The Australian Open has established a multi-year partnership with waterdrop, a hydration company backed by tennis champion Novak Djokovic, to promote sustainable hydration practices across the tournament. As the Official Bottle Partner, waterdrop will provide reusable stainless-steel bottles to players, their teams, and staff during the Australian Open and the wider Summer of Tennis events.
This initiative is pivotal in reducing single-use plastic consumption, reflecting the tournament’s commitment to environmental sustainability. At the 2024 Australian Open, players were equipped with waterdrop bottles that they could refill on-court. This effort resulted in an impressive 99 per cent reduction in single-use plastic in player areas, with around 800 players refilling more than 5,600 litres sustainably. Moreover, over 280 water dispensers were installed throughout the venue, supplying free drinking water to fans and attendees.
Waterdrop’s involvement extends beyond the Australian Open, as the company will also promote sustainable hydration practices at other Summer of Tennis tournaments, including the United Cup, Brisbane International, Canberra International, Adelaide International, and Hobart International. Cedric Cornelis, Chief Commercial Officer of Tennis Australia, highlighted the alignment of waterdrop’s sustainability mission with the Australian Open’s broader climate action strategy.
The partnership is particularly significant due to Novak Djokovic’s role as both an investor and brand ambassador for waterdrop. Djokovic’s influence in the tennis world, coupled with the company’s mission of “Drink More Water,” has helped to elevate the brand’s visibility within elite sports. Notable tennis players, including Elina Svitolina, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev, have also joined Djokovic in supporting waterdrop, enhancing its credibility and appeal in the tennis community.
Martin Murray, founder and CEO of waterdrop, said collaborating with the Australian Open represents a major step toward enhancing sustainability in tennis. The AO player bottle will be available for purchase alongside tickets for AO 2025, starting in mid-October.
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