News

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (makers of DUNLOP sporting goods) is pleased to announce that we have recently renewed key sponsorship agreements to continue providing official tournament balls for the "Monte-Carlo Masters," the "Madrid Open" and the "Italian Open," three major international men's tennis tournaments that are part of the "ATP Tour Masters 1000" ("ATP 1000" for short). Under these renewed agreements, we will be providing our "DUNLOP ATP" tennis balls or official use at these tournaments from 2020 through 2022.

In addition to the above three "ATP 1000" tournaments, which are widely regarded as a prelude to the French Open, our "DUNLOP ATP" tennis balls have also been adopted as official tournament balls for the concurrent Barcelona Open, which is part of the "ATP Tour 500" ("ATP 500" for short). All in all, DUNLOP tennis balls will be used at four*2 of the nine tournaments that make up the "ATP 1000." *1 : DUNLOP tennis balls have been adopted as official tournament balls for a total of 19 tournaments on the 2019 ATP Tour, including the Majors (Grand Slam) and the ATP Finals. (Source: ATP TOUR, INC.) *2 : DUNLOP tennis balls have also been adopted for the Shanghai Masters, an ATP 1000 tournament which will be held in October.

■Enhancing the Value of the DUNLOP Brand through Tennis
In April 2017, Sumitomo Rubber Industries acquired the trademark rights of the DUNLOP brand overseas and the sporting goods and licensing businesses of the DUNLOP brand from the UK-based Sports Direct International plc. Established in 1888, DUNLOP is a traditional brand originating in the U.K. and widely known in the sports field, mainly for its racket sports products. We have been working on enhancing the value of the brand through our tennis business. We are committed to continue striving to improve the DUNLOP brand value in the entire Sumitomo Rubber Group including the tennis business.

■Tournament Profiles & Comments from Tournament Directors
(1) Monte-Carlo Masters (France)

<Tournament Director Zeljko Franulovic's Comments>
As a member of the ATP Tour Masters 1000 clay court season's tournaments, we are delighted to extend our contract with Dunlop for three more years to 2022. Dunlop balls, known for their excellent quality and high performance on all surfaces, have played a significant part in the history of our sport. We look forward to continuing building a successful partnership with this prestigious sports brand over the next three years.

(2) Barcelona Open (Spain)

<Tournament Director Xavier Pujol's Comments>
We are very pleased with the announcement of the renovation with Dunlop until 2022. We have been working for weeks now on the next edition of the tournament and it means a lot to us that the first agreement that has been sealed is with an historic tennis brand, with which we have been collaborating since 1999.

(3) Madrid Open (Spain)

<Tournament Director Gerard Tsobanian's Comments>
Several years ago we found in Dunlop a fantastic travel companion. The ball is a key part in the development of the game and, with Dunlop, players have the quality guarantee and technology that distinguishes the brand. Therefore, the extension of Dunlop as official ball of the Mutua Madrid Open for three more seasons is great news. I'm sure that together we will live great emotions.

(4) Italian Open (Italy)

<Tournament Director Sergio Palmieri's Comments>
I am very satisfied and happy renewing the Dunlop sponsorship agreement until at least 2022. I consider Dunlop to have the best quality Tennis ball in the world and it is also the preferred choice of the players on tour due to the ball's technical qualities. This partnership confirms the amazing results achieved by both parties in the recent years and we look forward to a successful and positive future together.
Note: The exact timing of each tournament varies from year to year.