Italy on Top at European Beach Tennis Championships

Home players swept the titles at the European Beach Tennis Championships, which were staged from the 31st July-3rd August in Riccione. Italy. The event saw participation from players from 11 nations, with some well-known tennis names trying their hand at the sport for the first time on the new ITF Beach Tennis Circuit.

The men's event came to an unfortunate conclusion, with the disqualification of Alan Maldini. Playing with co-world #1 Luca Meliconi, Maldini threw his bat in anger following the loss of a point early in the second set, leaving the referee with no choice but to default the team. The title went to Marco Garavini and Paolo Tazzari, who were winning 6-4 1-1 at the time. The costly mistake means that Garavini and Tazzari will usurp their compatriots as world #1s when the new ITF Beach Tennis Tour rankings are released.

Two of the three players currently sharing the women's world #1 spot teamed to claim the women's doubles trophy, as Simona Briganti and Rossella Stefanelli swept to the title without the loss of a set. In the semi finals, the pair overcame third seeded Belarussians Olga Barabanschikova and 18-time Grand Slam doubles champion Natasha Zvereva 6-2 6-3, before overcoming compatriots Franca Bruschi and Laura Olivieri in the final.

Olivieri made up for disappointment in the women's event by teaming with Cristian Berardi to win the mixed doubles. The pair was a class above their rivals, losing just seven games in three matches on their way to their second European title, having both featured on the winning Italian team of 2007.

Hosted by the Italian Tennis Federation, the second annual European Beach Tennis Championships featured a revised format, with mens, womens and mixed doubles events held in an open age category. Open to players from all Tennis Europe member nations, teams from Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, San Marino and Slovenia travelled to Riccione. The ITF Beach Tennis Tour now moves on to Bibione in Italy, before making its first visits to Spain in September.

Tournament Information

Photo Gallery