U.S. Open Champ del Potro Could Be Next Big Thing In Tennis

Del Potro Makes Rounds On Morning Talk Shows To Discuss U.S. Open Victory

U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro made several media appearances this morning to celebrate his five-set win over Roger Federer yesterday. del Potro noted on CBS' "The Early Show" he is traveling back to his native Argentina tonight and said, "I'm so happy to go to Argentina with this trophy" ("The Early Show," CBS, 9/15). He also appeared on NBC's "Today" this morning. del Potro, a Nike endorser, was not wearing anything identifying the company while on air (THE DAILY). SI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote del Potro is "not as familiar to Americans as Melanie Oudin," but he "handled himself well" at the U.S. Open. Similar to Rafael Nadal, del Potro's Q rating in the U.S. could be hurt "with language issues," but he "seems genuinely happy with his success." The crowd supporting him yesterday was "great with its chants and flags" (SI.com, 9/14). In Daytona Beach, Michael Lewis writes del Potro's win over Federer is "probably good for the sport right now." The list of men's players "who have the mental and physical ability to stand up to Federer is woefully short, and now maybe del Potro can be the rival that threatens Federer at Slams that Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic can't quite be yet (or may never be)" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 9/15).

SPONSORS STICKING BY SERENA: Serena Williams is also making the media rounds today, and she said she has "received nothing but positive support" from her sponsors, including Nike, following her profanity-laced outburst at a line judge during her semifinals match against Kim Clijsters Saturday ("Money for Breakfast," Fox Business, 9/15). But Fox Business' Cody Willard said, "Nike, if you actually care about your brand at all, you do not want to be associated with this girl" ("Happy Hour," Fox Business, 9/14). Meanwhile, ESPN's Mike Greenberg said he could see Williams "cashing in" on the situation by potentially starring in a commercial making fun of her outburst. Greenberg: "A year from now when the hubbub has died down and she wins Wimbledon or something like that and people can laugh about it a little bit, I can actually see her doing a commercial where something like this happens" ("MNF," ESPN, 9/14).

MAMMA MIA! CNBC's Scott Wapner reported Clijsters is "set to cash-in on the feel-good story" of the U.S. Open. John Dolan, Clijsters' manager, said that he has "fielded calls from more than 20 American companies, including a major automaker," in the last few days. Wapner noted any new endorsement deals are "likely to dwarf Clijsters' existing contracts with Babolat, Fila and Adecco" (CNBC.com, 9/14). 

Roddick Signs Four-Year, $10M Extension With Babolat

CAUSING A RACKET: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Daniel Kaplan reports tennis player Andy Roddick has "signed a four-year, $10[M] extension of his Babolat racket deal, making it one of the top deals in the sport." The deal also includes footwear, as Babolat "makes sneakers with tire company Michelin." Kaplan notes the fact Roddick "now has his sneakers tied up likely means he'll be back with Lacoste" for an apparel partnership. Lacoste's current five-year deal with Roddick expires in December, and companies like Nike and adidas "don't sign deals just for apparel." Meanwhile, the $10M amount is "based in part on Roddick's performance, so were he to slip in the rankings, the amount would come down." Roddick also has "renewed his Rolex watch deal" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/14 issue).

GROWING THE GAME: A study by Barclays and the Univ. of Liverpool indicated that the emergence of Murray, a Scot, has given the sport a US$671.1M boost in the U.K. The study also indicated that the emergence of Murray "as a potential grand slam winner, the redevelopment of Wimbledon and the forthcoming" ATP World Tour Finals, which will be held in London for the first time in November, "will all make the sport more popular" in the U.K. In London, Kate Walsh noted the tennis economy is already worth US$2.1B, "ranking it in the top-five sports behind football, horse racing and golf, but the 'Murray effect' has increased spending on every element of the sport from equipment to advertising and sponsorship" (LONDON TIMES, 9/13).

NOTES: In N.Y., David Waldstein noted the USTA runs the U.S. Open Final 8 Club at Flushing Meadows, which is "for anyone who made the quarterfinals in singles, or the semifinals in doubles or in mixed doubles." The club is a "special membership," as it "provides access to the grounds, tickets, transportation and a chance to catch up with old friends and adversaries." Wimbledon was the "first to start a club, and now all four Grand Slam events have them, with varying perks" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/13)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Futterman & Sharma noted the success of India-born junior tennis player Yuki Bhambri at the U.S. Open is "drawing attention to the possibilities of tennis in India -- Rafael Nadal is starting an academy there -- and has many noticing that the sport's power center is drifting east." Tennis is now "becoming popular in India, as well as in China, Taiwan and Japan" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/12).