other high-profile events on the tennis calendar, with the Australian Open deal further strengthening its reputation.
“The new partnership with the Australian Open and Tennis Australia represents a landmark moment for Dunlop,” said Kiyoshi Ikawa, Head of Product Planning & Promotion for SRI. “Partnering with a Grand Slam gives us an opportunity to reach new audiences and reaffirms the dedication we have to producing tennis products of the highest standards.
“Tour players often refer to the Dunlop balls as being the best on tour and we’ve worked tirelessly throughout a detailed development process with Tennis Australia. Specifications of the ball have been tested by current and ex-players, Tennis Australia members and coaches to ensure we deliver the perfect ball for what’s regarded as the most popular Grand Slam of the year among the players.”
The official Dunlop Australian Open ball uses the finest natural rubber, combined with Dunlop’s secret recipe of components and premium woven cloth, to create an ultra-consistent ball for high performance play.
“We are delighted to partner with Dunlop on the new Australian Open ball,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said. “Our aim is to provide the players with the best possible playing environment and we believe they will be very happy with the quality, standard and consistency of play of the new AO Dunlop ball in a wide variety of conditions.
“We’ve worked closely with Dunlop for some time and are impressed with their quality control at every stage, from design right through to the manufacturing process. Many of our current and former players have also put the new ball through its paces, both in Australia and around the world, and this process will be ongoing to ensure there’s consistency of play in a variety of conditions. “We welcome Dunlop to the Australian tennis family and look forward to a fantastic partnership which extends across all levels of the sport.”
Dunlop will not only provide the official ball for the Australian Open and Australian Open Summer of Tennis events, but also have a strong branding presence with in-stadium branding and animations on the digital walls in Rod Laver Arena, as well as an engaging brand activation area in the heart of the event. Fans attending the AO will also be able to purchase the AO Dunlop tournament and jumbo balls throughout the venue.
Dunlop will also be an official Tennis Australia partner supporting grassroots tennis and programs in Australia including the key pathway programs ANZ Tennis Hot Shots with the Dunlop low compression balls.