Subaru Salutes Martina Navratilova in Her Return to the U.S. Open
6 September 2000
Subaru Salutes Martina Navratilova in Her Return to the U.S. Open
- After a Five-Year Absence, Navratilova Returns to
Tournament in Women's and Mixed Doubles -
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Sept. 6 Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA),
a pioneer of crossover all-wheel drive vehicles designed for the active
lifestyle driver, proudly salutes Martina Navratilova in her return to the
2000 U.S. Open. After a five-year absence from this Grand Slam event,
Navratilova competed in both the women's doubles and mixed doubles. This year
marks her 23rd career appearance at the tournament where she holds 15 titles,
including 4 singles and 11 doubles titles. She played in both the women's
doubles competition, partnering with Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, and in the mixed
doubles competition, partnering with Rick Leach. With this appearance,
Navratilova becomes the only player to compete in the West Side Tennis Club
main stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Subaru is proud to support Martina in her much anticipated return to the
Open," said Bill Cyphers, vice president of marketing, Subaru of America, Inc.
"Once again, she is setting the standard in athletic performance both on and
off the court. Martina personifies the central themes of what the Subaru brand
is about -- fun, freedom, adventure, confidence and control."
The U.S. Open tennis tournament takes place Aug. 28 through Sept. 10 at
the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, N.Y. Although most people
recognize Navratilova for her achievements on the tennis court, the 2000
International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee stays active all year round at her
home in Aspen, Colo. by participating in a number of outdoor sports including
mountain biking, hiking, skiing, kayaking and ice hockey. This year she
partnered with Subaru in an advertising campaign celebrating active lifestyle
women, titled "What Do I Know?" The commercial highlighted Navratilova's
knowledge of subjects such as performance, grip and control -- all
characteristics directly linked to Subaru's all-wheel drive technology. When
it comes to performance, Navratilova is proving she can still compete with the
best in the world.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company
markets and distributes Subaru Vehicles, parts and accessories through a
network of 588 franchised dealers across the United States. All Legacy and
Outback models sold in the U.S. are produced at the company's American
manufacturing plant, Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, near Lafayette, Ind.
Over the past eight years, the company has nearly tripled its revenues and
seen its sales increase by nearly 100 percent thanks to its popular line of
car-based sport utility vehicles. The company is among the fastest growing
brands in the automobile industry and was named "Most Improved Car Company in
the World" by the London-based Financial Times Automotive World Magazine.
Contact Rob Moran of Subaru of America, Inc, 856-488-3326, or e-mail,
rmoran@subaru.com, or Robyn Slater of Ruder Finn, Inc., 212-593-6436, or
e-mail, slaterr@ruderfinn.com.