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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ITF AGM Report

Paul McNamee, IC of Australia and Executive Committee member attended the recent ITF AGM meeting, as an observer on behalf of the IC. The main agenda matters were in relation to the Presidential and Board elections, and Paul had the following to report:

"I had a productive discussion with the chair of the ITF’s Rules of Tennis Committee, amongst others. I explained to the chair the history of the IC’s role as (previously) an observer on this committee, especially in its role as custodian of the spirit of the game.

We touched on issues such as consistency of time between points on the ATP and WTA Tours and at ITF events, scoring of matches (e.g. all Grand Slams are different in the 5th set), grunting and, importantly, investigations into the merits of in match coaching. Most encouragingly, the chair supported the concept of the IC’s observer role being reinstated. However, it would require significant broader support I imagine before the observer role could be reinstated.

One rule change which went to the floor of the AGM was in relation to rule 29 of the rules of Tennis to extend the time between points from 20 to 25 seconds. The remaining parts of the rule would remain intact, including the principle that play should be continuous.

The reasons given were:

(1) harmony across all bodies - ATP, WTA and ITF, given ATP & WTA operate on 25 seconds

(2) physiological, in that the demands of the modern game justify it

(3) data shows that it will only have a minimal increase on the length of matches

The motion was carried by a 92% majority.

Given the IC is an observer at the AGM, we are not in a position to comment on a proposed resolution on the floor, which makes it important that the IC may one day again have a presence at the Rules of Tennis Committee.

I do appreciate the support which was given to me by the IC Council to attend."