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May 4, 2023,
Tennis players are allowed to change their minds.
Hopefully not during a big point.
It should be, when they have plenty of time to think and think again.
Like star Swiss player Belinda Bencic has recently done.
As reported by sportskeeda.com, “Belinda Bencic will be donning a new logo on the tennis courts upon her comeback from injury. On Thursday, April 27, Bencic hard-launched her new partnership with Japanese sportswear brand Asics.”
She was previously with Nike.
For six years.
That’s quite a breakup, but, we are heading strong into the clay court season so brand sponsorship changes are to be expected.
How well Belinda will do during the clay court season will hopefully exceed expectations, especially after her recent injuries. The world is watching because when Belinda is on, she is exceptional.
Belinda has a career-high ranking of No. 4 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) which she achieved in February 2020. Bencic has won eight singles titles, including a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and two doubles titles on the WTA Tour.
Very impressive. No wonder Asics courted her.
Time for a Swiss Miss connection.
Born in Switzerland at a time when another Slovak-Swiss player Martina Hingis was one of the best tennis players in the world, Belinda began playing tennis at the age of two.
Her father arranged for her to train with Ms. Hingis’s mother and coach Melanie Molitor daily from the age of seven.
By the time she was 16, Belinda became the No. 1 ranked junior in the world and won two junior Grand Slam singles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.
On to the big leagues.
On the professional tour, she made her top 100 debut shortly after turning 17.
Her first big breakthrough came at the 2014 US Open, where she became the youngest quarterfinalist since Martina Hingis in 1997.
Belinda won her first two WTA Tour titles in 2015, including the Canadian Open where she defeated four of the top six players in the world. She then made her top-ten debut the following year while still 18 years old.
As you might imagine, with those credentials, with two majors looming on the horizon, the French Open and Wimbledon, when a super star like Belinda breaks ranks with a sponsor, that is huge news.
It is making even more news than her recent injuries.
The global sports leader ESPN reported on April 19, 2023, “Olympic champion Belinda Bencic will skip upcoming clay-court tournaments in Madrid and Rome because of “discomfort” in her hip but said she hopes to be fully fit for the French Open.”
We certainly hope so too.
She has had her injuries before.
As shared at wtatennis.com, “Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic has won the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award, which is given to the player whose ranking dropped due to injury or personal circumstances. Back in 2016, the Swiss had posted a career-high ranking of WTA World No.7 but had fallen on tougher times subsequently, with wrist surgery pushing her out of the Top 300 the following year.”
Change can be a good thing. Life is one big transition.
When Belinda is on, her game is incredible. We hope she will be “on” at the French.
In other women’s tennis news:
WTA ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CVC TO ACCELERATE GROWTH OF WOMEN’S TENNIS
News provided by
Mar 07, 2023, 09:00 ET
ST PETERSBURG, Fla., March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) announced today a strategic partnership with CVC (CVC Capital Partners). This exciting new partnership will build upon the strong legacy the WTA has established over the last 50 years, with the objective to further elevate the profile of women’s tennis and to accelerate commercial growth for the benefit of the fans, players, tournaments and other stakeholders in the game.
Founded by Billie Jean King in 1973 on the principle of equal opportunity, the WTA has built tennis to be the global leader in women’s professional sports with a worldwide audience of nearly 900 million. The Hologic WTA Tour consists of players representing approximately 80 nations, competing in over 70 tournaments across six continents every year. Players compete to earn WTA ranking points, prestigious tournament titles and to reach the WTA Finals and take part in the four Grand Slams. It is one of the few sports today where women and men compete on the same stage.
CVC brings 25 years of experience investing in sports to this new partnership, with former and current investments in Formula One, Moto GP, Rugby, the French Football League, La Liga, Volleyball and IPL Cricket. CVC also brings access to a broad international network of 25 local offices across Europe, Australasia and the Americas, which will be available to support the accelerated commercial growth of the sport.
Commencing in 2023, CVC will be WTA’s commercial partner, investing capital indirectly via its managed funds and acting as a catalyst to drive growth of the sport. Key focus areas include providing fans with more access to the sport, investing behind the Tour brands, building player and tournament profiles, and investing in digital platforms and commercial capabilities. The WTA will continue to own the majority interest in the partnership and retain full regulatory and sporting responsibility for the women’s game.
This WTA and CVC partnership has the backing of the players and tournaments, with critical changes to the Tour calendar planned that will make it easier for fans to follow their favorite players through the year. The ambition is to materially grow women’s tennis – its profile, value, and prize money – for the benefit of the players, tournaments, and its fans.
Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO stated, “I am excited for the next chapter of the WTA whose future will continue to push the growth of women’s professional tennis. It is truly fitting that we are celebrating 50 years of the WTA alongside the introduction of this landmark and historic opportunity.” Simon added, “This partnership with CVC brings experience, a network and capital to move our sport to the next level, embracing the ambition of our founding members, urging women’s tennis beyond its barriers and pioneering new standards for a more equitable and valuable sport.”
Iga Swiatek, WTA World No.1 stated, “I am proud to be a part of the WTA, as they are committed to innovating the sport, investing in the players, and promoting us all over the world. I’m inspired to be a part of the evolution of women’s tennis and building out the next 50 years of the WTA.”
Jessica Pegula, WTA World No.4 and member of the WTA Players’ Council remarked, “This is exactly what women’s tennis needs and I’m excited for what’s to come. For so long, we’ve been championing the sport for women across the world and it’s great to have the investment and belief in the players and WTA product.”
Gavin Ziv, WTA Board Member and Chief Tournaments Officer at Tennis Canada stated, “This is great news for all of us committed to women’s tennis. The WTA is constantly expanding, and this investment means the opportunity for further global reach than ever before. We also want to make it easier for the fans to follow the players they love, and we believe we can bring in the necessary changes to make this all a possibility. It’s a win-win for all involved.”
Gemma Wright, Senior Managing Director in the Media & Entertainment team at CVC added, “Tennis is the number 1 professional women’s sport in the world, with a huge fan base and commercial opportunity. WTA and CVC will work together to innovate, grow fan engagement, and the revenues of the WTA, which we can then reinvest back into the game. We could not be more excited to be supporting women’s tennis and look forward to working closely together with the WTA to grow the sport globally, in collaboration with the players, tournaments and other stakeholders in the sport.”
Private investment bank Allen & Company LLC and international law firm Proskauer Rose LLP advised the WTA. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advised CVC Capital Partners.
About the WTA
Founded by Billie Jean King in 1973 on the principle of equal opportunity, the WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sports. The WTA is one of the world’s most recognizable and high-profile sports organizations, consisting of more than 1600 players representing over 80 nations, all competing to earn WTA rankings points and prestigious tournament titles. The Hologic WTA Tour is comprised of over 70 events and four Grand Slams, spanning 30 countries and regions across six continents with a global audience of nearly 900 million. Further information on the WTA can be found at wtatennis.com.
SOURCE Women’s Tennis Association
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OPENING PHOTO Mai-Groves-Shutterstock-photo-credit-Editorial-use- Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinda_Bencic
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/36240857/belinda-bencic-skip-madrid-rome-tournaments-due-hip
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
