As the Newport summer moved into August, the National Tennis Club’s famed level doubles tournament was back for the 2026 Pell Cup. 80 competitors from 13 different clubs were represented, and we were delighted to welcome visitors from the UK and Australia as part of our new entry process. Updated for 2026, the Pell Cup entry was a raffle system with reserved spaces for each American club, and a specific raffle for international applicants; all designed to make the entry process as fair as possible, and to give travelling players the opportunity to visit and compete in Newport.
The competition splits players into five divisions, plus the Professionals. The A Division hosted handicaps under 20, B Division 20-40, C Division 40-55, D Division 55-65, and E Division 65 and above. Divisions B through E have eight pairs split into two groups, with the winners from each group booking their spot in their respective finals. The A Division consisted of four pairs; the top two finishers going through to face off again in the final. Each match was one set to eight games, with one deuce in each game, opening the door to tighter competition, as well as a little more playing time for each pair. Of course, alongside the tennis, two cocktail parties and a tournament dinner at the recently and wonderfully renovated Pell Hotel meant there was much to enjoy on and off court.
The Group Stages
In the E Division, the two final spots were taken by unbeaten teams; the NTC pair of Kesley Dolan & Sarah Stanley were in fine form, dropping only five games through their three matches. In the other E group, CJ Brophy (BOS) & Ellen Hermann-Devoe (NTC) did almost as well, dropping seven games in their three wins. A similar story in the B Division; two three-win teams booked their spots in the final. Eliot & Tom Van Buskirk (NTC) won their matches in relatively comfortable fashion, dropping five games to John Eder & Tyler Sloan of Boston in their closest battle. Ryan Carey and Stathi Kyriakides were victorious in three matches on the other side of the B Division, though they had to work harder for their wins, firstly, in a tight 8/7 victory over Nick Summerlin (BOS) & Richard Lawrence (all the way over from Holyport, UK). This, before a competitive 8/6 win in the decider, against the Philly pair of Gordon McMorris & Alex Matulas, whose hard-hitting and untied-shoe style had been turning heads in the opening days.
The C & D division finalists were confirmed on Sunday, the places only decided after the final matches of each group. In the D Division, the comfortable qualifiers were Manny Tancer (DET) & Lefty Carey (WAS) who won through with three wins. However, in group D2, three teams would finish with two wins each, and the finalists would be decided by games ratio. Tom & Laurie Sargent (AIK) finished with a ratio of 1.05. Jack Slingo & Nicholas Smedley, our Australian visitors, finished with 1.22, but by virtue of a key single game in their favour, Mark Thompson (NTC) & Peter Bender (PHI) went through with the winning ratio of 1.44.
Our surprise package came from the C Division; the athletic and talented pair of Florina de Jong and Jake Erskine. Their handicap had them at the bottom end of their division, but their play took them to the top. Service end dominance, powerful volleys and competitive grit saw them win all three of their matches, including two 8/7 clutch victories in front of a spirited Philly support crew. To find who would face them in the final, we waited until the final C Division match. Three teams finished on two wins, and the margins to separate them were as close as they could be. John Levis (BOS) & Keith Mayes (NTC), 21 games for, 18 against, gave a ratio of 1.17. Victoria Scott (PHI) & Ashley Fitz-Patrick (CHI), 23 games for and 19 against (1.22) were beaten by the narrowest of margins as New York pairing Adam Yaari & Jamie Cushing steeled themselves in their final match to secure 20 games for, 16 against, and a winning ratio of 1.25, taking them into the final.
