Garros, Swiss watchmaker Longines organized a tournament involving 16 boys from all over the world. Swiss Marco Osmakcic beat Russian Artem Dubrivny in the final and won the competition. Both young talents were able to play in an exhibition doubles with Andre Agassi and Jim Courier, both former winners of the French Open. Marco Osmakcic and Artem Dubrivny will each receive an annual bursary of $2,000 for their equipment from the Swiss watchmaking company, whose aim is to encourage their future in the world of tennis. Longines used the occasion to underline its support of disadvantaged children by sponsoring the charity foundations set up by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf, two of its “ambassadors of elegance”. The Longines Future Tennis Aces is a tournament that aims at promoting sport and encouraging the values of respect, fair play and tolerance which the brand holds dear. Longines has invited 16 boys under the age of thirteen from every corner of the world – Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America – to take part in its tournament in Paris. These budding tennis champions were selected by the tennis federation of their own country. After the final, both finalists Marco Osmakcic and Artem Dubrivny were presented with a trophy by Jean Gachassin, President of the French Tennis Federation. After the final, Longines also presented a cheque for $100,000 to a special delegation of two children from the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas for the foundations run by Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf. Based in St. Imier in Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaker Longines can look back on more than 175 years of non-stop craftsmanship, as well as a solid heritage as timekeeper for world championships in various sports and collaborator with different international sports federations. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World's leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 130 countries. __
