Nicolas Gianotti sunk to his knees on the Plage des Brisants as he finally conquered the Sand Series Reunion Classic, in his third final there with Mattia Spoto.

The World Champions have been playing together for nearly three years and this was their 20th title together, including five at Sand Series level with this completing the Classic ‘set’ along with their first title together in Brasília in 2021, Gran Canaria in 2022 and last year’s Saarlouis Classic.

The pair had a serene ride to the final, dropping fewer than three games in any set, including a 6-0 6-1 drubbing of Diego Bollettinari and Allan Oliveira in the semi-final.

Things continued in the final - they took the opener 6-3 before things got tricky as the finish line drew closer. Despite being up a break in the second set Gianotti and Spoto were broken back before Nikita Burmakin and Tommaso Giovannini drew level and went up a break. Things went to a deciding point on deuce before Burmakin’s shot went into the yet sending the crowd into a frenzy as Reunion saw a home champion for the very first time.

Good things coming to those who wait was the theme of the championship match on the women’s side, with Ninny Valentini winning her first title since her layoff from shoulder surgery last year alongside Giulia Gasparri, with the pair defending their title. They survived a tight all-Italian quarter-final against Sofia Cimatti and Greta Giusti with a 10-8 match tie-break before facing off against another Italian pair and winners of the year’s opening Sand Series in Ribeirão Preto in Flaminia Daina and Nicole Nobile.

Valentini covered her mouth in shock as Daina’s return sunk into the net while Gasparri let out a road of delight after getting back to winning ways, having been almost unstoppable in 2022 and 2023 until Valentini’s shoulder problems arose.

Players from seventeen nations competed at the Sand Series Reunion Classic which saw a record-breaking $75,000 prize fund being offered for the first time as well as more ranking points. The Beach Tennis elite won’t have long to rest though with back-to-back Sand Series as the Gran Canaria Classic gets underway later this week.

The Sand Series consists of the premier tournaments on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, designed to provide the top players with opportunities to gain more ranking points and greater prize money.

Sand Series 2024

11 – 14 April: Ribeirão Preto

10 – 12 May: Réunion Classic

17 – 19 May: Gran Canaria Classic

13 – 15 June: Brasília Classic

15^th – 17^th August: Saarlouis Classic

10^th – 12^th October: São Paulo

15^th – 17^th November: Aruba