LACOSTE, renowned lifestyle
brand of relaxed Elegance, and the ATP,
governing body for the men’s professional tennis
circuit, today announced that they have extended
their partnership. LACOSTE will continue as the
official apparel and footwear partner of the
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals until 2013. As
the exclusive provider of apparel and footwear
on the court of the tournament, LACOSTE will
also continue to dress the linesmen and ball
kids.



As part of the restructuring of men’s tennis in
2009, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will
replace the Tennis Masters Cup, currently held
in Shanghai, as the year ending finale of the
ATP World Tour. With only the year’s top 8
singles players and doubles teams in the world,
including the Grand Slam champions, qualifying
to compete, it is the year’s climactic final
event that determines the official year-end
South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings.



This partnership includes a sales area dedicated
to the brand that will offer the next LACOSTE
collection, including outfits worn by the
LACOSTE champions.



With a strong and unique heritage in the world
of sports due to its origins and founder, the
famous "Crocodile" tennis champion René Lacoste,
LACOSTE today implements an active sponsorship
policy. LACOSTE's values of integrity,
performance and elegance are exemplified by a
number of ambassadors, including tennis players
such as Andy Roddick, Richard Gasquet, Alizé
Cornet and Tatiana Golovin. LACOSTE also has a
presence at prestigious international tennis
tournaments such as the US Open, Roland Garros
and the Australian Open; these last two together
add up to a cumulative 3.19 billion TV
spectators a year worldwide.



“I am delighted that LACOSTE have decided to
extend their partnership with the Barclays ATP
World Tour Finals," said Etienne de Villiers,
Executive Chairman of ATP. “LACOSTE are one of
the world’s most inspiring brands and we have
had a hugely exciting and successful partnership
over the last six years. I am delighted that
LACOSTE share in our excitement and vision for
our new end-of-season finale.”



“After signing with the Australian Open,
renewing the partnership with an event that
symbolizes our values of tenacity, performance
and excellence such as the finals of the ATP
World Tour season is a further demonstration of
LACOSTE’s attachment to tennis as well as the
voluntary and active policy of our brand in this
sport," said Christophe Chenut, CEO of LACOSTE.



As one of the world’s leading sporting
occasions, television coverage of the 2007
Tennis Masters Cup was distributed to over 166
countries and watched by a cumulative worldwide
audience of 50 million people. The 2009 Barclays
ATP World Tour Finals will be held in late
November at London’s O2 Arena.