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Real Tennis World Championship

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Men's singles championship, Dublin, 1890.

The Real Tennis World Championship is the main competition in real tennis.

Men's singles

Men's singles in real tennis was the first world championship in any sport: it also predates the use of the term "real tennis," as the sport was called just "tennis" until lawn tennis gained popularity.

Except in cases where the champion has retired, the championship has always been on a challenge basis — the champion retains the title until losing an official challenge or retiring. Originally, the champion had the right to accept or reject a challenge, usually depending upon the prize money put up by the challenger's sponsor: several years could thus go by between challenge matches.

The top four ranked players in the world (excluding the champion himself) playoff for the right to challenge, with the champion and challenger playing a match of up to 13 sets over three days (4 sets, 4 sets and up to 5 sets on the final day). In theory, this is the only match the champion has to play in the two years since winning the last one.

The most recent men's world championship match was held in 2023, with sets being played on the 17th, 19th, and 21st of September in suburban Washington, D.C.. The next challenge will be in September 2025 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island

World men's singles champions

Year Venue Winner Runner-Up Scores Notes
1740 France Clergé, The Elder
1765 France Raymond Masson
1785 France Joseph Barcellon
1816 James Street, Haymarket ItalyFrance Marchisio United Kingdom Philip Cox
1819 James Street, Haymarket United Kingdom Philip Cox France Amédée Charrier
1829 James Street, Haymarket France Jacques Edmond Barre United Kingdom Philip Cox
1862 James Street, Haymarket United Kingdom Edmund Tompkins France Jacques Edmond Barre 1-0 (sets) Barre retired due to injury
1871 N/A United Kingdom George Lambert N/A N/A claimed
1885 Hampton Court United States Tom Pettitt United Kingdom George Lambert 7-5 (sets)
1890 St Stephens Green, Dublin United States Tom Pettitt United Kingdom Charles Saunders 7-2 (sets)
1890 N/A United Kingdom Charles Saunders N/A N/A claimed
1895 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Peter Latham United Kingdom Charles Saunders 7-2 (sets)
1898 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Peter Latham United States Tom Pettitt 7-0 (sets)
1904 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Peter Latham United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs 7-4 (sets)
1905 Queen's Club & Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs United Kingdom Peter Latham 5-1 (sets)
1906 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs France Ferdinand Garcin 7-4 (sets)
1907 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Peter Latham United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs 7-3 (sets)
1908 N/A United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs N/A N/A claimed
1909 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs United Kingdom Ted Johnson 7-2 (sets)
1910 Princes Club, Brighton United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs United Kingdom Fred Covey 7-6 (sets)
1912 Prince's Club, London United Kingdom Fred Covey United Kingdom Cecil 'Punch' Fairs 7-3 (sets)
1914 Philadelphia United States Jay Gould II United Kingdom Fred Covey 7-1 (sets)
1916 N/A United Kingdom Fred Covey N/A N/A claimed
1922 Prince's Club, London United Kingdom Fred Covey United States Walter Kinsella 7-3 (sets)
1923 Prince's Club, London United Kingdom Fred Covey United States Walter Kinsella 7-1 (sets)
1927 Prince's Club, London United Kingdom Fred Covey France Pierre Etchebaster 7-4 (sets)
1928 Prince's Club, London France Pierre Etchebaster United Kingdom Fred Covey 7-3 (sets)
