Maria Sharapova Signs Three-Year Sponsorship Deal With Samsung Electronics

IMG agent Max Eisenbud said that his client, tennis player Maria Sharapova, has "signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Samsung Electronics Co.," according to Danielle Rossingh of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Eisenbud said that the deal "covers Sharapova's native Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States." The deal, which started Sunday and "may go global next year," covers Samsung products "including mobile phones, tablet computers and television sets." Eisenbud said, "Maria really hasn't been marketed that much in Russia. It's important to her because that's where her roots are. I also felt that was a really untapped market, with the 2014 Sochi Olympics coming up." Sharapova currently endorses Nike, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co. and Danone SA's Evian water. Rossingh noted the agreement with Samsung "is the third mobile phone deal for Sharapova." She previously endorsed Motorola, and "had been global brand ambassador for Sony Ericsson" until that agreement expired at the end of '11 (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 4/2).