Champions Trophy 2019
The 2019 Champions Trophy has yet again a very strong turnout! Watch some of the World's best players compete from 16th - 21st July. Please see below for information regarding Draws and Ticket Purchases.
AMATEUR DOUBLES COMPETITION
THURSDAY 18th - SUNDAY 21st JULY
THINK TWO OF YOU COULD BEAT ONE PROFESSIONAL?
2019 will see the introduction of a new innovative event - sponsored by Gold Leaf Athletics - a doubles competition for you and your partner to take
on other competitive pairs AND some professionals! Play will include between four and nine matches per pair, with the eventual winners playing a final
doubles match against two professionals.
PRIZES: Trophies ~ GLA Racquets ~ Bottles
You will also receive free tickets to watch CT19 qualifying matches and be invited to the Champions Trophy Sponsors Welcome Party on Tuesday 16th
July.
Entry fee: £200.00 per player
For information on how to enter, please email: info@royaltenniscourt.com
RESULTS
Qualifying:
- Sayers v Durack: 9-1
- Sarlangue v Shenkman: 6-9
- Sayers v Sarlangue: 8-9
- Durack v Shenkman: 3-9
- Sayers v Shenkman: 9-1
- Sarlangue v Durack: 9-0
Bryn Sayers and Matthieu Sarlangue qualify for the main draw.
Main Draw
Day 1:
- Rob Fahey beat Nick Howell 4/6 6/2 6/0 6/3
- John Lumley beat Bryn Sayers 2/6 6/3 6/3 6/5
- Matthieu Sarlangue beat Darren Long 6/1 6/2 3/6 6/4
- Ben Taylor-Matthews beat Chris Chapman 4/5 retired
Day 2:
- John Lumley bt Nick Howell 3/6 2/6 6/5 6/5 6/2
- Matthieu Sarlangue bt Chris Chapman w/o
- Rob Fahey bt Matthieu Sarlangue 6/1 6/0 3/6 6/3
- John Lumley bt Ben Taylor Matthews 6/3 6/2 6/1
- Rob Fahey bt John Lumley 6/2 6/4 6/4
REPORT
The Champions Trophy – 16th-21st July 2019
What a week!!! What a Champions Trophy!!!
The stage – The Royal Tennis Court, set in the magnificent grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
A huge thanks go to Historic Royal Palaces for creating this amazing event and to the most generous sponsors - Mitsubishi Electric
Congratulations to Rob Fahey on winning his first Champions Trophy title defeating John Lumley in the final. The whole week saw some amazing tennis right from the get-go. The exciting Qualifying event, played in front of packed Dedans and spectators in the upper viewing galleries, saw Bryn Sayers and Matthieu Sarlangue join the top six seeds in the main event. The unique draw of the Champions Trophy creates fantastic encounters in every round, starting on Day One with Rob Fahey v Nick Howell, Chris Chapman v Ben Taylor-Matthews, John Lumley v Bryn Sayers and Darren Long v Matthieu Sarlangue. The exciting combinations of match ups continued throughout the week, providing exceptional tennis for the palace visitors, the ticketed spectators and real tennis enthusiasts to watch.
The performance of the week came from John Lumley (#5) who firstly beat Bryn Sayers, a former British Open Winner, and then came back from 2 sets down
against Nick Howell (#4) to win in the 5th set; he then dispatched Ben Taylor-Matthews with some incredibly robust and accurate tennis.
It took Rob Fahey, multiple time World Champion, to stop John in his tracks. The final was of exceptional quality, with Rob at his best taking on the
in-form and younger opponent; they both played each other with respect and great skill, with the court encouraging skilful floor play and retrieving,
whilst the players created chances to accurately find the winning openings.
With thousands of palace visitors seeking out the Royal Tennis Court throughout the week to watch the Champions Trophy the players contended admirably with the hustle and bustle in the viewing galleries. RTC member volunteers played their part in explaining the game, its history and the matches to the hundreds of visitors per day, providing an informative and entertaining understanding of the games, whilst the best players in the world demonstrated brilliant skill and athleticism. In between matches, audiences were invited onto the famous court, built for King Charles I, to take a closer look and to hear an in-depth explanation of how the game is played.
It was noticeable how the players took the crowds in their stride, and how it spurred them on to perform to their best. The crowds, both palace visitor
and paying spectators, were blown away by the overall experience and the tennis. The numbers and feedback have been amazing.
During the Champions Trophy there was also the Amateur Doubles Tournament, supported by Gold Leaf Athletics, which was of high-quality, great fun and a great success. With handicaps ranging from 3 – 40, the doubles parings competed against each other, as well as some professionals (professionals competing as a singles players) in the group stage, producing some amazing tennis. With all amateur pairs qualifying, the group stage acts to decide the seedings for the knock-out rounds. The over-all winners then take on two professionals in a full handicap match. Congratulations to Sue Haswell & Simon Talbot-Williams on not only winning the tournament but for also beating the two professionals.
This year’s event has seen ticketed spectators up 200% (approximately 80% were non real tennis people!); it is expected that general palace visitor numbers were up as a result of the event; and with over 20,000 and counting social media hits, it’s fair to say the Champions Trophy does it all. It promotes real tennis to a huge audience like no other event; it positively engages with and educates the viewing audiences to understand the game, history, traditions and nuances; provides a first class playing environment for the best players in the world to perform; it has attracted investment in to the game through sponsorship, and it provides a high quality tournament for keen amateur club players to compete.
Make the Champions Trophy 2020 a firm fixture in your diary!