Royal Tennis Court

Latest Results from the Champions Trophy 2026 brought to you by Mitsubishi Electric from the Royal Tennis Court

Friday has seen two very different but equally riveting matches where the UK's Bryn Sayers (6) only just lost to Australia's Nick Howell (1)- 3:6, 6:3, 5:6, scores do not reflect how close the games were. While British no.1 amateur player, Robert Shenkman (5) fought hard against Australia's Steve Virgona (4), slightly injuring himself to be defeated in 2 set's 3:6, 1:6.

The online coverage was fantastic thanks to Giles Doy commentating and Ben Geytenbeek on filming and production. If you have missed matches or can't come in person over the weekend tune in from mobile phone to big screen TV on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6423Jq0sOjQ&list=PLCTazp_qYd-PX0bDTi_P_wLZHhOjROUx2&index=2

Tomorrow's semi-finals are gearing up to be very exciting with the top 4 seeds playing - Nick Howell (1) v Ben Matthews-Taylor (2) and Rob Fahey (3) v Steve Virgona (4)

Tickets still on sale here for an exciting weekend of Real Tennis, never too late!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/real-tennis-champions-trophy-14th-19th-july-2026-tickets-1988159373205?aff=website

For Ben Geytenbeek's full report of another exciting day of Real Tennis see here:
https://www.realtennisnews.com and subscribe for the latest in the sport!

&RA

Latest from the Champions Trophy 2026 brought to you by Mitsubishi Electric from the Royal Tennis Court

The first day of the main draw of the championship saw the main draw six seeds competing along with the 2 qualifiers Bryn Sayers (6) v Nino Merola, Robert Shenkman (5) v Vaughan Hamilton, Nick Howell (1) v Rob Fahey (3), and Ben Taylor-Matthews (2) v
Steve Virgona (4).

Match results:

1:30 PM: Bryn Sayers (6) def Nino Merola (Q) 6/5 6/3

2:45 PM: Robert Shenkman (5) def Vaughan Hamilton (Q) 6/3 6/2

5:30 PM: Nick Howell (1) lost to Robert Fahey (3) 6/5 0/6 4/6

6:45 PM: Ben Taylor-Matthews (2) def Steve Virgona (4) 6/4 6/3

Order of play for today Friday (all times BST):

5:00 PM: Bryn Sayers (6) vs Nick Howell (1)

6:15 PM: Robert Shenkman (5) vs Steve Virgona (4)

Catch-up here or watch live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6423Jq0sOjQ&list=PLCTazp_qYd-PX0bDTi_P_wLZHhOjROUx2&index=2

Tickets still on sale here for an exciting weekend of Real Tennis, never too late!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/real-tennis-champions-trophy-14th-19th-july-2026-tickets-1988159373205?aff=website

For Ben Geytenbeek's full report of another exciting day of Real Tennis see here:
https://www.realtennisnews.com/p/taylor-matthews-firms-world-race

&RA

Latest from the Champions Trophy 2026 brought to you by Mitsubishi Electric from the Royal Tennis Court

Nino Merola and Vaughan Hamilton have qualified for the main draw of the Champions Trophy, following the second day of play on Wednesday. Hamilton progressed without having to play a ball after receiving a walkover from Lewis Williams, while Merola did things the hard way, having to battle two difficult matches across the course of the day, saving multiple match points against Will Flynn.

The match between Claire Fahey and Will Flynn was a dead rubber fixture, with both having lost their two earlier matches. The restes were fast and frenetic, with both players trying to finish points quickly either by winning length or winning openings. Though fortune helped her over the line in the first two games, Fahey was clinical thereafter, winning the next three unchallenged. Flynn started to then mount a fightback, looking to hit winners where possible. The next five games were exchanged evenly, but Fahey’s strong start still proved decisive. It brought her maiden Champions Trophy victory, even though she did not progress.

For Ben Geytenbeek's full report of a gripping day of Real Tennis see here:
https://buff.ly/ROakb50

Tomorrow the main draw of the championship begins with the six seeds playing in the afternoon and evening: Bryn Sayers (6) v Nino Merola, Robert Shenkman (5) v Vaughan Hamilton, Nick Howell (1) v Rob Fahey (3), and Ben Taylor-Matthews (2) v
Steve Virgona (4).

Tickets on sale here for an exciting weekend of Real Tennis:
https://buff.ly/c5y8SWu

Catch-up here or watch live; https://buff.ly/7Pwvsdb

&RA

Pro Challenge Match
Jack Josephs (10.3) vs Henry Henman (5.6)
2nd August 2026, 3:30pm

RTC’s Jack Josephs has laid down a challenge to Henry Henman

Contact the pros to reserve your tickets.

Henry is a young Pro working under Rob and Claire Fahey at the Oratory Real Tennis club. He is world number one under 20 years old, and under 24 British doubles champion. Experience class real tennis as Jack and Henry go head to head in an electrifying showdown at RTC!

