The IC of South Africa host the Nations Cup and Legends Awards Dinner

The IC of South Africa hosted the Nations Cup and Legend Awards Dinner from 18-23 March 2026.

Nations Cup – Three Days of International Tennis

The Nations Cup was contested over three days of highly competitive and engaging tennis hosted at Kelvin Grove Tennis Club. The event brought together international teams in a format that balanced competitive intensity with the core IC values of sportsmanship, camaraderie, and friendship. In addition, guests were given a free day to arrange their own excursions.

Day 1 – Arrival and Welcome

The opening function set the tone for the tournament, with players having arrived from various parts of the globe. The Welcome Dinner was held at Kelvin Grove, providing an opportunity for players and officials to connect in a relaxed environment, renewing old and making new friendships, reinforcing the values that underpin IC events.

Day 2 – Opening Matches

Teams began engaging in well-contested matches. The standard of play was consistently high, with several closely fought encounters that highlighted both the depth of talent and the competitive pride of each nation. At the end of the day, the Nations tie was won by South Africa who edged out GB. Two other mixed regional teams completed the group.

Day 3 – Day at Leisure

This was a free day with guests able to plan their own excursions.

A highlight of the day was the evening cruise, which provided a unique and memorable setting for social interaction. Against the backdrop of Cape Town’s coastline, participants were able to unwind, connect, and celebrate the shared experience of international tennis. The cruise was widely regarded as a standout feature of the event. The return to the harbour and its twinkling lights with dancing on deck to the strains of Johnny Clegg and other African tunes, was a lovely ending to the event (the outward leg in choppy seas notwithstanding!!). 

Day 4 – The programme continues

The second day of competition featured a full schedule of matches across all participating teams. The level of competition intensified, with decisive results beginning to shape the standings. Off the court, the atmosphere remained vibrant and inclusive, with players supporting one another and sharing in the experience beyond the matches themselves.

Day 5 – Final Matches and Closing Ceremony

The final day of the Nations Cup brought the tournament to an exciting conclusion, as the remaining round robin matches were played. With everything still to play for, the level of tennis remained high throughout the morning. Close matches, competitive rallies, and strong team performances defined the final rounds, with results ultimately decided by fine margins.

The closing prizegiving marked a fitting conclusion to the Nations Cup. IC South Africa had the honour of awarding honorary membership to Louise Field (New Zealand), Peter Harding and Karen Cass (GB) and Pam Rosenbaum (Canada). In addition, Duard Botha was awarded honorary membership of IC Great Britain, reflecting the strong international ties fostered during the event. The formalities were followed by a relaxed pizza farewell, allowing participants to conclude the tournament in a warm and informal setting.

Legends Dinner – A Celebration of Excellence

The Legends Dinner, held at Grand Africa Café & Beach, was undoubtedly one of the defining highlights of the week. Set under the evening sky, with the ocean as a backdrop to dancing on the sand, the event created a unique and memorable atmosphere befitting the occasion. Dinner on the Deck was served buffet style and proved to be a sumptuous affair. From oysters to salmon and fillet accompanied by vegetables and salads, it was an outstanding experience.

The evening celebrated the rich legacy of South African tennis, with:

• 13 new Legends inducted
• 6 Lifetime Achievement Awards presented
• 6 Masters World Champions recognised.

Each recognition was a testament to the enduring impact of individuals who have shaped the sport at national and international levels.

The IC of South Africa were particularly privileged to host Brigitte Cuypers-Fourie and JL de Jager, both crowned Legends in 2023. Their presence added further prestige to the evening and served as a powerful reminder of the excellence and tradition that define South African tennis.

The event successfully combined formality with celebration, creating an environment that honoured past achievements while inspiring future generations. The feedback received from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the setting and organisation as truly world-class.

Further Details

• Venue
  The historic Kelvin Grove Country Club proved to be the ideal venue for the Nations Cup Tournament hosted by the International Club of South Africa (IC SA) in March 2026. The Club’s beautiful grounds feature the grand old historical clubhouse, 2 restaurants, bar, coffee shop and swimming pool. 
• Teams
  Originally meant to be a gathering of 4 Nations, it soon transpired that clubs were having difficulty fielding full teams and the event became an open competition. Representatives from the US, Canada, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa found themselves playing for the Ellies, the Pumbas, the Daisies and others. In total, some 40 players had the opportunity to participate in the competition.

