The Pilot Pen Corporation of America is replacing Volvo as
title sponsor of the Volvo International Tennis Tournament
effective next year. The $1.04M IBM/ATP Tour event will be known
as the Pilot Pen International. Volvo ends its relationship with
the tournament after 23 years, the sport's longest-running title
sponsorship in North America. Pilot Pen signed a five-year deal
for title sponsorship of the New Haven tournament. Volvo of
North America is shifting its emphasis to more diverse and local
events and activities, but may continue an association with the
tournament on a regional basis (Volvo International).
IMG'S DEPARTURE LEAVES LONGWOOD SPONSORS OUT: The
cancellation of the final five matches of the US Pro
Championships in Boston has left tennis fans "in the lurch,"
according to Bud Collins of the BOSTON GLOBE. IMG's Mike Savit,
who runs the tournament with "silent" partner Longwood Tennis
Club, cited "an act of God: rain." But Collins writes it was the
"act of the minions of the tennis God, IMG boss Mark McCormack."
Savit claimed players wouldn't to stay until Monday, but instead
went on to their next tournament in Cincinnati. Collins calls
the excuse "lame," saying the players, all IMG clients, "took
possibly as much as $50,000 and ran from Boston." Collins: "Are
we to believe that IMG couldn't convince them to be professional
and honor a commitment thoroughly?" Longwood President Tom Ford
said he wasn't even consulted and was "desperate to get this
finished for the good of everybody, including our new sponsor
3Com, to maintain our credibility." Collins writes that IMG owes
all involved -- including the city -- "big time" (BOSTON GLOBE,
8/12).
HOUSTON GOES TO EXHIBITION: The women's stop in Houston will
be run as an exhibition next year, rather than a WTA event,
according to Jody Goldstein of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Lagging
attendance and a "dismal" field has led to the change, as
tournament officials can now pay "signing bonuses" for agreeing
to play, which is banned for Tour events. Increased purses and a
changed format should be "more to the player's liking" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 8/12).
