The Polo pony will be romping through Flushing Meadows for another six years.
The USTA celebrates its 20-year partnership with Ralph Lauren by renewing its US Open collaboration for another six years.
Ralph Lauren will continue to outfit all US Open on-court officials and ball crew members, as well as offering a commemorative US Open collection of apparel and accessories for men, women and children.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 20 years of partnership with Ralph Lauren and are excited to extend our collaboration into the next decade,” said Kirsten Corio, Chief Commercial Officer, USTA, in a statement. “As the Official Outfitter, Ralph Lauren has become synonymous with the US Open’s iconic style, ensuring our officials and ball crew are always impeccably dressed.
“Beyond the court, Ralph Lauren’s global reach allows US Open fans worldwide to connect with the tournament through their retail presence.”
The Ralph Lauren-designed chair umpire and ball person’s uniforms have evoked extreme reaction among US Open fans in recent years.
Some fans absolutely adore the Ralph Lauren-designed uniforms as bringing distinctive and colorful style to the true blue US Open courts creating an iconic look that distinguishes New York City’s Grand Slam from the other three majors.
Skeptics say the apparel strikes them as a bit gaudy and over the top and question why a major tennis tournament continues to feature a massive polo pony as uniform logo rather than a tennis-themed logo?
Ralph Lauren himself is from New York City and the brand has partnered the USTA in promoting recreational tennis as well.
As part of the partnership renewal, the USTA says it “will establish an annual fund with Ralph Lauren within the USTA Foundation. The aim is to provide young people from under-resourced communities with more equitable access to tennis and education programming, helping to prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of life.”
“For nearly six decades, Ralph Lauren has been deeply inspired by the world of sport and tennis in particular – its energetic spirit, sportsmanship and heritage of style is a part of who we are. We are thrilled to continue as the Official Outfitter of the US Open, building on our 20 year partnership that has defined the tournament’s signature style and has been a canvas for incredible innovation,” David Lauren, Chief Branding & Innovation Officer, Ralph Lauren, said. “As we look ahead, we’re not just celebrating our heritage in tennis, we’re investing in the future of the game and the next generation of champions who will call this court home.”