| 1995 Real Tennis World Championship | |
|---|---|
| Date | 14-18th April 1995 |
| Edition | 60th |
| Location | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Venue | Hobart Real Tennis Club |
| Champions | |
| Men's singles | |
 Robert Fahey | |
The 1995 Real Tennis World Championship was the 60th edition of the real tennis World Championship. It was held at the Hobart Real Tennis Club in Tasmania, Australia. Incumbent champion Robert Fahey defended his title against Wayne Davies six sets to two. Davies retired his challenge on the third day due to injury. [1]
 |
As the defending champion, Robert Fahey automatically qualified to the World Championship Challenge. Fahey had won the previous challenge against Wayne Davies in a multi-stage match across Hobart and New York. It would be his first title defence.
Four players qualified to challenge Fahey through their performances in the 1993–1994 season:
Wayne Davies, World Champion 1987–1994, 1994 US Open winner Lachlan Deuchar, World Championship Challenger 1988–1993
Julian Snow, 1994 British Open winner Chris Bray, 1994 French Open winnerDavies was the immediate prior World Champion, having lost the 1994 Challenge in Hobart and New York. He had held the title four times, defeating Chris Ronaldson in 1987 and Lachlan Deuchar in 1988, 1991, and 1993. He also lost two challenges to Chris Ronaldson in 1983 and 1985. At the time of the challenge, Davies held 3 Australian Open titles, 4 US Open titles and 3 French Open titles. Davies had never won the British Open.
Deuchar had challenged for the title on three occasions, each time against Davies and each time in New York. He held 2 Australian Open titles, 2 US Open titles, 3 French Open titles and 6 British Open titles, though the last Open he was at the 1992 Open.
Snow was an amateur player who had held the British Amateur title continuously since 1987. He was the incumbent British Open champion, having won three times since 1992. He also won the Australian Open in 1992. Snow previously participated in the Eliminators for the 1993 Real Tennis World Championship but lost to Deuchar.
Bray was the least experienced of the four challengers, his only Open title to date coming in the 1994 French Open.
| |
Having defeated Wayne Davies in the 1994 Real Tennis World Championship, Robert Fahey as the incumbent was permitted to chose the time and place of the Challenge. Fahey accepted a challenge only one year after his first World Championship victory. He nominated his home club of the Hobart Real Tennis Club as the venue. Hobart had previously jointly hosted the 1994 Challenge with the Racquet and Tennis Club in New York City, making 1995 the first challenge to be held exclusively in Australia.
The four qualified players played a series of Eliminator matches for the right to challenge Fahey in Hobart. The two British players, Snow and Bray, agreed to play their eliminator in England before travelling to Hobart. Davies and Deuchar would play their Eliminators at the challenge venue in the month prior to the challenge. All three eliminators were held as a best of 13 set format over three days.
The first Eliminator was held at the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace in London between Julian Snow and Chris Bray at the end of February 1995. The match was notable for having six of the nine sets played end in a scoreline of 6/5, all six sets going to Bray. Despite the set scoreline of 7–2, Bray only won two more games than Snow. Bray played a powerful forcing game through much of the match, while Snow retrieved well, especially off the tambour. Bray only needed one set on the final day, and won it in over an hour. [2]
Bray travelled to meet Lachlan Deuchar in the second round in Hobart in late March. Both players started nervously, but errors from Bray cost him the first set 6/4. Deuchar had game points for a 5/2 lead in the second set, but Bray played his way back into the match, winning the 5-all game and the following two sets comfortably. On the night before the second day, Deuchar requested a postponement due to an ankle injury. The postponement was denied, and Bray comfortably won through the first three sets of the second day before Deuchar retired from the match.
