Real Tennis News Digest — February 2025
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 the First Round Eliminators in late March. Get in touch at ben.geytenbeek@gmail.com.
Tournament results and reports:
2 Feb - Seacourt Silver Racquet: Will Flynn (Owe ½ 15) def Lewis Williams (Love) 6/4 6/2
2 Feb - Noll Cup: William Spruance def Spencer Yager 1/6 6/2 6/1
9 Feb - US Ladies Open Singles: Claire Fahey def Lea Van Der Zwalmen 6/4 6/0
9 Feb - US Ladies Open Doubles: Lea Van Der Zwalmen & Annie Clark def Claire Fahey & Jo See Tan 6/4 3/6 6/2
9 Feb - Tambour Development Tour, Hatfield: James Law def Nick Jamieson 6/0 3/6 6/3
15 Feb - British Amateur Doubles: Ed Kay & Jamie Giddins def Bertie Vallat & Nick James 6/5 5/6 6/5 6/0
16 Feb - British Amateur Singles: Robert Shenkman def Bertie Vallat 6/5 6/0 6/1
17 Feb - Tuxedo Gold Racquet: Oliver Pridmore def Erik Barker 3/6 6/5 6/5 6/0
22 Feb - Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity 2nds: Cambridge Men def Oxford Men 6-0; Cambridge Women def Oxford Women 6-0 — via CURTC
23 Feb - Billy Ross Skinner: Ulla Petti & Simon Edmond def Katie Leppard & Henry Stuttaford 2/6 6/5 6/3
1 Mar - Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity: Oxford Men tied Cambridge Men 3-3. Oxford Men won the deciding doubles; Cambridge Women def Oxford Women 5-1
1 Mar - US Open Singles: John Lumley def Camden Riviere 4/6 3/6 6/5 6/1 6/4
2 Mar - US Open Doubles: Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm def Steve Virgona & John Lumley 6/1 5/6 6/4 6/2
Real tennis in the popular press:
Oratury [sic] School pair claim victory in Real Tennis Doubles Championships at the Queen’s Club — via Wokingham.Today
St Andrews’ Most Eccentric Sport — A royal ride-along with the Real Tennis Club — via The Saint
Real Tennis by Clare Bucknell — via Granta
Unofficial Real Tennis World Rankings:
Biggest rise: Benedict Yorston (+5) — reached British Amateur semi final
Biggest fall: Tony Hollins (-7) — failed to reach US Open final qualifier
Singles world rankings now extend to 100 places
Doubles world rankings published for the first time
Real tennis job market:
Trainee Professional, Ballarat. Apply here.
Graduate Sports Assistant, Canford. Apply here.
Tennis and Squash Professional, Lord’s. Apply here.
Assistant Court Tennis Professional, Sand Valley. Apply here.
Seb Sawrey-Cookson joins Bristol under IiP Programme — via Tennis and Rackets Association
Real tennis online media:
View From The Hazards - Episode 67 (Unofficial Real Tennis World Rankings)
VFTH Lite - Episode 10 (US Open preview)
From the Archive: 2011 European Open Semi Final — Robert Fahey vs James Stout
1998 British Open, 1999 Ladies World Championship, 1999 French Open, 1999 Australian Open, 2000 World Championship, 2025 US Open, 2025 Ladies Real Tennis World Championships, Nino Merola — new pages on Wikipedia in February
realtennisflair — via Instagram
real_tennis.memes — via Instagram
Upcoming major events:
15-16 Mar: Tambour Tour, Leamington
20 Mar: World Championship first round eliminator (leg 1) — John Lumley vs Steve Virgona, Chicago
25, 27, 29 Mar: World Championship first round eliminator — Nick Howell vs Ben Taylor-Matthews, Aiken
26, 28 Mar: World Championship first round eliminator (legs 2 & 3) — John Lumley vs Steve Virgona, Philadelphia
31 Mar-2 April: USCTA National League Super Event, New York
8-11 April: IRTPA Super League, Queen’s
24-31 May: Ladies World Championship, Newport. ENTRIES CLOSE 14 MARCH Sign up via this link.
Upcoming tournaments and entry forms:
7-9 Mar: Inter-Universities Tournament, Cambridge & Newmarket. ENTRIES CLOSED
8 Mar: Percy Finch & Australian Amateur Doubles, Hobart. ENTRIES CLOSED
8 Mar: Brodie Cup Final, Bridport
8-9 Mar: U15’s National School Girls Championships, Wellington. ENTRIES CLOSED
9 Mar: Pol Roger Trophy Final, Royal Tennis Court
9 Mar: Field Trophy Final, Moreton Morrell
13-16 Mar: Northrup Knox (Handicap doubles < 30), Aiken. ENTRIES CLOSE 5 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
14-16 Mar: Percy Cup (Half handicap graded doubles), Philadelphia. Sign up via this link.
14-16 Mar: Raquette d’Or (<20 level singles), Bordeaux. Sign up via this link.
14-16 Mar: Category C Championships (20-29 level singles), Moreton Morrell. ENTRIES CLOSED
14-16 Mar: Category D Championships (30-39 level singles), Hatfield. ENTRIES CLOSED
14-16 Mar: Category E Championships (40-49 level singles), Wellington. ENTRIES CLOSED
14-16 Mar: Category H Championships (70+ level singles), Middlesex University. ENTRIES CLOSED
15-16 Mar: Category F Championships (50-59 level singles), Prested Hall. ENTRIES CLOSE 3 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
21-23 Mar: Australian Amateur Women’s Singles & Doubles, Melbourne. ENTRIES CLOSE 16 MARCH. Contact pros@rmtc.com.au
21-23 Mar: US Over 50’s singles and doubles, Chicago. ENTRIES CLOSE 14 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
21-22 Mar: Over 70 Amateur Singles & Doubles, Wellington. ENTRIES CLOSE 9 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
21-23 Mar: Over 60 Amateur Singles & Doubles (Kershaw Cup), Manchester. ENTRIES CLOSE 14 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
28-30 Mar: Category G Championships (60-69 level singles), Oratory. ENTRIES CLOSE 14 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
29-30 Mar: Open de France Junior, Fontainebleau. Sign up via this link.
4-6 Apr: Cattermull Cup (School alumni doubles), Middlesex University. ENTRIES CLOSE 23 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
5-6 Apr: Sir Andrew Noble Trophy (Open handicap doubles), Jesmond Dene. ENTRIES CLOSE 14 MARCH. Sign up via this link.
9-13 Apr: British Ladies Open, Seacourt.
11-21 Apr: The Easter Bilby Tournament (Hanidcap doubles), Sydney. ENTRIES CLOSED
25-27 Apr: Category A Open Championships, Prested Hall. ENTRIES CLOSE 2 APRIL. Sign up via this link.
Obituaries:
John Mackenzie, Bridport — via the Tennis and Rackets Association
Save the date:
24-31 May: Ladies World Championship, Newport. More information via this link.
23, 25, 27 Sep: World Championship, Newport. More information via this link.
10-24 Jan 2026: Boomerang Cup, Melbourne. More information via this link.
28 Mar-11 Apr 2026: World Masters Championships, Ballarat, Hobart, Sydney & Melbourne. More information via this link.
Missed your tournament? Get in next month’s digest — contact ben.geytenbeek@gmail.com
