As part of the agreement with the ATP, the governing body of men's professional tennis, the Houston-based private wealth management firm will become the title sponsor for both the ATP Doubles Race and ATP Doubles Ranking.
They also will support the revamped doubles game through new initiatives including a promotional campaign called 'ATP Doubles Revolution'.
The campaign was unveiled to ATP players at their annual player meeting this past Saturday.
“We’ve enjoyed a successful relationship with Stanford as an ATP partner over the past year and we’re thrilled that Stanford embraced the changes that we’ve implemented in doubles for 2006 and wanted to be part of what we’re calling a ‘revolutionary’ movement,” said Richard Davies, managing director, ATP Properties.
Stanford Financial is the official Investment Advisor of the ATP. The Houston, Texas-based company also has a marketing partnership with former ATP World No. 1 Jim Courier.
“We’re not only big fans of tennis but also doubles, even more so now because we believe the changes implemented this year will provide a perfect platform to celebrate everything anew that makes doubles interesting to watch and play,” said Alvaro Trullenque, Stanford executive director.
The Stanford ATP Doubles Race is the accumulation of points earned by teams throughout the year starting January 1, 2006, reflecting a team’s performance and culminating when the top eight teams earn the right to compete at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, to be held from November 13-19.
The team that reaches the top of the Stanford ATP Doubles Leader Board with the most points at the conclusion of the circuit finale earns the distinction of World No. 1 team. The Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking is the objective, merit-based method used for determining qualification for entry and seeding in all tournaments, except as modified for Tennis Masters Cup.
ATP Doubles commissioner Gayle David Bradshaw has formed the first-ever ATP Doubles promotion committee to step up marketing and promotional efforts related to the doubles game.
The ATP introduced changes to the doubles game this year, with a new scoring format featuring two sets to 6 (tie-break at 6:6), no-ad games, and a match tie-break (first to 10 points, win by two) at one-set all.
The new format, with its predictable length and unique scoring features, provides for better scheduling options and more showcasing of doubles on feature courts.
