The European Beach Tennis Championships returned to the shores of Crete this year. Hosted by the Hellenic Tennis Federation, the event featured 20 Tennis Europe member nations, creating an exciting atmosphere for players and spectators alike. Every year there’s an element of surprise, and this year’s curiosity was that teams from France, Italy and Spain managed to secure both the silver and gold medals in the men’s women’s and mixed competitions respectively after the semifinal rounds.
The tournament has also established a tradition of welcoming high-ranking players on the ITF Beach Tennis Tour, and this year was no exception. The current men’s world #1 Nicolas Gianotti (FRA) and women’s #1 Giulia Gasparri (ITA) both returned to Crete and managed to defend their titles from 2022.
MEN’S DOUBLES
Nicolas Gianotti and Mathieu Guegano were the top seeds in the men's doubles draw and maintained their top position throughout the tournament. In today's final, they faced their compatriots Paul Gotarda and Theo Irigaray. While Gianotti and Irigaray aimed to defend their gold from the previous year, this time they found themselves on opposite sides of the net. However, Gianotti and Guegano proved to be the stronger team in the final and secured victory with a score of 6-1, 7-6(2).
“I’m very happy to win again!”, said Gianotti after the match. “It feels incredible to with another partner as well, with Guegano. Greece is a great place for me, I enjoy playing here!”
Gold: Nicolas Gianotti/Mathieu Guegano (FRA) d. Paul Gotarda/Theo Irigaray (FRA) 6-1 7-6(2)
Bronze: Doriano Beccaccioli/Tommaso Giovannini (ITA) d. Pol Filella/Gerard Torres Palos (ESP) 6-4 6-2
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
The second title defence of the day was achieved by Giulia Gasparri, paired with Elena Francesconi. In the all-Italian final against Nicole Nobile and Flaminia Daina, they displayed dominance and were declared champions after a 6-2, 6-3 match.
Gasparri adds this medal to her collection of four golds and three silvers claimed in previous women's competitions, while for the 17-year-old Francesconi, this marks the first medal of her career.
Commenting on the win, Gasparri said, “First of all I would like to congratulate the Hellenic Federation for the hospitality and Tennis Europe for organizing this event. What can I say, this place is lucky for me, I'm happy to have won this gold medal with a young under 18 player and I congratulate her for the tournament and for the season that she played. Personally, I gained another personal satisfaction and I'm proud of it”
Gold: Giulia Gasparri/Elena Francesconi (ITA) d. Nicole Nobile/Flaminia Daina (ITA) 6-2 6-3
Bronze: Ariadna Costa Graell/Eva Fernandez Palos (ESP) d. Sabrina Lopez Garcia/Omaira Farias (ESP) 6-1 6-1
MIXED DOUBLES
The mixed doubles final was the most intense match of the day, culminating in a match tiebreak. Spaniards Eva Fernandez Palos and Antonio Miguel Ramos Viera were determined not to let their compatriots, Ariadna Costa Graell and Gerard Rodriguez Querol, take home the gold, battling fiercely until the last point. With a final score of 6-4, 3-6, 10-6, Fernandez Palos and Ramos Viera emerged as the victors. This marks their second gold in mixed doubles together, with the previous one earned in 2021.
Gold: Eva Fernandez Palos/Antonio Miguel Ramos Viera (ESP) d. Ariadna Costa Graell/Gerard Rodriguez Querol (ESP) 6-4 3-6 10-6
Bronze: Lola Barrau/Theo Irigaray (FRA) d. Marie-Eve Hoarau/Nicolas Gianotti (FRA) 6-4 6-3
At the conclusion of the event, organisers confirmed that for the first time, Spain ended the competition as the winners of the Nations' Ranking, which measures the success of each competition nation. Spain's captain Victor Martinez commented, "The Spanish beach tennis team is very proud to have achieved, for the first time in history, the first position by country at a European Championship. This result is an injection of motivation to continue working and improving the level and performance of our team and the pool of players who practice this sport in Spain."
Draws and Results
Men's Doubles | Men's Consolation | Women's Doubles | Women's Consolation | Mixed Doubles
📷 Photo Gallery | Nations' Ranking
Prior to the main competition, junior competitions were held for players aged 14 and 18 & Under. Full results can be found here:
Boys 14 & Under - Draws
Alex Agirelli/Riccardo Ponti (ITA) d. Thibauld Nadal/Say Noah (FRA) 6-2 6-2
Girls 14 & Under - Draws
Claudia Casas I Pau/Eva Santana Sanchez (ESP) d. Sara Albalate/Alexia Machin (ESP) 6-4 6-0
Mixed 14 & Under - Draws
Martina Antonellini/Alex Agirelli (ITA) d. Martina Minguzzi/Riccardo Ponti (ITA) 6-2 4-6 10-3
Boys 18 & Under - Draws
Tristano Frattolillo/Alessandro Galletti (ITA) d. Ivan Delgado Dekany/Alvaro Garcia Gonzalez (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-3
Girls 18 & Under - Draws
Elena Francesconi/Matilde Massai (ITA) d. Maria Martinez Seron/Daniela Rodriguez Perera (ESP) 5-7 7-6(3) 10-8
Mixed 18 & Under - Draws
Elena Francesconi/Tristano Frattolillo (ITA) d. Daniela Rodriguez Perera/ Alvaro Garcia Gonzalez (ESP) 6-3 6-0