For generations the bottles of squash sitting at the net has been an iconic part of the Wimbledon tennis fortnight. Robinsons has been a part of the event for 86 years as legend after legend took the title.
But now, just as people like Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver and Virginia Wade are part of the tournament's history, from this year Robinsons will also be relegated to the past. It has been announced that the juice manufacturer and Wimbledon have ended their sponsorship partnership after 86 years.
The squash brand confirmed it has not renewed its relationship with the tennis tournament. The deal has been one of the longest-running in sport after being set up in 1935.
Robinsons squash was created by Eric Smedley Hodgson and he handed the drink out to players on his first visit to the tournament. The drink was so popular he was invited back every year and saw the drink move into commercial production.
The long-standing relationship is, however, outlasted by the All England Club’s 120-year-long partnership with ball supplier Slazenger. Robinsons said on Twitter this week that it will no longer be a sponsor of the tournament.
The move also comes a month after Robinsons confirmed it will become the official drinks sponsor for The Hundred cricket tournament. A Britvic spokesman said: “We can confirm that Robinsons and the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) will not be renewing their Wimbledon partnership this year.
“We are tremendously proud to have been such a prominent partner to this historic tournament for so many years and the wider role we have played in boosting engagement with the game of tennis in the UK. Moving forwards, we will be broadening our summertime reach to beyond the Wimbledon fortnight, including promoting an exciting new campaign that will run throughout the whole summer, the Robinsons Big Fruit Hunt.”
The AELTC has also been contacted for comment.
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