by Ross Bolling
The Racquet Club of Philadelphia hosted the 2024 United States Open over the last two weeks of February. It was the seventy-second time the Open had been held, and it was one of the very best. The court tennis community raised a near record-breaking purse of $65k, which was so large it even brought former world champion Rob Fahey out of retirement for his first foray into singles since the British Open in November 2022.
After two World Eliminator events in the late spring of 2023, the Racquet Club of Philadelphia’s Pro Shop didn’t miss a beat hosting another major tennis tournament in the winter of 2024. Led by legendary Head Professional, Rob Whitehouse, thirty-five matches were played over nine days. Not only did the Racquet Club of Philadelphia’s Head Tennis Professional, John Lumley, play a significant role in the creation of this year’s event, but he also made the finals of the singles and doubles tournaments. However, World Champion Camden Riviere took the singles trophy home, as well as the doubles title with his counterpart, Tim Chisholm.
Along the way, spectators witnessed incredibly close matches sprinkled with a few upsets as well. One of the most riveting matches during the tournament was during the quarterfinals of the doubles when Racquet & Tennis Club Head Professional, Barney Tanfield, paired with Racquet Club of Philadelphia’s member, Freddie Bristowe, overcame a formidable team consisting of world number 4, Nicky Howell, and world number 3, Rob Fahey. The intensity and drama of the match persisted for over three hours and left a lasting impression on all those who witnessed it. Bristowe & Tanfield prevailed 6-4 in the fifth.
In the singles, Riviere remarkably captured his twelfth U.S. Open and his eleventh straight. It was perhaps his hardest Open victory. Bryn Sayers clipped a set in the quarters. In the finals, reenacting their match at the World Championship in September, Lumley and Riviere went at it hammer and tongs. Before a capacity and decidedly partisan crowd in the Van Alen Court galleries, Lumley took a 2-1 set lead before Riviere came back to snag it in five: 6-0, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
In the doubles finals, a bracket buster of epic proportions was also on the horizon. Lumley & Steve Virgona pushed Tim Chisholm & Riviere as far as they have been since they began their unprecedented decade-long unbeaten run as a partnership after losing in the World Doubles in Paris finals in 2013. Going for their twelfth Open title together, Chisholm & Riviere struggled against Lumley’s sharpshooting and Virgona’s power. A riveting fourth set was the highlight of the tournament. Chisholm & Riviere took a long eighth game to go up 5-3. But Lumley & Virgona didn’t bow down to what could have been seen as inevitable. Lumley smacked a winning gallery to push it to 5-4. Then 5-all. Virgona, inches from the second gallery, rocketed a volley into the grille to draw the match level. In the fifth set, Lumley & Virgona dashed to a 3-0 lead—they had just reeled off six straight games. Resolutely, Chisholm & Riviere tacked it back to 3-3. Then Lumley & Virgona got to 4-3, agonizingly close to the upset. But Chisholm & Riviere played well in the last three games, forcing errors out of their opponents and cantered to victory: 6-1, 5-6, 6-2, 5-6, 6-4.
The amazing play throughout the tournament couldn’t have happened without the patronage of all those who contributed to the memorable event. From the custodian staff on the front line ensuring top conditions every day to those who donated to make the event even possible behind the scenes, the 2024 U.S. Open will be remembered for years.
Click here for Draws and links to the video coverage
