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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Even more exciting matches - Day 2 of The IC Rod Laver European 16U Junior Challenge

The first day had some close matches but this was surpassed on day 2. In Group B both inter country matches were tied at 3 each and had mixed doubles tie breaks to decide the winner. Against Spain Israel needed to win two 10 point tie break third sets in the no.1 girls singles and number two boys singles to manage to level at two matches each, both teams then won one doubles with Israel coming through in the mixed doubles decider to win the overall tie 4-3.

Meanwhile in the same group Austria went down 3-1 to Slovenia in the singles winning only the number 2 girls match. They then went on a great doubles run winning both the boys and girls doubles to level at 3 matches each. So it was another mixed doubles decider with Austria continuing their winning doubles streak to take the overall match 4-3. This means an interesting third day to see which teams go through to which play off positions with the other group for Friday's matches with Israel currently in pole position.

Maybe not to be out done by the other group there was a great match between Italy and Ireland. After the singles it was three matches each with both the boys number 1 's and the girls number ones going to 10 point tie break third sets with Italy winning the girls 10-7 and Ireland the boys 14-12. In the boys doubles Italy came through in two sets but the girls doubles split sets and went in to the third 10 point tie break set with Italy coming through 10-8 to take the overall tie and avoid a mixed doubles decider. In the remaining match GB won comfortably over Germany 6-0 but it to had some good matches including two that went to third set 10 point tie breaks. So the overall result was perhaps a bit flattering to GB and not fully representative of some good performances from Germany.

So it is: Group A Italy 2, Great Britain 1, Ireland 1, Germany 0
Group B Israel 2, Austria 1, Slovenia 1, Spain 0

This has probably been the most closely contested regional challenge for some time with strong consistent performances by all teams giving them a great tennis experience and feeling of team camaraderie.

After the matches the teams were taken on a coach tour of Frankfurt. Tomorrow evening our hosts Germany have put together a Tennis Dinner Quiz for all the teams that will be held at The Frankfurt Palmgarten Tennis Club ...... no phones and Google will be allowed !!!!!