From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Real Tennis World Championship
Premier competition in real tennis
Premier competition in real tennis
The Real Tennis World Championship is the premier 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.
The first recorded champion was Clergé, The Elder in the 1740s.
Start year
- Men's singles: 1740
- Men's doubles: 2001
- Women's singles: 1985
- Women's doubles: 1985
Men's singles
This 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 September 2025, with sets being played on 23 and 25 September (27 September, the scheduled third day, was unused) at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island
World men's singles champions
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Scores | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1740 | FRA Clergé, The Elder | |||||||||
| 1765 | FRA Raymond Masson | |||||||||
| 1785 | FRA Joseph Barcellon | |||||||||
| 1816 | James Street, Haymarket | ITAFRA Marchisio | GBR Philip Cox | title=World Championship Singles [men's] | url=https://www.tennisandrackets.com/assets/downloads/TennisResults/MenWorldSingles.pdf | website=Tennis & Rackets Association | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620182957/https://www.tennisandrackets.com/assets/downloads/TennisResults/MenWorldSingles.pdf | archive-date=20 June 2023 | url-status=live}} | |
| 1819 | James Street, Haymarket | GBR Philip Cox | FRA Amédée Charrier | |||||||
| 1829 | James Street, Haymarket | FRA Jacques Edmond Barre | GBR Philip Cox | |||||||
| 1862 | James Street, Haymarket | GBR Edmund Tompkins | FRA Jacques Edmond Barre | 1-0 (sets) | Barre retired due to injury | |||||
| 1871 | N/A | GBR George Lambert | N/A | N/A | claimed | |||||
| 1885 | Hampton Court | USA Tom Pettitt | GBR George Lambert | 7-5 (sets) | ||||||
| 1890 | St Stephens Green, Dublin | USA Tom Pettitt | GBR Charles Saunders | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1890 | N/A | GBR Charles Saunders | N/A | N/A | claimed | |||||
| 1895 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Peter Latham | GBR Charles Saunders | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1898 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Peter Latham | USA Tom Pettitt | 7-0 (sets) | ||||||
| 1904 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Peter Latham | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1905 | Queen's Club & Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | GBR Peter Latham | 5-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1906 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | FRA Ferdinand Garcin | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1907 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Peter Latham | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 1908 | N/A | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | N/A | N/A | claimed | |||||
| 1909 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | GBR Ted Johnson | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1910 | Princes Club, Brighton | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | GBR Fred Covey | 7-6 (sets) | ||||||
| 1912 | Prince's Club, London | GBR Fred Covey | GBR Cecil 'Punch' Fairs | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 1914 | Philadelphia | USA Jay Gould II | GBR Fred Covey | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1916 | N/A | GBR Fred Covey | N/A | N/A | claimed | |||||
| 1922 | Prince's Club, London | GBR Fred Covey | USA Walter Kinsella | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 1923 | Prince's Club, London | GBR Fred Covey | USA Walter Kinsella | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1927 | Prince's Club, London | GBR Fred Covey | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1928 | Prince's Club, London | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | GBR Fred Covey | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 1930 | Prince's Club, London | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | USA Walter Kinsella | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1937 | Tuxedo Club | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | USA Ogden Phipps | 3-1 (sets) | Phipps retired due to injury | |||||
| 1948 | New York | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | USA Ogden Phipps | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1948 | New York | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | GBR Jim Dear | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1949 | New York | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | USA Ogden Phipps | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1950 | New York | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | USA Alastair Martin | 7-0 (sets) | ||||||
| 1952 | New York | FRA Pierre Etchebaster | USA Alastair Martin | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1955 | New York & Queen's Club | GBR Jim Dear | GBR Albert "Jack" Johnson | 11-10 (sets) | ||||||