Bray met former World Champion Wayne Davies in the Final Eliminator, still in Hobart in early April. Bray started faster, with a chance for a 5/1 lead in the first set. However, Davies fought back to take the opening set 6/5. Bray also had a 5/3 lead in the second set, and again squandered it to Davies. Bray did manage to win a set late in the day, as Davies took a 3–1 lead into the rest day. On the second day, Bray tried to force his way out of trouble, but only resulted in a series of unforced errors. Davies play lifted and his accuracy rose, while Bray's unravelled. Davies won all four sets of the day to win the match and qualify to play Fahey. A third day was not required.
| First Round Eliminator | Second Round Eliminator | Final Eliminator | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hobart, 20, 22, 24 March 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royal Tennis Court, 22, 24, 26 February 1995 | 2 | Lachlan Deuchar | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Julian Snow | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | Chris Bray | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hobart, 3, 5 April 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Bray | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Bray | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Wayne Davies | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The format for the Challenge was best of thirteen sets played over three days. Four sets were scheduled for the first two days, and up to five sets on the final day. [3]
The first day of the match was held on Good Friday. Davies served tight railroads, with Fahey hitting aggressive cut-volleys on the return of serve. Fahey built an early 3/0 lead when Davies settled, having an opportunity to tie the set at 4-all but Fahey saved point by beating chase better than 2. Fahey went on to win the 40-minute set 6/3. In the second set, Davies countered Fahey's aggression playing slow cut shots to his opponent's backhand, calmly winning the set 6/4. Faheys attack improved in the third set, notably his backhand volley, cruising to a 6/2 victory. The final set started tight, when at 3-all Fahey won two quick games hitting targets. Fahey won the final set by beating a chase into the galleries, taking a 3 1 lead into the second day.
The second day was held on Easter Sunday. Davies won the first set 6/4 making few unforced errors. Fahey responded with nine targets in quick succession at the start of the second set to open up a 4/1 lead, which he would ultimately finish 6/2. Towards the end of the second set, Davies sustained a back injury, which he received treatment, but it hampered his movement for the remainder of the match. Fahey led early through the third set, with Davies struggling on through his floor game tactics. Davies showed a little resistance at the start of the fourth set, but Fahey finished the day with a 6–2 lead.
Neither player used the rest day for practice, as on the morning of the scheduled third day Davies informed Fahey via telephone that he was resigning the match. A ceremony was held on the court to present Fahey with the trophy, but no play took place on the day.
| World Championship Challenge [4] | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Robert Fahey | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||
| 2 | Wayne Davies | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |||||||
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of tennis is derived. It is also known as court tennis in the United States, royal tennis in England and Australia, and courte-paume in France. Many French real tennis courts are at jeu de paume clubs.
The Real Tennis World Championship is the main competition in real tennis.
Ben Taylor-Matthews is a professional British Real Tennis player based at Bristol Real Tennis Club. His career high ranking is world number 4, and his current ranking is 5. To date, he is yet to win a major singles title but has contested two Australian Open finals, as well as an IRTPA Championships final, plus a Champions Trophy final. He unsuccessfully challenged for the World Championship on three occasions, most recently in 2023.
The 2018 Real Tennis World Championship was a real tennis tournament held at the Queen's Club in London, England. 12-time world champion Rob Fahey regained the world title defeating the defending champion Camden Riviere by a score of 7–5.
The 2022 Real Tennis World Championship was a real tennis tournament held at Prested Hall in Feering, Essex, England in September 2022. Rob Fahey, the 13-time and reigning world champion, was beaten by the challenger, and former champion, Camden Riviere. The challenge had been originally scheduled to take place in April 2020, but was postponed to September 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2016 Real Tennis World Championship was a real tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Club in Newport, Rhode Island. 12-time world champion Rob Fahey lost the championship for the first time since 1994 to challenger Camden Riviere by a score of 7–2.
Claire Faheynée Vigrass is a British real tennis and rackets player and current real tennis Ladies World Champion. She holds over 40 Open singles titles and has completed a calendar year Grand Slam on six occasions. She is the first female player to play in the main draw of three of the four Men's Opens, and the first to female player to reach a semi final stage. She has also challenged for the Rackets World Championships on two occasions and has won five British Open Rackets titles.