1930 Prince's Club, London France Pierre Etchebaster United States Walter Kinsella 7-1 (sets)
1937 Tuxedo Club France Pierre Etchebaster United States Ogden Phipps 3-1 (sets) Phipps retired due to injury
1948 New York France Pierre Etchebaster United States Ogden Phipps 7-2 (sets)
1948 New York France Pierre Etchebaster United Kingdom Jim Dear 7-4 (sets)
1949 New York France Pierre Etchebaster United States Ogden Phipps 7-1 (sets)
1950 New York France Pierre Etchebaster United States Alastair Martin 7-0 (sets)
1952 New York France Pierre Etchebaster United States Alastair Martin 7-2 (sets)
1955 New York & Queen's Club United Kingdom Jim Dear United Kingdom Albert "Jack" Johnson 11-10 (sets)
1957 Queen's Club United Kingdom Albert "Jack" Johnson United Kingdom Jim Dear 7-3 (sets)
1959 New York United States Northrup R. Knox United Kingdom Albert "Jack" Johnson 7-2 (sets)
1966 New York United States Northrup R. Knox United Kingdom Ronald Hughes 7-0 (sets)
1968 New York United States Northrup R. Knox United States Pete Bostwick Jr. 7-2 (sets)
1969 New York & Manchester United States Pete Bostwick Jr. United Kingdom Frank Willis 11-8 (sets)
1970 New York United States Pete Bostwick Jr. United States Jimmy Bostwick 7-1 (sets)
1972 New York United States Jimmy Bostwick United States Pete Bostwick Jr. 7-2 (sets)
1974 New York United States Jimmy Bostwick United Kingdom Howard Angus 7-5 (sets)
1976 New York & Queen's Club United Kingdom Howard Angus United States Eugene Scott 11-4 (sets)
1977 Hampton Court United Kingdom Howard Angus United States Eugene Scott 7-2 (sets)
1979 Hampton Court United Kingdom Howard Angus United Kingdom Chris Ronaldson 7-0 (sets)
1981 Queen's Club United Kingdom Chris Ronaldson United Kingdom Howard Angus 6-1 (sets) Angus retired due to injury
1983 Hampton Court United Kingdom Chris Ronaldson Australia Wayne Davies 7-4 (sets)
1985 Queen's Club United Kingdom Chris Ronaldson Australia Wayne Davies 7-1 (sets)
1987 Queen's Club Australia Wayne Davies United Kingdom Chris Ronaldson 7-4 (sets)
1988 New York Australia Wayne Davies Australia Lachlan Deuchar 7-1 (sets)
1991 New York Australia Wayne Davies Australia Lachlan Deuchar 7-4 (sets)
1993 New York Australia Wayne Davies Australia Lachlan Deuchar 7-6 (sets)
1994 Hobart & New York Australia Robert Fahey Australia Wayne Davies 9-5 (sets)
1995 Hobart Australia Robert Fahey Australia Wayne Davies 6-2 (sets) Davies retired due to injury
1996 Melbourne Australia Robert Fahey Australia Wayne Davies 7-1 (sets)
1998 Melbourne Australia Robert Fahey United Kingdom Julian Snow 7-4 (sets)
2000 Hobart Australia Robert Fahey Australia Wayne Davies 7-0 (sets)
2002 Hampton Court Australia Robert Fahey United States Tim Chisholm 7-6 (sets)
2004 Newport, Rhode Island Australia Robert Fahey United States Tim Chisholm 7-1 (sets)
2006 Oratory Australia Robert Fahey United States Tim Chisholm 7-0 (sets)
2008 Fontainebleau Australia Robert Fahey United States Camden Riviere 7-5 (sets)
2010 Melbourne Australia Robert Fahey Australia Steve Virgona 7-2 (sets)
2012 Queen's Club Australia Robert Fahey Australia Steve Virgona 7-3 (sets)
2014 Melbourne Australia Robert Fahey United States Camden Riviere 7-3 (sets)
2016 Newport, Rhode Island United States Camden Riviere Australia Robert Fahey 7-2 (sets)
2018 Queen's Club Australia Robert Fahey United States Camden Riviere 7-5 (sets)
2022 Prested Hall United States Camden Riviere Australia Robert Fahey 7-5 (sets)
2023 Vienna, Virginia United States Camden Riviere United Kingdom John Lumley 7-3 (sets)
2025 Newport TBC TBC

Men's doubles

The men's doubles title is earned in a tournament with the sport's four top-ranked pairings (changed down from eight in 2022). Competed every odd-numbered year, it is hosted in rotation among the countries with active courts in the following order: the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the United States. The championship match uses a best of nine sets format.

