Champions Trophy (real tennis)

Last updated
Champions Trophy
Tournament information
Event nameChampions Trophy
Founded2017;7 years ago (2017)
Editions6
Location London
United Kingdom
Venue Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court
Category IRTPA
Draw8S / 8Q
Website royaltenniscourt.com
Current champions (2024)
Singles Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nick Howell

The Champions Trophy is an annual real tennis tournament held at the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace, London, England. It is a ranking point tournament for the purposes of qualifying for the Real Tennis World Championship. [1] The event is the only professional real tennis tournament to feature a repechage system for the top four seeds after the first round. [2]

The event was conceived as a season-end meeting of the top real tennis players in the world, bringing regular, high-quality tennis to oldest existing court in the world. [3] The inaugural event was won by incumbent World Champion Camden Riviere. Both Riviere and Robert Fahey have won the event on two occasions. Ben Taylor-Matthews has been a finalist on four occasions. In 2024, the event expanded from 4 qualifiers to 8 qualifiers, and reduced the match format from best-of-5 sets to best-of-3 sets. [4]

Past finals

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Camden Riviere Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Taylor-Matthews 6/2 6/1 6/0
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Camden Riviere Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Chapman 3/6 6/0 6/1 6/2
2019 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert Fahey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Lumley 6/2 6/4 6/4
2020–2021Not held
2022 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Robert Fahey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Taylor-Matthews 6/2 4/6 6/2 6/3
2023 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Lumley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Taylor-Matthews 6/2 6/4 6/4
2024 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nick Howell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ben Taylor-Matthews 3/6 6/2 6/4

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References

  1. "Tournaments with ranking points". International Real Tennis Professionals Association. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  2. "Champions Trophy 2024". International Real Tennis Professionals Association. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  3. "Real Tennis Champions Trophy 2024". Sports Tourism News. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  4. White, Tom (11 June 2024). "Royal Tennis Court announces dates for new-look Champions Trophy at Hampton Court Palace". Woking News & Mail. Retrieved 6 October 2024.