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Tag: Rafael Nadal

  • Rafael Nadal’s UAX School and Sportzprix serve up digital sports marketing masterclass

    Rafael Nadal’s UAX School and Sportzprix serve up digital sports marketing masterclass

    NEW DELHI: India’s booming sports economy is about to get a masterstroke of a makeover. Spanish tennis titan Rafael Nadal’s UAX Rafa Nadal University School in Madrid has teamed up with homegrown grassroots sports platform Sportzprix to launch a power-packed online master’s in digital sports marketing — tailor-made for Indian students, marketers and sportpreneurs.

    This slick nine-month course blends Nadal’s high-performance mindset with UAX’s academic muscle, landing right in the sweet spot of India’s Rs-crore sports marketing boom. Set to launch in October 2025, the course aims to plug the yawning skills gap in fan engagement, sponsorships, digital influence and league building. Think Champions League meets Indian Super League — in the classroom.

    There’s a desi twist too. The curriculum comes with an India-specific module co-crafted by Sportzprix, covering everything from IPL-style formats and homegrown brand tie-ups to cricket’s influencer economy. Open to graduates, athletes and professionals, the course also includes an optional on-ground immersion at the UAX Rafa Nadal campus in Madrid — for those who fancy some Spanish sun and sports business savvy.

    “With India bidding for global events like Olympics, CWG and the domestic leagues becoming bigger and more professional India is poised for a sports revolution, and marketing will play a central role in shaping its future. Our partnership with UAX Rafa Nadal University School brings world-class sports education to Indian students and professionals at the click of a button,” said Sportsprix co-founder & CEO  Prasad Mangipudi.

    The ace himself weighed in too. Rafael Nadal, founder, mentor and tennis legend, said: “I’ve always believed in the powerful synergy between education and sport. Sport shapes individuals, but without academic grounding, its impact is incomplete. The UAX Rafa Nadal University School excites me because it embodies this alliance — blending education, specialization, and industry relevance. In a rapidly evolving world, we aim to stay ahead by anticipating market needs, and with the exceptional team we have, I’m confident we’ll deliver exactly what the industry demands.”

    “The UAX Rafa Nadal School of Sport is designed to shape the future leaders of the sports industry, combining UAX’s academic experience with the sport values that have defined Rafa Nadal’s career: effort, humility, discipline, and perseverance. We focus on training the next generation of professionals in the multi-sports industry and sport technology, combining academic excellence with the values and experience of Rafa Nadal and his team”,  pointed out UAX Rafa Nadal University School director Miguel Palencia Yllera.

    Backed by a bullish Google–Deloitte report that pegs India’s sports industry to hit $130 billion by 2030, the timing couldn’t be sharper. With league culture thriving, digital viewership spiking, and sports start-ups multiplying, this course arrives as the perfect training ground for India’s next-gen sports marketers.
    Applications are now open. Details are live on www.sportzprix.com/sportsed/UAX and the official UAX Rafa Nadal University School website.

    Game on, India.

  • Sania Mirza continues association with Sony Sports Network as brand ambassador for tennis ahead of Roland Garros 2024

    Sania Mirza continues association with Sony Sports Network as brand ambassador for tennis ahead of Roland Garros 2024

    Mumbai: Sony Sports Network is delighted to announce that Indian tennis player Sania Mirza has extended her association as the brand ambassador for tennis that includes Roland Garros, US Open & Australian Open amongst other tennis properties from the broadcaster’s sports portfolio. Mirza will next be seen as the expert panellist on Sony Sports Network’s flagship studio show Extraaa Serve during the live coverage of Roland Garros.

    Mirza is one of the most successful Indian tennis players in history with six Grand Slam titles to her name. She is a recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Padma Shri as well as the Padma Bhushan. She will be next seen sharing her expert opinions and in-depth analysis for Roland Garros on Sony Sports Network. Along with Sania Mirza, Sony Sports Network will have Olympian & former India No. 1 and Asian Games & Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Somdev Devvarman and Davis Cup player Purav Raja on the expert panel for Roland Garros.

    Played on the toughest surface in tennis, one can expect surprises as the tournament comes into action on 26 May 2024, LIVE on Sony Sports Network. Roland Garros 2024 will be aired in four languages – English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu from the get-go, raising the excitement levels of the Indian tennis fans. Sony Sports Network is the Home of Tennis in India, with three out of four Grand Slams – Australian Open, Roland Garros & US Open, along with ATP Masters and Davis Cup in their portfolio.

    Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business Rajesh Kaul said,  “We are absolutely delighted to extend the partnership with Sania Mirza, who continues to share her invaluable expertise and insights of the sport as the Tennis Ambassador on Sony Sports Network. This partnership will help us maintain our stance as the Home of Tennis is India in its truest sense, with the broadcast of the most important tennis tournaments complemented by unparalleled expert analysis.”

    Mirza said, “Following a year full of unforgettable memories in Grand Slams, I am elated to stay with Sony Sports Network as the brand ambassador and expert panellist. The upcoming Roland Garros will be a special one as world tennis ushers into a new era of greats. I am looking forward to being part of Sony Sports Network’s mission of bringing fans closer to the sport and providing tennis the recognition it deserves in India.”

    Former India No. 1 and Asian Games & Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Somdev Devvarman said, “It’s always a pleasure to be part of Sony Sports Network’s broadcast of top tennis properties. The upcoming Roland Garros is slated to be a special one in many ways as the sport continues to see a paradigm shift with brilliant new talent coming up. I am thrilled to be part of all the excitement and passion that Roland Garros 2024 will bring along.”

    Considered as the toughest Grand Slam of all, this will be the 128th edition of Roland Garros as the world’s finest tennis players gear up for the clay season’s special. Rafael Nadal, popularly known as the ‘King of Clay,’ has been crowned the Roland Garros champion for a record 14 times. The Spanish maestro missed out the last time due to injury and will be gunning for glory after the long hiatus. 

  • Infosys onboards tennis Icon Rafael Nadal as ambassador for the brand and Infosys’ digital innovation

    Infosys onboards tennis Icon Rafael Nadal as ambassador for the brand and Infosys’ digital innovation

    Mumbai: Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a three-year partnership with global tennis star Rafael Nadal. Globally acknowledged as one of the legends in sports, he also has had the ability to change with the changing rigors of tennis over the years. Nadal is a perfect embodiment of what it takes individuals or business leaders to evolve and continually navigate their next.

    As the digital innovation partner for the ATP Tour, Roland-Garros, Australian Open, and The International Tennis Hall of Fame, brand Infosys has helped reimagine the tennis ecosystem for a billion fans globally leveraging AI, cloud, data analytics and digital experiences. Infosys has pioneered video and stats analysis platforms for players and coaches to revolutionize training, bolstered match analysis with AI-assisted journalism platforms for broadcasters to post engaging content and introduced new ways for fans to engage with the game. Other innovations, from Infosys, for the tennis ecosystem include explorations in the digital universe including mixed reality, social VR and 3D art museums to expand the history, and heritage of tennis to fans globally. Most recently, Infosys launched the Carbon Tracker, allowing ATP players to track and offset emissions from their travel on tour. It is a first of its kind sustainable tech in any sport.

    In addition, Infosys’ partnerships with tennis have also extended to serve communities around the world, a good example being STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, made engaging through the lens of tennis, to enable young children to develop a deeper appreciation for STEM studies together with Tennis Australia.

    Nadal said, “I’m very happy to work closely with Infosys, as they work to not only evolve the experience of tennis to the times, but also empower people in our communities to be part of a brighter future. I love the way Infosys has brought its digital expertise across industries to the global tennis ecosystem. It has transformed the tennis experience for a billion global fans and truly empowered all players on the tour with analytics that they could have only dreamt of a few years ago. Also, the impact that Infosys is making beyond the court – creating the next opportunity for people, businesses, and communities – deeply inspires me. I believe it’s our shared aspiration to create societal good that makes our handshake truly meaningful.”

    To mark this – Nadal’s first-ever collaboration with a digital services company – Infosys and Nadal’s coaching team are developing an AI-powered match analysis tool. This personalized tool will be available in real time to Nadal’s coaching team to simultaneously track insights from his live matches, when he is back on tour, along with historical data from his earlier matches.

    Infosys CEO & managing director Salil Parekh said, “It is an honor to welcome Rafa – one of the world’s most respected champion athletes and humanitarians – as an ambassador for Infosys. He is someone who personifies the spirit of always evolving, never giving up, utmost dedication and determination to give the very best in every situation. We are inspired by his approach, and it reflects our own aspirations to continuously evolve and always remain relevant for our clients.”

