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Tag: Maria Sharapova

  • DSPORT acquires tennis’ T20 equivalent ‘Tie Break Tens’, available to fans in India

    MUMBAI: DSPORT has become the first Indian sports channel to acquire the rights for the one of the hottest new international tennis properties Tie Break Tens. It will mark the first time an Indian sports channel will telecast this new format of tennis for sports fans.

    DSPORT has acquired the tennis’ equivalent of the T20 format now available to fans in India for the first time ever. DSPORT is available on DishTV channel 630, Videocon D2H channel 410 and Hathway channel 183, Fastway LCN number 314 amongst others.

    The third edition of the tournament is being held in Madrid on 4 May at 11:00 pm IST. This will be followed by broadcast of matches in London and Vienna.

    Tie Break Tens is a relatively new, fast-format of tennis which involves both men and women competing for the prize money of US$200,000 each. This quick-fire version sees some of the best and top-ranked professional tennis players in the world including Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Grigor Dimitrov, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Eugenie Bouchard, Jo Konta , Simona Halep and Garbiñe Muguruza to name a few, compete in a round-robin style tournament where every point counts.

    Tie Break Tens features ten first to ten point tie-break matches. All matches are played and the champion crowned in a single session that lasts no more than three hours.

    Discovery Networks – SVP & GM – South Asia Karan Bajaj said, “We’re thrilled to add tennis to DSPORT’s growing catalogue of exciting sports properties in line with our commitment to super-serve passionate sports fans across and redefine sports entertainment in India.”

  • nexGTv bags exclusive digital rights for French Open 2015

    nexGTv bags exclusive digital rights for French Open 2015

    NEW DELHI: Digivive Services’ nexGTv has acquired the exclusive telecast rights for mobiles and digital platforms of the 114th edition of French Open 2015.

     

    Viewers on mobiles or with PCs / laptops and tablets can experience French Open 2015 live and seamless on their digital devices via the single sign-on facility offered by nexGTv.

     

    Digivive director and CEO GD Singh said, “At nexGTv, our every effort is always to keep our viewers entertained. We are delighted to bring French Open Live for every tennis-enthusiast in the country. Affinity for Tennis, much like certain other sports, has been rapidly rising and like cricket, competition in tennis is intense, action is fast-paced and edgy and the sport requires all-round fitness. We are confident that viewers will appreciate experiencing the real-time, on-ground action on their mobile devices and cheer their respective stars to victory.”

     

    For devotees of the tournament, the entire Championship comprising 128 Singles matches and 64 Doubles matches would be available on nexGTv.

     

    Viewers can download the nexGTv app, available across all platforms including Android, iOS, Windows and Tizen from the respective App stores, free of cost, to watch defending champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova sweat it out for the ultimate prize money of $34.5 million. 

  • Repucom predicts that IPTL will help boost tennis in Asia

    Repucom predicts that IPTL will help boost tennis in Asia

    MUMBAI: As the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) begins its Delhi leg today, sports marketing research company, Repucom, has predicted an upsurge in tennis fans across Asia and the Middle East.

    The line-up rivalling a grand slam, exemplifies the growth, popularity and market for tennis in Asia and the Middle East, says the study. Repucom´s Sports DNA study reveals that 11 per cent of people interviewed aged 16-69 in urban areas of India this year, stated that they were interested in tennis, constituting 29 million people, a significant figure when considering the status of cricket in the country.

    Singapore is by far the country with the highest proliferation of tennis fans amongst the four countries where the event is taking place, with 40 per cent of people interested in tennis, which equates to 1.78 million of the population, followed by 20 per cent of people said to be interested in tennis in the UAE, constituting approximately 7,40,000 people. 17.4 per cent of people interviewed in urban areas of the Philippines last year stated that they were interested in tennis, which results in 5.5 million of the population, claims the study.

    The IPTL player line-up includes tennis stars, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Indian starlet Sania Mirza, as well as tennis legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, who will all draw attention to the sport, leading to a further increase of interest in tennis, Repucom predicts.

