Sam Stosur Advances to French Open Finals

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakley, Inc. today announced that Samantha (Sam) Stosur will be relying on the company's Enduring performance sunglasses when she competes in the French Open finals on Saturday, June 5th. Stosur has depended on Oakley eyewear technology during her entire career, and she now stands just one step away from her first singles Grand Slam victory.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100604/LA16253)

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100604/LA16253)

After an impressive spring 2010 season that included a win at the Family Circle Cup and the best record on clay in women's professional tennis, Sam scored her first French Open semifinals victory this week, and will face off against Italy's Francesca Schiavone on Saturday for the title of French Open Champion. Stosur rose through the rounds with hard-fought victories against the best in the sport, including world number one Serena Williams who had a 3-1 record against Stosur leading to the match.

Oakley Enduring sunglasses are Stosur's go-to favorite. The white frame option speaks to her personal style, and she relies on Oakley Photochromic lenses in competition. "The Photochromic lens has been my favorite since I first wore it, for the simple fact that you can start playing a match in complete sunlight and then the clouds come over before you know it, and it's a lot darker," stated Stosur on her lens choice.

With technology that automatically darkens the lenses in response to increasing sunlight, Oakley Photochromic changes from clear to dark, helping Stosur's vision stay optimized. "Knowing that with these lenses, nothing is going to change and I can keep the same eyewear on the whole time — that's a great advantage," continued Stosur. "Especially being here in Europe, where it's not as sunny all the time like back home in Australia."

This being her first Grand Slam singles final, Sam will need every bit of that technology to maintain clear vision on Saturday, as the weather looks to be variable with unpredictable conditions.

Designed in collaboration with the world's finest female athletes, Oakley Enduring sunglasses offer some of the most innovative performance features in sports today. The interchangeable lens design allows the wearer to match light filtering to the environment while High Definition Optics® (HDO®) maximizes clarity and impact protection. All lenses feature Oakley Hydrophobic, a permanent smudge-resistant barrier that helps eliminate water sheens, skin oils and dust.

Stosur is an ambassador for the Oakley Perform Beautifully campaign, and her winning combination of style and talent resonates the campaign message of seamlessly blending fashion and function for today's professional female athletes — and all women with active lifestyles.

Saturday's match begins at 9am EDT on NBC in the USA.

Visit Oakley.com to get updates on Sam Stosur and other Oakley athletes. Learn more about Oakley Enduring sunglasses and Oakley Photochromic at the website, and browse the company's performance and lifestyle innovations for women.

About Oakley, Inc.

Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California, Oakley is one of the leading sports brands in the world. The holder of more than 600 patents, Oakley is continually seeking problems, solving them with inventions and wrapping those inventions in art. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with innovations that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is famed for its insuperable lens technologies such as High Definition Optics® (HDO®) which is incorporated into all Oakley sun and prescription eyewear, and goggles. Oakley has extended its leadership position as the world's leading sports eyewear brand into apparel, footwear and accessories collections. Laser focused on the consumer, Oakley has both men's and women's product lines that target Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a subsidiary of Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX; MTA: LUX). Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.

SOURCE Oakley, Inc.