Lexus and the LTA have agreed an extension to their partnership that will see Lexus become the title partner of the ATP and WTA grass court events at Nottingham and Eastbourne.
Lexus and the LTA’s extensive partnership already includes events in Ilkley and Birmingham, the British Open Roehampton wheelchair tennis and juniors event, and all LTA Performance Competitions, together with naming rights at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre and sponsorship of the national Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and World Team Cup teams.
Supported by Lexus’s sponsorship, British tennis has made significant advances, with more professional tournaments to support British players and a consequent 87 per cent increase in the number of British players competing in the main draw of these events. The LTA has, with Lexus’s support, also invested in staging higher level tournaments meaning more ranking points are available to players and has additionally upgraded facilities at the National Tennis Centre, Roehampton. This has improved training conditions for young British players, including those on the Lexus Pro Scholarship Programme and demonstrates the value of the partnership.
Lexus is deepening its involvement as well, taking on the naming rights for all the LTA’s grass court summer events outside of the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club.
| Date | Tournament name | Venue | Event |
| 1 – 8 June | Lexus Birmingham Open | Edgbaston Priory Club | WTA 125 & ATP 125 |
| 7 – 22 June | HSBC Championships | The Queen’s Club, London | WTA 500 & ATP 500 |
| 8 – 15 June | Lexus Ilkley Open | Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club | Men’s and women’s Challenger level events |
| 14 – 22 June | Lexus Nottingham Open | Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre | WTA 250 & ATP 125 |
| 21 – 28 June | Lexus Eastbourne Open | Devonshire Park, Eastbourne | WTA 250 & ATP 250 |
| 29 June – 4 July | Lexus British Open | Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre, Roehampton | ITF 1 Series and ITF J300 |
Lexus is a Premium Event Partner for the HSBC Championships and for the first time this year will provide the official transport service for the grass court events, providing hybrid and battery electric vehicles that will help the LTA reduce its carbon footprint.
It is also a partner of the LTA Awards, supported through its national retailer network, celebrating the work of grassroots coaches and volunteers across Britian.
Lexus will also run a Best Seat in the House campaign at the tournaments, where fans, competition winners and Lexus customers can enjoy a money-can’t-buy VIP experience, with seats closer to the tennis action than ever before.
Chris Pollard, LTA Managing Director – Commercial and Operations, said: “We’re very pleased to be extending our partnership with Lexus, which has demonstrated its significant commitment to tennis over recent years with support for British events and our elite teams. This partnership will help support our popular events at Nottingham and Eastbourne and the Lexus hybrid and electric vehicles mean that our events will be more sustainable and environmentally friendly. We look forward to the road ahead in this extended Lexus partnership.”
Chris Hayes, Director of Lexus in the UK, said: “Our renewed and extended partnership with the LTA will provide even more opportunities for British players to advance their tennis careers, and for tennis fans to enjoy watching world-class tennis, while also supporting the grassroots sport through our centres. The skill and dedication to excellence of the players and the LTA’s commitment to advancing this matches our own dedication to producing world-class luxury cars.”
Tickets for the Lexus Nottingham Open and Lexus Eastbourne Open along with the Lexus Birmingham Open and Lexus Ilkley Open will go on sale to LTA Advantage Fan+ and Compete Members tomorrow Tuesday 18th February at 10:00. They will then be on general sale at 10:00 on Tuesday 25th February.