Leading Chinese sportswear enterprise ANTA anounced in Melbourne on Sunday a landmark deal in women's tennis with the signing of world No. 1 player Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.
ANTA didn't reveal the details of the three-year-contract with Jankovic, who will wear ANTA sports apparel, shoes and accessories world-wide.
The partnership with Jankovic is unprecedented for a Chinese sports brand and marks a historic deal.
The ANTA design team from the United States and Japan has worked closely with Jankovic to develop a Jelena Jankovic range of sports products under the JJ brand.
Jankovic said: "the recent success of the Beijing Olympics has firmly established China's reputation as a world power in sport. I feel very honored to be forming a partnership with the leading Chinese sports brand ANTA. I look forward to working with ANTA to promote the development of tennis world-wide."
Born in 1985 in Serbia, Jankovic turned professional at 15, and has gone on to win over 250 matches and more than six million U.S. dollars in prize money.
On last Oct. 6, Jankovic became the world number one player on the WTA Tour, a position she has now held for 16 weeks.
Jankovic will be showcasing the JJ range of ANTA sportswear at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, which starts on Monday.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2009)
