Evian(R) Natural Spring Water Becomes Official Sponsor of Olympus US Open Series Tennis Tournaments

ATLANTA, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Evian(R) Natural Spring Water announced today its new title as the Official Bottled Water of the Olympus US Open Series in a deal that will span the next five years. The luxury brand has become the choice beverage for tennis devotees, aligned as an official sponsor of three out of the four Grand Slam tournaments around the world including the Australian Open, the Wimbledon Championships and now its 23rd year with the US Open (the final tournament in the Olympus US Open Series).

Evian has also extended its endorsement deal with tennis star James Blake, marking its third year of supporting the athlete. Blake, recently named one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People, is the number 2-ranked American tennis player in the world. His amazing story, chronicled in the New York Times Bestseller, "Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life," has earned the handsome star legions of fans and proves why he truly personifies the brand.

"Our continued investment within the tennis industry attests to Evian's commitment to the sport and to tennis fans everywhere," says Jeff Caswell, Vice President of Marketing for Evian North America. "We're particularly excited about the multitude of opportunities the expanded Olympus US Open Series sponsorship provides us to interact with our customers and further extend the brand. Additionally, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with James Blake who has become part of the Evian family. As they say in tennis, these partnerships are 'game, set and match' for the Evian brand."

"We are thrilled to extend our 22-year partnership with Evian at the US Open and to expand it to include the Olympus US Open Series," said Pierce O'Neil, USTA Chief Business Officer. "Evian's long-term commitment to the US Open is a testament to the strength of the tournament as a marketing platform and partner."

As part of the new deal, Evian will sponsor all of the Olympus US Open Series tournaments held in the United States. These tournaments include the Countrywide Classic, Pilot Pen Tennis, Indianapolis Tennis Championships, Bank of the West Classic, Legg Mason Tennis Classic, East West Bank Classic and the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.

About Evian

Bottled since 1826, Evian Natural Spring Water is the world's #1 brand of premium spring water. Every drop of Evian takes over 15 years to filter through mineral rich glacial sands in the pristine French Alps. Bottled at the source in a state of the art facility, Evian comes from the Cachat Spring located on the Southern shore of Lake Geneva, in the town of Evian-les-Bains. Evian provides a uniquely balanced mineral composition and subtle flavor as a product of its unhurried journey.

Today, Evian is a brand of Danone Group, a leader in the food industry and number one by volume in the world for packaged water and dairy products. Evian first entered the U.S. market in 1978, where it was served in the finest bars and restaurants in distinctive glass bottles, and is now accepted as the natural spring water for those, including many of Hollywood's elite, who like to treat themselves to the very best.

About the USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 94 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. A not-for-profit organization with 720,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.