LOS ANGELES, Jul 26, 2005/ FW/ — Tennis superstar Andre Agassi wore new togs yesterday during the opening of the Mercedes-Benz Cup here in Los Angeles as the veteran player entered a long-term agreement with adidas as one of the brand’s ambassadors.
Winner of 7 grand slam titles, Andre Agassi started playing tennis at the age of three and turned professional at 16. At 18, he was ranked #3 in the world.
One of the most enduring players in the game of tennis, where most pros retire in their twenties, Agassi continues to play professionally at the age of 35. Ranked #9 last year at ATP, the Las Vegas native is one of the most recognizable faces in tennis.
“Andre is indisputably one of the biggest athletes of the 21st century and we are excited to support Andre not only with the best product on court, but also through his foundation,” said Erich Stamminger, member of the Executive Board of adidas-Salomon AG responsible for Global Marketing in a statement.
Andre Agassi joins a list of notable athletes with his partnership with adidas. His wife Steffi Graf has been with adidas throughout her career. Together with Justine Henin-Hardenne, Marat Safin, Guillermo Coria, Stan Smith, Ilie Nastase and Martina Hingis, the couple will be wearing state-of-the art adidas tennis products.
It can be said that no other brand has been so closely associated with so many athletes in so many sports over so many years as adidas since Adi Dassler produced his first ‘sports’ shoes in 1920.
Since then, adidas has built and underlined its leadership in the global sports arena with only one focused mission, and that is to provide every athlete with the best possible equipment and gear.
[HEIDE WINKENWERDER]
Photo courtesy of adidas