MELANIE OUDIN SIGNS ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH BACKOFFICE ASSOCIATES

Melanie Oudin scored the biggest endorsement of her career with data mining firm BackOffice Associates prior to her U.S. Open quarterfinal loss last night. She signed the deal 20 minutes before her match in the Arthur Ashe Stadium suite of her agency, BEST, with the co-CEOs of the company, Patrick and Patricia Kennedy. The multi-year deal is believed to be for a six-figure sum guaranteed annually with bonuses for performance. The deal was negotiated by Sam Duvall, her agent with BEST, who said BackOffice got in touch with him after Oudin began to make her Cinderella run through the tourney.
The logo of BackOffice is on Oudin's apparel bag. Her deal with adidas, which expires next year, prohibits patches, so she could not wear BackOffice’s logo.

-- Daniel Kaplan