2 Nov 2009

Time running out for WTA to clinch sponsorship deal

6:39 pm on 2 November 2009

The women's tennis tour could be looking for a new sponsor after Sony Ericsson confirmed it had still not decided to extend its current commitment past 2010.

The mobile phone company has sponsored the WTA Tour since agreeing a six-year deal in 2005 but the deadline for renewing its partnership is the end of the year and the corporate vice-president and head of global communications Aldo Liguori says all options are open.

The WTA's chief executive Stacey Allaster says 2009 has been a good year with attendance up 11 percent for premier events, which is a fanatic result in a challenging economy.