Real Tennis News Digest — December 2025/January 2026
Tournament results, articles and entry forms from across the game
Each month Real Tennis News provides a summary of the top tournament results and coverage of the game around the world. We also have entry forms to upcoming tournaments around the world that anyone can play, so find one near you and sign up today.
Don’t forget to send in your stories or match reports to get featured on Real Tennis News. In particular, we are looking for photographers and correspondents for any major event around the world. Get in touch at ben.geytenbeek@gmail.com.
Tournament results and reports:
6-7 December: Radley 20-29 Open Doubles: Michael Henman & Archie Watson def David Barker & Ed Popplewell 6/1 6/5
11-14 December: British U21/U24 Open: Bertie Vallat def Henry Henman 6/1 6/2 (U24 Singles); Henry Henman & James Medlow def Bertie Vallat & Will Flynn 6/5 6/4 (U24 Doubles); Bertie Vallat def James Medlow (U21 Singles)
5-13 January: Australian Open: Camden Riviere def Steve Virgona 6/1 6/0 6/0 (Open singles); Claire Fahey def Lea Van Der Zwalmen 6/0 6/0 (Women’s singles); Nick Howell & Steve Virgona def Camden Riviere & Chris Chapman 6/3 3/6 5/6 6/3 6/2 (Open doubles); Claire Fahey & Saskia Bollerman def Lea Van Der Zwalmen & Katherine Carney 6/3 6/2
30 January-1 February: Seacourt Silver Racquet: Will Flynn (Owe 1/2 15) def Henry Henman (Love) 5/6 6/3 6/2
Real tennis in the popular press:
Top female players shine as Holyport Real Tennis Club hosts British Open Qualifiers — via Maidenhead Advertiser
How Duchess Sophie won Prince Edward’s heart on their very first date — via The News
‘I had a go and I was hooked’ – inside Jesmond’s 130-year old real tennis court — via Jesmond Local
‘I live in Hampton Court Palace but there’s 1 problem with Henry VIII’s home’ — via MyLondon
'I live inside Hampton Court Palace – it's picturesque but there's 1 problem' — via the Mirror
Jack Josephs on BBC Radio London (from 1:14:00) — via BBC Radio London
Williams appointed Senior Professional at Newport — via Real Tennis News
Van Der Zwalmen retires Rackets World Championship — via Real Tennis News
Bids open for 2027 World Championship Challenge — via Real Tennis News
Brown Advisory to sponsor real tennis — via Tennis and Rackets Association
Newport wins the 2026 Boomerang Cup — via United States Court Tennis Association
America’s Next Court Tennis Wave Is Coming — and It’s Arriving at Seacourt — via United States Court Tennis Association
Unofficial Real Tennis World Rankings:
Biggest rise (top 100): Alexander Marino-Hume (+14) — qualified for Australian Open main draw
Biggest fall (top 100): Chris Chapman (-6) — fall off of 2024 Australian Open
Unofficial Real Tennis World Championships:
7 Jan: Camden Riviere def Ben Hudson at Melbourne (Australian Open)
8 Jan: Camden Riviere def Kieran Booth at Melbourne (Australian Open)
10 Jan: Camden Riviere def Lewis Williams at Melbourne (Australian Open)
12 Jan: Camden Riviere def Steve Virgona at Melbourne (Australian Open)
11 Dec: Henry Henman def Theo Besnard at MURTC (British U21’s Open)
12 Dec: Henry Henman def Sammy Legg at MURTC (British U24’s Open)
13 Dec: Henry Henman def Archie Watson at MURTC (British U24’s Open)
13 Dec: James Medlow lost to Henry Henman at MURTC (British Under 24’s Open) Medlow won the title after receiving a handicap win
14 Dec: Bertie Vallat def James Medlow at MURTC (British Under 21’s Open)
14 Dec: Bertie Vallat def Henry Henman at MURTC (British Under 24’s Open)
2027 IRTPA World Race (after 8/14 events — approx 71,000 points remain1)
John Lumley (50,980 points)
Robert Fahey (37,500 points)
Nick Howell (32,727 points)
Ben Taylor-Matthews (29,460 points)
Real tennis online media:
realtennisflair — via Instagram
A View From The Hazards Episode 76 (Christmas Quiz) — via Spotify
A View From The Hazards Episode 77 (Australian Open preview) — via Spotify
A View From The Hazards Episode 78 (Coaching) — via Spotify
1969 Real Tennis World Championship — Pete Bostwick vs Frank Willis — via YouTube
Real Tennis BALLS — What are they and how are they MADE? | Court Tennis, Jeu de Paume — via YouTube
Real Tennis RACKETS — What are they?!| Court Tennis, Jeu de Paume — via YouTube — via YouTube
Real Tennis News Christmas Quiz (and answers) — via Real Tennis News
Real Tennis Fantasy League (after 5/11 events)
Cone (559 points, played boost)
Men Taylor-Batthews (521 points, played boost)
giles (483 points, played boost)
Novak (466 points, played boost)
CryMeARiviere (462 points)
Upcoming major events:
5-8 February: US National Open. Philadelphia. Draw available here.
6-8 March: US Ladies Open. Boston. Enter here.
18-26 March: US Open. Chicago.
22-26 April: World Doubles Championship. Moreton Morrell. Tickets available via this link.
Upcoming tournaments and entry forms:
7-8 February: National Schoolgirls U15 Level Championships. Wellington. ENTRIES CLOSED
7-8 February: British Over 40s Amateur Doubles. Preseted. ENTRIES CLOSED
7-8 February: French Senior Championships. Bordeaux. Enter here.
11-15 February: British Amateur Singles. Queen’s. ENTRIES CLOSED
13-16 February: Tuxedo Gold Racquet. Tuxedo. Details here.
20-22 February: Billy Ross Skinner. Hatfield.
20-22 February: US Over 50’s. Boston. Enter here.
27-28 February: Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity Match. Lord’s.
27-29 February: US Over 60’s and 70’s. Philadelphia. Enter here.
27 February-1 March: US Over 40’s. Newport. Enter here.
5-8 March: Northrup Knox. Aiken. Enter here.
6-8 March: US Ladies Open. Boston. Enter here.
13-15 March: Category C Open Championship. Moreton Morrell. Enter here.
13-15 March: Category D Open Championship. Hatfield. Enter here.
14-15 March: Category F Open Championship. Prested. Enter here.
13-15 March: Category G Open Championship. Oratory. Enter here.
13-15 March: Category H Open Championship. Middlesex. Enter here.
13-15 March: Raquette d’Or. Paris. Enter here.
14-15 March. Inter-University Cup. Cambridge.
20-22 March: Raquette de Bronze. Bordeaux. Enter here.
27-29 March: Category E Open Championship. Wellington. Enter here.
27-29 March: Junior French Open. Fontainebleau. Enter here.
Save the date:
28 Mar-11 Apr 2026: World Masters Championships, Ballarat, Hobart, Sydney & Melbourne. More information via this link.
22 May 2026: Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club Sesquicentennary, Manchester. More information via this link.
Estimated points remaining as follows: US Open 2026, ~19000 pts; US Pro Singles 2026, ~14500 pts; Champions Trophy 2026, ~6100 pts; French Open 2026: ~6300 pts; IRTPA Players’ Championships 2026 ~9200 pts; British Open 2026 ~16000 pts