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Essayist wins court time with Sharapova

Phoenix, AZ — Nadia Hilton-Adams had an experience of a lifetime this past weekend where she got to play tennis with HEAD sponsored athlete Maria Sharapova. Back in August 2011, HEAD held the “Use Your Instinct To Play with Maria Sharapova” essay contest to promote the YouTek™ IG Instinct Tennis Racquet. It was promoted online and on Tennis Channel during the 2011 US Open. 16 year old Hilton-Adams’ essay was chosen as the Grand Prize Essay among over 750 entrants throughout the United States.

“When I read Nadia’s (essay), it just seemed like she was just such an open person, and it was a really genuine letter as well,” Sharapova said.

The Grand Prize gave Hilton-Adams and two of her friends the chance to spend time on the tennis court with Sharapova in a hitting session, where she offered some tennis pointers to the girls.

“I felt like it was a dream. I didn’t think about her being No. 2 in the world, really. I was just thinking of her as a regular person who’s really good at tennis and could teach me a lot,” said Nadia Hilton-Adams.

After the hitting session, Hilton-Adams surprised Sharapova with a check for over $5800 that she had raised locally to support Sharapova’s Foundation, which aids people still affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Eastern Europe.

“It’s the best gift that I could ever ask for, because you know (Nadia) said it took about two to three weeks to get together, and I know how busy her schedule is with not only going to school but practicing every single day,” Sharapova said.

HEAD also matched the donation in Hilton-Adams’ name to support Sharapova’s Foundation.

Sharapova also conducted an autograph session for local fans that came to support Hilton-Adams at the event.

The “Use Your Instinct to Play with Maria Sharapova” essay contest was open to all US residents who were asked to write an essay in 250 words or less about why Maria Sharapova should visit their tennis club. HEAD awarded one grand prize winner, five first place winners an autographed YouTek™ IG Instinct, five second place winners an autographed Maria Sharapova Tennis Racquet Bag - Combi and ten third place winners an autographed HEAD tennis hat.

Coverage of the event will be airing on Tennis Channel in the upcoming month. Fans will also have the opportunity to win a YouTek™ IG Instinct autographed by Sharapova on HEAD’s Twitter page for one day only 4/2-4/3 (24 hour contest). twitter.com/head_tennis

Posted on April 2, 2012
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