Porsche Joins List of Sponsors for 2017 Connecticut Open in New Haven

At the Connecticut Open media day, the tournament rolled out the red carpet for a new sponsor: Porsche.

It is the first time the luxury sports car company is sponsoring a tennis tournament in North America.

“When they really understood the value of our international television coverage and being on the back wall, they wanted to upgrade to a platinum sponsor,” Tournament director Anne Worcester said about the one year commitment.

Between landing the Porsche sponsorship and finalizing the tournament field, it is crunch time for Worcester.

"To use a racing term," Worcester said. "We have been travelling a hundred miles per hour for the past month."

Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska and three-time winner Petra Kvitova have already committed to play in the tournament from Aug. 18 to 26 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale.

"The top 30 players in the world are on my hit list and then sort of young Americans because our fans love to see young Americans," Worcester said.

The annual tournament generates an economic impact of $10 million for New Haven and the region.

"Beyond the boost in economic activity and civic pride, we’re grateful in new haven for the tournaments outreach to young people, it’s clinics showcase the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle," New Haven Mayor Toni Harp said.

In recent years, the state purchased the tournament to keep it in Connecticut and spent millions of dollars on improvements to the stadium.

"To see the additional modernization of this facility that’s taken place, last we were happy to introduce the players center, this year we can celebrate the replacement of systems within the complex," Governor Dannel Malloy said.

As part of Porsche’s sponsorship, the world class women’s tennis players will be transported around town in the brand’s luxury cars.

NBC Connecticut is the exclusive television partner for the Connecticut Open. You can find out more information and purchase tickets here.

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