The report said that the total spend, which represents an eight per cent increase on 2007, is less than the 10 per cent rise between 2006 and 2007 and due in part to the global credit crunch and the fallout in the financial services category, one of the sport's most active sponsors.
IEG, however, said that there were signs of hope. The company pointed out that the ATP Tour is reportedly in talks with companies about replacing Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz as the series' major sponsor and that the Tour has agreed a new partnership with Barclays plc and extended its ties with South African Airways Ltd this year.
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