The LTA has announced that Dunlop will become its Official Tennis and Padel Equipment Partner from January 2021.

The three-year deal will see the British sports equipment brand become the official stringing service for players at the LTA’s programme of summer major events.

As Official Tennis and Padel Equipment Partner, Dunlop will be granted branding rights at the tournaments as well as at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. The brand will also host retail and fan experience activity at the summer events and Padel tournaments.

Other terms of the deal include rights to design, produce and sell tennis hardware products bearing the LTA and Partner mark. Dunlop will replace existing Official Tennis Equipment Partner, Babolat.

The news follows the LTA’s announcement earlier this month of a five-year partnership with AMC, the brand created by Andy Murray and Castore, which will become its Official Performance Apparel Partner from 1 January 2021.

Both deals form part of the LTA’s commercial strategy to create value across every aspect of tennis, through development of strategic partnerships with high profile brands.

Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said: “This is another exciting partnership and we’re looking forward to working with Dunlop – an organisation that shares our vision to open up tennis – over the next three years. Following the long-term AMC apparel deal we announced earlier this month, this is another example of British tennis’ appeal to high profile brands that produce quality products, and demonstrates how we are further enhancing our commercial programme to support tennis and padel in Britain.”  

Frans Swinkels, Dunlop International Europe Ltd, Managing Director, said: “We are extremely proud to become the new Tennis & Padel Hardware Partner of the LTA, one of the most prestigious Tennis Associations across the European region. The partnership will allow us to showcase our complete range of Dunlop balls, rackets, bats and equipment, addressing the avid tennis and padel player throughout the UK.

“We look forward to supporting LTA Members, LTA Accredited Coaches and registered places to play during the term. Throughout the partnership we will work with the LTA to develop a range of equipment suitable for their national programmes, encouraging more junior and adult players on to the court. These programs build upon the overlapping values embodied within the LTA and Dunlop – tennis and padel are for all.”

Team Dunlop Ambassador Jamie Murray said: “Having top quality equipment is vital for any professional tennis player and Dunlop rackets have always served me well throughout my career. This looks like a great partnership and I’m sure Dunlop will provide a great service to the LTA and Tennis in Britain over the next three years.”

Fans will be welcomed back into stadia and sports venues in the UK in limited numbers from 2 December, in a major boost for fans, professional sports clubs and elite sport events.

Organised grassroots sport is also allowed to resume from 2 December and gyms and leisure centres will be able to reopen across all tiers, benefitting the health and wellbeing of people across the country.

Elite sport clubs and events hosted outdoors in tier one locations will be able to welcome up to a maximum of 4,000 fans or 50 per cent of stadium capacity – whatever is lower.

In tier two (high alert) locations the cap is set at 2,000 supporters or 50 percent of stadium capacity.

Indoor sporting events and fixtures in tiers one and two locations will be able to host a maximum of 1,000 fans or 50 per cent of stadium capacity – whatever is lower.

However in tier three locations, fans will not be permitted to attend elite sporting fixtures in line with hospitality venues and other large event venues being closed. Elite sport in tier three locations will still continue behind closed doors.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This is a big step forward for sport. Bringing grassroots sport back was my number one priority so I’m pleased we are reopening sports and gyms in every tier, in recognition of the significant health benefits.

I’m also delighted we are able to get the turnstiles turning sooner than expected, taking a cautious approach and starting with the lowest risk areas first. I’m confident that sports will take every step to ensure their fans are safe, and fans will play their part and look out for each other until we can safely get everyone back in..

Organised grassroots sport is allowed to resume from 2 December across all levels, providing social distancing remains in place, although there will be some restrictions on highest-risk activity in tier three areas. Spectators at non-elite sports will be able to attend events in line with Covid-secure guidance for each tier.

Indoor sport and physical activity will also resume, although there will be restrictions on some activities due to the higher transmission risk of coronavirus in an indoor setting. Restrictions will depend on the alert level that applies to your local area.

In tier one areas indoor sports can take place within the rule of six. This will mean people from different households could play 3 on 3 volleyball, or four people from different households could play doubles tennis or badminton. Group activities such as training sessions and exercise classes can take place in larger numbers, provided that people are in separate groups (up to 6 people) which do not mix.

In tier two areas, indoor sport can take place within households, and people can take part in group activity like exercise classes as long as there is no mixing between households. People can play certain sports which do not involve close proximity or physical contact against one person from another household, such as a singles tennis match or badminton match.

In tier three areas, indoor sport will be restricted to within your household only, and there should be no group activity such as exercise classes.

Infront, a Wanda Sports Group company, and the Biathlon World Cup Committee Antholz have prolonged their exclusive marketing partnership for all IBU World Cup Biathlon events in Antholz until the end of the 2029/30 season.

The new agreement covers all marketing rights held by the Biathlon World Cup Committee Antholz for the next four seasons and follows the overall extension of the marketing partnership between Infront and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) announced in February 2020.

Stefan Krauss, Infront Vice President Winter Sports, said: “The early extension of this long-term partnership is a sign of trust and gives us the opportunity to continue using and marketing the IBU World Cup Biathlon events in Antholz as an ideal advertising platform for sponsors.”

Lorenz Leitgeb, President of the Biathlon World Cup Committee, said: “Infront has been a very respectable and reliable partner to us for many years. We are proud that we have been able to set the course for the upcoming years until 2030 together with Infront.

“It means we can now work together on the future which wouldn’t have been possible without Infront’s cooperation. We are looking forward to continue having Infront by our side and staying true to the motto ‘Never change a winning team’.”