Emirates Airlines and the Australian Open has announced a new Grand Slam partnership, launching a multi-year deal that will see the two global brands unite for the first time.Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, in a statement issued to GNA Sports said the new deal reflected the airline’s commitment to tennis and its strategic ambition to promote Australia as a travel destination.
“The Australian Open is a first class sporting event drawing a truly global audience to Melbourne Park each summer, while millions more watch the action on screen. Our commitment to the Australian Open and the Emirates Australian Open Series is a natural extension of our existing tennis sponsorship portfolio around the globe, which now includes three of the four Grand Slams”, stated Sir Tim Clark.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley described the global airline as “a perfect fit” for Australia’s largest annual sporting event. “We are delighted to join forces with Emirates and welcome the airline to the Australian Open family,” Tiley said.
The agreement also includes sponsorship of the elite Australian Open Series, the official lead-in to the first Grand Slam of the year. Starting this summer, the series will be rebranded the Emirates Australian Open Series, with the airline to partner all five marquee events held ahead of the Australian Open: Hopman Cup (Perth), Brisbane International, Apia International Sydney, Hobart International and the World Tennis Challenge (Adelaide).
“Our new Emirates Australian Open Series partnership reflects the prestige reputation of these events, which draw the world’s top players to our shores each summer. This season alone we’ll see Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova compete in Brisbane, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and Perth’s own Casey Dellacqua at Hopman Cup, Nick Kyrgios is also playing Hopman as well as joining Samantha Stosur in Sydney,” Tiley said.
Emirates is the official airline of the ATP World Tour and naming rights sponsor of the ATP rankings, and from today will be recognised as the official airline partner of the Australian Open and Emirates Australian Open Series.
Source: GNA
