HEAD Partners With European Beach Tennis Championships
July 30, 2008
KENNELBACH, AUSTRIA — HEAD International signed a contract with Tennis Europe to become the official ball and paddle partner for the European Beach Tennis Championships.
The European Beach Tennis Championships will take place in Riccione, Italy from July 31st to August 3rd 2008. All in all, about 100 players from 11 countries will participate. HEAD’s contract with European Beach Tennis Championships will last until end of 2009. HEAD is also the official partner of Beach Tennis USA.
Defending champions Italy are the favourites for the title, and return with a fortified team featuring seven players from the 2007 winning side, plus co-world #1 Luca Meliconi and #5 Luca Rosatone, who join the men’s squad for the first time. The home nation’s four-woman squad features the top four ITF Beach Tennis Tour-ranked women.
The women’s event features a number of familiar names as a host of ex-WTA Tour stars try their hand at the sport, led by former world doubles #1 Natasha Zvereva, a winner of 18 career Grand Slam doubles titles, teaming with former pro Olga Barabanshikova for Belarus.
Belgium is one of three countries to field the maximum possible eight players, with the team featuring Els Callens, winner of ten WTA Tour doubles titles, and former top twenty player Sabine Appelmans.
“The contract with the European Beach Tennis Championships will strengthen our existing partnership with Tennis Europe,” said Robert Marte, Executive Vice President of the Racquetsports Division. “We value the opportunity to create a relationship between HEAD and beach tennis as the sport gains popularity in Europe.”
Announcing the deal, Tennis Europe’s Chief Executive Officer, Olli Mäenpää remarked, “We are delighted to have HEAD on board as Tennis Europe continues its work with the International Tennis Federation to spread the popularity of the sport in all its formats. HEAD offers a comprehensive range of equipment for Beach Tennis players of all abilities and is instantly recognisable as one of the best-known brands in the sporting world.”