Real Tennis World Championship

The Real Tennis World Championship is the main competition in real tennis.

Start year

  1. Men's singles: 1740[1][2]
  2. Men's doubles: 2001[3]
  3. Women's singles: 1985
  4. Women's doubles: 1985[4]

Men's singles

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.

The championship has always been on a challenge basis – the champion retains the title until losing an official challenge, except in cases where the champion has retired. 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 21 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

World men's singles champions

Year Venue Winner Runner-Up Scores Notes
1740 Clergé, The Elder [1][2]
1765 Raymond Masson [1][2]
1785 Joseph Barcellon [1][2]
1816 James Street, Haymarket Marchisio Philip Cox [1][2]
1819 James Street, Haymarket Philip Cox Amédée Charrier
1829 James Street, Haymarket Jacques Edmond Barre Philip Cox
1862 James Street, Haymarket[5] Edmund Tompkins Jacques Edmond Barre 1-0 (sets) Barre retired due to injury
1871 N/A George Lambert N/A N/A claimed
1885 Hampton Court Tom Pettitt George Lambert 7-5 (sets)
1890 St Stephens Green, Dublin[6] Tom Pettitt Charles Saunders 7-2 (sets)
1890 N/A Charles Saunders N/A N/A claimed
1895 Princes Club, Brighton Peter Latham Charles Saunders 7-2 (sets)
1898 Princes Club, Brighton Peter Latham Tom Pettitt 7-0 (sets)
1904 Princes Club, Brighton Peter Latham Cecil 'Punch' Fairs 7-4 (sets)
1905 Queen's Club & Princes Club, Brighton Cecil 'Punch' Fairs Peter Latham 5-1 (sets)
1906 Princes Club, Brighton[7] Cecil 'Punch' Fairs Ferdinand Garcin 7-4 (sets)
1907 Princes Club, Brighton Peter Latham Cecil 'Punch' Fairs 7-3 (sets)
1908 N/A Cecil 'Punch' Fairs N/A N/A claimed
1909 Princes Club, Brighton[8] Cecil 'Punch' Fairs Ted Johnson 7-2 (sets)
1910 Princes Club, Brighton Cecil 'Punch' Fairs Fred Covey 7-6 (sets)
1912 Prince's Club, London Fred Covey Cecil 'Punch' Fairs 7-3 (sets)
1914 Philadelphia Jay Gould II Fred Covey 7-1 (sets)
1916 N/A Fred Covey N/A N/A claimed
1922 Prince's Club, London Fred Covey Walter Kinsella 7-3 (sets)
1923 Prince's Club, London Fred Covey Walter Kinsella 7-1 (sets)
1927 Prince's Club, London Fred Covey Pierre Etchebaster 7-4 (sets)
1928 Prince's Club, London Pierre Etchebaster Fred Covey 7-3 (sets)
1930 Prince's Club, London Pierre Etchebaster Walter Kinsella 7-1 (sets)
1937 Tuxedo Club Pierre Etchebaster Ogden Phipps 3-1 (sets) Phipps retired due to injury
1948 New York Pierre Etchebaster Ogden Phipps 7-2 (sets)
1948 New York Pierre Etchebaster Jim Dear 7-4 (sets)
1949 New York Pierre Etchebaster Ogden Phipps 7-1 (sets)
1950 New York Pierre Etchebaster Alastair Martin 7-0 (sets)
1952 New York Pierre Etchebaster Alastair Martin 7-2 (sets)
1955 New York & Queen's Club Jim Dear Albert "Jack" Johnson 11-10 (sets)
1957 Queen's Club Albert "Jack" Johnson Jim Dear 7-3 (sets)
1959 New York Northrup R. Knox Albert "Jack" Johnson 7-2 (sets)
1966 New York Northrup R. Knox Ronald Hughes 7-0 (sets)
1968 New York Northrup R. Knox Pete Bostwick Jr. 7-2 (sets)
1969 New York & Manchester Pete Bostwick Jr. Frank Willis 11-8 (sets)
1970 New York Pete Bostwick Jr. Jimmy Bostwick 7-1 (sets)
1972 New York Jimmy Bostwick Pete Bostwick Jr. 7-2 (sets)
1974 New York Jimmy Bostwick Howard Angus 7-5 (sets)
1976 New York & Queen's Club Howard Angus Eugene Scott 11-4 (sets)
1977 Hampton Court Howard Angus Eugene Scott 7-2 (sets)
1979 Hampton Court Howard Angus Chris Ronaldson 7-0 (sets)
1981 Queen's Club Chris Ronaldson Howard Angus 6-1 (sets) Angus retired due to injury
1983 Hampton Court Chris Ronaldson Wayne Davies 7-4 (sets)
1985 Queen's Club Chris Ronaldson Wayne Davies 7-1 (sets)
1987 Queen's Club Wayne Davies Chris Ronaldson 7-4 (sets)
1988 New York Wayne Davies Lachlan Deuchar 7-1 (sets)
1991 New York Wayne Davies Lachlan Deuchar 7-4 (sets)
1993 New York Wayne Davies Lachlan Deuchar 7-6 (sets)
1994 Hobart & New York Robert Fahey Wayne Davies 9-5 (sets)
1995 Hobart Robert Fahey Wayne Davies 6-2 (sets) Davies retired due to injury
1996 Melbourne Robert Fahey Wayne Davies 7-1 (sets)
1998 Melbourne Robert Fahey Julian Snow 7-4 (sets)
2000 Hobart Robert Fahey Wayne Davies 7-0 (sets)
2002 Hampton Court Robert Fahey Tim Chisholm 7-6 (sets)
2004 Newport, Rhode Island Robert Fahey[9] Tim Chisholm 7-1 (sets)
2006 Oratory Robert Fahey[9] Tim Chisholm 7-0 (sets)
2008 Fontainebleau Robert Fahey[9] Camden Riviere 7-5 (sets)
2010 Melbourne Robert Fahey[9] Steve Virgona 7-2 (sets)
2012 Queen's Club Robert Fahey Steve Virgona 7-3 (sets)
2014 Melbourne Robert Fahey[10] Camden Riviere 7-3 (sets)
2016 Newport, Rhode Island Camden Riviere[10] Robert Fahey 7-2 (sets)
2018 Queen's Club Robert Fahey[11] Camden Riviere 7-5 (sets)
2022 Prested Hall Camden Riviere Robert Fahey 7-5 (sets)
2023 Vienna, Virginia Camden Riviere John Lumley 7-3 (sets)
2025 Newport, Rhode Island TBC TBC

