Maxxis to Sponsor Australian Open

Maxxis has extended its sport sponsorship through its signing of a two-year deal to sponsor the Australian Open, the largest sports event in the southern hemisphere and the first of the annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments. In addition to being an official sponsor of the first Grand Slam event of the calendar year, Maxxis will be the official tyre of the Australian Open, which next takes place in Melbourne from January 17 to 30, 2011.

Under the terms of the deal, Maxxis will have signage in the Rod Laver Arena (centre court) and will be entitled to use the Australian Open logo in marketing materials and promotional activities. The tyre maker says the sponsorship gives it global exposure to consumers – in 2010 the event was broadcast in 157 countries, drawing an audience estimated at more than half a billion people. The tournament also attracts a large spectator audience, with this year’s Australian Open welcoming more than 653,000 tennis fans.

Last January, Roger Federer beat Britain’s Andy Murray to win his fourth Australian Open crown. Serena Williams collected her fifth. The trophies have some of the greatest names in tennis history etched on them including Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, John Newcombe, Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Evonne Cawley.

Maxxis states it is delighted to sponsor such a prestigious sporting event, which is popular around the world, and looks forward to seeing some of the world’s best tennis players compete in the Australian Open in 2011 and 2012.