The Finals
In the A Division, Ned Batsone (Radley, UK) & Ben Dickinson (WAS) were strongest through the group stage, winning all their matches and dropping only six games in the process. Joining them in the final were Pat Winthrop (NTC) & Mike O’Connor (BOS) with two wins under their belts, one of which was a come-from-behind win over the Tuxedo pairing of Guy Devereux & Spencer Yager who pushed them all the way. In the group, Ned & Ben had a relatively comfortable win over Pat & Mike, but the final was a battle down to the wire. The first half of the match was all about service end dominance; only five end chases were set through the first eight games, with each pairing scoring comfortably on the service side. Pat & Mike got the better of the opening exchanges, going 2/0 ahead, but Ned & Ben responded in kind, earning a 5/3 lead. The next two games were hard fought, with points scored from both ends as the returners improved their attacking play. Pat & Mike picked up those two close games to even the score at 5 games-all. A couple of errors from Ben, combined with some excellent volleys from both Pat & Mike, gave them a rather sudden 7/5 lead. At the change of ends, Ned & Ben conferred on some strategic choices and elected to keep things as they were, and this decision proved effective. The last three games were tight and competitive, with both pairs having opportunities. In the end, Ned & Ben found the quality when it mattered and took the A Division title by 8 games to 7 in what was an excellent match.
In the B Division, Eliot & Tom Van Buskirk played a decent, solid game, and dominated the service end. Their opponents, having played well together in the group stage; Stathi Kyriakides patrolling the front court with dynamic volleys, and Ryan Carey defending the back, were not able to find their finest tennis in the final. Too many errors and not enough time at the service end, saw the Van Buskirk brothers take the B Division title in relatively comfortable fashion, 8 games to 3.
Adam Yaari & Jamie Cushing set out to put a stop to the impressive Philly team’s run in the C Division final. Adam & Jamie were too strong on the day and had both improved their play throughout the tournament. Adam was attacking from the back and Jamie played well above his handicap, making it difficult for Florina and Jake to keep the magic going. We commend Florina and Jake, for their run was certainly the best of the tournament, but congratulations go to Adam and Jamie on their victory, 8 games to 3.
A rare trifecta of left handers were on court for the D Division final, with two on one side of the net as Lefty Carey & Manny Tancer looked to continue their unbeaten run. Lefty Carey was in comfortable control of the match, pairing effortlessly with Manny as they showed steady defense, and effective attack, throughout. Mark Thompson & Peter Bender fought hard, but could not find the answers for the offensive play of Carey/Tancer, who took the title in another 8/3 victory.
Finally, in the E Division, CJ Brophy & Ellen Hermann-Devoe looked to impose themselves on the match, with strong shots and good retrieving, but could not find enough holes to take down Kelsey Dolan & Sarah Stanley. As they had done throughout the tournament, the NTC pair dominated the service end with fantastic serving, giving them the opportunities they needed to dictate the match and win the E Division title, 8 games to 2.
In the Pros, matches were played to 10 games. Super-sub Ned Batstone stepped into the shoes of Lewis Williams, who was unable to play the event due to a much delayed VISA process. Pairing with World Champion Camden Riviere, the pair looked assured through the group stage with relatively comfortable wins over Steve Virgona & Barney Tanfield, and Nick Howell & Josh Dodgson. This put them into the deciding match against last year’s winners; John Lumley & Josh Smith, who, having not fired on all cylinders, clawed their way to a couple of wins including a come-back from 3/9 down. In the decider, Riviere & Bastone started quickly and took the early lead, before a shift to Lumley & Smith saw them inch ahead. The doubles was fast paced and all over the court, much to the delight of the watching supporters. Riviere & Batstone took the initiative with solid play from Batstone, and famed court coverage and ball control from Riviere earned a 9/6 lead. Despite a spirited fight from Lumley & Smith in the final few games, Camden Riviere & Ned Batstone took the Pell Cup trophy by 10 games to 8.
We congratulate all of our winners for their respective victories! We also thank all of the players for the participation and support over the five day event. To see so many players, from so many clubs, really tells the tale of what the Pell Cup is all about.
We also deeply thank all of our supporters, with so many names contributing to the 2026 Pell Cup. This support is absolutely essential for the Pell Cup, and provides the backbone to the event. We thank Kathy Minevitz & Sewall Hodges for their wonderful Welcome Party. We thank Andrew Fritz for his fantastic Friday Mojito Party. Thank you to Graham Jones and the team at the Pell Hotel, who provided the perfect setting for the tournament dinner. And to our specific Pell Cup contributors, and all of our amazing members that donate to the NTC Annual Sponsorship Program, thank you, we really could not do it without your support.
Thus concludes the Newport summer of tennis, we look back fondly to all of the successes, and look forward to the season ahead.