| 1957 | Queen's Club | GBR Albert "Jack" Johnson | GBR Jim Dear | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 1959 | New York | USA Northrup R. Knox | GBR Albert "Jack" Johnson | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1966 | New York | USA Northrup R. Knox | GBR Ronald Hughes | 7-0 (sets) | ||||||
| 1968 | New York | USA Northrup R. Knox | USA Pete Bostwick Jr. | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1969 | New York & Manchester | USA Pete Bostwick Jr. | GBR Frank Willis | 11-8 (sets) | ||||||
| 1970 | New York | USA Pete Bostwick Jr. | USA Jimmy Bostwick | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1972 | New York | USA Jimmy Bostwick | USA Pete Bostwick Jr. | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1974 | New York | USA Jimmy Bostwick | GBR Howard Angus | 7-5 (sets) | ||||||
| 1976 | New York & Queen's Club | GBR Howard Angus | USA Eugene Scott | 11-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1977 | Hampton Court | GBR Howard Angus | USA Eugene Scott | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 1979 | Hampton Court | GBR Howard Angus | GBR Chris Ronaldson | 7-0 (sets) | ||||||
| 1981 | Queen's Club | GBR Chris Ronaldson | GBR Howard Angus | 6-1 (sets) | Angus retired due to injury | |||||
| 1983 | Hampton Court | GBR Chris Ronaldson | AUS Wayne Davies | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1985 | Queen's Club | GBR Chris Ronaldson | AUS Wayne Davies | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1987 | Queen's Club | AUS Wayne Davies | GBR Chris Ronaldson | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1988 | New York | AUS Wayne Davies | AUS Lachlan Deuchar | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1991 | New York | AUS Wayne Davies | AUS Lachlan Deuchar | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 1993 | New York | AUS Wayne Davies | AUS Lachlan Deuchar | 7-6 (sets) | ||||||
| 1994 | Hobart & New York | AUS Robert Fahey | AUS Wayne Davies | 9-5 (sets) | ||||||
| 1995 | Hobart | AUS Robert Fahey | AUS Wayne Davies | 6-2 (sets) | Davies retired due to injury | |||||
| 1996 | Melbourne | AUS Robert Fahey | AUS Wayne Davies | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 1998 | Melbourne | AUS Robert Fahey | GBR Julian Snow | 7-4 (sets) | ||||||
| 2000 | Hobart | AUS Robert Fahey | AUS Wayne Davies | 7-0 (sets) | ||||||
| 2002 | Hampton Court | AUS Robert Fahey | USA Tim Chisholm | 7-6 (sets) | ||||||
| 2004 | Newport, Rhode Island | AUS Robert Fahey | USA Tim Chisholm | 7-1 (sets) | ||||||
| 2006 | Oratory | AUS Robert Fahey | USA Tim Chisholm | 7-0 (sets) | ||||||
| 2008 | Fontainebleau | AUS Robert Fahey | USA Camden Riviere | 7-5 (sets) | ||||||
| 2010 | Melbourne | AUS Robert Fahey | AUS Steve Virgona | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 2012 | Queen's Club | AUS Robert Fahey | AUS Steve Virgona | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 2014 | Melbourne | AUS Robert Fahey | USA Camden Riviere | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 2016 | Newport, Rhode Island | USA Camden Riviere | AUS Robert Fahey | 7-2 (sets) | ||||||
| 2018 | Queen's Club | AUS Robert Fahey | USA Camden Riviere | 7-5 (sets) | ||||||
| 2022 | Prested Hall | USA Camden Riviere | AUS Robert Fahey | 7-5 (sets) | ||||||
| 2023 | Vienna, Virginia | USA Camden Riviere | GBR John Lumley | 7-3 (sets) | ||||||
| 2025 | Newport, Rhode Island | USA Camden Riviere | GBR John Lumley | 7-1 (sets) |
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, 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 | USA Tim Chisholm/GBR Julian Snow | AUS Steve Virgona/GBR Ruraidh Gunn | 5-1 (sets) | |
| 2003 | Hobart | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Josh Bainton | 5-0 (sets) | |
| 2005 | Fontainebleau | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | GBR David Woodman/GBR Neil Roxburgh | 5-0 (sets) | |
| 2007 | Boston | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | 5-3 (sets) | |
| 2009 | Seacourt | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | GBR Bryn Sayers/GBR Ricardo Smith | 5-0 (sets) | |
| 2011 | Melbourne | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | GBR Ben Taylor-Matthews/GBR Julian Snow | 5-0 (sets) | |
| 2013 | Paris | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | 5-4 (sets) | |
| 2015 | Tuxedo | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Steve Virgona | 5-0 (sets) | |
| 2017 | Prested Hall | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | AUS Robert Fahey/GBR Ricardo Smith | 5-4 (sets) | |
| 2019 | Hobart | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | AUS Robert Fahey/AUS Nick Howell | 5-1 (sets) | |
| 2022 | Bordeaux | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | GBR John Lumley/AUS Steve Virgona | 6/4 6/3 6/3 6/4 2/6 3/6 6/4 | |
| 2024 | Chicago | USA Tim Chisholm/USA Camden Riviere | GBR John Lumley/AUS 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).