  • Roland Garros ‘21: Djokovic vs Tsitsipas final becomes highest-rated Grand Slam match since 2018

    Mumbai: Roland Garros 2021 generated huge excitement among fans, who stayed hooked to their screens as the stars battled to leave their mark of greatness on the clay courts in Paris. The epic final between eventual champion Novak Djokovic and Greece sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas, who played his first-ever Grand Slam final, became the highest-rated match across Grand Slams on the Star Sports network since 2018, said the channel on Saturday.

    The thrilling encounter on June 13 (Sunday) recorded 84,000 Average Minutes Attendance (AMA, in M15+ AB), while the entire tournament garnered 0.47 billion viewing minutes, it said in a statement.

    Djokovic made a stunning comeback in the final, putting behind the challenge by fifth seed Tsitsipas to win the summit clash 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and lift his 19th Grand Slam trophy. The victory also sealed a historic feat for the Serbian, making him the first player in the Open Era – and only the third player in history (male) – to achieve the career Grand Slam twice.

    Djokovic’s latest Slam title also reduces the gap on 20-time champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top of the list for most major men’s singles titles.

    The focus now shifts to the grass courts at Wimbledon 2021, where Djokovic remains the favourite to defend his crown, and Federer will look to extend his Wimbledon record. The tournament will be broadcast LIVE & Exclusive on Star Sports Select from 28 June to 11 July.

  • Star Sports successfully launches Picture in Picture ad format during Roland Garros

    MUMBAI: The date: 10 June 2021. The event: the first of the women’s semi-finals of the French Open between two debutantes Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Tamara Zidansek. The channel: Star Sports. The Russian seeded 31 in the world has just lost her first game to her competitor from Slovenia and the latter walks to her chair by the side of the court. 
     
    Tennis fans glued to their television at home are pleasantly surprised to see the appearance on their screens of two windows side by side – one showing Zidanesk as she wipes her racket off court, and the other a car commercial featuring world no 1 Novak Djokovic, followed by Rafael Nadal, and then Roger Federer, intercut with a Renault driving through water, ending with the auto maker’s logo and its association with the French Open telecast on Star Sports. Once, the TVC ends, the two windows give way to the match’s proceedings full screen. 
     

     

     

    Welcome to TV advertising innovation in 2021.  And this is one that India’s leading sports broadcaster Star Sports is especially proud of. Called Picture in Picture (PIP), it got a buy-in from car maker Renault India which was the presenting sponsor of the tournament’s telecast.   Put simply, PIP is a non-intrusive technique of playing an advertiser’s marketing commercial during live sports telecasts, when the ball is not in play. Despite not being a natural break, it provides unparalleled commercial stimulus during a live game.
     
    The marketers at Renault India not only took advantage of this first-time asset but they enthusiastically supported it as an extension of their own passion for creating experiences through technology, along with OMD India. Star Sports too pitched in and created a co-branded promo creative to showcase Renault’s brand and its association for a heightened visual treat.
     
    According to Renault India lead marketing communications Hardik Shah, the PIP option works very well for the brand. He was recently quoted in a publication as saying: “It helps break clutter, makes us stand out on live content, and builds association with the product (tennis), which usually is not offered in other premium sports. Though this is a classic advertising route, it puts across the message in a very subtle way without disturbing the audiences. If you have noticed, Renault India has not played a quintessential TVC in the PIP. Rather we chose to air an association promo that strengthens our relationship with Roland Garros and tennis as a sport overall through Star Sports.” The folks at Star Sports – like the druids of old – are constantly brewing up new potions in their AdTech labs in their endeavour to provide advertisers and agencies sticky ad solutions and give them further mileage for their spends on live sports.
     
    Yes, some may say PIP appears highly disruptive; its utilisation makes what many have considered a pipedream a reality: it makes an advertiser’s communication unmissable. It presents to them high-quality attention as viewers’ eyes are bound to stayed glued on the TV screen during the live telecast. To top it all, the team at Star Sports, along with the brand and the agency, works to co-create clutter-breaking custom creatives.

    SaysHavas Media CEO Mohit Joshi, a keen sports enthusiast: “We are brand custodians and we are constantly on the lookout for innovations in broadcast commercial advertising which would give us the comfort that spots and communications are indeed being watched by the multi-tasking TV viewer at home. Any innovation which enables this at a cost-effective price is welcome.”

