Great Tennis Photos: WTA renews partnership with Sony Ericsson

Posted by Lana On October 24 2010

Newly engaged couple Maria Sharapova and Los Angeles Laker Sasha Vujacic were looking lovey in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday as they walk hand in hand while out for lunch. Sharapova could be seen wearing a rather large engagement ring while out and about with her future husband.

Serena Williams on the Cover of August 2010 Harper Bazaar

Posted by Lana On July 04 2010

Serena Williams is featured on Cover of August 2010 Harper's Bazaar, which hits newsstands July 20th. In the photo spread, Serena showcases her stylish self in a Fendi dress and sports a swimsuit by Eres. Inside the monthly magazine, Serena talks about how she came to accept her body, about the difficulties, and importance, of accepting her own physical differences, and dating, revealing the reason behind breaking up with rapper Common.

Photos: Brooklyn Decker, Kim Sears, Bec Cartwright and Mirka Vavrinec on Day Seven at Wimbledon

Posted by Lana On June 29 2010

Here are the photos of Brooklyn Decker, Kim Sears, Bec Cartwright and Mirka Vavrinec supporting their husbands/boyfriends on Day Seven of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2010 in London, England. Enjoy!

The WTA Tour and Sony Ericsson announced a two-year extension of their existing partnership on Sunday. The deal will now keep Sony as the lead global sponsor for the tour through to the end of 2012.

In 2005, Sony Ericsson signed a a six-year, $88 million sponsorship deal with the WTA Tour due to expire at the end of 2010. Now the circuit's name will just be "WTA Tour."

"It's a non-title deal, but they remain the tour's exclusive lead, global partner. No one will come in at a higher level than Sony Ericsson. That's our commitment to them," WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster said.

"Sony Ericsson has been an incredible partner for the last five years and this extension is both a real sign of strength and stability, and a testament to the investment value delivered by our players and tournaments," she added. "We are very pleased that Sony Ericsson will remain our partner and we look forward to continuing to deliver to fans and taking women's tennis and Sony Ericsson to new heights through our joint vision for the future of the sport."

Aldo Liguori, Corporate VP and Head of Global Communications & PR, Sony Ericsson said: "Our relationship with the WTA Tour over the past five years has been tremendously successful giving us significant international brand exposure and awareness. We are delighted to be extending this relationship for a further two years as we take the company into a new stage of growth."

Venus Williams, who played a role in the Tour's renewal discussions with Sony Ericsson, added: "I've been playing on Tour for 15 years now and it's amazing to see how much women's tennis has grown in the last five years since Sony Ericsson has been involved with the Tour. The value that Sony Ericsson brings to women's tennis is significant, giving us tremendous opportunities to market the sport and connect with fans in every corner of the globe."

Under the extension agreement, Sony Ericsson will become the Tour's lead global sponsor and will retain the prime net signage at the Tour's 53 stops in 33 countries along with significant TV and digital media rights, while becoming the Tour's lead global sponsor in lieu of title sponsor, resulting in a reversion of the Tour's official name to WTA Tour commencing later this year.

Additionally, Sony Ericsson will no longer title the Tour's year-end Championships from 2010, set to take place in Doha later this year and in Istanbul from 2011-2013.

(via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)