Global banking firm BNP Paribas is the new title sponsor of the Indian Wells tournament, formerly known as the Pacific Life Open.
The BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier event, will be held from March 9-22, 2009 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
For the first time in its 20-year combined (men & women) history, the tournament will offer equal prize money to both men and women. The event is also adding another evening session on Thursday, March 12 which will make 21 sessions of match play.
“We are thrilled to have BNP Paribas as the new title sponsor of our event,” said Tournament Chairman Charlie Pasarell. “During this partnership, we believe we will guide our tournament to greater heights, both in terms of attendance and global appeal.”
BNP Paribas has been supporting tennis since 1973, when it became the Official Sponsor of the French Open. In addition to their partnership with this Grand Slam, the bank became the sponsor of the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, France.
As its international presence was growing, the company became the title sponsor of the Davis and Fed Cup competitions, the Masters Series Monte Carlo and since the acquisition of BNL in 2006, the “Internazionali BNL d’Italia” in Rome. In the US, the company is already title sponsor of the Bank of the West Classic women’s event at Stanford, California (BancWest is a BNP Paribas subsidiary).
On the Baseline’s coverage of the 2009 BNP Paribas Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.
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