European Open (real tennis) explained

European Open
Editions:13
City:London
Country:United Kingdom
Venue:Lord's Cricket Ground
Category:IRTPA
Event Name:European Open
Draw:8
Completed Event:2015
Singles: Robert Fahey

The European Open was a real tennis tournament held annually at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. It was a ranking point tournament for the purposes of qualifying for the Real Tennis World Championship.[1]

The event was first established in 1992 as a doubles tournament at the Queen's Club in London. In 1995 it was converted as an invitational singles tournament in Bordeaux, with the first edition won by Lauchlan Deuchar. It continued to be hosted on an irregular basis at Fontainebleau and Paris in 1996 and 1998 before moving to the United Kingdom in 2003 at Prested Hall. In 2005, the event became an Open and moved to its permanent venue at the Lord's Cricket Ground.[2] Since the event became an Open, it has only been won by Robert Fahey and Camden Riviere, both of whom would be World Champions during their career. Notable matches included the 2008 final, the first match that Riviere would win against Fahey in their careers across all competitions[3] and the 2013 final, with Riviere overcoming Fahey in 5 sets and three and a half hours.[4] The event has not been held since 2015 due to a lack of sponsorship.

Past finals

Singles

YearVenueChampionsRunners-upScore
Invitational era
Bordeaux Mike Gooding
Chris Bray
1997Not held
Chris Bray
1999–2002Not held
Chris Bray6/0 6/2 6/1
2004Not held
Open era
Nick Wood6/4 6/5 6/2
Steve Virgona6/3 6/3 6/0
Ruaraidh Gunn5/6 6/2 6/1 6/1
Robert Fahey6/3 6/2 6/2
Camden Riviere6/3 6/3 4/6 1/2
2010Not held
Bryn Sayers3/6 6/3 6/0 6/5
Bryn Sayers6/1 6/1 6/2
Robert Fahey6/4 5/6 3/6 6/2 6/3
2014Not held
Chris Chapman6/0 6/5 6/3

Doubles

YearVenueChampionsRunners-upScore
1993Queen's Club Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies Julian Snow / Nick Wood5/6 6/1 6/4 5/6 6/4
1995 (March)Queen's Club Lachlan Deuchar / Wayne Davies Mark Devine / Kevin Sheldon6/3 6/5 6/2
1995 (September)Queen's Club Lachlan Deuchar / Jonathan Howell Mark Devine / Kevin Sheldon6/5 6/3 1/6 6/5
1996Queen's Club Julian Snow / James Male Chris Bray / Mike Gooding6/2 3/6 3/6 6/3 6/2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tournaments with ranking points . International Real Tennis Professionals Association . 28 April 2016 . 6 October 2024.
  2. Web site: European Open Singles Championship . Tennis and Rackets Association . 6 October 2024.
  3. Web site: Riviere Wins European Open . United States Court Tennis Association . 6 October 2024.
  4. Web site: Camden Riviere retains the European Open title . Tennis and Rackets Association . 6 October 2024.