    Repucom South Asia senior vice president and India director, Joseph Eapen, said: “The IPTL will be a big boost for tennis in Asia. People are more aware of the sport and Asia and the Middle East are investing a lot of money in developing world-class sports stadiums and grounds. Globosport, an existing Repucom client and organisers of the event, have done a tremendous job in securing the biggest stars in tennis and promoting the much anticipated event. In these regions that are highly passionate about sports, the IPTL will inspire people to watch and even play tennis.”

     

  • Coca-Cola teams up with IPTL as title sponsor

    Coca-Cola teams up with IPTL as title sponsor

    MUMBAI: The upcoming International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) has got a title sponsor in Coca-Cola.

     

    The brand which is associated with large sporting events ranging from the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, NASCAR, NBA etc is now making a foray into tennis through the tennis league.

     

    In its capacity as title sponsor, the cola company will undertake a series of initiatives to engage with tennis fans across the globe. These include a special promotion to select three lucky fans to be the ‘Coin Toss’ boys/girls for three matches.

     

    It will be adopting IPTL’s special competition feature called the Happiness PowerPoint, which will allow each team to call for a Happiness PowerPoint once in each single-set match. Upon winning the point, a player trailing 15-0 will directly get to 15-30 by winning the ‘Happiness PowerPoint’ and lose a point upon losing the Happiness PowerPoint. In case the score is tied at the end of five single-set matches, a seven point men’s singles shoot-out will be played and the result will count as a game point won.

     

    Coca-Cola India vice president marketing and commercial Debabrata Mukherjee said, “Our purpose of associating with the IPTL is twofold. On one hand, it will allow millions of passionate tennis fans to enjoy their favorite sport and also witness some of the world’s most iconic tennis stars display their skills. On the other hand this initiative will serve as a perfect platform to launch a ‘Culture of Tennis’ in India. The initiative will provide great impetus to the youngsters of today who will get inspired by some of the world’s most accomplished and inspirational tennis stars to take up the sport”.

     

    IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi commented, “I welcome Coca-Cola to the IPTL family today. We’re excited to present the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League to the growing base of tennis enthusiasts across the world and look forward to providing to them superior recognition and visibility among fans internationally.”

     

    In its inaugural season, the multi-million dollar tennis league will feature top stars such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and others playing for four franchises in India, Singapore, Philippines and the UAE.

  • Ranbir Kapoor is the new brand ambassador of TAG Heuer

    Ranbir Kapoor is the new brand ambassador of TAG Heuer

    MUMBAI: TAG Heuer has signed actor Ranbir Kapoor as a TAG Heuer brand ambassador for a long-term partnership. With this association, TAG Heuer reinforces its leadership position by becoming the only brand in the industry endorsed by two of the biggest names in Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan & Ranbir Kapoor.

     

    TAG Heuer recently unveiled its global campaign, ‘Don’t crack under pressure’, in India.

     

     “Far more than a claim, it is a powerful mindset,” said TAG Heuer CEO Stephane Linder. “Those who know TAG Heuer may recognise the motto, a tribute to an early 90’s campaign which for many remains the most archetypal expression of TAG Heuer’s unbreakable determination. The campaign captures the mental strength of our Dream Team, athletes and partners, who reflect the values of the TAG Heuer shield. Be it Cristiano Ronaldo the perfectionist, Maria Sharapova the irresistible, Shah Rukh Khan the King of Bollywood or our latest ambassador Ranbir Kapoor the Bollywood heartthrob & youth icon of today. In India, we are proud to have two of the best names in Bollywood sporting TAG Heuer and we see a great future with them in the coming years.”

     

    “TAG Heuer has always been one of my dreams,” said Kapoor. “It started when I was really young, it was the first watch I wanted to own in my life. I remember my parents gifted it to me on my 13th birthday. So now, to be associated with the brand is really humbling for me. I really have to pinch myself to believe that I am part of the TAG Heuer family. I think TAG Heuer stands for the four principle P’s that is prestige, precision, passion and performance. I think that is something we all and especially I can identify with; the way I look at my career, my life. I believe these are very important aspects for how one should approach their life, their work and their relationships.”

