South Korea’s Hyundai automobile empire will carry on as title sponsor for the re-launched Hopman Cup when the eight-nation team competition begins in late December.
The unique event, which was snatched from founder Paul McNamee by an ITF-Tennis Australia power play on the eve of the 25th edition, is apparently a good fit for Hyundai despite the international discord surrounding the tournament.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia began with the Perth tournament from its inception in 1988 and became a title sponsor a decade later. That arrangement is now reaching a decade and a half.
“With this commitment we will not only continue our investment in tennis, but will begin a new relationship with the International Tennis Federation,” said Hyundai’s Australia CEO Edward Lee. “We look forward to sharing the excitement and success of this venture with them, and the legion of tennis fans across the country.”
The upcoming edition will be played in the new Perth Arena, a controversial and vastly expensive tax-money civic project which has taken years to finally complete. A move was necessary with the former home (Burswood Dome) finally due for demolition after years of indecision.
©Daily Tennis News Wire
Topics: Hopman Cup 2012, Hyundai tennis cup, ITF-Tennis Australia, Paul Mcnamee, Tennis News