Babolat commits to protecting minors in sports with “Rebond” association

On the occasion of the Babolat Cup Masters final, Babolat announces its partnership with Angélique Cauchy's association.

The Babolat Cup is marked by an exceptional ambassador, Carlos Alcaraz, and brings together over 2,500 participants across 40 qualifying tournaments held in 7 European countries, culminating in a Masters final tournament that took place last weekend in Lyon. Created by Babolat in 2009 and aimed at Europe's top under-12 talents, both boys and girls, the Babolat Cup was once again a huge success. Held just a few ball tosses away from Babolat's headquarters in Lyon, the final phase provided the perfect occasion for the brand to formalize a partnership with “Rebond” association, founded in 2017 by Angélique Cauchy.

Raising awareness among all tennis stakeholders and preventing violence against minor athletes.

Babolat stands alongside Angélique Cauchy. During the Babolat Cup Masters Final, held this weekend in Lyon at the All In Academy, Eric Babolat signed a partnership on behalf of the brand with "Rebond" association, founded in 2017 by Angélique Cauchy. A victim of sexual abuse starting in 2019 for two years at the hands of her tennis coach, the former French junior No. 2 and recent author of "Si un jour quelqu’un te fait du mal” (“If Someone Ever Hurts You") was present on Saturday in Lyon. During a conference, she spoke about the support she provides to minors who are victims of sexual violence in sports through her association. Babolat has decided to take concrete action alongside Angélique on this sensitive issue, amplifying her voice to protect young players and ensure their safety.

Éric Babolat affirms this commitment: "In recent years, brave voices have risen to break the silence surrounding violence. By partnering today with Angélique Cauchy and “Rebond” association, Babolat aims, in its own way, to contribute to this vital movement that empowers and saves lives. There are always opportunities for improvement, everywhere: let’s seize them!"

This partnership, focused on protection and prevention, will be centered around concrete actions on the ground, engaging those who bring tennis to life (coaches, parents, club leaders, young athletes). Babolat seminars will become spaces for discussion, where Angélique Cauchy will meet with coaches to raise awareness. The Babolat Cup, being a prime occasion to deliver this vital message, will see Angélique Cauchy speaking at every final phase. Additional initiatives will be implemented, such as a traveling photo exhibition (to be displayed in clubs, town halls, schools), an ethical charter signed by partner coaches, and the distribution of educational materials at every Babolat event to broadly communicate messages of prevention and protection. This program is set to expand internationally, thanks to Babolat's presence in 150 countries.

On the court: an exceptional tournament for the 2024 edition

On the courts, this edition of the Babolat Cup will also be a milestone. It was sponsored by Carlos Alcaraz, who himself won the Babolat Cup in 2017, already holding a Babolat racquet. The 2024 edition of the Babolat Cup celebrated promising talents who gained much more than a title at one of the premier tournaments for this age group. Crowned in Lyon on the courts of the ALL IN ACADEMY, led by Thierry Ascione and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, players Marie Schmidhofer (Austria) and Luca Sageder (Austria) will have the privilege of spending a week training at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Manacor, in the legendary Spanish champion's home, who spent his entire career under the Babolat banner.

Approved by national federations and now with a huge reputation, the Babolat Cup has never gathered so many players from seven different countries (France, Italy, the UK, Spain, Germany, as well as the Netherlands and Austria, for the first time). Babolat teams organized national circuits throughout the year in each of the countries involved, within the brand's partner clubs.

The winners of the national qualifying rounds also earned a unique experience day behind the scenes at Wimbledon, on the famous grass courts, and with professional players from Team Babolat. They even had the chance to meet some of them during the final phase of the Babolat Cup, which was attended by Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open winner, recently retired), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (world No. 5 in 2012), Botic Van de Zandschulp (the last player to defeat Rafael Nadal in a career match at the Davis Cup final), and Niels Vink (double Paralympic champion in quad tennis 2024). These four champions played with many children on Saturday.

A total success that makes Éric Babolat proud: "I am very happy with the growth of the Babolat Cup. This competition is a demonstration of our expertise and our roots on the ground, as Babolat supports over 20,000 clubs in more than 150 countries. The brand stands by young players to help them progress, thrive, and win. This has been a constant for 150 years."