In an unprecedented move, Anjunabeats has become the first dance music label to sponsor a tennis player during the grass court season. This groundbreaking partnership saw British tennis star Alicia Barnett proudly sporting Anjunabeats’ iconic ‘A’ logo during her matches at Wimbledon.
Alicia Barnett, a dedicated Anjuna fan, showcased her skills over the past two weeks in both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events. Alongside her partner Marcus Willis, Barnett reached the quarter-finals in the mixed doubles, marking a significant achievement in her career. Hailing from Painswick, Gloucestershire, Barnett began playing tennis at the age of seven and achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 59 on October 24, 2022.
Founded in 2000 by Above & Beyond, Anjunabeats has released nearly 1,000 trance and progressive tracks to date. This collaboration with Barnett represents a notable milestone for the label, particularly given Barnett’s enthusiasm for Anjunabeats and the fact that James Grant, the co-owner of Anjunabeats, is a long-time tennis aficionado.
“Having been a keen tennis player and frequent grass court queuer for many years, I was super excited that Anjuna was able to support Lissey at this year’s tournament. The fact she’s a genuine fan of the label makes it even sweeter,” shared James Grant.
Historically, dance music labels have not sponsored athletes, making Anjunabeats’ sponsorship of Barnett a unique and pioneering move in the industry. While labels like Spinnin’ Records, Armada Music, and OWSLA are known for their innovative approaches within the music scene, they have not ventured into athlete sponsorships.
Congratulations to Alicia and Marcus for their outstanding performance and making it to the mixed doubles quarterfinals!
