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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IC Tennis Greats Support The “IC Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge”

The IC Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge is gaining wonderful support from many “Tennis Legends”.  Foremost among these is Rod Laver whose name has been incorporated into the title of the event from 2019 onwards.

However Rod Laver is not alone as many other “Tennis Legends” and former top tour players have become increasingly involved.  Among IC members who have been at the very top of the game in their careers one of the most recent to support the event is Evonne Goolagong whose Foundation is helping to send a team of indigenous Australian juniors to the upcoming regional event in Hong Kong.  Gabriella Sabatini, a recent recipient of the CQS Jean Borotra IC Sportsmanship award, has made a donation to this year’s South American Regional Event and has also participated in a clinic for disadvantaged kids that is run at the events.  In the North American Regional Event former number 1 doubles player Mark Knowles’ charity has helped support travel for the Bahamas Junior team players.  All the above are “Major” title winners.

There are many others who have participated in some way including former top 20 tour players Marcello Fillipini of Uruguay and Jergen Fassbender of Germany who have captained their country’s junior teams - a great experience for the juniors.  Many other IC members and former top tour players such as the South Americans Jaime Fillol, Jorge Lehman, Nelson Earts, Fernando Gentil and the late Enrique Morea have all been involved with Junior Challenges. Indeed South America has used the Junior Challenges to get together many of the former tour players who have re-united and got on court alongside these events - enjoyable for both them and for the juniors to see their country tennis legends playing and exhibiting the IC motto of “ hands across the net friendship across the ocean”.

The original idea for the Junior Challenge was inspired by Frank Sedgman and Athol Tills(NZ IC)  who arranged international practice sessions between their two countries and when Australia staged The Worldwide Finals IC President Frank Sedgman  and the then Australian IC President Paul MacNamee supported that event and entertained all the participating juniors to a day at The Australian Open. Paul also played doubles with the juniors on a day at the former Australian Open grass court venue of Kooyong - another great experience for the juniors.

There are many other IC Members who have been top tour players, Davis Cup and Fed Cup players who have supported The IC Junior Challenges and apologies for not mentioning all of them . The IC thanks all these  “IC Tennis Greats “ for their support and involvement in what many juniors have described as their “most enjoyable tennis experience”.

For further information on the event “The Story of the IC Junior Challenge” can be downloaded from this website.