• by Tanya Gazdik , July 6, 2011

Esurance is partnering with men's doubles tennis team Bob and Mike Bryan for a summer-long promotion that includes a sweepstakes.

Consumers can enter the "Play With the Pros" sweepstakes through Sept. 30 at www.esurance.com/tennis for a chance to "Evolve Your Game" with the 2011 Wimbledon men's doubles champions, who are the winningest men's doubles team in history.

The winner will receive a one-hour private lesson with the Bryan Brothers, an iPad2 loaded with tennis tips from the Bryan brothers and a three-night trip for two to the Westin Long Beach.

The Bryan brothers' embrace of technology and social media is a good fit for the Esurance brand, says Esurance Vice President of Marketing Darren Howard.

"We have found that many of our 25-49 married, tech savvy demographic are also tennis fans," Howard tells Marketing Daily. "The U.S. Open is the most watched tennis event in the world, and it's a fantastic venue to showcase the Esurance brand and reach our audience."

Esurance recently announced an expansion of its sponsorship of the U.S. Open this year that will focus on elevating the fan experience and advancing the US Open's Green Initiative.

The partnership with the Bryan brothers kicked off July 6 in Austin, Texas, the site of the 2011 Davis Cup quarterfinals. Esurance executives and the Bryan brothers joined United States Tennis Association executives on the courts of the SmashZone Mobile Tour, an Esurance-sponsored program that supports USTA's 10 and Under Tennis initiative. Local children from the USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) chapters will join the Bryan Brothers to get personal tips on how they can "evolve their game."

The Bryans will make three more appearances in conjunction with Esurance's sponsorship of the 2011. U.S. Open. They will also participate in the Esurance Tennis Classic charity tournament in September.

Esurance is promoting the partnership, which runs through mid-October, on its Facebook page and Twitter feed. The brothers will appear in marketing materials such as print ads and online banners, but there are no plans on a television campaign at this time, Howard says.