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<\/a>Maria Esther Bueno is at the Rio Open and spinning many hats!<\/p>\n\u201cI arrived on Saturday and went up Corcovado to visit the Cristo Redentor [statue of Christ the Redeemer] with Fabio Fognini and Flavia Pennetta for Pirelli,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a really good time and spent a couple of hours up there as the sun set. It was very spectacular.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey went up all the way up and looked out of the arm, which is not something the general public gets to do but since Pirelli did the repairs to the statue, they have special privileges there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI refused to go up in that lift!\u201d she laughed. \u201cI\u2019m afraid of heights and then it is still quite a climb\u2026 no way!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe statue is 30 metres (98\u00a0ft) tall, not including its 8-metre (26\u00a0ft) pedestal, and its arms stretch 28 metres (92\u00a0ft) wide. It weighs 635 metric tons and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300\u00a0ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city of Rio.<\/p>\n
It was Dedicated October 12, 1931 and is an enduring symbol of Rio and Brazil that has sustained considerable damage over the years.<\/p>\n
There is a trapdoor on the Christ’s right shoulder and, if you peep out, you can see the world far below, white blocks of flats and offices clustered among folds of tropical green and beyond the sands of Copacabana and Ipanema, lies the limitless Atlantic ocean.<\/p>\n
The statue was struck by lightning during a violent thunderstorm on February 10, 2008, and suffered some damage to the fingers, head and eyebrows. A restoration effort was put in place by the Rio de Janeiro state government to replace some of the outer soapstone layers and repair the lightning rods installed on the statue.<\/p>\n
It was damaged by lightning again, on 17 January 2014, when a finger on the right hand was dislodged so a massive restoration of the statue was undertaken, financed by Pirelli.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\u201cIn 2014 Pirelli is celebrating 85 years in Brazil. Restoring Christ the Redeemer is the best thing we can do to thank this country and celebrate this anniversary\u201d, said Paolo Dal Pino, President of Pirelli South America, at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a monument like this, that hosts two million [of] guests a year – it\u2019s going to be three million people probably in 2014 – a place like this, damaged, is something that cannot exist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pirelli\u2019s partnership<\/b><\/h2>\n
Pirelli\u2019s support extends beyond its enduring gift to a nation to supporting the ATP and WTA events comprising the Rio Open as one of the tournament\u2019s set of diverse sponsors.<\/p>\n
The event is being held at the prestigious Jockey Club Brasileiro, which can be seen below the Christ.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\u201cI had lunch in the Jockey Club itself after having a hit there and it was really nice to see it again after several years,\u201d said Maria Esther. \u201cThe tennis is alongside the race course and we are always so busy that I didn\u2019t get a chance until now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria Esther dined with the VIPs from Rolex, who had flown out to Rio from Switzerland to see the Rio Open, and then, later in the day, she spent time with their guests at the tennis, chatting and posing for pictures and signing autographs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rolex people were very impressed with the Cristo necklace that Pirelli gave me. Because it is made in pink [rose] gold, it goes very well with my Rolex watch!\u201d<\/p>\n
At the IGK Dinner<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"DSC_8133\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/DSC_8133-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a>On Sunday evening she attended the dinner given in aid of the Instituto Guga Kuerten, another partner of the Rio Open.<\/p>\n\u201cI was very touched when Guga made a speech to me, saying I was his idol since he was 17!\u201d said Maria Esther. \u201cHe came over to the table where I was sitting with my Pirelli friends and was very eloquent. It was very sweet of him\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria Esther responded by commending Guga for all his great work with kids through his foundation, adding that he and his team were making a real difference to their lives.<\/p>\n
You can see her reply on Guga\u2019s Facebook<\/a> page.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfterwards I had a chance to talk to his family, agent and members of his [Guga\u2019s] team,\u201d she continued. \u201cThey thanked me for my words but there was no need as they really are doing a great job!\u201d<\/p>\n
All this before the tournament even got under way!<\/p>\n
![\"Snip20160217_23\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Snip20160217_23-300x200.png\")
<\/a>\u201cThe first day\u2019s play was interrupted by a deluge [of rain] that inundated the courts and made play impossible half way through through the afternoon so on Tuesday we had even more matches to cover.\u201d<\/p>\nPirelli Press Conference<\/h2>\n
Tuesday also saw Pirelli call a press conference to bring together two US Open champions – Maria Esther Bueno and Flavia Pennetta.<\/p>\n
The two talked about the evolution of the sport and shared experiences about their careers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing that hasn\u2019t changed is that to achieve something we need to dedicate a lot and face the challenges with a lot of determination\u201d, said Maria Esther, who is celebrating 50 years of her last US Open win in 2016.<\/p>\n
