Italy was the major winner at Tennis Europe’s Annual Awards ceremony, held on Friday at the European Federation’s Annual General Meeting in Portoroz, Slovenia.
The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) was presented with three of the six awards for tennis excellence in 2023, including the main prize for ‘Overall Performance’ for a second successive year. In addition, Italy came top of the federation’s 48 member nations in the categories of Professional Tennis – for the first time since 1998, and due in no small part to a first Davis Cup trophy in 47 years, and in Beach Tennis.
FITP President Angelo Binaghi said, “To win this title last year for the first time in 25 years was a significant moment for everybody involved in Italian tennis, but to retain it and strengthen our position as European leaders in 2023 is a source of great pride. It is a vindication of the work of the FITP and of the efforts of all the players, coaches, organisers and volunteers who work together throughout the year to create the optimal conditions to achieve these results.”
Other winners included Czechia, who retained the top position in Europe in Junior Tennis and secured second position overall. France also reached the podium, only 16.5 points behind the Czechs, and showing significant gains year-on-year in the Professional and Junior Tennis categories.
The German Tennis Federation once again takes pole position in Senior Tennis, claiming the award for the 32nd time, while the Netherlands continues its dominance in Wheelchair Tennis.
For its outstanding performance in 2023, Finland is recognized as the ‘Most Improved Nation’, making an impressive leap of 12 places to reach the 17th position overall. Serbia concludes the year as the ‘Best Performing 'B' Nation’, securing the 8th ranking, and Latvia once again earns the title of the ‘Best 'C' Nation’, finishing in 23rd position.
Presented annually since 1991, the Tennis Europe Awards measure the performances of individuals and teams representing the organisation’s 48 member nations throughout the year in five contributing categories and combine the totals to produce an overall winner and an effective league table of Europe’s tennis performance. To read the full list of nations in each category, see below.
Other awards to be distributed to member nations on Friday included the previously announced Junior and Senior Players of the Year, while Switzerland was announced as the winner of the Nations Ranking, which recognizes the best performing nation over the three age categories of the European Junior Championships.
Individual Tennis Europe Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the Sport in their member nations were presented to Ferdinand Sulo (Albania, Lifetime Achievement), Samvel Grigoryan (Armenia, Coach), George Vassiliades (Cyprus, Officiating), Annet Kontaveit (Estonia, Player), Kristie Boogert (Netherlands, Media) and Viktoriia Shuvaynikova (Ukraine, Administration).
Tennis Europe Awards for Performance: 2023 - Final Standings
Results by Ranking | Results by Nation A-Z | Results by Category
For further information about the Tennis Europe Awards, click here.