Lagardere Unlimited Signs Rising European Tennis Star Thiemo De Bakker

MIAMI, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Lagardere Unlimited announced today that is has entered into a new, multi-year management representation agreement with rising European tennis star Thiemo De Bakker of the Netherlands. De Bakker, just 21-years-old, turned professional in 2006 and is currently ranked #111 on the ATP World Singles Tour after recently completing a twenty-two match winning streak. De Bakker will be managed on a daily basis by Lagardere Unlimited President, Ken Meyerson.

In 2009, De Bakker has captured four ATP Challenger Tour events since July (Brasov, San Sebastian, Vigo, Tampere), and won three ITF Men's Futures titles in 2008. Most notably in 2009, De Bakker defeated ATP World Tour #15 Singles Player Gael Monfils in a five-set battle at the September Davis Cup Tie between the Netherlands versus France. Since January, De Bakker has improved over 130 spots on the ATP World Tour Singles Rankings from #246 to #111.

In the juniors, De Bakker was a top boy's singles player capturing the 2006 Junior Wimbledon Championships and securing the #1 ranking on the ITF Junior World Tour. De Bakker won six additional singles titles between 2005 and 2006 including the European Junior Individual Championships in 2005.

"Holland has traditionally produced great players, going back at least 30 years. With one of the most successful ATP World Tour indoor events in Rotterdam, and the popularity of tennis, the signing on Thiemo De Bakker to Lagardere Unlimited is strategically, and extremely, important for us to continue building a strong men's tennis platform," said Ken Meyerson. "Thiemo De Bakker has had a brilliant junior career being ranked #1 in the world, and winning the Junior Wimbledon Championships was a crowning achievement. I have never seen in my 22 years of experience a player win four challengers in a row, and bring his ranking up to over 100 spots to reach #111. By representing his country in Davis Cup, we feel that Thiemo is poised for a significant breakthrough."

Lagardere is headquartered out of Paris, France, with their tennis division, Lagardere Unlimited, based out of Miami, Florida. Lagardere Unlimited prides itself on a qualitative, personal approach to managing their clients by offering a comprehensive range of services that meet every requirement for their clients. Currently, Lagardere Unlimited represents some of the best players on the ATP World Singles Tour including Andy Roddick (#7), Fernando Gonzalez (#11), Gael Monfils (#15), Tommy Haas (#17), Jeremy Chardy (#32), Richard Gasquet (#69) along with ATP World Tour #1 Doubles Player Daniel Nestor and former Sony Ericsson WTA World #1 Singles Player and Seven-Time Grand Slam Champion Justine Henin who will be making her return to the Tour in 2010.

Lagardere is a pure media group (books, press, broadcast, digital, travel retail and press distribution, sports trading and sports rights), and is among the world leaders in the sector. Lagardere holds a 7.5% stake in EADS, over which it exercises joint control. Lagardere shares are listed on Euronext Paris.

For more information on Lagardere Unlimited visit http://www.lagardere-unlimited.com/

Lagardere Unlimited, a talent management company

SOURCE Lagardere Unlimited