ERSA PRO STRINGER ISSUE 6-2018 prostringer6-18 web | Page 13

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INDUSTRY NEWS
IMG ACADEMY
SELECTS DUNLOP
IMG Academy Selects Dunlop as Official Supplier
Dunlop announced an agreement with IMG Academy, located in Bradenton, FL, to become the official tennis
racquet, ball, and accessory provider of its world-class tennis program. As part of the agreement, all tennis
coaches will use Dunlop racquets and balls for lessons and training.
“Since our new partnership with Srixon began, we’ve bolstered our product, our Tour presence, and now it’s
time to show our commitment to the next generation of players. There is no better place to do that than
the best tennis training program in the world, IMG Academy,” said Kai Nitsche, VP and General Manager for
Dunlop. “This will give us the ability to get our product in the hands of the top young talent in the game, the
coaches instructing them, and it will be an invaluable resource for testing and feedback as we continue to
improve in every area.”
“We always look to align with companies who are as devoted as we are to innovation, performance and to pro-
viding our athletes with as many resources as possible,” said IMG Academy Director of Tennis Rohan Goetzke.
“Dunlop’s technical expertise and commitment to providing the highest quality product are world renowned,
and we believe our athletes and staff will benefit greatly from their presence on campus.”
In addition to all Academy tennis coaches, International Tennis Hall of Fame member Nick Bollettieri will be
sporting a new tennis racquet in 2018 and will use the Dunlop CV 3.0.
“The Academy’s passion for the game and dedication to the development of junior players on and off the
court is a great inspiration for us all,” said Nitsche. “This is going to be a great relationship going forward and
we’re excited to play a role in the development of the next generation of players.”
Product Testing Resource
IMG will become one of the primary locations for testing all current and future products. The Dunlop Research
and Development and Marketing teams will collect feedback from hundreds of IMG Academy junior players.
“Having the ability to consistently record and analyze feedback on our products is going to make a huge dif-
ference for us,” said Nitsche. “This will keep our brand on the cutting edge as we see and hear first-hand what
the next generation of players is looking for with their tennis equipment.”
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ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 6-2018