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Miami Open Selects Dunlop as Official Ball and Racquet

October 10, 2019

[Greenville, S.C.] Dunlop announced it has reached a multi-year agreement with the Miami Open presented by Itaú to become the Official Ball and Racquet for the tournament. Beginning in 2020 the world’s best tennis players will be competing with the Dunlop ATP Extra Duty ball (for the men) and the Dunlop Grand Prix Extra Duty ball (for the women) at the tournament widely regarded as the most glamorous in the sport. The partnership extends Dunlop’s global reach and dominance in the tennis ball market; it is currently the Official Ball of the ATP Tour and the Australian Open, in addition to being played at more ATP tournaments than any other ball, making it the Number One Ball on the ATP Tour. Official tournament merchandise including balls, rackets and souvenir autograph tennis balls will be available for retail sale during the two-week event.

“A key part of our global growth plan is developing partnerships with the most elite tournaments in the world,” said Masahiro Asahino, Dunlop’s Head of Tennis. “The Miami Open is one of those premier tennis events, and the exposure it generates amongst tennis fans in North and South America will help grow our brand in those important markets and beyond.”

“It’s fitting Dunlop’s largest sponsorship in the U.S. will be with the Miami Open, because, in many ways, we have much in common,” said Kai Nitsche, VP and General Manager for Dunlop Sports Americas. “We each have storied pasts, but it’s a recent commitment to the future that is most exciting to fans. In 2017 SRI bought the Dunlop brand, and it has made enormous investments at every level, while just last year the Miami Open moved into its brand new home, Hard Rock Stadium, where it will flourish for years to come.”

“One of my chief goals as Tournament Director is ensuring the players are happy with every aspect of their experience, and the tournament ball is at the top of that list,” said James Blake, Miami Open Tournament Director. “Since my time on Tour, the general consensus among the players is that Dunlop has always produced the best, most consistent ball on Tour, so I’m glad we now have it as the Official Ball of the Miami Open.”