1997 Australian Open (real tennis)

Last updated
1997 Australian Open (real tennis)
Date19-26 October
Edition66th
Draw16S / 8D
Location Melbourne, Victoria
Venue Royal Melbourne Tennis Club
Champions
Men's singles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert Fahey
Women's singles
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Penny Lumley
Men's doubles
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert Fahey / Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Meares
Women's doubles
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Penny Lumley / Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sue Haswell
  1996  · Australian Open (real tennis) ·  1998  

The 1997 Real Tennis Australian Open was the 66th edition of the Australian Open. The men's event was held at the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club in Melbourne between October 19-26, 1997 and was organised by the Australian Real Tennis Association. The men's draw was the third grand slam event of the year.

Contents

The men's singles draw was won by incumbent World Champion Robert Fahey for the fourth time, defending his title from 1996. He beat 1995 champion Frank Filippelli in the final. Fahey also won the men's doubles draw alongside Peter Meares, also defending their 1996 title, defeating James Male and Julian Snow in the final in five sets, with a deciding game in the final set. [1] The women's singles draw was won by incumbent World Champion Penny Lumley, her second Australian Open singles victory and her first since 1991. She also won the doubles draw with Sue Haswell. The tournament was immediately followed by an international match between professionals from Great Britain and Australia in Sydney. Australia won 3 rubbers to two. [2]

Draw and results

Men's Singles

First round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
Flag of Australia (converted).svg   R Fahey 6 6 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg   P Meares 3 1 0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg R Fahey 6 6 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg G Hyland 6 6 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg G Hyland 2 2 3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg A Mickelburough 2 1 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg R Fahey 6 6 6
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg C Bray 6 6 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Snow 4 1 2
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg B McFarlane 2 1 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg C Bray 3 2 3
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Snow 6 6 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Snow 6 6 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg M Happell 5 5 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg R Fahey 6 6 6
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg R Gunn 6 6 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg F Filippelli 3 4 1
Flag of Australia (converted).svg W Davies 4 5 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg R Gunn 1 1 1
Flag of Australia (converted).svg F Filippelli 4 6 6 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg F Filippelli 6 6 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg P Tabley 6 1 4 5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg F Filippelli 6 6 6
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Male 6 6 4 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg M Gooding 3 4 1
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg N Wood 3 4 6 2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Male 6 3 4 6 1
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg M Gooding 5 6 6 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg M Gooding 2 6 6 4 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg B Dale 6 4 3 0

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Snow
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Male
6 6 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg G Hyland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg B Dale
2 0 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Snow
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Male
6 6 3 5 6
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg C Bray
Flag of Australia (converted).svg M Happell
6 6 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg C Bray
Flag of Australia (converted).svg M Happell
4 5 6 6 3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adam Mickelburough
Flag of Australia (converted).svg B McFarlane
1 0 3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Snow
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J Male
6 4 3 6 5
Flag of Australia (converted).svg R Fahey
Flag of Australia (converted).svg P Meares
6 6 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg R Fahey
Flag of Australia (converted).svg P Meares
2 6 6 2 6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg P Tabley
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg R Gunn
1 2 2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg R Fahey
Flag of Australia (converted).svg P Meares
6 6 6
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg M Gooding
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg N Wood
6 6 6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg M Gooding
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg N Wood
3 2 5
Flag of Australia (converted).svg F Filippelli
Flag of Australia (converted).svg W Davies
3 4 0

See Also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Tennis World Championship</span>

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

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.

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.

The 2023 Real Tennis British Open, branded as the Sir John Ritblat Foundation British Open for sponsorship reasons, was the 44th 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 12-21, 2023 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association, forming part of the qualifying series for the 2025 Real Tennis World Championship. The women's event was held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island between March 29 and April 2, 2023. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year.