John Colin Lumley is a British professional real tennis player currently ranked at number 2 in the world. He unsuccessfully challenged Camden Riviere for the 2023 Real Tennis World Championship at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia. He currently works as the assistant professional at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia.
Nick Howell is a professional real tennis player based at the Aiken Tennis Club in Aiken, South Carolina. Howell currently ranked number 3 in the world in both singles and doubles and won the French Open in 2023. Howell has challenged for the Real Tennis World Championship on two occasions, playing in the First Round Eliminator in 2020 and the Final Eliminator in 2023.
Lea Van Der Zwalmen is a French rackets and real tennis player and the current rackets World Champion. She is undefeated in rackets since the inaugural Ladies World Championship in 2015. In real tennis, she represents the Jeu de Paume de Bordeaux in Mérignac, Bordeaux and is women's world number 2. She has contested two World Championship singles finals and has won one Open doubles title. She has previously represented France in junior squash and also plays padel tennis.
The 2023 Real Tennis World Championship was a real tennis tournament held at the International Tennis Club of Washington in McLean, Virginia in September 2023. Reigning champion Camden Riviere was challenged by first-time challenger John Lumley. Riviere won his third World Championship title, and his first successful defense, defeating Lumley 7 sets to 3.
Tara Lumley is a British real tennis and rackets player and current women's World Doubles Champion. She is currently ranked world number 3 in both singles and doubles at real tennis. She holds 2 Open singles and 7 Open doubles titles. She won the inaugural women's doubles Rackets World Championship with India Deakin, and has challenged for the women's singles Rackets World Championships on three occasions, playing in the eliminator process in each occasion.
Chris Chapman is an Australian professional real tennis player formerly ranked world number 3 and currently based at the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club. Chapman challenged for the Real Tennis World Championship on three occasions, reaching the Final Eliminator in 2020. Over his career, he won three Open singles titles, two at the Australian Open and one at the French Open. He also holds three four Open doubles titles. In 2023 during the British Open he announced his retirement from international competitions, although he still competes in Australian competitions.
Bryn Sayers is a British professional real tennis player currently ranked at number seven in the world. He unsuccessfully challenged for the Real Tennis World Championship on four occasions, reaching the Final Eliminator in 2014 against Camden Riviere. He holds two singles Open titles, having won both in 2012. He works as the senior professional at the Queen's Club in London.
The 2024 Real Tennis World Doubles Championship was the 12th edition of the real tennis World Doubles Championship and was held at the Racquet Club of Chicago from April 24-28th 2024. The event was won by defending champions Tim Chisholm and Camden Riviere representing the United States. It was their fifth consecutive title, with Chisholm equalling Robert Fahey and Steve Virgona with 6 overall titles.
The British Open is a real tennis tournament, with the men's draw held annually at Queen's Club in London, England, and the women's draw held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island. The men's event is a national Open carrying ranking points for the Real Tennis World Championship. The women's event does not carry any ranking points.
The 1993 Real Tennis World Championship was the 58th edition of the real tennis World Championship. It was held at the Racquet and Tennis Club in New York City for the 17th time. Incumbent champion Wayne Davies defended his title against Lachlan Deuchar seven sets to six.
The 1994 Real Tennis British Open was the 15th edition of the British Open since it became an annual event in 1979. The men's event was held at the Queen's Club in London between November 18-28, 1994 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year.
The 1996 Real Tennis World Championship was the 61st edition of the real tennis World Championship. It was held at the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club in Victoria, Australia. Incumbent champion Robert Fahey defended his title against Wayne Davies seven sets to one in a repeat of the 1994 and 1995 challenges. Davies equalled Pierre Etchebaster's record of nine career World Championship challenges.
The 1995 Real Tennis British Open was the 16th edition of the British Open since it became an annual event in 1979. The men's event was held at the Queen's Club in London between November 18-27, 1995 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year. The women's events were organised by the Ladies Real Tennis Association at both Canford School and the Seacourt Tennis Club.