    Agrees Indian Television Dot Com founder, CEO & editor in chief, Anil Wanvari who is an avid sports fan. “Overall, it’s a fantastic stickiness generating option that the Star Sports team has innovated. To some extent, TVCs have become a bit of a blind spot for viewers who have been locked at home for the past 16 months. Content and communications coming on a split screen together, will ensure that viewers don’t skip to another channel, and give a better guarantee that the advertiser’s money is well spent in terms of ROI.” 
     
    “Normally, I get irritated when I see commercials breaking up the play on the courts,” says 25-year-old Mumbai-based sports and automobile enthusiast Rohan Ghaneriwal. “I was watching the semi-final match between Nadal and Djokovic when there was this moment when both the court as well as a TVC was running simultaneously on screen. I was quite excited by it, as I wanted to know more about Renault’s car and watch the tennis court as well. I think more and more brands should take this route.”

    Indeed, Indian marketers and advertising agencies have a chance to fulfil Rohan’s wish and take advantage of this path breaking first time ad solution in the coming days. Star Sports has made PIP available to them and their brands for the mother of Grand Slams which starts on 28 June – the All England Lawn Tennis Championship at Wimbledon – and during the telecast of the next season of the Premier League. Both of course are premium tournaments and have a loyal cult following with fans swearing by the players vying for the title. 
     

  • SPN India to broadcast Barclays ATP World Tour finals

    SPN India to broadcast Barclays ATP World Tour finals

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) will exclusively broadcast the upcoming ATP events in the month of November. The ATP 1000 Paris Masters will be aired live on Sony ESPN channels and will be streamed live on SonyLIV app and website. The ATP 1000 Paris Masters in Paris will begin on 31 October.

    The ATP events are the precursors to the much-awaited Barclays ATP world tour finals which will be held in London from 14-20 November. The world’s top eight qualified singles players and doubles teams will qualify to compete for the title of the season at the Barclays ATP world tour finals.

    Held at The O2 in London, the event will officially crown the 2016 ATP World Tour No.1.The 2016 ATP World Tour Finals will feature some of the greatest tennis players including names like Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and the reigning Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray, among other. Rafael Nadal, John Isner and Tomas Berdych, among other will be some of the other players who will be seen throughout the tournament.

    With 62 tournaments in 31 countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes. The stars of the 2016 ATP World Tour will battle for prestigious titles and Emirates ATP Ranking points at ATP World Tour Masters 1000, 500, 250 events, as well as Grand Slams.

    Over the years, top ranked players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have been seen sustaining the mark that they have created on the sport. It will be very interesting for fans to see the challengers like Kei Nishikori and Gael Monfils amongst others fight for the top spot.

    SPN’s broadcast of the ATP 500 and ATP 1000 Tour events reinforces its focus on tennis as one of the most followed sports in the world.Tennis fans in India can look forward to the rivalry between the world’s top ranked players and the contenders in one of the most prestigious men’s professional tennis on tour.

    The ATP 1000 Paris Masters will be telecast live and exclusive from 31 October to 6 November on Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD and SonyLIV (App & Website). Along with live streaming, SonyLIV will also be providing fans with a lot of exclusive video-on-demand (VOD) content like highlights, special moments, best points, best aces.

  • SPN India to broadcast Barclays ATP World Tour finals

    SPN India to broadcast Barclays ATP World Tour finals

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) will exclusively broadcast the upcoming ATP events in the month of November. The ATP 1000 Paris Masters will be aired live on Sony ESPN channels and will be streamed live on SonyLIV app and website. The ATP 1000 Paris Masters in Paris will begin on 31 October.

    The ATP events are the precursors to the much-awaited Barclays ATP world tour finals which will be held in London from 14-20 November. The world’s top eight qualified singles players and doubles teams will qualify to compete for the title of the season at the Barclays ATP world tour finals.

    Held at The O2 in London, the event will officially crown the 2016 ATP World Tour No.1.The 2016 ATP World Tour Finals will feature some of the greatest tennis players including names like Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and the reigning Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray, among other. Rafael Nadal, John Isner and Tomas Berdych, among other will be some of the other players who will be seen throughout the tournament.

    With 62 tournaments in 31 countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes. The stars of the 2016 ATP World Tour will battle for prestigious titles and Emirates ATP Ranking points at ATP World Tour Masters 1000, 500, 250 events, as well as Grand Slams.

