LACOSTE has signed a five-year deal to become Official Partner of the Miami Open, set to take place March 23 to April 5 next year.

There will be two Lacoste retail spaces on-site that will sell a new co-branded Miami Open collection. The pieces will also be available from February 2015 in Lacoste boutiques.

The move is at the heart of the brand’s DNA, with the French sportswear label first founded in 1933 by tennis champion René Lacoste. His ‘crocodile’ nickname was picked up for the brand’s famed logo.

Lacoste also sponsors the Australian Open, the French Open at Roland Garros, and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Rival luxe-sportwear specialist Ralph Lauren currently provides the official collections for the annual grand slam at Wimbledon.