After the first championship was won by Tim Chisholm and Julian Snow, the title was won and then defended five times by singles world champion Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona. They lost their title in the final set of the final match in 2015, in a championship held at Prested Hall (UK).

The title now belongs to Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm.

Year Venue Winners Runners-Up Scores Notes
2001 Middlesex University United States Tim Chisholm/United Kingdom Julian Snow Australia Steve Virgona/United Kingdom Ruraidh Gunn 5-1 (sets)
2003 Hobart Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona United States Tim Chisholm/United States Josh Bainton 5-0 (sets)
2005 Fontainebleau Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona United Kingdom David Woodman/United Kingdom Neil Roxburgh 5-0 (sets)
2007 Boston Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere 5-3 (sets)
2009 Seacourt Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona United Kingdom Bryn Sayers/United Kingdom Ricardo Smith 5-0 (sets)
2011 Melbourne Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona United Kingdom Ben Taylor-Matthews/United Kingdom Julian Snow 5-0 (sets)
2013 Paris Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere 5-4 (sets)
2015 Tuxedo United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Steve Virgona 5-0 (sets)
2017 Prested Hall United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere Australia Robert Fahey/United Kingdom Ricardo Smith 5-4 (sets)
2019 Hobart United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere Australia Robert Fahey/Australia Nick Howell 5-1 (sets)
2022 Bordeaux United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere United Kingdom John Lumley/Australia Steve Virgona 6/4 6/3 6/3 6/4 2/6 3/6 6/4
2024 Chicago United States Tim Chisholm/United States Camden Riviere United Kingdom John Lumley/Australia Steve Virgona 5-2 (sets)

Women's singles

Unlike the men's singles title, the women's title is earned in a tournament: the title holder must win her way through the draw for the right to defend the championship.

The championship tournament is held every odd-numbered year. Since 2011, the title has been held by Claire Fahey (née Vigrass).

Year Venue Winner Runner-Up Scores
1985 Melbourne Australia Judith Clarke United Kingdom Lesley Ronaldson 2-1 (sets)
1987 Seacourt Australia Judith Clarke United Kingdom Katrina Allen 2-0 (sets)
1989 Philadelphia United Kingdom Penny Fellows United Kingdom Sally Jones 2-1 (sets)
1991 Hobart United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) United Kingdom Sally Jones 2-1 (sets)
1993 Bordeaux United Kingdom Sally Jones United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis 5/6 6/2 6/3
1995 Newport United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) United Kingdom Sue Haswell 2-1 (sets)
1997 Ballarat United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) United Kingdom Sue Haswell 2-0 (sets)
1999 Hampton Court United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) United Kingdom Sue Haswell 2-1 (sets)
2001 Washington United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) 2-0 (sets)
2003 Melbourne United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis 2-0 (sets)
2005 Paris United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis United Kingdom Jo Iddles 2-0 (sets)
2007 Manchester United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis United Kingdom Penny Lumley (née Fellows) 2-0 (sets)
2009 Newport United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis United Kingdom Karen Hird 2-0 (sets)
2011 Melbourne United Kingdom Claire Vigrass United Kingdom Karen Hird 2-0 (sets)
2013 Paris United Kingdom Claire Vigrass United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass 2-0 (sets)
2015 Leamington United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass 2-0 (sets)
2017 Tuxedo United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass 2-0 (sets)
2019 Ballarat United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) United Kingdom Isabel Candy 2-0 (sets)
2022 Fontainebleau United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) France Lea van der Zwalmen 2-0 (sets)
2023 Oratory United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) France Lea van der Zwalmen 2-0 (sets)
2025 Newport TBC TBC

Women's doubles

The women's doubles world championship is held at the same time and venue as the women's singles championship. It is also a tournament format, rather than a challenge.

