Real Tennis News Christmas Quiz 2025 Answers

On Christmas Day, this site released its first Christmas Quiz, with 100 questions for real tennis enthusiasts to get stuck into over the holiday period.

Congratulations to Hobart’s Sammy Legg who scored the highest mark, with a total of 144.5 points out of 160. A further congraulations to Seacourt’s Marta Morgan who won the prize draw for any score over 20 points. Both have won their choice of Chasing the Hazard shirt.

The answers for the quiz are shown below.

Section 1. Courts

Each question may have more than 1 correct answer, though each court will appear no more than once in the solutions to the quiz. 1 point for each correct answer. Answers which are technically correct but do not fit the pattern of the quiz earn 0.5 points. There are no extra points for including more than one correct answer. All answers refer to playable courts at standard dimensions (i.e. courts in a state of disrepair, that are demolished, or were built as trinquets are not included) (50 points)

1. This court does not have a tambour. Pau (also Falkland Palace)

2. This court has an external door in the main wall at the net. Radley (also Oratory & Bristol)

3. This court does not have a hole for a ball basket or bucket. Fontainebleau (also Falkland Palace & Pau)

4. This court has a yellow teddy bear hanging the dedans netting. Oxford

5. This court features horseshoes instead of bells in the winning gallery. Newmarket

6. This court has a measurement between the main wall and the dedans of 3.5 ft, the smallest such measurement of any court. Petworth

7. This court is a playable jeu à dedans court that has never recorded a match on RealTennisOnline. Fairlawne (also Greentree)

8. This court permits balls striking the lower half of the last windows at each end to remain in play. Hyde Bridport

9. This court has a viewing window in the service wall above the service penthouse. Bristol (also Westwood)

10. This court also features line markings for use in badminton. Cambridge Green (NB: Seacourt previously had such markings but they have since been removed)

11. This court has not hosted the US Open, US National Open or US Professional Singles in this century, despite being in the USA. New York West (also Georgian Court & Greentree)

12. This court features a local rule which allows balls that hit the out of play netting to remain in play under certain circumstances. Hatfield

13. This court features no separate colouring for its last gallery nor second gallery lines, that is, all chase lines are the same colour. Paris (also Fontainebleau)

14. This court features black-out curtains in the side galleries. Queen’s West (also Prested 2)

15. This court has a visible vertical stripe on the main wall from a repair done by Joseph Bickley after a crack was discovered shortly after its opening. Philadelphia

16. This court features in play areas between its celestory windows. Hobart

17. This court contains a glass viewing area above the dedans, but no part of it aligns with the center line of the floor of the court. Melbourne North.

18. This court has the second gallery line marked as G², and the first gallery marked as G¹. Prested Glass (also Prested Far)

19. This court has a depiction of a hand reaching out of a cloud and dropping a ball on the grille wall. Boston

20. This court adjoins a former indoor polo arena. Georgian Court

21. This court was the second built for this venue, and the remains of the first court are still extant. Hardwick

22. This court has viewing galleries on both the main wall and service wall, running the full length of the court. Leamington (also Romsey & Fontainebleau)

23. This court has a side gallery open to the general public during play. Falkland Palace (also Royal Tennis Court)

24. This court has a pro shop above the main wall. Middlesex

25. This court has circular celestory windows above the service penthouse. Jesmond Dene

26. This court features two levels of glass viewing area above the dedans penthouse. Oratory

27. This court features a gong in the winning gallery. Westwood (also Radley)

28. This court does not have a chase marked as “hazard better than half a yard,” despite using the English convention for chases. Prested Far

29. This court has a clubroom redeveloped from a former swimming pool. Holyport

30. This court is located directly above the entrance to a bank. New York East

31. This court features high viewing galleries above both the dedans and grille penthouses. Royal Tennis Court

32. This court has a tambour with two separate faces, both of which are in play. Bordeaux

33. This court has its chase numbers written on the floor as well as the walls. Lord’s

34. This court has a bowling alley behind its main wall. Manchester

35. This court has bucket seating in the side gallery. Queen’s East

36. This court has a roof with an apex running parallel to the chase lines as opposed to running the length of the court (or being flat). Cambridge Blue (also Washington)

