HEAD Successfully Sponsors European Beach Tennis Championships

HEAD recently sponsored the 2008 European Beach Tennis Championships which took place July 31 – Aug. 3 in Riccione, Italy. HEAD will be the official ball and paddle partner for the European Beach Tennis Championships through 2010.

“Sponsoring the European Beach Tennis Championship strengthens our existing partnership with Tennis Europe,” said Robert Marte, executive vice president of the racquet sports division. “As a top tennis brand, HEAD strives to find new ways to support beach tennis as the sport gains popularity in Europe.”

The second annual European Beach Tennis Championships featured players from 11 nations; however host nation Italy swept all three titles. Paolo Tazzari and Marco Garavini won the men’s doubles, Simona Briganti and Rosella Stefanelli claimed the women’s doubles title and Laura Olivieri could win the mixed competition with partner Cristian Berardi.

Belarusian women's team Natasha Zvereva and Olga Barabanshikova reached the semifinal round playing with the HEAD Beach Tennis Frames. Zvereva and Barabanshikova claimed the third place after defeating Belgian pair Sabine Appelmans and Els Callens in the small final 6-1, 6-1.

HEAD is also the official racquet, tennis ball, string, bag, accessory, footwear and apparel partner of Tennis Europe through 2009.

Tennis Europe (by constitution European Tennis Federation) is the non-profit organizing body of European tennis, and is based in Basel, Switzerland. The Federation is comprised of 49 member nations and maintains excellent relationships with the sports’ governing bodies - the International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA. Tennis Europe sanctions, manages and supports approximately 1000 international tennis tournaments a year across the continent.