| Year | Venue | Winner | Runner-Up | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Melbourne | AUS Judith Clarke | GBR Lesley Ronaldson | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1987 | Seacourt | AUS Judith Clarke | GBR Katrina Allen | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | GBR Penny Fellows | GBR Sally Jones | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1991 | Hobart | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | GBR Sally Jones | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1993 | Bordeaux | GBR Sally Jones | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | 5/6 6/2 6/3 |
| 1995 | Newport | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | GBR Sue Haswell | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1997 | Ballarat | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | GBR Sue Haswell | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1999 | Hampton Court | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | GBR Sue Haswell | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2001 | Washington | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2003 | Melbourne | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2005 | Paris | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | GBR Jo Iddles | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2007 | Manchester | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | GBR Penny Lumley (née Fellows) | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2009 | Newport | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | GBR Karen Hird | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2011 | Melbourne | GBR Claire Vigrass | GBR Karen Hird | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2013 | Paris | GBR Claire Vigrass | GBR Sarah Vigrass | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2015 | Leamington | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | GBR Sarah Vigrass | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2017 | Tuxedo | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | GBR Sarah Vigrass | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2019 | Ballarat | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | GBR Isabel Candy | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2022 | Fontainebleau | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | FRA Lea van der Zwalmen | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2023 | Oratory | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | FRA Lea van der Zwalmen | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2025 | Newport | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass) | FRA Lea van der Zwalmen | 6-0 6-2 6-0 |
Women's doubles
The women's doubles world championship 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 | AUS Judith Clarke/Ann Link | GBR Lesley Ronaldson/AUS Karen Toates | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1987 | Seacourt | GBR Lesley Ronaldson/GBR Katrina Allen | AUS Judith Clarke/AUS Jane Hyland | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | GBR Sally Jones/ GBR Alex Garside | GBR Katrina Allen/GBR Penny Fellows | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1991 | Hobart | GBR Sally Jones/ GBR Alex Garside | GBR Penny Lumley/AUS Helen Mursell | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1993 | Bordeaux | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Sally Jones/ GBR Alex Garside | 6/0 6/4 |
| 1995 | Newport, Rhode Island | GBR Sue Haswell/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Sally Jones/ GBR Lesley Ronaldson | 2-1 (sets) |
| 1997 | Ballarat | GBR Sue Haswell/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Fiona Deuchar/ AUS Kate Leeming | 2-0 (sets) |
| 1999 | Hampton Court | GBR Sue Haswell/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Alex Garside/ GBR Sally Jones | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2001 | Washington | GBR Jo Iddles/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Alex Garside/GBR Charlotte Cornwallis | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2003 | Melbourne | GBR Jo Wood (née Iddles)/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Alex Garside/ AUS Kate Leeming | 2-1 (sets) |
| 2005 | Paris | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis/GBR Sue Haswell | USA Frederika Adam/AUS Susay Castley | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2007 | Manchester | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis/GBR Penny Lumley | GBR Sue Haswell/ AUS Kate Leeming | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2009 | Newport, Rhode Island | GBR Charlotte Cornwallis/GBR Karen Hird | AUS Amy Hayball/ GBR Juliette Lambert | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2011 | Melbourne | GBR Claire Vigrass/GBR Sarah Vigrass | GBR Karen Hird/ AUS Rosie Snell | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2013 | Paris | GBR Claire Vigrass/GBR Sarah Vigrass | GBR Penny Lumley/GBR Tara Lumley | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2015 | Leamington | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/GBR Sarah Vigrass | GBR Penny Lumley/GBR Tara Lumley | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2017 | Tuxedo Club | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/GBR Sarah Vigrass | USA Amanda Avedissian/NLD Saskia Bollerman | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2019 | Ballarat | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/GBR Tara Lumley | GBR Penny Lumley/AUS Kate Leeming | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2022 | Fontainebleau | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/GBR Sarah Vigrass | NED Saskia Bollerman/GBR Isabel Candy | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2023 | Oratory | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/GBR Tara Lumley | FRA Lea van der Zwalmen/NED Saskia Bollerman | 2-0 (sets) |
| 2025 | Newport | GBR Claire Fahey (née Vigrass)/GBR Tara Lumley | FRA Lea van der Zwalmen/FRA Margaux Randjbar | 6-2 6-4 6-3 |
References
Sources
- Real Tennis World Championship 2004 Program, p. 5, National Tennis Club, Newport, Rhode Island.
References
- (1878). "The Annals of Tennis". The Field.
- "World Championship Singles [men's]".
- "List of World Champions".
- ""The Tennis Championship." Times [London, England] 27 Dec. 1913". Times Digital Archive.
- "Adventures of an Irish Expatriate: Real Tennis in Ireland". Irish Real Tennis.
- ""Sports in Brief." Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1906". Times Digital Archive.
- "Ted Johnson". Leamington Tennis Court Club.
- "Fahey profile". Tennis & rackets.com.
- (13 March 2013). "World Championship Singles 2016". International Real Tennis Professionals Association.
- "World Championship Singles 2018". Queen's Club.
- "World Men Doubles".
- (2008–2009). "Annual Report". United States Court Tennis Association.
- (27 September 2015). "The Antique Sport of Real Tennis, and the Woman Who Dominates It".
- "Ladies World Doubles (1985-2019)".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Real Tennis World Championship — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report