There isnt a lot of down fall in the tennis industry right now because of it still growing more popular

among the world, but it is amazing to see how rapidly this association is growing an all the money it brings in from other industries. Tennis continues to be a strategic part of marketing and sponsorship for a growing number of companies nationwide. Tennis is a $5.57 billion business which has increased over 3% since just last year. A following report predicts on the next tennis tournament the media, marketing companies, and sponsors which spend an estimated $700 million for the first time. With such companies as Corona, Emirates Air, Rolex, FedEx, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo leading the way, the projected $708 million spend this past year is up more than $40 million from last year and up more than $125 million since 2009. The budget is expected to continue to rise in the future. Last month, for example, ESPN signed an 11year deal, $770 million with the U.S. Tennis Assn. for exclusive rights to the U.S. Open tennis Grand Slam, which begins in 2015. By category, the most prevalent companies and firms involved in tennis come from (in order): sports apparel and equipment, banks and financial services, automotive, beverages (including beer), watches-jewelry, airlines, hotels & resorts, insurance firms and media (publishing, Internet, TV and cable). "The tennis industry moved in a positive direction in 2012," TIA President Greg Mason said in a statement. "Like many other industries, we still have challenges, but the TIA, together with our industry partners and the U.S. Tennis Association, is focused on strengthening this industry and tennis overall. The TIA's 2013 State of the Industry report on tennis states there was a 10% growth in the number of "frequent" tennis players, defined as those who play at least 21 times a year, to 5.31 million. Frequent players make up more than 70% of all expenditures in tennis, such as buying equipment, paying for lessons and court time, playing league tennis and more. Also an increase in tennis participation by 4% led to 28 million players, the highest participation level since 2009. Some other growing factors was the 13% increase in hours of tennis on TV and a 14% growth in the viewers viewing it on television since 2012. One of the reasons that led to this growth spurt was the 2012 London Olympics. According to IEG, companies that put the most into tennis deals are led by Corona Extra, which has a role in 29% of all tennis properties; Emirates Air (21%), including the sixweek Emirates Air Tennis Series that leads into the U.S. Tennis Grand Slam; Rolex (21%), Wilson (18%), FedEx (17%), Evian (16%), Ricoh (16%), Sony Xperiea (15%), Coke and PepsiCo's Gatorade (13% each), BNP Paribas (12%) and Mercedes-Benz (12%). Six professional tennis players made the Forbes 2013 list of the worlds highest paid athletes. Federer led all tennis players earning $71.5 million in 2012, including $65 million off the court in endorsements and exhibitions. The top woman on the list and also the top female tennis player is Maria Sharapova, at No. 22, who earned $29 million ($23 million in endorsements). Other tennis players making the Forbes 100 are: No. 28 Novak Djokovic ($26.9 million total, with $14 million in endorsements); No. 30 Rafael Nadal ($26.4 million with $21 million in endorsements); No 68 Serena Williams ($20.5 million; $12 million in endorsements) and No. 85 Li Na ($18.2 million total, $15 million in endorsements).

Word Count: 188 Resource: http://www.nysportsjournalism.com/tennis-biz-set-to-top-6b-628/