Tennis aficionados have by now noticed the increasing sponsor presence of one airline at ATP and WTA Grand Slam events: Emirates Airline. Whether in background court signage or on-site tournament activations, the Dubai-based carrier has established a global link with one of the most global sports.
Now, astute tennis fans will want to look up. Wednesday, Emirates announced a new Airbus A380 livery celebrating its sponsorship of all four Grand Slam tournaments. The design features each Grand Slam logo framed within a tennis ball emblem, rendered in the tournament’s signature colours, spanning the height of the plane.
The timing of the announcement is not coincidental to the opening matches of the Australian Open (Jan. 18 to Feb. 1). Nor does the grandeur of the livery overstate the luxury travel brand’s connection to a sport renowned for its luxury hospitality. It’s the consummation of a more than decades-long courtship between Emirates and professional tennis’ signature events.
Emirates Airline, Aryna Sabalenka And The Grand Slam Portfolio
Emirates became the Official Airline and sponsor of the US Open and the broader US Open Series in 2012. A suite inside Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing bears the Emirates name. In 2013, Emirates was named the Premier Partner and Official Airline of the ATP Tour. It became an Official Partner and Official Airline of the French Open that same year, and sponsors a private lounge in the Roland‑Garros Village.
In 2014, Emirates announced its sponsorship of the Australian Open. Its on-site Emirates hospitality suite replicates the interior of an A380 and serves some of the best cocktails at the tournament. Ten years later, Emirates replaced British Airways as the partner airline of Wimbledon, completing the “grand slam” of sponsor arrangements.
For airline geeks and loyal fans of the Emirates brand, the livery was probably the highlight announcement coming from Dubai this week. Yet the airline tossed tennis fans another ball: Belarussian star Aryna Sabalenka, currently number 1 in the WTA Tour rankings, became Emirates’ first tennis ambassador.
“In tennis, every little detail counts — so to align with a brand which matches my ambition and attention to detail makes this feel like a natural fit,” Sabalenka said in a media statement. “Travelling in world-class comfort with Emirates has been key to my preparation. But this partnership represents much more than that — because it also highlights what we, as women in sport, can achieve on the world stage.
“Stepping off this Emirates A380 in Melbourne I feel ready to make 2026 another year to remember.”
Emirates Airline Brings First Class Luxury To The Australian Open At Melbourne Park
For those attending the Australian Open in person, the Emirates Marquee at Melbourne Park is rolling out first-class luxury amenities for guests — emblematic of its $300 million global sponsorship portfolio:
- Unlimited First Class caviar service, including Ossetra caviar sourced from Siberian sturgeon and served with traditional accompaniments
- Decór including soaring archways, handcrafted Arabic lanterns, regional craftsmanship like Mashrabiya latticework and artisanal Middle Eastern textiles, date palm lighting and native Dubai florals
- The AO Ballpark Presented by Emirates, a fan zone with tennis activities for all ages, as well as Kids Tennis Day (Jan. 17) with exclusive activities for kids and families at Melbourne Park
According to the airline, the Emirates Marquee’s invited clientele includes more than 1,300 Skywards members, global business leaders, celebrities, and sports icons.
Emirates Airline’s new tennis-themed livery is the rarest sight of them all. Only one plane will wear the paint scheme. An Emirates spokesperson said it will fly across Emirates’ global network, including Melbourne, Houston and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Each city represents a stop on the ATP or WTA circuit — and now, an excuse for tennis fans to visit year-round.