The 2022 Real Tennis British Open, branded as the Sir John Ritblat Foundation British Open for sponsorship reasons, was the 43rd 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 13–22, 2022 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. It was the final qualifying event for the 2023 Real Tennis World Championship. The women's event was held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island between April 6–10, 2022. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year.

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.

The 2022 French Open also known as the 2022 Open de France du Jeu de Paume was the 40th edition of the real tennis French Open. The event was held at the Société Sportive du Jeu de Paume & de Racquets in Paris between September 22 and October 2, 2022, and was organised by the Comité Français de Courte-Paume, forming part of the qualifying series for the 2023 Real Tennis World Championship. It was the first edition of the event since 2019, with the 2020 and 2021 events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandmeic. The men's draw was the third grand slam event of the year.

The 2019 Real Tennis British Open was the 41st 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 17–26, 2019 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. It was the final qualifying event for the 2020 Real Tennis World Championship. The women's event was held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island between April 11–14, 2019. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year.

The 2017 Real Tennis British Open was the 39th 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 12–21, 2017 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. It was the final event in the qualifying series for the 2018 Real Tennis World Championship. The women's event was held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island between April 5–9, 2017. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year.

The 2019 French Open also known as the 2019 Open de France du Jeu de Paume was the 39th edition of the real tennis French Open. The event was held at the Société Sportive du Jeu de Paume & de Racquets in Paris between September 21 and 28, 2019, and was organised by the Comité Français de Courte-Paume, forming part of the qualifying series for the 2022 Real Tennis World Championship. It would be the last edition of the event until 2022, with the 2020 and 2021 events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandmeic. The men's draw was the third grand slam event of the year.

The 2018 French Open also known as the 2018 Open de France du Jeu de Paume was the 38th edition of the real tennis French Open. The event was held at the Société Sportive du Jeu de Paume & de Racquets in Paris between September 23 and 30, 2018, and was organised by the Comité Français de Courte-Paume, forming part of the qualifying series for the 2022 Real Tennis World Championship. The men's draw was the third grand slam event of the year.

The 2016 Real Tennis British Open was the 38th 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 13–22, 2016 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. It formed part of the qualifying series for the 2018 Real Tennis World Championship. The women's event was held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island between April 6–10, 2016. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year.

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 2024 Real Tennis British Open, branded as the Sir John Ritblat Foundation British Open for sponsorship reasons, will be the 45th edition of the British Open since it became an annual event in 1979. The men's event will be held at the Queen's Club in London between November 17–26, 2024 and is being organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. It is the last qualifying event for the 2025 Real Tennis World Championship, with John Lumley and Nick Howell already qualified to the Eliminators. The women's event was held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island between April 4–7, 2024. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year. It will be the first time the event has matches scheduled on more than one court.

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.

The 1996 Real Tennis British Open was the 17th 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 16–26, 1996 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.

The 1997 French Open also known as the 1997 Open de France du Jeu de Paume was the 17th edition of the real tennis French Open. The men's draw was held at the Palace of Fontainebleau between September 22-28, while the women's draw was held at the same venue between September 18-21. It was organised by the Comité Français de Courte-Paume. The men's draw was the third grand slam event of the year.

The 1997 Real Tennis British Open was the 18th 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 15–25, 1997 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.

The 1998 Real Tennis World Championship was the 62nd 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 amateur Julian Snow seven sets to four. It was Fahey's fourth victory at the World Championship, placing him equal third for the number of World Championship victories behind Pierre Etchebaster and Cecil Fairs. Snow was the first amateur to challenge for the title since Howard Angus in 1981. He would also be the last British player to challenge the title until John Lumley in 2023, and the last amateur to challenge until the present day.

References

  1. Garnett, Mike. "The Australian Open Singles & Doubles Championships, Melbourne, 19th-26th October 1997". The Tennis and Rackets Association Annual Report 1997-98: 53.
  2. "The GB/Australia International Match, Sydney, 28th-30th October". The Tennis and Rackets Association Annual Report 1997-98: 53.