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ATP CEO Mark Miles.
ATP AND GERFLOR ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP
ATLANTA, GA, JUNE 15, 2005 – The new three-year partnership between the ATP and Gerflor designates Gerflor’s Taraflex® Sports Flooring as the “Official ATP Court Surface.” The ATP also selected Taraflex® as the court surface for the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, China from 2005 through 2007. The event, which is co-owned by the ATP, ITF and Grand Slams, will be played at the new $200 million Qi Zhong Tennis Center in Shanghai on four Taraflex® courts.
Gerflor is the world leader in indoor synthetic sports flooring and has provided courts for the past eight consecutive Olympic Games and many World Championships. Taraflex® has a long and proven history at ATP tournaments with usage as the official surface for the BNP Paribas Masters for the past 15 years, Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon for 18 years, Kremlin Cup in Moscow since 2001 and the St. Petersburg Open since 2004.
The ATP‘s selection of Taraflex® raises its profile and solidifies its position as the leader in tennis flooring. The agreement will increase awareness of Taraflex® as the court of choice not only for top seeded professional players but also for all club players.
The ATP’s selection of Taraflex® as the “Official ATP Court Surface” was driven by the technology used to manufacture the flooring. The technology provides an ideal combination of comfort, shock absorption and high performance, allowing players to perform at world-class levels while preserving their physical condition.
“We are extremely pleased to enter into this agreement with Gerflor, an outstanding company with whom we have cooperated for many years to find the best possible playing conditions for ATP players,” said ATP CEO Mark Miles.
“This partnership serves as further recognition of Taraflex’s success in designing floors that serve the spectrum of athletes from the professionals who compete at ATP events and the Olympics to students and casual sports participants,” says Stephane Leudet, Gerflor national sales manager.
At the Tennis Masters Cup, the four Taraflex® courts will used be for the center court and three practice courts. Gerflor joins a growing pool of prominent international brands that have all entered into new partnership agreements with The ATP in the past 18 months. With 64 tournaments in 31 countries in 2005, the ATP showcases the finest athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia to Europe and the Americas to Asia, the season-long INDESIT ATP 2005 Race unites players and tournaments in a quest for success. The world’s premier stars compete all season for INDESIT ATP 2005 Race points as they seek to secure a coveted spot in the Tennis Masters Cup, the year-end championship to be held November 13-20 in Shanghai, China, and a chance to claim the title of World No. 1. For more information, please visit www.ATPtennis.com.
The ATP agreement marks Gerflor’s second high profile partnership for 2005. As of January 1, 2005, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Gerflor agreed Taraflex® will be used for every FIVB-sanctioned competition and event worldwide for four years. Taraflex’s recognition continues to increase with its selection by Fitness Management magazine readers as the recipient of the second annual NOVA 7 Award as the best flooring/surfacing supplier for 2004.
All Taraflex® synthetic floors are designed for safety and comfort. Their multi-layered construction includes 100% pure vinyl, a reinforced fiberglass grid and closed-cell foam backing to provide shock absorption, help fight fatigue and deliver consistent ball bounce. Product treatments ensure easy maintenance, stain resistance and prevention of mold and bacteria growth. Taraflex® floors meet and exceed the stringent performance standards mandated by all major flooring associations. Gerflor Sports Flooring, LLC is the exclusive agent for Gerflor Sports Flooring.
For more information, call 800-727-7505.