Above: From left, Michael Downey, president and CEO, Tennis Canada; Jack Graham, Chair of the board of directors, Tennis Canada; Nadir Mohamed, president & CEO, Rogers Wireless Inc.; tennis player Ekaterina Shulaeva; Ted Rogers, president and CEO, Rogers Communications Inc.; and Stacey Allaster, VP and tournament director, Tennis Canada (Photo courtesy of Tennis Canada)
Rogers Communications Inc. has agreed to extend its title sponsorship of Canada's international women's tennis championships, to be held at the Rexall Tennis Centre at York's Keele campus, Aug. 13-21.
Tennis Canada representatives said they expect attendance records will be set at this year’s event, the first time the women’s championships have been played in the new facility, which opened in 2004. Rogers also announced it has agreed to become title sponsor of the men's tournament being held in Montreal. The men's and women's events alternate between Toronto and Montreal each year.
The four-year title sponsorship for both events extends from 2005-2008. "This represents a landmark day for tennis in Canada," said Jack Graham, Chair of the board of directors, Tennis Canada. "Quite simply, it will be a catalyst in supporting our vision of becoming a leading tennis nation."
At a media conference held Feb. 11, Rogers announced it also planned to support tennis development in Canada through the newly formed Rogers Cup Rookie Tour, an entry-level tournament program which will introduce competitive tennis to more than 500 youths across Ontario. The tour’s season-ending finale will take place on Stadium Court at the Rexall Centre in August and all program participants will be invited to the women's championships.
It was also announced that tennis legend Martina Navratilova will enter into doubles competition at this year's event at York. This appearance will mark her 12th year competing in Canada. The holder of 17 career Grand Slam titles, Navratilova paired with Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in her last trip to Toronto to win the 2003 Rogers Cup doubles title.
For information on the Rogers Cup at the Rexall Tennis Centre at York, visit the Tennis Canada Web site.