The Robert Abdesselam Trophy returns to France

The 10th edition of the Robert Abdesselam Trophy took place from 21-23 August and brought together four international teams — Spain, Belgium, Great Britain, and France — for a competition featuring one Women’s Doubles, one Men’s Doubles, and two Mixed Doubles per match.

The French team prepared with great professionalism, with some high-altitude training in the Vercors Mountains. There, the players enjoyed scenic hikes through historic forest trails, breathtaking views over Grenoble, and, most importantly, an intensive tennis camp led by their long-time coach, Bruno Delorme, at the Villard-de-Lans Tennis Club. Off the courts, the group took time to share meals and test their culinary skills, further strengthening team spirit and camaraderie.

On arrival in Avignon, the competitors faced stormy weather. The French delegation managed a short training session on the superb courts of TC Montolivet before heavy rain rendered the grounds unplayable. The club’s President, Jean-Pierre Azam, and his wife Gisèle extended a warm welcome to all participants, their passion and dedication keeping the Avignon club thriving.

Due to the weather, the opening matches were held indoors on a single court instead of the planned four outdoor ones. Consequently, the format was shortened to a single set of six games with a tie-break at 6-6. France started the tournament strongly, defeating Great Britain — a new permanent participant in this long-standing competition — by 4–0 in the morning session. Spain then overcame Belgium in the afternoon.

The following day saw the return of sunshine, allowing play to resume outdoors for the France–Belgium encounter. Despite gusty conditions, France prevailed 3–1. In the afternoon, players and guests enjoyed a guided cultural visit to the Chartreuse de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, a monastic complex renowned for its austere order and beautiful architecture.

The evening’s social programme featured a warm reception hosted by Odile de Roubin in her elegant family residence, where players gathered for an aperitif before the official dinner — a highlight of the event’s convivial atmosphere.

The final day brought the much-anticipated showdown between France and Spain. The French team were eager to reclaim the Robert Abdesselam Trophy, which had been in Spanish hands since the 2023 edition in Madrid.

The opening women’s doubles match proved challenging: Spain’s pair, Pauline Rodriguez (a former French player ranked no. 15) and Noelia Perez Penate (former WTA no. 121), showed their experience, while France’s Isabelle Billard-Delage sustained an early injury. Fortunately, the French men responded with a narrow win, leaving the teams level at one match apiece.

It was therefore down to the two mixed doubles to decide the title (and avoid a super tie-break in the event of two tied teams after all the matches). The French pairs — Chantal Grimal & Alain Moracchini, and MarieDo Larras & Nicolas Fourcade — made an excellent start, taking their first sets 6–1 and 6–0 respectively. Grimal and Moracchini secured their victory swiftly, while Larras and Fourcade were pushed into a deciding tie-break after their Spanish opponents, Noelia Perez Penate and Fernando Gomes de Segura, fought back to win the second set 6–4. The final tie-break was a thrilling affair, keeping spectators — including loyal French supporters Pascale and Christine — on edge. In the end, the French pair held their nerve to win 11–9, sealing overall victory for France.

The Robert Abdesselam Trophy thus returned to France, to the delight of players, organisers, and supporters alike — a fitting conclusion to three days of high-level tennis, sportsmanship, and international friendship.

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CQS IC June in Prague 2023 - "90 years of ILTC Czech Republic"

The IC of the Czech Republic marked its important 90th anniversary with a spectacular event held at the I. Czech Lawn Tennis Club (www.cltk.cz) on Stvanice Island. The occasion included a tournament for both men and women, bringing together distinguished players from ICs of various countries such as Luxembourg, Ireland, Great Britain, USA, Hungary, Argentina, Uruguay, and the Czech Republic.

A total of 105 players and guests from these eight nations participated in the event, showcasing their exceptional skills and camaraderie. The competition took place over two days, featuring matches between national teams, with Friday's matches played in a mixed-nation pairings format.

In the final standings, Great Britain emerged as the winner, followed by the team from South America (Argentina and Uruguay) in second place. Team USA secured the third spot, with the international team (Ireland, Luxembourg) taking fourth place. Hungary claimed fifth place, while the Czech Republic finished in sixth position.

During an elegant dinner, in keeping with tradition the IC of the Czech Republic honored distinguished individuals by extending honorary memberships. These included Sue Bartlett from Great Britain, Henri Reiter from Luxembourg, Gustavo Herrero from Argentina, and Margaret Lumia and Jeffrey Snow from the USA. Additionally, the visiting IC of Uruguay bestowed membership upon the Czech captain in their organization, honoring Jan Michalek from the IC of the Czech Republic.

In addition to the competitive matches, participants enjoyed various social gatherings. These included a memorable dinner at Hartigovsky Palace, an excursion to explore Prague's city centre, and a golf outing near Prague.

The 90th anniversary celebration of the IC of the Czech Republic brought together players from different nations to commemorate this milestone. The event was a blend of thrilling matches, camaraderie, and cultural experiences, creating lasting memories for all involved.

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