By Chris Menendez
Miami Beach – The Lacoste flagship store on Lincoln Road buzzed with Miami Open fans as the WTA hosted their live draw ceremony. In typical Miami style, guests were greeted with tropical electronic music and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres. Local sports reporter Jim Berry of CBS welcomed event goers and introduced special guest players Dominika Cibulkova and Christina McHale. Dominika and Christina, with the help from audience members, used poker chips to randomly place the seeds on the women’s board. The event was a great success and gave participants a peek at the Miami Open experience!
Food and Fun
Guests enjoyed champagne and a curated grenadine grapefruit drink as the resident Lacoste DJ played tunes that had the crowd moving to the South Florida beat. The energy and music could’ve been mistaken for that of the nearby Ultra Music Festival happening in downtown Miami. Why so much fun for a draw ceremony you ask? Because The Miami Open understands our guests are both lifestyle enthusiasts AND tennis fans. You’re sure to see fun both on and off the court starting tomorrow at Crandon Tennis park in Key Biscayne!
Lacoste Fashion
The room was filled with custom Lacoste tennis items that showcased the brand’s allegiance to the sport. Guests of the WTA Draw Ceremony got the first look at this year’s official merchandise which includes: jackets, t-shirts, and, of course, the classic Lacoste polo. The 2016 Miami Open collection is filled with fun and vibrant colors; a testament to the zesty diversity of the city of Miami. All Lacoste merchandise is available on site at the Lacoste pop up shop and at participating local flagship locations.
Christina and Dominika
Host Jim Berry was far from shy in interviewing Dominika and Christina. We learned of Dominika’s favorite motivational line “pome”, which translates to “come on” or “let’s go” in English. Dominika shared that the Miami Open is her favorite tournament in her favorite city. Naturally, the crowd cheered her on, we love that you love Miami!
Guests got to know Christina a bit better, she shared that she was a competitive swimmer until she was 13 years old and then decided to devote herself to tennis. We’re so glad she chose her racket over her swimming goggles! While in Miami she enjoys connecting with her Cuban roots- Christina is half Cuban, half Irish- by eating at the amazing Cuban restaurants in the area.
About the Miami Open presented by Itaú
The 2016 Miami Open will be played March 21-April 3 at the Crandon Tennis Center in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Miami Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men’s and women’s tennis players in the world. The tournament is widely regarded as the most glamorous on the ATP and WTA calendars because of its exotic Miami location, thriving nightlife, five-star hotels and restaurants, beautiful weather and beaches, and its celebrity appeal. For ticket information, call +1.305.442.3367 or visit www.miamiopen.com.
About Itaú
Itau is the largest Latin America privately owned bank, with approximately 95,000 employees and operations in 20 countries throughout the Americas, Asia and Europe. Itaú’s relationship with sport goes back to the 1970s, when Itaú first sponsored the Itaú Tennis Cup in Brazil in 1970. Itaú has been a sponsor of the Miami Open for the last six years, and also sponsors the Rio Open, the only combined ATP/WTA event in South America. Itaú also supports the Brazilian Women’s Tennis Circuit, only female professional tournament in South America, certified by the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF), as well as the Tennis Institute Training Center, responsible for the development of young, new talent.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 25 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; strategic partnerships with sponsors and brands; and marquee assets across sports, entertainment, events, music and fashion.
