November 8, 2008, Shanghai –- The Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai 2008, the year-end men's professional tennis tournament sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, will take center stage at the Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Minhang District from November 9-16. The top current tennis prodigies, including Roger Federer and the powerful duo of the Bryan brothers, will show off their tenacity on the court to capture the first seeds of the 2008 season. As the Principal Sponsor, Mercedes-Benz will provide 30 flagship S-class saloons and 30 R-class luxury sports-tourers as the official cars for players and VIPs from different countries during the event. To award players for their excellent competitive display of the sport, Mercedes-Benz will crown the champion of the tournament with a brand new R 500L, the trend-setting model of all sports-tourers.
Renowned worldwide for its high quality and continuous pursuit of innovation as well as its status as a long-term sponsor of the world's top tennis events, Mercedes-Benz plays an indispensable role on the tennis court. In 1996, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Mercedes-Benz officially formed a cooperation to jointly sponsor ATP events. From then on, the automaker has provided over 900 Mercedes-Benz cars as the official vehicles of the annual ATP games. Since the debut of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai in 2002, Mercedes-Benz has been a strong supporter of the world's most prestigious event, enabling numerous Chinese spectators to appreciate the year-end final event of the ATP.
"We feel extremely honored to make a presence on the court as Principal Sponsor of the Masters Cup," said Klaus Maier, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz China, "With the support of Chinese audiences and fans, especially those in Shanghai, I believe that the world's top eight singles and doubles will exhibit the sport's passion and charm – features that are also a part of Mercedes-Benz's brand value."
In addition to sponsoring the Tennis Masters Cup, Mercedes-Benz has also always been an avid contributor to the development of tennis in China. In April this year, Mercedes-Benz officially formed an agreement with the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA), becoming the chief partner of China's national tennis teams. As an integral part of the strategic cooperation, Mercedes-Benz and CTA joined hands to establish the Mercedes-Benz "Swing for the Star" youth tennis initiative, with the aim of improving the levels of young tennis players and coaches and foster a group of versatile and well-trained talent for the advancement of the sport in China. Mercedes-Benz's "Swing for the Star" Junior Tennis Development Program is a true reflection of the automaker's long-term commitment to the development of tennis in China. It is noteworthy that Roger Federer, a tennis superstar zealous for charity work, fully appreciates Mercedes-Benz's efforts, as he signed an agreement with Mercedes-Benz China to further champion the "Swing for the Star" youth tennis initiative.
"Along with the sponsorship of the Tennis Masters Cup, Mercedes-Benz's partnership with CTA in supporting the 'Swing for the Star' program is of profound significance," said Klaus Maier, "We sincerely hope that the youth tennis program will help potential young Chinese players to realize their dreams. We look forward to seeing them at the world's top tennis events such as the Tennis Masters Cup, while at the same time hope that they can make great achievements through their efforts and training to create their own saga of success."