British Open (real tennis)
Tennis tournament
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The British Open is a real tennis tournament, with the men's draw held annually at Queen's Club in London, England, and the women's draw held at the Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island. The men's event is a national Open carrying ranking points for the Real Tennis World Championship.[1] The women's event does not carry any ranking points.
| British Open | |
|---|---|
| Tournament information | |
| Event name | British Open |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Editions | 44 |
| Location | London (men) Hayling Island (women) United Kingdom |
| Venue | Queen's Club (men) Seacourt Tennis Club (women) |
| Category | IRTPA (men) None (women) |
| Draw | 24S / 12D (men) Variable (women) |
| Current champions (2024) | |
| Men's singles |  Camden Riviere |
| Women's singles |  Claire Fahey |
| Men's doubles | Camden Riviere / Tim Chisholm |
| Women's doubles | Claire Fahey / Sarah Vigrass |
History
Challenge era
The men's event was established in 1931 as the Prince's Club shield, and was originally a challenge format with Edgar Baerlein defeating Marylebone Cricket Club professional William Groom in the inaugural edition 3 sets to 2. A second challenge was held later the same year, with E Ratcliff defeating Moreton Morrell professional Ted Johnson in the same year. The event changed to a best of 13 format in 1932 with Groom defeating Ratcliff, but losing to amateur champion Lowther Lees in 1934.[2] Lees would hold the title until 1938 where he was defeated by Queen's Club professional Jim Dear. No challenges would be held during World War II, with Dear resigning his title in 1952.[3] The title was picked up by rackets professional Ronald Hughes, who held it until 1967, when he retired during the challenge against Frank Willis.[citation needed]
Willis would battle the title against amateur Howard Angus five times during the 1970s, with Angus becoming champion in 1970. An annual doubles Open championship was first contested in 1971, first won by Ronald Hughes and Norwood Cripps. Cripps would win eleven of the first thirteen doubles championships, partnered with Hughes, Charles Swallow and Alan Lovell. In the singles, Angus won the Real Tennis World Championship in 1976, uniting the British Open and World Championships for the first time. In 1979, he was challenged for both titles by professional Chris Ronaldson, to be held at the Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court.[4] Ronaldson won both titles, defeating Angus 7–0, and thereafter relinquished the British Open title, allowing it to become an annual event at Queen's Club.[5]
Open era
With the tournament now held annually, the 1980s were dominated by Chris Ronaldson winning six times between 1980 and 1985. In 1984, Ronaldson became the first player to win all four Opens in the same year - a calendar year grand slam.[6] The era saw a rise in the number of Australian professionals travelling to participate, with Graham Hyland, Lauchlan Deuchar and Wayne Davies competing against Ronaldson in various finals, Davies taking the match to a fifth set on three occasions and Hyland once. Ronaldson's hold on the Championship was broken by Deuchar in 1986, who would go on to win a further five consecutive titles until 1991. Deuchar's dominance prevented Davies from completing a calendar year grand slam in 1988, the latter having held the three other titles that year. Davies and Deuchar won the doubles together on eight occasions, undefeated at the Open between 1984 and 1992.[7]
A changing of the guard occurred in the early 1990s, with British amateur Julian Snow winning three titles between 1992 and 1994. The tournament saw the early rise of Robert Fahey, retiring from the 1993 final against Snow and thus failing to complete a calendar year grand slam.[8] Fahey won his first title in 1995, but his dominance started in 2000. Fahey won eleven singles titles between 2000 and 2011, losing only the 2002 final to Tim Chisholm in five sets. He also won nine doubles titles between 2001 and 2012, missing out in 2004 and 2009. Fahey's grip on the Open title was broken by Bryn Sayers in 2012, though he would later win the 2018 as well.[9]
The 2010s saw the rise of Camden Riviere. Riviere had reached the final in 2008, but it wouldn't be until 2014 that he would win for the first time. Riviere would be undefeated at the British Open from 2014 onwards, though he was absent in 2018 and 2021. Riviere also has been undefeated in doubles since 2013, partnered with Tim Chisholm on four occasions and John Lumley on two occasions.
