Saint-Georges-de-Didonne: the International Beach Tennis Open lived up to all expectations

In the men's competition, the match was shorter, in just two sets (6-4, 6-1). The Italians, seeded number 6, Niccolo Gasparri and Gabriele Gini lost to the 21-year-old Brazilian Giovanni Cariani (world ^number 5) partnered with the 30-year-old Italian, former world number 1, Tommaso Giovannini.

Described as "the most French of Italians," the latter was very moved. "I have a lot of memories here, I am very attached to this tournament. I thought it was impossible to win before the tournament, but we did it," confided Tommaso Giovannini in French. The Italian then showed his young teammate some little dance steps to a song he loves: "Magnolias for ever" by Claude François.

The party continues

From Monday, August 25th to Saturday, August 30th, Saint-Georges-de-Didonne will host the French Beach Tennis Championships for the first time, including a new event: the team championships on Monday and Tuesday. Among the eight qualified teams, the Artigues-près-Bordeaux team includes two players from Saujon, Théo Lahondès and Paul Gotarda (world ^number 30). The youth categories, senior men and women, and the over-45s will compete from Wednesday, August 27th to Saturday, August 30th.