John Lumley is a British Real Tennis player. He started the game as a junior at Holyport Real Tennis Club. His father, Colin Lumley, was a Real Tennis professional and two-time Australian Open champion while his mother, Penny Lumley, was a 6-time Ladies Real Tennis World Champion and 28-time Open Champion. His sister, Tara Lumley, would also compete in both Real Tennis and Rackets.

Lumley became a Real Tennis professional in 2010 after finishing his A levels at Windsor Boys School. He then went to Radley, working with Chris Ronaldson, and was there for three years. Lumley then moved to the US and began working at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia in 2013.

PLAYER STATS

Birthday: August 7, 1992

Nickname: The Hare

L/R Handed: Right

TOURNAMENT AND MATCH HIGHLIGHTS*

As a junior, John Lumley won the British Junior Open at the Under 16 level against future top 10 Frenchman Mattheiu Sarlangue, and at the Under 18 level against future professional Neil Mackenzie. He also won the British Under 21's Open in 2012 and 2013, and the British Under 24's Open in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

He reached the first round of the British Open for the first time in 2011 and won his first IRTPA-sanctioned match at the US Professional Singles in 2012. In doubles, he reached the final of the 2012 French Open playing alongside doubles World Champion Steve Virgona.

By 2016, Lumley was regularly reaching the quarter final stage at major tournaments. In doubles, he won the 2016 French Open with singles World Champion Camden Riviere, a feat he would repeat in 2018 and 2019 with Ben Taylor-Matthews and Riviere respectively. His breakthrough singles victory came at the 2018 IRTPA Championships against World Champion Robert Fahey, his first victory against Fahey in all competitions. However, a quarter final loss against Ben Taylor-Matthews at the 2019 British Open meant that he failed to qualify for the 2020 Real Tennis World Championship.

In November 2021, Lumley competed in the British Open at Queen's defeating Robert Fahey in the semi-finals and Ben Taylor-Matthews in the final to claim his first Open title. In the next 12 months, he won his second Open title at the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne defeating Nick Howell in the final in five sets. In doubles, he also won three of four Opens, partnering with Keiran Booth for the Australian Open and Camden Riviere for the British and French Opens. Lumley partnered with Steve Virgona at the 2022 World Doubles Championship in Bordeaux, reaching the final against Riviere and Tim Chisholm. He would go on to partner Virgona for the proceeding 2023 and 2024 seasons.

In 2023, Lumley reached a career high ranking of number 2 in the world. He won the 2023 Champions Trophy at the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace and reached the finals of the British and US Opens, losing only to Camden Riviere. Since the start of 2023, Riviere is the only opponent who has beaten Lumley in all competitions. By virtue of his performance in the 2020–2022 World Race, Lumley qualified into the World Championship Eliminators for the 2023 Real Tennis World Championship. He pulled through to challenge Camden Riviere in the main event, but ultimately lost his first challenge.

2024 started out well for Lumley with a win at the Australian Open.

*As of 2024

FUN FACTS

• In addition to Real Tennis, Lumley plays Rackets, squash, doubles squash and golf

• He keeps a colourful assortment of headbands in his racquet bag so he can choose whichever colour scheme he’s feeling in any given day

• Lumley’s pre-match routine includes a banana an hour before he plays, a shower half an hour before he plays, and a warm up to his favourite playlist

• He given the nickname “The Hare” because of his speed on court and obsession with keeping his hair in place during matches

T&RA INTERVIEW ANSWERS

When and how did you get involved in Real Tennis?

“My parents played Real Tennis so I grew up watching them. We used to go to Holyport on Sunday mornings and get out on court as young kids.”

Why do you love Real Tennis?

“Love the community that the game has, you can go to any club and stay with strangers but the fact that you both play Real Tennis brings you instantly closer. The amazing places the game takes you, as well – it’s a hard life going to Paris and Melbourne every year!”

Which famous person would you love to see play Real Tennis?

“It would be great to see Connor McGregor out on court. His athleticism would be fun to see, as would how his positive energy and trash talking would come across in Real Tennis.”