CT Open lands Porsche as sponsor

NEW HAVEN » The Connecticut Open has picked up a shiny new ride.

Porsche Cars North America has signed on as a sponsor for this year’s event, tournament director Anne Worcester announced on Wednesday.

“It means a lot because it’s an iconic brand, globally,” Worcester said at a press conference inside the Connecticut Tennis Center’s posh players center. “It’s instant cachet. It’s a brand that will bring a lot to the tournament, and may even help to attract other sponsors.”

Porsche has long been a supporter of women’s tennis, sponsoring the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany for 40 years. The sports car company is also this year’s title sponsor of the WTA Tour’s Road to Singapore, which culminate with the tour’s season-ending championships.

“Locally, we’ve been doing more and more with sports,” said Jacob Harb, a Torrington native and vice president, Area East of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. “I think the synergies are endless between our brand and the dynamism that we always portray in our vehicles. Sports is a natural connection.”

Porsche also sponsors the Mets and Jets, among other pro teams, but tennis is a natural fit.

“Demographically, it’s always an affluent base, so it just lines up,” said Harb, a 2002 UConn graduate. “Supporting women’s activities is always a good thing, as well.”

Porsche’s imprint on this year’s tourney was already evident on Wednesday, with several cars lined up outside the players center entrance. It will be even more obvious during the tournament, which runs Aug. 1826. The Porsche logo will be on display on the stadium court’s back wall, clearly visible on ESPN and other TV platforms. There will be over Porsche car

displays around the Connecticut Tennis Center, and players will be transported to and from their hotels in Porsches. There will also be a foodie event called “Porsche Presents: Game, Set and Munch.”

While Porsche has a multi-year partnership with the WTA Tour, its relationship with the Connecticut Open is just for this year. At least for now.

“It’s a test drive,” Worcester noted, with a smile. “Pun intended.”

Worcester still ‘speed-dating’

The Connecticut Open got great news a few weeks ago when threetime champion Petra Kvitova committed to returning this year. It was the first tournament Kvitova committed to after suffering a horrific knife attack during a home invasion last December in Prague, Czech Republic.

“Petra’s comeback to tennis is nothing less than a fairy tale,” said Worcester, who noted that doctors at first told her she’d never play tennis again. “I’m emotional just thinking about seeing him for the first time. As I’ve said to her countless times, ‘You’re an inspiration to anyone who has overcome adversity in their lives.’”

The tournament has also secured commitments from defending champ Agnieszka Radwanska and popular American Sloane Stephens. The deadline for players to commit is July 10, and the field will likely be announced the following week. Until then, Worcester will continue to court prospective players, including the next two weeks at Wimbledon.

“It’s like speed-dating,” she said. “You sit down with all the agents, all the players.”

Worcester said she’d have no problem inviting Maria Sharapova, who recently came back from an 18-month suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. Some players have voiced their displeasure at Sharapova returning to the courts.

“I know some of them will be (upset, if Sharapova plays at New Haven),” Worcester said. “I’m happy to explain, from an economic point of view, why it’s essential for a tournament to have marquee players to sell tickets.”

Meanwhile, it sounds like four-time champ Caroline Wozniacki, who has been battling injuries, may not be in this year’s field.