The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has today announced that Babolat VS, one of the world's leading tennis equipment brands, has joined its commercial programme, in a three year partnership deal.

As the Official Equipment Supplier to the LTA, Babolat will provide technical, product and stringing support across the organisation.

The Babolat TEAM ball will now become the LTA's Official Ball and will be used at all of the LTA's major national tournaments.

Babolat and the LTA will also be working closely together to assist the club and county networks with their ball and equipment requirements.

Babolat also has a long heritage in stringing services, and as well being appointed the Official Stringer of the AEGON British Tennis Series, will also be offering support and advice to stringers & tournaments up and down the country.

As the number 1 junior performance brand, Babolat has built relations with some of the world's best players, including World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and recent French Open finalist Samantha Stosur and winner Francesca Schiavone.

Bruce Philipps, LTA Director of Communications and Commercial, commented: "We're very pleased to welcome Babolat to our growing family of sponsors. We are particularly looking forward to exploring how the brand's widespread appeal to junior players can be used to help us increase the number of children competing and participating in our sport."

Franck Debeauvais, Sales and Marketing Director for Babolat VS said "It is a great honour for BABOLAT to enter into this partnership. In the UK, BABOLAT has always looked to support promising young players and the best coaches such as Leon Smith, Anna Smith, Chris Eaton and more recently Maia Lumsden.

“We are now delighted to broaden our support for tennis on a larger scale through this partnership and look forward to bringing our technical expertise and passion to help British Tennis to achieve it's objectives in both performance and grass roots tennis"

The LTA launched its new commercial programme in May 2008 and in September 2008 AEGON, one of the UK's leading financial services company, was announced as the first ever Lead Partner for British Tennis. Underpinning the Lead Partner are a series of Official Supporters including BNP Paribas, Highland Spring and recently Thomson Reuters. The LTA’s Official Suppliers include Nike, Lucozade Sport, IHG and now Babolat VS.