37. This court adjoins an American Squash Tennis court. Moreton Morrell

38. This court has a red bandeau lining a timber coloured penthouse. Melbourne South (also Chicago)

39. This court has the yard worse than last gallery line marked on the wall as “8”. Canford

40. This court featured as a filming location for a Showtime drama series in 2020. Tuxedo

41. This court has a small set of stairs between the marker’s box and the side gallery passageway. Seacourt (also Queen’s East)

42. This court is at an elevation over 500m (1600 ft). Romsey

43. This court was original home court for four World Champions. Aiken

44. This court features a box-shaped modification to the dedans netting extending over the dedans ledge to assist the dedans marker. Wellington (also Middlesex)

45. This court has a restaurant above the service wall. Sand Valley

46. This court features a grille directly open to the exterior of the court. Sydney

47. This court was not included in HRH Earl of Wessex’s global tour in 2018, despite being intact, playable and of a jeu à dedans design. Greentree

48. This court has oxblood coloured walls. Ballarat

49. This court features a digital clock in the grille. Newport

50. This court has a depiction of a dog on the grille wall. Chicago

Section 2. Players

Defeated Champions (20 points)

51. Six players have defeated Camden Riviere in Open Singles or Singles World Championships. Name them. (6 points) Robert Fahey (x15), Steve Virgona (x6), Ruaraidh Gunn (x1), Kieran Booth (x1), John Lumley (x1), James Stout (x1)

52. Four players have defeated Claire Fahey in Women’s Open Singles or Singles Women’s World Championships. Name them. (4 points) Charlotte Cornwallis (x3), Karen Hird (x3), Frederika Adam (x1), Kate Leeming (x1)

53. Ten players have defeated Robert Fahey in Open Singles or Singles World Championships since 2001. Name them. (10 points) Camden Riviere (x13), Steve Virgona (x7), Bryn Sayers (x3), John Lumley (x3), Tim Chisholm (x3), Chris Chapman (x2), Ruaraidh Gunn (x2), Nick Howell (x2), Ben Taylor-Matthews (x1), Leon Smart (x1)

Who am I? (10 points)

54. Who am I? I was born in Warwickshire, and attended Oxford University where I earned five blues and five half-blues. I took up a career in sports journalism, covering the Olympics and presented the sports section of the evening news. I appeared several times on the BBC quiz show Mastermind as well as Sale of the Century. I took to real tennis later in my career, winning several international championships in my career. (2 points) Sally Jones

55. Who am I? I was born in Belgium, but moved to Paris in the entourage of Philippe in my late 20s. I was one of the most skillfull players of my generation, winning many matches except against the most powerful male opposition. After my career I retired to an abbey in Flanders, but my name passed into history as the first of my kind. (2 points) Margot de Hainault, also known as Margot la Hennuyère

56. Who am I? I worked as a French teacher in Manhattan, but played my tennis in Tuxedo as I was not permitted to practice at the Racquet and Tennis Club in New York ahead of the World Championships. I was called a “troublemaker” by the R&T club secretary, who also asserted “I’m in my 70’s and I could beat her.” I would have the last laugh though, as 10 years later I won my first of several Open doubles championships. (2 points) Evelyn David

57. Who am I? My father was a politician and real tennis player, who won championships in real tennis and played at Wimbledon in lawn tennis. As a junior, I competed for my country in hockey. After completing my law degree, I continued playing real tennis, representing my country abroad and winning championships at home. I would go on to serve as a judge and then as governor later in my career. (2 points) Barbara Baker

58. Who am I? Coming from a country without a court, I was introduced to real tennis by my historian father, regularly travelling to other countries to play. I won three quarters of a calendar year doubles grand slam before taking an extended break due to injury. Upon my return, I won my second Open championship, and continue to compete today, competing against my brother for our national championships (2 points) Saskia Bollerman

Section 3. The year that was (2025)

59. (January) The Australian Open was held in Hobart to coincide with the sesquicentenary of the building of the Hobart Tennis Court by Samuel Smith Travers. Who was Hobart’s longest serving professional, whose name is celebrated in one of the major interclub tournaments in Australia? (1 point) Percy Finch

60. (February) The US Open and US Womens Open in 2025 saw six distinct winners — nobody won both the singles and doubles draws in either competition. Who were the six winners in the previous instance when this occurred in a National Open? (3 points) 2003 Australian Open (OS: Tim Chisholm, WS: Penny Lumley, OD: Kieran Booth & Steve Virgona, WD: Charlotte Cornwallis & Kate Leeming)