Year Venue Winner Runner-Up Scores
1985 Melbourne Australia Judith Clarke/Ann Link United Kingdom Lesley Ronaldson/Australia Karen Toates 2-0 (sets)
1987 Seacourt United Kingdom Lesley Ronaldson/United Kingdom Katrina Allen Australia Judith Clarke/Australia Jane Hyland 2-0 (sets)
1989 Philadelphia United Kingdom Sally Jones/ United Kingdom Alex Garside United Kingdom Katrina Allen/United Kingdom Penny Fellows 2-1 (sets)
1991 Hobart United Kingdom Sally Jones/ United Kingdom Alex Garside United Kingdom Penny Lumley/Australia Helen Mursell 2-0 (sets)
1993 Bordeaux United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Sally Jones/ United Kingdom Alex Garside 6/0 6/4
1995 Newport, Rhode Island United Kingdom Sue Haswell/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Sally Jones/ United Kingdom Lesley Ronaldson 2-1 (sets)
1997 Ballarat United Kingdom Sue Haswell/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Fiona Deuchar/ Australia Kate Leeming 2-0 (sets)
1999 Hampton Court United Kingdom Sue Haswell/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Alex Garside/ United Kingdom Sally Jones 2-1 (sets)
2001 Washington United Kingdom Jo Iddles/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Alex Garside/United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis 2-1 (sets)
2003 Melbourne United Kingdom Jo Wood (née Iddles)/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Alex Garside/ Australia Kate Leeming 2-1 (sets)
2005 Paris United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis/United Kingdom Sue Haswell United States Frederika Adam/Australia Susay Castley 2-0 (sets)
2007 Manchester United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis/United Kingdom Penny Lumley United Kingdom Sue Haswell/ Australia Kate Leeming 2-0 (sets)
2009 Newport, Rhode Island United Kingdom Charlotte Cornwallis/United Kingdom Karen Hird Australia Amy Hayball/ United Kingdom Juliette Lambert 2-0 (sets)
2011 Melbourne United Kingdom Claire Vigrass/United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass United Kingdom Karen Hird/ Australia Rosie Snell 2-0 (sets)
2013 Paris United Kingdom Claire Vigrass/United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass United Kingdom Penny Lumley/United Kingdom Tara Lumley 2-0 (sets)
2015 Leamington United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass United Kingdom Penny Lumley/United Kingdom Tara Lumley 2-0 (sets)
2017 Tuxedo Club United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass United States Amanda Avedissian/Netherlands Saskia Bollerman 2-0 (sets)
2019 Ballarat United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/United Kingdom Tara Lumley United Kingdom Penny Lumley/Australia Kate Leeming 2-0 (sets)
2022 Fontainebleau United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/United Kingdom Sarah Vigrass Netherlands Saskia Bollerman/United Kingdom Isabel Candy 2-0 (sets)
2023 Oratory United Kingdom Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/United Kingdom Tara Lumley France Lea van der Zwalmen/Netherlands Saskia Bollerman 2-0 (sets)
2025 Newport TBC TBC

See also

References

  1. ""The Tennis Championship." Times [London, England] 27 Dec. 1913". Times Digital Archive.
  2. "Adventures of an Irish Expatriate: Real Tennis in Ireland". Irish Real Tennis.
  3. ""Sports in Brief." Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1906". Times Digital Archive.
  4. "Ted Johnson". Leamington Tennis Court Club. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  5. ^ "Fahey profile". Tennis & rackets.com.
  6. ^ "World Championship Singles 2016". International Real Tennis Professionals Association. 13 March 2013.
  7. "World Championship Singles 2018". Queen's Club.
  8. "Annual Report" (PDF). United States Court Tennis Association. 2008–2009. p. 54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2020.
  9. "The Antique Sport of Real Tennis, and the Woman Who Dominates It". The New Yorker. 27 September 2015.
  10. Tennis and Rackets Association https://www.tennisandrackets.com/downloads/TennisResults/LadiesWorldDoubles.pdf. Retrieved 21 July 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

Real Tennis World Championship
Open Singles
Open Doubles
Ladies Singles
Ladies Doubles
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