The Real Tennis World Championship is the main competition in real tennis.
The Real Tennis World Championship is the main competition in real tennis.
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
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, [8] 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.
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). [9]
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Melbourne |  Judith Clarke |  Lesley Ronaldson | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1987 | Seacourt | Judith Clarke | Katrina Allen | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | Penny Fellows | Sally Jones | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1991 | Hobart | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | Sally Jones | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1993 | Bordeaux | Sally Jones | Charlotte Cornwallis | 5/6 6/2 6/3 |
| 1995 | Newport | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | Sue Haswell | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1997 | Ballarat | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | Sue Haswell | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1999 | Hampton Court | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | Sue Haswell | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2001 | Washington | Charlotte Cornwallis | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2003 | Melbourne | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | Charlotte Cornwallis | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2005 | Paris | Charlotte Cornwallis | Jo Iddles | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2007 | Manchester | Charlotte Cornwallis | Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2009 | Newport | Charlotte Cornwallis | Karen Hird | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2011 | Melbourne | Claire Vigrass | Karen Hird | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2013 | Paris | Claire Vigrass | Sarah Vigrass | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2015 | Leamington | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | Sarah Vigrass | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2017 | Tuxedo | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | Sarah Vigrass | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2019 | Ballarat | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | Isabel Candy | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2022 | Fontainebleau | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) |  Lea van der Zwalmen | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2023 | Oratory | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | Lea van der Zwalmen | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2025 | Newport | TBC | TBC |
The women's doubles world championship [10] 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 | Judith Clarke/Ann Link | Lesley Ronaldson/ Karen Toates | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1987 | Seacourt | Lesley Ronaldson/ Katrina Allen | Judith Clarke/ Jane Hyland | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | Sally Jones/ Alex Garside | Katrina Allen/ Penny Fellows | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1991 | Hobart | Sally Jones/ Alex Garside | Penny Lumley/ Helen Mursell | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1993 | Bordeaux | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Penny Lumley | Sally Jones/ Alex Garside | 6/0 6/4 |
| 1995 | Newport, Rhode Island | Sue Haswell/ Penny Lumley | Sally Jones/ Lesley Ronaldson | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1997 | Ballarat | Sue Haswell/ Penny Lumley | Fiona Deuchar/ Kate Leeming | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1999 | Hampton Court | Sue Haswell/ Penny Lumley | Alex Garside/ Sally Jones | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2001 | Washington | Jo Iddles/ Penny Lumley | Alex Garside/ Charlotte Cornwallis | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2003 | Melbourne | Jo Wood (née Iddles)/ Penny Lumley | Alex Garside/ Kate Leeming | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2005 | Paris | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Sue Haswell |  Frederika Adam/ Susay Castley | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2007 | Manchester | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Penny Lumley | Sue Haswell/ Kate Leeming | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2009 | Newport, Rhode Island | Charlotte Cornwallis/ Karen Hird | Amy Hayball/ Juliette Lambert | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2011 | Melbourne | Claire Vigrass/ Sarah Vigrass | Karen Hird/ Rosie Snell | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2013 | Paris | Claire Vigrass/ Sarah Vigrass | Penny Lumley/ Tara Lumley | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2015 | Leamington | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Sarah Vigrass | Penny Lumley/ Tara Lumley | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2017 | Tuxedo Club | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Sarah Vigrass | Amanda Avedissian/  Saskia Bollerman | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2019 | Ballarat | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Tara Lumley | Penny Lumley/ Kate Leeming | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2022 | Fontainebleau | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Sarah Vigrass | Saskia Bollerman/ Isabel Candy | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2023 | Oratory | Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Tara Lumley | Lea van der Zwalmen/ Saskia Bollerman | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2025 | Newport | TBC | TBC |
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.
Robert Leo Fahey, nicknamed "Bag", is an Australian real tennis player and the former World Champion of the sport, holding the title from 16 March 1994 to 21 May 2016 and again from 28 April 2018 to September 2022. Fahey retired from competitive Real Tennis following his loss to Camden Riviere in the 2022 World Championship.
Camden Riviere is an American left-handed real tennis player and current world champion. He became world champion on May 21, 2016, defeating long-time holder Robert Fahey 7 sets to 2 at Riviere's home court, the National Tennis Club, Newport, Rhode Island. Two years later, at Riviere's first defense of the title, Fahey reclaimed the title beating Riviere by 7 sets to 5 at Queen's Club, London. Riviere regained the title from Fahey at the 2022 World Championship played at Prested Hall in Feering, Essex, England, winning by 7 sets to 5. He retained the title in 2023, defeating John Lumley 7 sets to 3 at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia.
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.
Robert Shenkman is an amateur British real tennis player currently based at the Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club. He is the current British Amateur Champion, US Amateur Champion, and MCC Gold Racquet holder, the first amateur to unite the three titles since Julian Snow in 2003. Shenkman is ranked in the top 10 Open singles rankings and has reached the semi final of the US Open doubles championships.
Matthieu Sarlangue is an amateur French real tennis player currently based at the Société Sportive du Jeu de Paume et de Racquets in Paris. He has won the Raquette d'Or – the French Amateur Championships – on 14 occasions and the British Amateur singles on two occasions. In Open play, he is a former World Championship Doubles semi finalist and was formerly ranked as high as eighth in the world at singles, notably reaching the semi finals of the 2020 Australian Open. He is currently the number one ranked French player, professional or amateur, and ranked number 11 in the world.
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 was held at the Queen's Club in London between November 12–21, 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.
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