Tennis Europe & Polar Announce Partnership

Tennis Europe, the largest regional association of the sport's governing body the International Tennis Federation, and Polar Electro Oy, based in Finland and the pioneer and leader of heart rate training systems, have announced a three-year partnership agreement recognising Polar as the 'Official Training Computer Partner of Tennis Europe'.

The deal is effective immediately, and represents Polar's first step into the European tennis market. The partnership focuses on Tennis Europe's strong ties with the coaching and junior tennis communities, and is designed to benefit coaches and young players through education and the promotion of the use of Polar equipment in order to maximise performance and technical analysis.

Polar's primary focus is in heart rate based training solutions, an essential element of modern tennis training. However, their comprehensive product range offers solutions for all active people whether the goal is to increase fitness and health or to compete at championship level.

As part of the agreement, Polar will play an active role at a number of special events for players and coaches, including serving as presenting sponsor of the European Coaches' Symposium, Europe's most important gathering of top coaches, as well as partnership with the ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference in 2009.

Polar will also become the presenting sponsor of the 'Tennis Europe Junior Tour Player of the Year' Award, which recognises the achievements of Europe's top Under 14 and Under 16 players.

Tennis Europe Chief Executive Officer, Olli Mäenpää explains: "Players and coaches have come to rely on technical equipment in matters of fitness monitoring, and Polar has always been at the forefront of such technology. Our aim is to enable Polar to use these platforms to speak directly to their key audiences in our 49 member nations, further strengthening their already strong market position whilst simultaneously benefiting and improving the performances of our coaches and players."

Polar CEO, Sari Säynäjäkangas added: "Tennis Europe represents the ideal entry point to the European tennis market and offers us exciting opportunities to showcase our range of products to tennis players and coaches of all ages and abilities. Whilst tennis is a performance sport, I have no doubt that many of the 25 million leisure players across the continent can benefit greatly from learning to monitor and harness information about their fitness and all round health using Polar products."