Ad-Out: MassMutual To Part Ways With U.S. Open Sponsorship

MassMutual, a U.S. Open sponsor for 16 years, reportedly is "calling it quits" at the tournament, according to sources cited by Daniel Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Both MassMutual and the USTA declined to comment. The U.S. Open has "two other financial services sponsors -- JPMorgan Chase for banking and American Express for credit cards -- so folding insurance into one of those could be a possibility." Meanwhile, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Chair & CEO Larry Scott said that the Tour is "close to renewing its marketing contract with IMG." Kaplan notes IMG is the WTA's "sales agent outside of China and brokered the Sony Ericsson title sponsorship" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/8 issue). The Int'l Tennis HOF Friday honored Sony Ericsson for its ongoing contribution to tennis with the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award as part of the HOF's annual Legends Ball, held at Cipriani on 42nd Street in N.Y. (WTA).

BLAST FROM THE PAST: In L.A., Emili Vesilind reported Fila is "reissuing looks from its first tennis collection, the White Line, circa 1973." The pieces are "instantly recognizable," as they are what Tennis HOFer Bjorn Borg wore on tour. Fila Designer Freya Tamayo said that the company "decided to revive the classics after testing a few vintage looks in stores last year to enthusiastic response." The line "will be sold exclusively" at the Kitson boutique in L.A. and on the Fila Web site "starting mid-month" (L.A. TIMES, 9/7).