Jul 1, 2024 | International Events, Tournament Results
by Bill Barker For the first time ever, the United States won the Cockram Trophy, the biennial international team competition for players aged 50 and over. The United States went 3-0 on the historic Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace, against teams from Australia, France, and Great Britain. Played in a round robin competition, the Cockram format is three singles and two doubles matches. Playing for the United States were players from five different U.S. clubs: Guy Devereux, Brook Hazelton, Shawn Herlihy, Todd Meringoff, John Motz, David Tedeschi, Co-Captain Jeremy Wintersteen, and Co-Captain Bill Barker. The U.S. enjoyed a… Read the Full Story >
Jul 1, 2024 | International Events, Tournament Results
Team USA at the Bostwick Cup: How to Look Good Losing by George Bell For those of you who live on a diet of headlines here’s a snack: The 60+ US Bostwick team finished third of four teams in the World Masters, and, truth be told, narrowly avoided finishing fourth. All matches were played at the Middlesex University Real Tennis Club, a gloriously lit court with walls of navy blue, trimmed with a penthouse of blonde oak. Painted lines are sky blue and red. The arched ceiling, one of the highest among all courts, permits diffuse sunlight throughout the day… Read the Full Story >
Jul 1, 2024 | International Events
by Dick Tanfield Hatfield House is a two-starred, Michelin ‘must-see’. Adjoining it is Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Old Palace’ which is prettier (see picture). Much of it was covered in blooming wisteria. The Tennis Court is integrated with Her stables and is just beside Her gatehouse. Through that gatehouse, in Her day, passed all the stagecoaches on the Great North Road. Happily, its successor, the M1, is now five miles away. The Munoz trophy was contested by four countries playing with two pairs each. France could not field two pairs so one was ‘Rest of World’. The first pair to play had the worse handicap.… Read the Full Story >
Apr 30, 2024 | International Events, US Events
by Victoria Scott International Tennis Day is an annual celebration of our wonderful game occurring on June 20. Each participating court has a banner to take photos in front of—we encourage everyone to play as often as possible, especially on this day to commemorate. June 20 was chosen for the celebration of International Tennis Day as it falls on the anniversary of the Tennis Court Oath, taken on June 20, 1789 by nearly 600 people at a tennis court near the Palace of Versailles. The Tennis Oath was a pivotal event at the start of the French Revolution. Jacques-Louis David’s… Read the Full Story >
Mar 1, 2024 | International Events, US Events
The Racquet Club of Chicago is pleased to be hosting the 2024 World Doubles Championship. We are expecting a strong field of contenders and a week filled with outstanding competition, camaraderie, and fun. Below, please find a schedule of the week’s athletic and social events, along with per diem ticket pricing for interested attendees. We look forward to welcoming you to Chicago and the Racquet Club! Schedule of Events Wednesday afternoon/ evening, Day 1 Semifinals (First four sets), Opening Cocktail Party Thursday afternoon/ evening, Day 2 Semifinals (remaining sets), followed by Racquet Club Thursday Night Buffet Saturday afternoon/ evening, Day 1 Finals, followed… Read the Full Story >
Sep 30, 2023 | International Events, US Events
by John Lumley It was always a dream of mine to play in the World Championship and I was lucky enough to make it into the World Championship Eliminator process for the first time this year. My first round was against Chris Chapman on my home court at The Racquet Club of Philadelphia. We had a great match which I won 5 sets to 2 with incredible support from the RCOP crowd. I then played Nick Howell in the final eliminator, again winning the bid to play on my home court! Again, the crowd and support were amazing as I… Read the Full Story >
Sep 21, 2023 | International Events, US Events
by James Zug Day Three Riviere won 6-5, 6-3. Riviere won 6-5, 6-3. Riviere won the 2023 World Championship seven sets to two: 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 5-6, 5-6, 6-5, 6-3. Congratulations to Camden Riviere and his team of Josh Smith and Noah Motz. The air-conditioned atmosphere at Westwood Country Club could not possibly mask the tension as Day Three unfolded. The unofficial odds, emerging across the pond, had tightened considerably. Before Day One, Camden Riviere was 1/10 to win while John Lumley was 33/1; and the Challenge finishing in two days was 8/11. Before Day Three, Lumley… Read the Full Story >
Sep 19, 2023 | International Events, International News
By James Zug Day Two Lumley won 6-4, 3-6, 6-5, 6-5. The match is now 5-3 in favor of Riviere. It was an extraordinary Day Two at Westwood, one of the great classic Day Twos in the history of the World Championship, evocative above all of the Day Two at Queens in 2018. Today the galleries were slightly less dotted by patron gift bags, which were overflowing with local chocolate, the tournament program and two frameable items—the official poster and a Mikko postcard. During the pre-match cocktails upstairs, the canaille enjoyed the two players’ favorite drinks: the Lumley (vodka, pineapple… Read the Full Story >
Sep 17, 2023 | International Events
by James Zug Day One Camden Riviere won the first four sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 It was a remarkable scene at Westwood Country Club, just outside Washington City, in the suburb of Vienna. There are sixteen states in the U.S. that have a town named Vienna, but it was the Virginia one that now could boast the record for hosting the Challenge Round of the World Championship. The shortest time between a court’s original opening and hosting a Challenge: Philadelphia was just six and a half years old when it hosted in 1914 and the marble court in Dublin… Read the Full Story >
Aug 1, 2023 | International Events, Juniors
by Camden Riviere It was a busy July at the Westwood Country Club, hosting the Under 26 Championships and a week of international junior competitions between the US, Australia, and the UK. The US team of Freddie Bristowe, Noah Motz, Erik Barker, Henry Smith, & Chase Motz came out victorious in both battles, bringing the US its first-ever joint Val Alen & Clothier Cup victories. Also played was the Limb Cup, which pitted the UK against Australia, with the UK coming out on top. The tennis played on the week was of the highest quality I have ever seen at… Read the Full Story >
