The world's No. 1 ranked women's tennis player, Martina
Hingis, is playing the French Open without a permanent shoe
or apparel deal after Sergio Tacchini dropped the 18-year-
old Swiss last month. Hingis had been with Tacchini for
several years in a deal that most recently paid her $3M a
year. Hingis is currently wearing Yonex-branded headwear
and apparel at the French Open, and Yonex Promotions
Coordinator Bruce Ostermann told THE DAILY that the expanded
deal -- Hingis plays with a Yonex racquet -- is "just for
the French Open." But Ostermann confirmed that Yonex has
been in talks with Hingis and her reps at Advantage for a
full head-to-toe deal, but "we have nothing concrete yet."
INTEREST OR SWISS MISS? Meanwhile, Nike Corporate
Communications Specialist Claudine Leith said although their
were no current talks between the company and Hingis, Nike
is "always looking at different athletes." Reebok Dir of PR
Dave Fogelson all but ruled out a deal with Hingis, as he
said Reebok intends to "maximize our relationship with Venus
Williams." Fogelson said that Reebok will "focus as much
attention ... and as many marketing resources on Venus as
possible." Puma President N.A. Jim Gorman said that his
company is not involved in talks with Hingis. Asked if Puma
would be interested in signing her, Gorman said, "Probably
not." Gorman noted Puma's relationship with Serena Williams
and called Serena a "tremendous asset," whose "attitude
better suits" Puma's. adidas' Ryan McCauley noted the
company's partnerships with Steffi Graf and Anna Kournikova
and said of Hingis, "I can't say that we're interested."
But he added that, "We'd be crazy not to look at her."
Prince Sports Group Dir of Sports Marketing Jim Flesch said,
"If you said to me that Martina Hingis was interested in a
[Prince] racquet, my ears would perk up" (THE DAILY).