61. (March) In the last two World Championship cycles, Aiken has hosted an Eliminator between Nick Howell and Ben Taylor-Matthews. Which other two players have played in Eliminators in Aiken in back-to-back cycles? (2 points) Camden Riviere & Ruaraidh Gunn, 2008 & 2010

62. (April) The Sydney Real Tennis Club opened their new court at the Cheltenham Recreation Club in April. What symbol has been decorated to mark the last gallery line on the new court? (1 point) New South Wales Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

63. (May) In the Ladies World Championships in Newport, who did Claire Fahey equal for the number of singles World Championship titles won? (1 point) Pierre Etchebaster

64. (June) The final of the the US Professional Singles saw two non-US based professionals compete. Who competed in the last all non-American based final? (2 points) Robert Fahey & Nick Wood, 2005

65. (July) At the Van Alen, Clothier and George Limb youth team competitions, France made their debut in the youth team format against a Rest of the World team. Which four players represented the Rest of the World? (2 points) Max Warner (GB), Sam Legg (AUS), Ben Dickinson (USA), Dawson Chisholm (USA)

66. (August) In the month of August two amateurs won separate singles tournaments that were reintroduced to the calendar after a multiple year absence, each defeating a former Open champion on the way to their respective title. Who were they and what was the name of each tournament? (2 points) Robert Shenkman at the David Cull Trophy & Oliver Pridmore at the NSW Open

67. (September) The 2025 World Championship finished inside two days, meaning an exhibition doubles match was played on the third day. Before 2025, who were the most recent two players to partner the champion and challenger for a World Championship exhibition doubles? (2 points) David Woodman and James “Spike” Willcocks at the Oratory in 2005

68. (October) Bryn Sayers won the IRTPA Satellite in Aiken with a handicap better than 0.0. Who was the previous player to win the event with a handicap better than 0.0? (1 point) Danny Jones in 2007

69. (November) The Women’s British Open return to Queen’s after a long hiatus. Which four players have won the Women’s British Open singles at Queen’s? (2 points) Lesley Ronaldson (1986), Penny Lumley (1988), Sally Jones (1989), Claire Fahey (2025)

70. (December) Team New England (Boston and Newport combined) won the Whitney Cup in New York. Who is the only player to have represented Team New England in every one of their victories as a combined team? (1 point) Jeremy Wintersteen

Section 4. Tennis through the centuries

Each question in this section relates to a period in the history of real tennis and its precursors (20 points).

71. (1500s) Anne Boleyn is said to have been arrested for treason while gambling on tennis. Where was the court located? (2 points) Greenwich Palace

72. (Early 1600s) In Forbet’s first publication of the rules of tennis, what recourse was a player permitted if they disagreed with a marker’s call? (2 points) Take a majority vote of the spectators

73. (Late 1600s) On which court did Charles I play during the English Civil War, most notably against his nephew Prince Rupert? (2 points) Oriel Street, Oxford

74. (Mid1700s) (2 points) What unusual handicap did French professional Raymond Masson famously play with in match against an unnamed amateur? (2 points) Jumping in and out of barrel between strokes

75. (Late 1700s) The tennis court oath took place in Versailles in 1789, on a court that has since been designated as a historic monument and converted into a museum. What was the modification made to the structure of the court — excluding statues, paintings and exhibits — that makes the court unsuitable for play in the modern day? (2 points) Addition of extra galleries (also acceptable - grate down the center of the court)

76. (Early 1800s) Which court, closed in 1866, was the administrative center of tennis is the early 19th century, and hosted the first University Match in 1859? (2 points) James Street, Haymarket

77. (Late 1800s) Which court, the first built in America, did Tom Pettit learn to play on having migrated to America as a teenager before becoming World Champion aged 25? (2 points) Buckingham Street, Boston

78. (Early 1900s) Which British noblewoman had her own real tennis court built on her estate, employed a World Champion as her professional, and self-titled herself as “World’s Lady Tennis Champion,” and what was the name of the estate? (2 points) Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth, also known as Lady Wentworth, at Crabbet Park

79. (Late 1900s) The relocation of the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club from Exhibition Street to Richmond saw the first new courts built anywhere in the world after World War 2. After which two members are the two courts named? (2 points) George Limb & Alan Hamer