Men's doubles

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,[3][12] 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.

Year Venue Winners Runners-Up Scores Notes
2001 Middlesex University Tim Chisholm/ Julian Snow Steve Virgona/ Ruraidh Gunn 5-1 (sets)
2003 Hobart Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona Tim Chisholm/ Josh Bainton 5-0 (sets)
2005 Fontainebleau Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona David Woodman/ Neil Roxburgh 5-0 (sets)
2007 Boston Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere 5-3 (sets)
2009 Seacourt Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona Bryn Sayers/ Ricardo Smith 5-0 (sets)
2011 Melbourne Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona Ben Taylor-Matthews/ Julian Snow 5-0 (sets)
2013 Paris Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere 5-4 (sets)
2015 Tuxedo Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere Robert Fahey/ Steve Virgona 5-0 (sets)
2017 Prested Hall Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere Robert Fahey/ Ricardo Smith 5-4 (sets)
2019 Hobart Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere Robert Fahey/ Nick Howell 5-1 (sets)
2022 Bordeaux Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere John Lumley/ Steve Virgona 6/4 6/3 6/3 6/4 2/6 3/6 6/4
2024 Chicago Tim Chisholm/ Camden Riviere John Lumley/ Steve Virgona 5-2 (sets)

Women's singles

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).[13]

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 Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) Lea van der Zwalmen 6-0 6-2 6-0

Women's doubles

The women's doubles world championship[4] 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 Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/ Tara Lumley Lea van der Zwalmen/ Margaux Randjbar 6-2 6-4 6-3

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "World Championship Singles [men's]" (PDF). Tennis & Rackets Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "List of World Champions". International Real Tennis Professionals Association. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b "World Men Doubles" (PDF). Tennis & Rackets Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Ladies World Doubles (1985-2019)" (PDF). Tennis & Rackets Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2020.
  5. ^ ""The Tennis Championship." Times [London, England] 27 Dec. 1913". Times Digital Archive.
  6. ^ "Adventures of an Irish Expatriate: Real Tennis in Ireland". Irish Real Tennis.
  7. ^ ""Sports in Brief." Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1906". Times Digital Archive.
  8. ^ "Ted Johnson". Leamington Tennis Court Club. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  9. ^ a b c d "Fahey profile". Tennis & rackets.com.
  10. ^ a b "World Championship Singles 2016". International Real Tennis Professionals Association. 13 March 2013.
  11. ^ "World Championship Singles 2018". Queen's Club.
  12. ^ "Annual Report" (PDF). United States Court Tennis Association. 2008–2009. p. 54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2020.
  13. ^ "The Antique Sport of Real Tennis, and the Woman Who Dominates It". The New Yorker. 27 September 2015.

Sources

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