Past finals
Men's singles
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challenge era | ||||
| 1931 | Edgar Baerlein | William Groom | 6/2 1/6 4/6 6/5 6/1[10] | |
| 1931 | E Ratfcliff | Ted Johnson | 3–1 | |
| 1932 | William Groom | E Ratcliff | 7–1 | |
| 1934 | Lowther Lees | William Groom | 7–1 | |
| 1934 | Lowther Lees | William Groom | 7–2 | |
| 1938 | Jim Dear | Lowther Lees | 5–1 | |
| 1952 | Ronald Hughes | Henry Johns | 5–3 | |
| 1962 | Ronald Hughes | David Warburg | 5–1 | |
| 1967 | Frank Willis | Ronald Hughes | 4–3 ret. | |
| 1968 | Frank Willis | Howard Angus | 5–2 | |
| 1970 | Howard Angus | Frank Willis | 5–2 | |
| 1972 | Howard Angus | Frank Willis | 7–5 | |
| 1975 | Howard Angus | Frank Willis | 7–6 | |
| 1976 | Howard Angus | Frank Willis | 7–2 | |
| 1979 | Chris Ronaldson | Howard Angus | 7–0 | |
| Open era | ||||
| 1979 | Howard Angus | Chris Ronaldson | 3–0 | |
| 1980 | Chris Ronaldson | Alan Lovell | 3–0 | |
| 1981 | Chris Ronaldson |  Wayne Davies | 3–2 | |
| 1982 | Chris Ronaldson | Graham Hyland | 3–2 | |
| 1983 | Chris Ronaldson | Lachlan Deuchar | 3–0 | |
| 1984 | Chris Ronaldson | Wayne Davies | 3–2 | |
| 1985 | Chris Ronaldson | Wayne Davies | 3–2 | |
| 1986 | Lachlan Deuchar | Chris Ronaldson | 3–1 | |
| 1987 | Lachlan Deuchar | Wayne Davies | 3–2 | |
| 1988 | Lachlan Deuchar | Chris Ronaldson | 3–0 | |
| 1989 | Lachlan Deuchar | Chris Ronaldson | 3–0 | |
| 1990 | Lachlan Deuchar | Julian Snow | 3–0 | |
| 1991 | Lachlan Deuchar | Robert Fahey | 3–2 | |
| 1992 | Julian Snow | Chris Bray | 3–0 | |
| 1993 | Julian Snow | Robert Fahey | 0–1 ret. | |
| 1994 | Julian Snow | Lachlan Deuchar | 3–1 | |
| 1995 | Robert Fahey | Lachlan Deuchar | 3–0 | |
| 1996 | Mike Gooding | Lachlan Deuchar | 3–1 | |
| 1997 | Chris Bray | Robert Fahey | 3–0 | |
| 1998 | Julian Snow | Steve Virgona | 3–2 | |
| 1999 | James Male | Mike Gooding | 3–1 | |
| 2000 | Robert Fahey | Chris Bray | 3–0 | |
| 2001 | Robert Fahey | Tim Chisholm | 3–1 | |
| 2002 | Tim Chisholm | Robert Fahey | 3–2 | |
| 2003 | Robert Fahey | Ruairiadh Gunn | 3–0 | |
| 2004 | Robert Fahey | Ruairiadh Gunn | 3–0 | |
| 2005 | Robert Fahey | Ruairiadh Gunn | 3–0 | |
| 2006 | Robert Fahey | Steve Virgona | 3–0 | |
| 2007 | Robert Fahey | Steve Virgona | 3–1 | |
| 2008 | Robert Fahey | Camden Riviere | 3–1 | |
| 2009 | Robert Fahey | Steve Virgona | 3–1 | |
| 2010 | Robert Fahey | Steve Virgona | 3–1 | |
| 2011 | Robert Fahey | Bryn Sayers | 3–2 | |
| 2012 | Bryn Sayers | Robert Fahey | 3–1 | |
| 2013 | Steve Virgona | Bryn Sayers | 3–2 | |
| 2014 | Camden Riviere | Steve Virgona | 3–2 | |
| 2015 | Steve Virgona | Tim Chisholm | 3–0 | |
| 2016 | Camden Riviere | Chris Chapman | 3–0 | |
| 2017 | Camden Riviere | Bryn Sayers | 3–0 | |
| 2018 | Robert Fahey | Chris Chapman | 3–0 | |
| 2019 | Camden Riviere | Robert Fahey | 3–0 | |
| 2020 | Not held | |||
| 2021 | John Lumley | Ben Taylor-Matthews | 3–1 | |
| 2022 | Camden Riviere | Robert Fahey | 3–0 | |
| 2023 | Camden Riviere | John Lumley | 3–1 | |
| 2024 | Camden Riviere | Nick Howell | 3–1 | |
Men's doubles
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Ronald Hughes / Norwood Cripps | Howard Angus / N W Smith | 3–2 |
| 1972 | Frank Willis / Chris Ennis | Charles Swallow / Norwood Cripps | 3–0 |
| 1973 | Charles Swallow / Norwood Cripps | Frank Willis / Chris Ennis | 3–0 |
| 1974 | Charles Swallow / Norwood Cripps | Frank Willis / Chris Ennis | 3–0 |
| 1975 | Charles Swallow / Norwood Cripps | Howard Angus / David Warburg | 3–2 |
| 1976 | Frank Willis / David Cull | Chris Ennis / Mick Dean | 3–1 |
| 1977 (April) | Alan Lovell / Norwood Cripps | Frank Willis / David Cull | 3–1 |
| 1977 (December) | Alan Lovell / Norwood Cripps | Frank Willis / David Cull | 3–0 |
