REAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP AT HAMPTON COURT PALACE
The Real Tennis Champions Trophy will bring together the world’s top Real Tennis players at the Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court Palace, the 500-year-old home of Real Tennis from 28 July to 04 August 2024.
All players with a World Ranking or valid handicap were entitled to return an entry form.
To qualify for the event, entries are accepted firstly, by world ranking down to 15 and then by the handicap.
The 6 best-ranked entrants are placed in the main draw the next 8 players are seeded into two groups. The winner of each group is drawn into the main event.
The draw takes into account the rankings post the results of the 2024 Schochet Cup.
The six seeds in the main draw are:
- Nick Howell (1st)
- Ben Taylor-Matthews (2nd)
- Rob Fahey (3rd)
- Steve Virgona (4th)
- Bryn Sayers (5th)
- Leon Smart (6th)
Eight of the fourteen Champions Trophy participants compete in two qualification groups, A and B, with the winner of each qualifying for the main draw.
All of the qualification matches are one set to nine games. This event takes place over two days, Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st July, providing twelve quick-fire, high-pressure matches – exciting for both competitors and spectators.
The eight qualifiers for 2024 are:
- Robert Shenkman* (7th) amateur
- Lewis Williams (8th)
- Darren Long (9th)
- Levi Gale (10th)
- Vaughan Hamilton (11th)
- Neil Mackenzie (12th)
- Nino Merola (13th)
- Louis Gordon (14th)
Spectators can watch the world’s top-ranking players for as little as £10 per match, along with the chance to meet the competitors and learn more about the game of Real Tennis.
If you have not yet seen the game for yourself but have always been intrigued this is an event not to miss.
This year the event is taking place from 28 July to 04 August, starting with the qualifying competition on the 28th followed by the Trophy Days on 29-30 July, the doubles tournament quarter-finals on 1-2 August, semi-finals on the 3rd culminating on Sunday 04 August with the finals and prize-giving.
For an up-close viewing experience and insights into the game, tickets are available for all spectators throughout the tournament (01-04 August) for the Dedans Viewing Gallery (Seated) and the Upper Viewing Gallery (Standing).
Tickets include exclusive access to the Royal Tennis Court club rooms and private garden, costing from £10 to £35 per person, per match.
Free tickets are available for the qualifying practice matches on Tuesday 28 July and 8-21 year olds are welcome to spectate for free of charge in the Upper Viewing Gallery throughout the tournament (subject to availability). To book tickets visit:
https://www.royaltenniscourt.com/tournaments/champions-trophy/2024.
Ends –
FOR MORE INFORMATION
please contact:
Alison Cryer MBE, Board Director, Communications
Royal Tennis Club
Email: alison@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 07831 555 106
OR Nick Wood, Head Pro
Royal Tennis Court
IMAGES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The first tennis court at Hampton Court Palace was built for Cardinal Wolsey, between 1526 and 1529. As a young man, Henry VIII was a keen and talented tennis player, who spent hours on the court. Henry VIII would recognise a game of real tennis if he saw it today: it has changed little since he enjoyed it. The equipment is still hand-made as it has been for nearly 500 years.
Hampton Court Palace has witnessed generation after generation of royal intrigue and sporting drama, with Charles II, William III, Prince Albert and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh all mastering the art of Real Tennis within its walls.
Although the game looks like a strange mixture of tennis and squash, the techniques, strategies and laws are both more difficult and more complex than those of the modern derivatives. Despite this complexity, the game can be played at various speeds allowing players of all ages and abilities to play. Both singles and doubles matches are mixed gender with the exception of the Professional World Championship Challenge.
The game of real tennis is played on a court divided between the service end and the hazard end. ‘Hazards’ include the grille window and the winning gallery. Players at the hazard end lose the point if the hazards are hit. The courts can vary in size.
Since the 1500s the balls have been made with leather and filled with soft stuffing, which included animal and human hair.
Today Real Tennis is open to all players. The Royal Tennis Court is home to a thriving club with over 500 members and is open and in use from 7 am to 11 pm every day of the year, except Christmas Day. The court is one of over fifty real tennis courts in the world, and one of the few courts in the world where the public can watch this intriguing sport.
Many annual matches take place throughout the year open to members, non-members, juniors and World Champions depending on the event a full calendar can be found on the RTC website: www.royaltenniscourt.com including the prestigious, annual Champions Trophy.
Did you know that Lawn Tennis more widely played today was only invented and designed from the original real tennis game in the 19th century?
The Real Tennis Champions Trophy is an annual event that is unique to the Royal Tennis Club. It was devised by head pro Nick Wood a former European Opens, and Australian, US and British Opens Doubles Winner to allow the game’s world champions to play competitively at the home of the game. “The trophy was conceived to allow the world’s top players to compete at the home of Real Tennis and provide a location for the general public as well as club members to watch and enjoy the sport” commented Wood, “I am delighted to see the Trophy grow and expand into a Real Tennis festival.”
Schedule of play:
| The Royal Tennis Court
/ |