     

     “While most people want to succeed in their time, a few succeed in changing their time. These exceptional individuals are called Time Changers,” said TAG Heuer marketing director Puneet Sewra. “Being a 4th generation actor from the legendary Kapoor family, there are a lot of expectations one has to match. Not only did Ranbir live up to those expectations, he also successfully managed to carve his own niche in a short span and did not crack under pressure; and that is what makes him a Time Changer. We are very proud to have Ranbir join the TAG Heuer family and we look forward to a long-term partnership with him.”

  • Maria Sharapova to endorse Samsung Electronics

    Maria Sharapova to endorse Samsung Electronics

    MUMBAI: Tennis diva Maria Sharapova has inked a three-year sponsorship deal with Samsung Electronics covering her native Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States after her deal with Sony Ericsson expired last year.

    The sponsorship agreement, which includes mobile phones, tablet computers and television sets, may go global next year.

    Sharapova’s manager at IMG Worldwide Max Eisenbud believes Russia is a largely untapped market for tennis, what with Sochi hosting the Olympic Games in 2014.

    “Maria really hasn’t been marketed that much in Russia. It’s important to her because that’s where her roots are. I also felt that was a really untapped market, with the 2014 Sochi Olympics coming up.”

    According to Forbes magazine, the 24-year-old Tennis star earns around $25 million a year in endorsements.

    She endorses a number of brands which include Unilever’s Clear shampoo, US fashion label Cole Haan, French mineral water brand Evian, sports equipment maker Head, American sportswear brand Nike, American jewellery and silverware company Tiffany & Co and Swiss luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer.

  • Zee Sports to telecast Sony Ericsson world tennis championship

    Zee Sports to telecast Sony Ericsson world tennis championship

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports will telecast the season ending Sony Ericsson Championship from Madrid Arena, Madrid from 8 November to 12 November, 2006. The Sony Ericsson Championship gather the Top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the regular 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season as they battle it out for the season ending titles and a share of the $ 3 million prize money.

    The top eight women players who have qualified for this edition of Sony Ericsson World Championship are Justine Henin Hardenne, Amelia Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznestsova, Nadia Petrova, Elena Dementieva, Martina Hingis and Kim Clisters. The defending champions are Amelie Mauresmo (singles) and Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur (doubles), the release adds.

    Four former champions and five number ones are in Madrid this week for arguably the most competitive season-ending Championships in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour history, which also features the first-ever three-way battle for the year-end number one ranking. Honoring the host nation, the two Groups have been named Yellow and Red, with four players from the elite eight – who qualified based on their results during the regular 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season – randomly placed in each group.
    The world’s top two players –number one Amélie Mauresmo and number two Maria Sharapova – head the Yellow and Red Groups respectively. Completing the Yellow Group is world number three Justine Henin-Hardenne, number five Nadia Petrova and number eight Martina Hingis. The remainder of an almost all-Russian Red Group consists of number four Svetlana Kuznetsova, number six Kim Clijsters and number seven Elena Dementieva. For the first time in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour history, there is a three-way battle for the year-end number one ranking, with incumbent Mauresmo up against Sharapova and Henin-Hardenne for the coveted achievement, the release states.

    The round robin stage of the Sony Ericsson Championships will be conducted over four days between Wednesday and Friday, with each player meeting the other three women in their Group. The top two performers in each Group advance to semifinals, with the final scheduled for Sunday.

    Catch the action LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on Zee Sports

    Sony Ericsson World Championship
    Nov 8, 2006
    10:30 pm onwards

    Sony Ericsson World Championship
    Nov 9, 2006
    10:30 pm onwards

    Sony Ericsson World Championship
    Nov 10, 2006
    10:30 pm onwards

    Sony Ericsson World Championship
    Nov 11, 2006
    6:00 pm onwards

    Sony Ericsson World Championship
    Nov 12, 2006
    9:00 pm onwards