Charity tennis cup seeks sponsorship

The organisers of a new ATP-backed world-class tennis tournament are seeking sponsors for the event, to be held at the London Arena in February.

Top stars, including Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Monica Seles and Jana Novotana, have agreed to take part in the York Challenge Cup, which aims to raise funds for the Duchess of York’s charity Children in Crisis.

The organisers are seeking one primary sponsor to pay &£150,000 or three sponsors paying &£50,000 each.

The one-off tournament is being supported by the Women’s Tennis Association and the Lawn Tennis Association, which are approaching most of the world’s leading tennis stars.

The ATP is the governing body for men’s tennis.

The competition will be televised, and negotiations are underway with the BBC. Posters promoting the event will run on 400 London Underground and bus sites donated by TDI Advertising.

Children in Crisis provides relief to “forgotten children” around the world. Last year, the charity held a similar event by inviting top sports stars to take part in a golf championship. It raised more than &£250,000.