| 1978 | Alan Lovell / Norwood Cripps | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | 3–0 |
| 1979 | Alan Lovell / Norwood Cripps | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | 3–0 |
| 1980 | Alan Lovell / Norwood Cripps | Barry Toates / Frank Willis | 3–0 |
| 1981 | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | Wayne Davies / Lauchlaan Deuchar | 3–2 |
| 1982 | Alan Lovell / Norwood Cripps | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | 3–0 |
| 1983 | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | Colin Lumley / Lachlan Deuchar | 3–1 |
| 1984 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | 3–1 |
| 1985 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | 3–0 |
| 1986 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Chris Ronaldson / Mick Dean | 3–1 |
| 1987 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Norwood Cripps / Paul Tabley | 3–1 |
| 1988 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Jonathan Howell / Kevin Sheldon | 3–0 |
| 1989 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Jonathan Howell / Kevin Sheldon | 3–0 |
| 1990 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Robert Fahey / Peter Meares | 3–0 |
| 1991 | Chris Bray / Mike Gooding | Lachlan Deuchar / Paul Tabley | 3–2 |
| 1992 | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | Frank Filippelli / James Male | w/o |
| 1993 | Chris Bray / Mike Gooding | Julian Snow / Nick Wood | 3–0 |
| 1994 | Chris Bray / Mike Gooding | Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies | 3–0 |
| 1995 | Robert Fahey / Frank Filippelli | Chris Bray / Mike Gooding | 3–2 |
| 1996 | Chris Bray / Mike Happell | Lachlan Deuchar / Mike Gooding | 3–2 |
| 1997 | James Male / Julian Snow | Robert Fahey / Mike Gooding | 3–0 |
| 1998 | James Male / Julian Snow | Ruaraidh Gunn / Steve Virgona | 3–0 |
| 1999 | Ruaraidh Gunn / Steve Virgona | Julian Snow / James Male | 3–1 |
| 2000 | Chris Bray / Nick Wood | Julian Snow / Tim Chisholm | 3–2 |
| 2001 | Robert Fahey / Steve Virgona | Chris Bray / James Willcocks | 3–0 |
| 2002 | Robert Fahey / Steve Virgona | Julian Snow / Tim Chisholm | 3–1 |
| 2003 | Robert Fahey / Ruaraidh Gunn | Julian Snow / Adam Phillips | 3–1 |
| 2004 | Mike Gooding / Nick Wood | Chris Bray / James Willcocks | 3–0 |
| 2005 | Robert Fahey / Ruaraidh Gunn | Steve Virgona / David Woodman | 3–0 |
| 2006 | Robert Fahey / Ruaraidh Gunn | Steve Virgona / Jon Dawes | 3–0 |
| 2007 | Robert Fahey / Ruaraidh Gunn | Steve Virgona / James Willcocks | 3–1 |
| 2008 | Robert Fahey / James Male | Nick Wood / Camden Riviere | 3–1 |
| 2009 | Steve Virgona / Nick Wood | Robert Fahey / Ruaraidh Gunn | 3–0 |
| 2010 | Robert Fahey / Steve Virgona | Tim Chisholm / Conor Medlow | 3–0 |
| 2011 | Robert Fahey / Steve Virgona | Bryn Sayers / Kieran Booth | 3–0 |
| 2012 | Robert Fahey / Steve Virgona | Bryn Sayers / Kieran Booth | 3–0 |
| 2013 | Tim Chisholm / Bryn Sayers | Robert Fahey / Steve Virgona | 3–2 |
| 2014 | Tim Chisholm / Camden Riviere | Robert Fahey / Bryn Sayers | 3–1 |
| 2015 | Steve Virgona / Chris Chapman | Bryn Sayers / Ricardo Smith | 3–1 |
| 2016 | Tim Chisholm / Camden Riviere | Bryn Sayers / Ricardo Smith | 3–1 |
| 2017 | Tim Chisholm / Camden Riviere | Robert Fahey / Nick Howell | 3–1 |
| 2018 | Robert Fahey / Nick Howell | Chris Chapman / Steve Virgona | 3–0 |
| 2019 | Camden Riviere / John Lumley | Robert Fahey / Nick Howell | 3–0 |
| 2020 | Not held | ||
| 2021 | Robert Fahey / Nick Howell | Bryn Sayers / Ben Taylor-Matthews | 3–0 |
| 2022 | Camden Riviere / John Lumley | Tim Chisholm / Bryn Sayers | 3–1 |
| 2023 | Tim Chisholm / Camden Riviere | Robert Fahey / Nick Howell | 3–0 |
| 2024 | Tim Chisholm / Camden Riviere | Nick Howell / Leon Smart | 3–0 |