Maria Sharapova is the Latest Superstar to Join Tennis Industry Initiative to Grow the Game
Wimbledon champion featured in new marketing campaign positioning tennis as a fun and healthful lifestyle for all
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jolyn deBoer
PO Box 7845
Hilton Head Island,
843-686-3036
Jolyn@TennisIndustry.org
05/30/06 - New York, NY--Maria Sharapova, the highest paid female athlete* in the world who appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in February, is the latest superstar to promote the sport of tennis to attract new and former players as part of an industry-wide initiative for "Tennis Welcome Centers," the Tennis Industry Association and United States Tennis Association announced today.
The national program, which consists of nearly 2,000 Tennis Welcome Centers offering easy entry programs to the sport, is unprecedented for its scale and cooperation among all sectors of the industry. The consumer website for the program, which features a zip code search for facilities, is located at www.TennisWelcomeCenter.com.
“I’ve loved playing tennis since I was 4 years old, so it’s natural for me to participate in this campaign to encourage people to pick up a racquet and join in,” says 18-year-old Sharapova, who joins fellow tennis pros Venus and Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and James Blake, plus the non-tennis celebrities who helped promote the initiative in 2005: NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, actress Daisy Fuentes, journalist Mike Wallace, and boxing champ Roy Jones, Jr.
“The tennis court is a great place for exercise and fun, as well as a great way to challenge yourself. I work hard to be at my best for a match, but my attitude is to just go out there and enjoy it,” Maria adds.
The Tennis Welcome Center campaign, first launched in September 2003, is a combined effort by every part of the tennis industry, including tennis facilities, manufacturers, tournaments, teaching organizations, tennis associations, retailers and media.
The program has been promoted on 25 million cans of tennis balls; on tags for more than 2.5 million pre-strung racquets; in 1 million boxes of tennis shoes; on more than 1,000 banners and 2 million fliers in sporting goods stores; on ticket stubs for pro tournaments; and in advertising through tennis and general media, including in TV ads for the US Open and on The Tennis Channel. Internet marketing includes direct email blasts to millions of non-tennis players.
"The impact of Maria's involvement already is being felt. The targeted newspaper campaign in three cities has boosted traffic to www.tenniswelcomecenter.com significantly," reports Jolyn de Boer, who is executive director of the TIA. "She's an
excellent role model for playing the game and getting fit through tennis."
Tennis Welcome Centers are tennis facilities, neighborhood parks, commercial tennis clubs, health clubs, resorts, schools with a tennis court that offer introductory tennis for adults and kids. Any location interested in becoming a Tennis Welcome Center and receiving free national promotion on their facility and programs can register at www.Partners.TennisWelcomeCenter.com.
For more information, visit www.TennisWelcomeCenter.com or contact the Tennis Industry Association at 843-686-3036.
Accompanying graphics available by calling Jolyn de Boer at 843-686-3036
-PDF file of Maria Sharapova ad
-Hi-resolution (300 dpi) image of ad
-Lo-resolution (72 dpi) image of ad
*according to Forbes (June 2005)
