UAE/INTERNATIONAL. Dubai Duty Free has extended its global sponsorship of women’s tennis for a fifteenth year.
The retailer will remain one of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) premier sponsors in a partnership the company said was “designed to align Dubai Duty Free with WTA’s premium assets”.
Photo: WTA
Dubai Duty Free hopes to increase its reach through a newly-expanded ambassador programme, new high-profile event experiences and custom headlining exposure for its most prestigious events.
Reigning Australian Open champion and former WTA World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki will continue in her role as a Dubai Duty Free Player Ambassador for the seventh year. She will be joined by reigning World No.1 Simona Halep along with two-time Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships winner Elina Svitolina.
“It’s an honour to represent Dubai Duty Free as a brand ambassador,” said Halep. “I have many memories at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, especially winning the title in 2015, but also all of the experiences I have been part of due to Dubai Duty Free’s love for women’s tennis. I’m excited to be part of this great partnership.”
Dubai Duty Free will host an exclusive lunch on 28 June which will gather together the tennis industry’s most influential females, media and WTA partners. The ‘Women That Achieve Power Lunch’ is part of WTA’s newly-introduced ‘WTA Tennis on the Thames’ event.
The retailer will also support the event’s fan activities, including a WTA art installation of historical player achievements, exclusive player appearances, mini-tennis competitions, prizes and more.
Additionally, the agreement continues Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the WTA Year-End World No.1 singles and doubles awards. The awards were most recently presented to Simona Halep for singles and the former doubles team of Martina Hingis and Latisha Chan at the 2017 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“The WTA is tremendously proud of our longstanding relationship with Dubai Duty Free,” said WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Dubai Duty Free is an avid supporter of women’s tennis and we look forward to continue growing the sport even more in this next chapter of our partnership.”
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin commented: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the WTA and look forward to working with the three ambassadors, Caroline, Simona and Elina, all of whom we know very well through our Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“There are some new innovations planned for this year, not least the new and exciting activation in London, and we are looking forward to working with the WTA on making these effective for our brand.”