80. (2000s) Which high-profile tournament debuted a women’s section exactly 100 years after the men’s section was first contested (2 points) Bathurst Cup

Section 5. Sequences

Each question in this section is a series of courts and/or clubs, in some ordered list. Identify the logic that generates each list. (20 points)

81. Oratory-Harbour Club-Newmarket-Washington-Sydney-Bristol-Hyde Bridport-Prested-Romsey-Cambridge-Middlesex (2 points) Courts built or restored in the 1990s

82. Royal Tennis Court-Melbourne-Cambridge-Hobart-Radley-Queen’s-Oxford-Jesmond Dene-Hatfield-Hyde Bridport (2 points) Top 10 most RTO matches of all time per club

83. Oxford-Melbourne-Troon-Royal Tennis Court-Radley (2 points) Clubs where Chris Ronaldson has served as a full-time professional.

84. Washington-Philadelphia-Oratory-Aiken-Manchester-Chicago-Queen’s-Melbourne-Washington-Melbourne (2 points) RTO primary clubs of the top 10 players by handicap

85. Philadelphia-Paris-New York-Sydney-Queen’s-Jesmond Dene-Manchester-Hatfield-Boston-Chicago (2 points) Top 10 closest courts to railway or metro stations

86. Cambridge-Bristol-Holyport-Queen’s-Manchester-Lord’s-Melbourne-Ballarat-Romsey-Hobart (2 points) First 10 clubs visited by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (then Earl of Wessex) in his 2018 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Real Tennis Tour

87. Queen’s-Lord’s-Queen’s-Royal Tennis Court-Queen’s-Cambridge-Lord’s-Royal Tennis Court-Queen’s-Seacourt-Queen’s (2 points) Holders of the Pol Roger Trophy

88. New York-Queen’s-Melbourne-Royal Tennis Court-Hobart-Newport-Tuxedo-Fontainebleau-Paris (2 points) Playable courts which have hosted three or more World Championships, singles, doubles or women’s.

89. Boston-Chicago-Philadelphia-Boston-Tuxedo-Chicago-Philadelphia-Tuxedo-Boston-Philadelphia-Washington (2 points) US Open venues since 2015

90. Oxford-Hobart-Tuxedo-Bristol-Washington-Ballarat-Romsey-Bridport-Leamington-Middlesex (2 points) Top 10 severest tambour angles

Section 6. Common threads

Each question in this section lists five people. Identify what they have in common. (20 points)

91. Tim Chisholm, Nick Howell, Andrew Knibbs, Darren Long, Andrew Lyons (2 points) All are head professionals of Bickley-built tennis courts

92. Paul Bollerman, Robert Fahey, Camden Riviere, Matthieu Sarlangue, Julian Snow (2 points) All hold the best-ever handicap for their country on RTO

93. Zak Eadle, Nick Howell, Jim Ludekens, John Lumley, Ivan Ronaldson (2 points) All are professionals whose father is also a professional

94. Wayne Davies, Robert Fahey, Cecil “Punch” Fairs, Mike Gooding, Steve Virgona (2 points) All have won an World Championship or Eliminator match in the 13th set

95. Judith Clarke, Lauchlan Deuchar, Albert “Jack” Johnson, Chris Ronaldson, Penny Lumley (2 points) All are the first foreigner to win a National Open in that country

96. Pete Bostwick, Pierre Etchebaster, Jay Gould II, Northrup Knox, Alastair Martin (2 points) All are inaugural inductees to the International Court Tennis Hall of Fame

97. Howard Angus, Freddie Bristowe, Charlie Braham, Julian Snow, James Male (2 points) All won the Foster Cup rackets and won a match at a real tennis Open

98. Howard Angus, Jim Dear, Robert Fahey, Penny Lumley, Neville Lyton (2 points) All hold grades of the Order of the British Empire

99. Jonathan Howell, Sally Jones, Kate Leeming, Chris Ronaldson, Eustace Miles (2 points) All are published authors

100. Chris Chapman, Frank Filippelli, Nick Howell, Ruaraidh Gunn, Julian Snow (2 points) All have won an Open doubles title partnering Robert Fahey

Ben Geytenbeek. Photo credit: Tim Edwards