Andy MurrayGETTY IMAGES
Andy Murray "lost one of his main sponsors amid fears his absence from Grand Slam tournaments will cost him millions of pounds," according to Julie-Anne Barnes of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. After he withdrew from Wimbledon because of an ongoing hip injury, Aberdeen Standard Investments confirmed it will not renew its deal with him. An ASI spokesperson said that the four-year partnership had come to "a natural end." She added, "Andy is a world-class athlete and an outstanding ambassador for tennis. We wish him well for the future." The former world No. 1 "has missed four Grand Slams in a row because of his injury." Salford University Professor of Sports Enterprise Simon Chadwick said, "This will cost Andy Murray millions. Commercial partners want eyeballs, and non-appearance at major tournaments takes a tennis player away from the public spotlight. This means that sponsors will begin looking at alternative means through which to promote their brands and products." Murray has "several lucrative commercial deals" with brands including Under Armour, Jaguar and tennis brand Head. His earnings "run into the millions." Chadwick added that younger players "are catching the eye of sponsors in Murray’s absence." Chadwick: "While he has been away, the world changes. New players come along and he has become older." Brand psychologist Jonathan Gabay said, "From a branding point of view, the sponsors he has already secured will get nervous as the US Open is the only major Grand Slam left this year. Sponsors want their name associated with one kind of person and that person is a winner" (DAILY RECORD, 7/8).
