January 9: Sunset at Melbourne Park during the 2024 Australian Open on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MORGAN HANCOCK
By partnering with one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, as well as the Summer of Tennis events, waterdrop® underlines its commitment to the sport of tennis and presents the exclusive Player Bottle.
Austrian scale-up waterdrop® announces a multi-year partnership with the Australian Open. As the Official Bottle Partner, the hydration company will provide reusable stainless steel bottles to players, their teams and the employees of the Grand Slam tournament—a crucial step in the fight for sustainable hydration.
In January, all eyes will be on Melbourne as the Australian Open kicks off the tennis year as the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments. The Vienna-based Microdrink and drink tech manufacturer, waterdrop®, will once again be taking part, this time as the Official Bottle Partner. In addition to providing water bottles for all players and staff, waterdrop® will also be on-site to offer fans a variety of personalised bottles, samples of the latest Microdrink hydration cubes, and memorable experiences through meet & greets with waterdrop® ambassadors.
From January 12–26, 2025, the Australian Open will not only provide a stage for top sporting performances, but will also focus on sustainability, as the reusable stainless steel bottles from waterdrop® will save a considerable number of single-use plastic bottles. Building on this commitment, waterdrop® is also partnering with the Summer of Tennis tournaments, including the United Cup in Perth and Sydney, the Brisbane International, Canberra International, Adelaide International, and Hobart International, to promote sustainable hydration practices across all events. Australian Open 2024 achieved a 99 per cent reduction in single-use plastic in player areas, and over 5,600 litres (1,452 gal) of water were refilled sustainably thanks to bespoke waterdrop® Player Bottles. Nearly 800 players were able to refill directly on the court with filtered, high-quality Melbourne tap water. In total, more than 280 water dispensers were provided throughout the venue, giving all visitors access to free drinking water around the clock.
“When we founded waterdrop® in 2016, we would never have dreamed that we would one day enter into a partnership with one of the biggest tennis events in the world. The Australian Open has achieved cult status for athletes and fans alike and stands for tennis at the highest level and a very special atmosphere that lives up to the nickname ‘Happy Slam’. We are incredibly honoured to be able to contribute to this prestigious event and, bottle by bottle, bring more sustainability to the world of tennis,” says Martin Murray, founder and CEO of waterdrop®.
“We are very excited to partner with waterdrop®. With its focus on sustainability and providing high-quality products, it’s a great fit for the Australian Open and the Summer of Tennis. We have already built a strong foundation and are excited about the positive impact we can make together in the coming years as part of our broader climate action strategy,” Tennis Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Cedric Cornelis said. “The Australian Open, alongside waterdrop®, was the first Grand Slam to offer players the local tap water in the dedicated refill points placed on-court, resulting in significant reductions in single-use plastic. We also have hundreds of water stations in player areas like gyms and lounges as well as across the precinct, supplying high-quality Melbourne drinking water to both tournament personnel and fans, whom we encourage to bring refillable water bottles.”
The future of hydration in tennis
waterdrop® pursues its ‘Drink More Water’ mission in both day-to-day life and elite sports. The Austrian hydration company has long since gained a foothold in the world of tennis. In 2023, tennis legend Novak Djokovic joined the company as an investor and brand ambassador. The Microdrink manufacturer was also able to attract six other tennis stars as investors: Elina Svitolina, Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev, Hubert Hurkacz, Sebastian Korda and Cameron Norrie.
Recognising that hydration is critical in tennis, directly impacting players’ focus, endurance, and overall performance, waterdrop® has deepened its commitment to the sport by partnering with athletes and organisations to promote sustainable hydration practices. This year, as a Hydration and Gold Partner of the ATP, waterdrop® played a key role in making the ATP Boss Open in Stuttgart the first ATP tournament to be organised entirely without single-use plastic bottles in both player and fan areas. Through this partnership, waterdrop® supplies the top 200 ATP players with reusable bottles, supporting their need for optimal hydration while promoting sustainability.
The company’s commitment extends globally, as it is represented at international events such as the ATP tournaments in Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Washington, demonstrating a shared dedication to positive environmental change in tennis. In 2024, the scale-up was also the presenting partner of the ATP tournament ‘Mallorca Championships presented by waterdrop®’. But that’s not all: as a hydration partner, the company also supports the Rafa Nadal Academy, as well as the Mouratoglou Academy run by renowned tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Drink water like a champion: Exclusive AO Player Bottle
The Grand Slam tournament demands the highest levels of concentration and athleticism from the players on the court. Every detail has to be perfect, down to the equipment and preparation. In such situations, the right hydration is also essential. The All-Purpose Bottles from waterdrop® are perfectly suited for these sporting activities.
Designed exclusively for the upcoming AO 2025, the bottle features the iconic tennis court blue and has a 1 litre/34 oz capacity. The double-walled stainless steel body keeps the water cool even in the Australian sun, providing up to 24 hours of chilled refreshment.
The Official Player Bottle comes with the versatile Spout Lid with a convenient drink opening and is also compatible with other lids from the All-Purpose collection, such as the Straw Lid, Swing Lid or Loop Lid. In addition, there is a new practical element for this waterdrop® Bottle: a scale is stamped on the inside of the bottle, giving an overview of the amount drunk.
The sporty and stylish design will not only keep players hydrated on the court, but spectators will be able to purchase the bottle on-site at the Australian Open, with pre-orders available from mid-October through the AO Ticket Store. The bottles will be available in the AO Shop and through waterdrop® in Australia and New Zealand from mid-November, and globally from January 2025.
About waterdrop®️
waterdrop®, the fast-growing hydration brand headquartered in Vienna, Austria, has been shaking up the beverage industry since 2016 with its innovative waterdrop® Microdrink hydration cubes and global hydration platform. The company’s mission is to encourage people to drink more water in a more sustainable way. In partnership with Plastic Bank, waterdrop® pledges to collect and recycle two ocean-bound plastic bottles for every glass or steel bottle sold, meaning consumers can not only drink more sustainably, but they can also support waterdrop’s cause for a better environmental future.
Now, the company has grown to have more than 3 million customers and over 300 employees, as well as products in over 20,000 retail doors and more than 40 waterdrop® stores in Europe, America, Asia and Australia. More information on www.waterdrop.com.
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