The organisers of Tie Break Tens have received a boost after locking in a sponsorship deal with sports equipment manufacturer Wilson Sporting Goods for their new venture.
Under the agreement, Wilson will be the official sponsor of the inaugural Tie Break Tens Series. Meaning that they will provide tennis balls, apparel and merchandise throughout the year. The new initiative will see a series of one-day exhibition tournaments take place throughout 2018. It is set to kick-off on January 10th at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne with Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt all confirming their participation.
The new partnership has been hailed by the general manager of Wilson Tennis, Hans-Martin Reh. Founded in 1913, Wilson is one of the main manufacturers of tennis rackets in the world. They are the official ball supplier at both the Australian and US Open.
“At Wilson, we are constantly focused on ways to share our passion for the sport and get more people excited about the game in new ways.” Said Reh.
“Tie Break Tens is changing the game and we share their mission for creating a fun and dynamic experience. We loved watching Wilson ambassadors Grigor Dimitrov and Simona Halep take home the title in Madrid in 2017 and are proud to be joining the events in 2018.”
Tie Break Tens is a shortened version of tennis. A similar concept to that of Twenty20 cricket. Unlike matches on the tour, the winner is the first player to ten points. Launched at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2015, competitions have also been played in Austria and Spain. This year’s event, which sees the overall winner take home $250,000, featured women for the first time. Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep are some of the players that have participated in recent years.
“The Tie Break Tens format breaks the conventional rules of tennis. It is fast paced and action packed, giving fans and viewers a full evening of entertainment whilst showcasing exceptional tennis.” Said Tie Break Tens CEO Felicity Barnard.
“The partnership with Wilson ensures our players have the very best equipment, which is crucial in this format where every point counts.”
It is currently unclear as to how many Tie Break Tens tournaments will take place in 2018 or where the next one will be held after Melbourne.
