WTA confirms first title sponsor in 10 years thanks to firm China and Peng Shuai stance
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have agreed a multi year sponsorship deal with Massachusetts based company Hologic.
It is the first title sponsor for the WTA since the organisations agreement with Sony Ericsson ended back in 2010. The sponsorship deal comes at a good time for the WTA following the suspension of it’s tournaments in China as well as financial restrictions due to the corona virus pandemic. However, it was the suspension of the WTA tournaments in China which peaked Hologic’s interest.
The senior vice president for global human resources at Hologic, Lisa Hellmann, stated that the WTA’s strong stance in support of the Chinese player Peng Shuai and banning all of the tournaments in China, was a key reason as to why the deal was made. “I would consider it more a catalyst to the conversation than the deciding factor,”
Lisa Hellmann also further went on to say that shared core beliefs were the key to the agreement, “We’re committed to improving the lives of women, to improving issues of equity and health, so that sort of fundamental DNA, if you will, is so aligned,”
The President of the WTA, Micky Lawler, gave his reaction to the agreement by saying ”This comes at a very, very good time. For us it’s the most important sponsorship of the WTA’s history and probably the biggest in women’s sports.”
Hologic, a medical devices and diagnostics company which focuses on women’s health, is celebrating it’s first ever major sponsorship deal as a result of it’s agreement with the WTA. Players have welcomed the deal with this year’s Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins stating, ”I think we’re all very grateful after the last couple of years, with the challenges with the pandemic and everything going on in the world right now, to be able to have this kind of support from a company that cares so much about women’s health, wellness and equality,”
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