ATP Announced Rio de Janeiro as New Partner of the ATP World Tour
The ATP and the State of Rio de Janeiro have announced a two-year agreement for Rio de Janeiro to become the official tourism destination of the ATP World Tour.
Designed to promote international travel to the region, Rio de Janeiro will be the new presenting partner of ATP World Tour Uncovered – the Tour’s weekly 30-minute magazine-style television show, which airs in more than 150 countries, reaching more than 400 million viewers. Rio de Janeiro also will have significant presence on the Tour’s official website, ATPWorldTour.com, which receives more than 200 million visits annually.
As part of the agreement, Rio de Janeiro becomes a platinum level sponsor of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 in London, beginning this year.
Adam Helfant, ATP Executive Chairman and President, said: “Rio de Janeiro is a spectacular destination in a country with a great tradition in tennis, and we’re pleased they’ve chosen the ATP World Tour as the platform for communicating their international tourism message. The ATP World Tour features 62 events in 32 countries, so the partnership delivers a very strong international presence.” Read more
Novak Djokovic clinches year-end 2011 ATP Rankings no. 1 for the first time
Novak Djokovic will finish as the No. 1 player in the year-end South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings.
He is the 16th different player to finish No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973).
World No. 2 Rafael Nadal’s third-round loss at the Shanghai Rolex Masters assured the Serb of the top ranking come the end of the season.
The 24-year-old Belgrade native is the first Serbian man to finish No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973). It also marks a record eighth straight year a European is the No. 1 player on the ATP World Tour. For seven years from 1985-91, Europeans finished No. 1. Read more
Nadal and Williams Back and Better Than Ever
Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams return to the US Open poised to win. After injuries pushed them off the court, both have turned to Power Plate® Acceleration Training to up their A-game. A favorite of pro-athletes and training facilities such as Mark Verstegen’s Athletes Performance and IMG Academies, Power Plate equipment is scientifically proven to expedite the recovery of damaged muscles and tendons and to reduce muscle pain and soreness.
Hampered by injuries this season, Nadal and Williams have turned to Power Plate Whole Body Vibration to help speed their recovery and increase their endurance. “This is a part of the way I work out regularly,” 2nd seed Nadal has said of Power Plate exercise. “At the end, work is what makes you feel satisfaction.”
Williams who is seeded 28th stated, “Off court training is as important to me as on court. With Power Plate, I’m able to accelerate my off court training and maximize the benefits.”
“We are excited to see Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams compete to win the US Open title. Both are world-class athletes and we are proud to have them on the Power Plate team,” commented Mark de Gorter, President of Power Plate North America. “With benefits ranging from increased muscular strength and flexibility to greater balance and stability, we believe their training on Power Plate will lead them both to another win.”
Power Plate’s Acceleration Training stimulates fast-twitch muscle fibers, dramatically increasing athletes’ explosive strength, motor learning, muscular endurance and overall agility.
Panasonic Announced US Open Tennis Sweepstakes
Panasonic, the official 3D HDTV sponsor of the US Open, announced the kickoff of the Panasonic Experience Amazing Sweepstakes.
The sweepstakes, which is now underway and runs through August 6, 2011, will award one US consumer a grand prize trip for two to the 2011 US Open finals weekend at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York and a Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Entertainment System including a VIERA Full HD 3D Plasma TV2.
Consumers can enter to win the sweepstakes, which runs now through August 6, 2011, by visiting www.panasonic.com/USOpenVIPSweeps.
The grand prize winner will receive a four-day / three night trip for two to New York, tickets to the US Open men’s singles semifinals and women’s singles final on Saturday, September 10 and the men’s singles final on Sunday, September 11 as well as a Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Entertainment System which includes a VIERA GT30 50-inch class (49.9 diagonal inches) Full HD 3D Plasma TV (TC-P50GT30), a Panasonic 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System (SC-BTT770) and two pairs of Panasonic Active Shutter 3D Eyewear (TY-EW3D10U). Read more
Legendary Champions John McEnroe, Bryan Brothers Headline 2011 Esurance Tennis Classic
Seventh Annual Event to Benefit Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation, Youth Tennis Advantage
The Esurance Tennis Classic today announced an all-star line-up for this year’s event, including John McEnroe, Bob and Mike Bryan, Gigi Fernandez, Tracy Austin and Murphy Jensen.
Held Sept. 24-25 at Mill Valley’s Harbor Point Tennis Club, the Esurance Tennis Classic will again benefit the Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation and Youth Tennis Advantage. The event has raised more than $700,000 for charities since 2004.
Ticket sales for the 2011 Esurance Tennis Classic begin July 1. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.tennisclassic.org or call 415.383.6114.
This year’s event will host 17-time Grand Slam winner John McEnroe, who continues to cover the court both on and off as a Grand Slam tournament commentator for the Tennis Channel and NBC. McEnroe’s connection to the Bay Area stems from his Stanford University days, when he played for long-time Stanford men’s tennis coach and friend Dick Gould. Read more