    Over the years, top ranked players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have been seen sustaining the mark that they have created on the sport. It will be very interesting for fans to see the challengers like Kei Nishikori and Gael Monfils amongst others fight for the top spot.

    SPN’s broadcast of the ATP 500 and ATP 1000 Tour events reinforces its focus on tennis as one of the most followed sports in the world.Tennis fans in India can look forward to the rivalry between the world’s top ranked players and the contenders in one of the most prestigious men’s professional tennis on tour.

    The ATP 1000 Paris Masters will be telecast live and exclusive from 31 October to 6 November on Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD and SonyLIV (App & Website). Along with live streaming, SonyLIV will also be providing fans with a lot of exclusive video-on-demand (VOD) content like highlights, special moments, best points, best aces.

  • Andy Murray Returns for second season Double Grand Slam Champ Wawrinka makes IPTL Debut

    Andy Murray Returns for second season Double Grand Slam Champ Wawrinka makes IPTL Debut

     MUMBAI:  Two-time Grand Slam winners, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have announced their participation in the second edition of the Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) that kicks off today in Kobe, Japan and will run through to 20th December 2015 in Singapore.

     

    While Murray will be returning for the second season, Wawrinka will be making his debut in the five-nation tennis league, the only one of its kind in the world.

     

    Both Murray and Wawrinka will be playing for the OUE Singapore Slammers, along with fellow team-mates Nick Kyrgios, Belinda Bencic, Karolina Plíšková, Dustin Brown, Carlos Moya and Marcelo Melo.

     

    Novak Djokovic has chosen to withdraw from the second season. Djokovic played for the UAE Royals in the inaugural edition, and was drafted by the OUE Singapore Slammers for the second edition.

     

    On his non-participation, Novak Djokovic said, “I had a great experience in the inaugural edition of the IPTL and was eagerly looking forward to playing in the second season, especially in front of the home crowd in Singapore. It’s been a long year for meand my body needs some extra time to recover. I wish the team the very best and will join them next year.”

     

    Murray was part of the Manila Mavericks (re-christened ‘Philippine Mavericks’ in season two) in the inaugural edition and will be joining the OUE Singapore Slammers in the second season.

     

    Wawrinka and Murray join a formidable array of tennis superstars that include Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios among others. Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova,Ana Ivanovic, Kristina Mladenovic, Sania Mirza are just some of the names leading the women’s charge in the league.

     

    “We are glad to announce the return of Andy Murray and the debut of Stan Wawrinka in the IPTL. Both Murray and Wawrinka will add immense strength to the Slammers, upping the quality of tennis on display. Fans across the world can look forward to some exciting match-ups,” said Mahesh Bhupathi on behalf of the IPTL.

     

     The innovative, team-based, multi-nation tennis league has expanded to five teams for its second edition, with the Japan Warriors joining last season’s champions Indian Aces, alongside the Obi UAE Royals, the Philippine Mavericks and the OUE Singapore Slammers in a five-city swing that starts today in Japan and ends at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium for the grand finale on 20thDecember. The finals of Coca-Cola IPTL 2015 will see the top two teams in the league standings face off to determine the champion,winning the coveted trophy and prize money of USD 1 million, with the runner-up getting USD 500,000.

  • 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. 

  • Tommy Hilfiger announces Rafael Nadal as brand ambassador

    Tommy Hilfiger announces Rafael Nadal as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Tommy Hilfiger has announced that tennis star Rafael Nadal will be its brand ambassador for its fall 2015 underwear and tailored collections.

    The fall 2015 Tommy Hilfiger underwear collection refreshes classic styles with updated fits, revamped fabrics and elevated details whereas the tailored collection features sharp silhouettes, modern tailoring and rich textures.

    “Rafael Nadal has been a longtime personal friend and supporter of our brand, and I’m continuously inspired by his dedication and passion for his sport,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “This exclusive partnership brings one of the greatest athletes of this generation into our Tommy family. Rafael embodies an effortless sense of style that exemplifies and reflects our brand spirit – he’s confident, fun and cool.”

    The campaign imagery will be photographed in early 2015 in Spain and it will break globally in fall 2015. To further support the global initiative and collaboration, Nadal will attend exclusive Tommy Hilfiger launch events in North America, Europe and Asia.

     “I’ve always admired Tommy Hilfiger’s cool, all-American designs which are sophisticated and easy to wear, and I’m excited to be partnering with the brand,” said Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam winner.