Come and support the players, the match and enjoy a glass of wine & some nibbles at RTC.

Ticket Price: £15.00
Students: £8
Under 18’s: free of charge

(Proceeds go to the Junior Development Programme)

We would like to invite all of our club members, and guests to the occasion!

Sunday 2nd August, 3:30pm kick off.
Arrive anytime from 3pm onwards!

Format: Best of 3 x 6 games sets, off level. Professional Marker, RTO competitive match.

Jack is looking to continue his good form in 2026, after picking up some of his career best wins, including an epic against Henry at the Oratory in April. The tremendous support of our members has a huge impact on these games so let’s continue to make RTC a fortress for the home player! We had around 60-70 spectators at the February challenge match, which made for a fantastic social too...

Call or email or WhatsApp the club to reserve your tickets.
WhatsApp: 07368 118185

Champions Trophy Day 1 Review 🏆

Two from two for Vaughan Hamilton and Darren Long, who take the early lead in their respective groups 👏

But there’s a long way to go in the qualifying stage… Nino Merola looked incredibly sharp in his only match of Day 1, securing an impressive 9–2 victory 👀

Group A Results:
Hamilton bt Eadle 9-4
Hamilton bt Yorston 9-2
Eadle bt Williams 9-3

Group B Results:
Long bt Fahey 9-2
Long bt Flynn 9-2
Merola bt Fahey 9-2

Day 2 👀
Merola vs Flynn
Williams vs Yorston
Flynn vs Fahey
Yorston vs Eadle
Merola vs Long 🔥
Williams vs Hamilton

Qualification is all to play for. Bring on Day 2 🏆

🎾 Witness the world's finest Real Tennis players at the Champions Trophy 2026!
Presented by
📍 Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court Palace
📅 14–19 July
🏆 Six days of world-class action
🎟️ Tickets from just £10, 2-for-1 special on qualifier days (2 tickets or 2 sessions) If you have already bought your tickets, bring a friend or stay longer (please ensure you advise the pros)

Book now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/real-tennis-champions-trophy-14th-19th-july-2026-tickets-1988159373205?aff=instagram

&RA

The Champions Trophy starts next week at the Royal Tennis Court, , presented by

The best way to improve your game? Watch the world's best play theirs!

📅 14–19 July 2026 - world-class Real Tennis featuring the sport's top players.

🎟️ Come and support your club pros if they're playing: , and fellow amateurs and .

Pop in at lunchtime or after work – session tickets start from just £10, or join us for Sunday's Final and Garden Party for £45.

Book now: https://www.royaltenniscourt.com/tournaments/champions-trophy

📅 14–19 July 2026
Qualifiers: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 13.30, 16.00 and 18.30
Quarter-finals: Thursday - 13.30 and 17.30 and Friday - 17.00
Semi-finals: Saturday - 11.30
Finals: Sunday - 11.30

The six seeds in the main draw for 2026 are:
Nick Howell (1)
Ben Taylor-Matthews (2)
Rob Fahey (3)
Steve Virgona (4)
Robert Shenkman* (5)
Bryn Sayers (6)
* Amateur

&RTA &RA

One week to go before we welcome the Champions Trophy 2026 back to the Royal Tennis Court presented by

If you haven't booked your tickets yet, it's not too late, from £10 a session:
https://buff.ly/OMQxlBF

Support your pro in the qualifiers next Tuesday (14) and Wednesday (15) July

🎾 Experience the world's best at Hampton Court Palace!

Tickets on sale for The Real Tennis Champions Trophy from 14–19 July, bringing together the world's top Real Tennis professionals and amateurs for six days of unforgettable action at the historic Royal Tennis Court.

Whether you're a player, lifelong fan or curious to discover the original game of tennis, this is your chance to witness world-class competition in one of Britain's most iconic sporting venues.

🎟️ Tickets from just £10 – limited space and selling fast book now:

https://buff.ly/AQBHfRs Hampton Court Palace

Wimbledon

🔥 The world's best. One iconic venue. One prestigious title.

🎾 2026 Real Tennis Champions Trophy, presented by Mitsubishi Electric, Hampton Court Palace, players line-up!

- Nick Howell, 2024 Champion, No. 1 seed
- Ben Taylor-Matthews,
- Rob Fahey MBE (Two-time Champions Trophy winner)
- Steve Virgona,
- Robert Shenkman, British Amateur Champion
- Bryn Sayers.

Action begins with two days of highly-intense qualifiers for the last two 2 places in the main draw:
- Vaughan Hamilton,
- Lewis Williams,
- Nino Merola,
- Zak Eadle,
- Darren Long,
- Claire Fahey, Women's World Champion
- Will Flynn
- Benedict Yorston

⚡ Fast-paced qualifying matches.
💥 Quarter-finals, semi-finals
🏆 Championship Final

🎟️ For more info
Book your tickets: https://buff.ly/AQBHfRs