Tennis

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion, has been making the most of her offseason, despite the WTA Finals concluding just over a week ago. She has already secured a new sponsorship deal with Audi in China, attended the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, and appeared at a sponsor event for Gatorade.Zheng's packed offseason schedule was hinted at after her loss to Coco Gauff in the WTA Finals, where she narrowly missed out on becoming the eighth first-time participant to win the year-end title. Despite her disappointment, Zheng expressed that she had little time to dwell on the defeat or celebrate her historic season due to her upcoming off-court commitments."In the off-season, other players go to Maldives or Hawaii," she said, "but I'll have too many commercials to shoot and no vacation."Zheng's first major appearance was as the new face of Audi in China on November 15th, which was teased a week prior on Weibo. The automaker released a trailer for its newest cars narrated by Zheng, hinting at her appearance at the annual expo. Zheng was photographed at the event with vehicles from Audi's new electric car line, designed exclusively for China.Two days later, Zheng attended a Shanghai event for Gatorade, where she has been an ambassador since the start of last season. She was featured in new product collateral, photographed in a sleek white pantsuit.Zheng's sponsorship portfolio also includes on-court apparel deals with Nike and Wilson racquets, a testimonee for Rolex watches, and regional deals with Lancôme cosmetics and McDonald's. Her net worth is growing exponentially, and is expected to continue to rise after a 2024 season in which she became the second Chinese woman to ever reach a Grand Slam singles final and the first Olympic singles tennis champion from her country.Despite her commercial success, Zheng remains focused on her tennis career. "It you want to balance the time and the team has to work well, especially I think the manager has to communicate good with the head coach, because of course commercial is important, but at the end we are tennis player to perform as well on court," she said at the US Open. "This our priority."My priority ... is always performance well [sic] in tennis, but, I mean, if the opportunity come ... I will do it, because it's part of job. But where my passion is and where I want to put all my energy is on the tennis court."

Taylor Fritz, the world's No. 12 tennis player, has secured a dream sponsorship deal with Chipotle, the American fast-casual restaurant chain. Fritz, a self-proclaimed Chipotle enthusiast, has frequently expressed his love for the restaurant's burrito bowls and guacamole.The partnership, announced on social media, will provide Fritz with free Chipotle meals through a Chipotle Celebrity Card. This perk aligns perfectly with Fritz's post-workout dietary preferences, as he often indulges in a Chipotle bowl after intense training sessions.Fritz's Chipotle sponsorship is not the only recent major move for the tennis star. Earlier this week, he announced his departure from Nike and signed with Hugo Boss as his new apparel sponsor. The German luxury fashion brand will outfit Fritz both on and off the court, including for official events and interviews.Fritz's decision to join Hugo Boss reflects his commitment to delivering his best on and off the court. He is inspired by the brand's values of self-determination and authenticity.Fritz's sponsorship deals with Chipotle and Hugo Boss highlight his growing status as a marketable athlete. His love for Chipotle resonates with fans, while his partnership with Hugo Boss aligns with his personal style and aspirations.Fritz is currently competing in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he is seeded No. 12. He will face Alejandro Tabilo in the second round on Saturday.

Taylor Fritz, the world's 12th-ranked tennis player, has signed a new apparel sponsorship deal with Hugo Boss. The deal will see Fritz wear Hugo Boss apparel on and off the court, including at all official events, red-carpet moments, and interviews.Fritz, who previously wore Nike apparel, said he is excited to join the Hugo Boss family. "In both my tennis career and my personal life, I strive to deliver 110%, embrace new challenges, and stay true to myself–so I’m inspired by the brand’s values of living a self-determined life and ‘being your own BOSS,’” Fritz said in a statement.Hugo Boss CEO Daniel Grieder said that Fritz "perfectly embodies" the brand's values and hailed him as a "great personality, on and off the court." "With this collaboration, we are further expanding our commitment in tennis and strengthening the 24/7 lifestyle approach of BOSS," Grieder added.Fritz is seeded 12th in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and will debut his new Hugo Boss look in the second round against either Pavel Kotov or Alejandro Tabilo.Fritz joins Matteo Berrettini, who's worn Hugo Boss since 2022, as high-profile clients on the ATP tour. The brand also recently announced its foray into women's tennis apparel by signing rising young Germans Noma Noha Akugue, 20, and Ella Seidel, 19.