![\"Snip20160217_15\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Snip20160217_15.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFour times champion in Flushing Meadows and three times winner in Wimbledon, both in singles, Maria Esther congratulated Pennetta on her victory last year against fellow Italian Roberta Vinci.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was at the final and it was such a pleasure to see them playing. It was not only about physical strength, but it was a beautiful tennis match. It was also nice to see how brave Flavia was retiring at her best\u201d, she added.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nPennetta congratulated Maria Esther on her achievements and thanked her for the compliments.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really don\u00b4t know how they played back then. Today things are much easier for us and I really don\u00b4t know what they are feeding this new generation… They are all huge\u201d, she joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow they pay a lot more attention to the physical part of the sport. I used to like it better in the past, when the game was more mental and technical.\u00a0\u00a0It\u00b4s incredible to see how much the sport evolved in this period.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Italian also explained that the decision of retiring last year was made before winning the title, the eleventh\u00a0WTA trophy of her career.<\/p>\n
![\"Snip20160217_33\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Snip20160217_33-197x300.png\")
<\/a>\u201cIt was something I was thinking for a while and the most difficult part was telling my parents. But I knew it was time to do it and I feel happier now. But I never thought I would end my career on such a high level\u201d, said the Italian, who is in Rio to watch her fianc\u00e9 Fabio Fognini play the tournament.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u00b4m really happy to be here and it\u00b4s such a different experience to be in a city as a player and just for keeping company to your fianc\u00e9! I\u00b4m enjoying Rio a lot and relaxing a lot as well\u201d, revealed Pennetta, who has been sightseeing since she got to the city during the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI climbed the statue of Christ the Redeemer with Fabio and it was just amazing. It was great and I took some of the best pictures of my life up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Italian television station, RAI, reported on national news > Click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Pirelli issued this release to the media:<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cMaria Esther Bueno, the first woman to lead Brazil’s flag in the elite of world tennis, will be brand Ambassador Pirelli in 2016. The tennis player will participate in company events and lectures throughout the year and will offer tennis clinics for guests of the tyre manufacturer.<\/p>\n
Pirelli chose this icon of the sport due to the affinity between the tennis and the tyre manufacturer.<\/p>\n
“We chose Maria Esther Bueno to be Ambassador of our brand because she is a legend, a person who represents exactly the values with which the Pirelli share: daring, dedication, resilience and strength of will,\u201d says Paolo Dal Pino, Chief Executive of Pirelli to Latin America.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tennis player represents exactly the message that we believe in,<\/p>\n
“Love for the craft is another quality that binds the company to this tennis player, who is the first woman to lead the Country to the top of the podium of the most important tennis tournaments in the world, including Wimbledon and the US Open.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Everything I did, I did with love, without counting the Championships and titles I won. My history of dedication, my resilience, being strong-willed and very, very daring is why we’re together, Pirelli and I, “says Maria Esther Bueno.<\/p>\n
The Pirelli has a tradition in supporting sports and in Brazil, the brand already had volleyball team and supported national boxing icons.<\/p>\n
Currently, the company is the largest supplier of Brazilian auto racing and unique brand of formula 1 tires.<\/p>\n
In November 2015, the TireMaker announced the partnership with the Rio Open, only tennis tournament in South America to host both an ATP World Tour 500 and WTA International.<\/p>\n
Pirelli Calendar<\/b><\/h2>\n
In 2016, the iconic Pirelli Calendar has reinforced the brand’s connection with the world of tennis to imprint Serena Williams, portrayed by the powerful lens of Annie Leibovitz.<\/p>\n
![\"DSC_8104\"](\"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/DSC_8104-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a>Williams is gracing the April page, posing topless in the\u00a0milestone edition of the calendar which features women chosen for their achievements and not just looks.<\/p>\nEven though the 2016 issue of this famous calendar is historic since, unlike in previous years, the models are mostly fully clad, the winner of 36 Grand Slam titles\u00a0stripped down to her black panties, showing her powerful muscles\u00a0while\u00a0posing back to the camera.<\/p>\n
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- \n\t\t\t\tFlavia and Fabio made it to the top!\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>
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<\/a>\u201cPirelli is promoting the calendar during the tennis here in Rio with a 30 second video, which we shot in Sao Paulo a few weeks\u2019 back,\u201d said Maria Esther. \u201cIt\u2019s a remarkable piece of work by the photographer.\u201d<\/p>\n