Picture Perfect: Sharapova To Participate In WTA Photo Shoot
By Daniel Kaplan, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
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Sharapova Agrees To Participate
In WTA Photo Shoot In Rome |
Global tennis icon Maria Sharapova now plans to be part of a photo and ad shoot organized by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour that she had denounced on her Web site last Friday, a source said. The WTA is launching a three-year, $15M global campaign, by far the largest in its history, and top players have been asked to spend a few hours in Rome this weekend posing for the cameras, both still and video. The campaign will use print and TV ads. Sharapova polled fans on her Web site on how she should respond, saying she had been unfairly asked to be part of something just days before she had to play in the Rome clay court tournament. Of the 7,485 responses through Friday morning, 41% voted she should organize a player boycott of the shoot and 30% urged her to take legal action against the WTA. Only 18% chose the option she has apparently taken. The photo shoot will be on Sunday, giving her at least two days before she has to play a match. Sharapova had been threatened with a fine that could have reached $700,000. Under WTA rules, players agree to give up to 5 hours of their time for marketing the women’s tour once a year. The source said Sharapova should not have to spend more than three hours on the shoot, including travel time to and from her hotel. The WTA declined to comment, as did Sharapova’s IMG agent, Max Eisenbud.
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