Format

• Day 1: 4 teams of 8 competing as  countries or regions. Won by SA with GB second.
• Days 2 and 3: 8 teams of 4. Ladies, Men’s and Mixed Doubles.

Entertainment/Functions

• Welcome function and dinner
• Sunset cruise
• The Legends Dinner and Awards
• The prize-giving and pizza evening.

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Letter from the Chairman about COVID-19

Dear IC Friends,

I hope you, and those closest to you, are well and safe in these worrying and uncertain times.  I’m “locked-down” at home in Washington DC with Annegrethe and two of our children, who are now at home in a Google Classroom; and I’m seeking constant updates from the rest of the family on the other side of the Atlantic.  I am writing, phoning, texting, emailing and skyping with friends, most of whom I’ve not spoken to for far too long.  I know that the situation is far worse in many parts of the world, and where we have ICs: Italy, Spain, the UK, Hong Kong, US (IC members in Seattle, San Francisco, New Orleans and New York), and the list grows.  We want to know how you all are.

We must be prepared for bad news, too; and death from COVID-19, because of the isolation required during the illness and after death, will be especially traumatic for families. Thierry has informed me today of the sad passing of André Desselas, of the IC of France, and an honorary member of the IC of US.  Our sympathies go out to André’s family.

Communications and Support Networks

Communications - at a safe distance - will be an important aspect of managing, and surviving, the COVID-19 crisis.  Please consider making arrangements in your ICs for your members to stay in contact with each other, by phone, email or video conferencing/messaging.  Set up support networks to make sure that your older members, particularly, and those you know who’ve been unwell, know they have someone they can contact if they find themselves in a difficult situation.  You’ll know how best to create these networks in your countries in a way which works with your membership.  I’m kicking-off an email with the Executive Committee in which I’m asking them to check in with me by email (copying in the others); and if I don’t hear from each of them by the end of the week, I’ll give them a ring, or arrange for someone in their time zone to do so.

Postponement and Cancellation of Events

We, too, have had to cancel or postpone events.  The cancelled IC Council-supported events this year include so far:

The Legends Event in South Africa

The Potter Cup in Barcelona

The 4-Nations Event in Prague

Please look out for the notices that host ICs are sending out to you about their events.  There are actions for you in some of them – for example, in the IC of Spain’s (Berta’s) notice about the Potter Cup.

Major tennis events, some with which we have been associated closely for nearly 100 years, are also being cancelled or postponed.  We will adjust our calendar to the changes.  The EC Meeting at Roland-Garros will move to September.  We are waiting still for news on The Championships at Wimbledon.  We will take a decision on our AGM, which takes place on the middle Sunday of The Championships, when we have news from the AELTC.

Many of our IC of Japan members have been very engaged in the preparations for the now postponed 2020 Olympic Games.  We look forward to Tokyo hosting the Olympics in 2021.

I know a lot of ICs have invested a lot of hard work, and precious funds, in Events they’ve had to cancel or postpone.

Other events are under consideration and we’ll try and keep the IC Council Website up to date on postponements and cancellations of our Events. Please keep Kit copied on your emails.

CQS Jean Borotra IC Sportsmanship Award 2019: Rafael Nadal

One of the major tennis events that was cancelled was the Monte-Carlo Open.  The Director of the Open, and the IC of Monaco, had agreed that we could present our CQS Jean Borotra IC Sportsmanship Award during the Open. We were about to announce the new laureate to ICs: Rafael Nadal. I’ll write separately with news of when and where we might now make the Award.  We’re delighted he has accepted; and he seems to have been as delighted to be asked.  

To Do Lists

These are bizarre times.  Some of us, now working from home, will have more time to read and write and to work through long ‘to do’ lists.

IC e-News

You should have all received the inaugural IC e-News email last month. IC e-News will be an important way for ICs around the world to keep in touch: on upcoming fixtures, recent results, news and uplifting stories.  In a year like this one, it will be a way for us to report IC stories from the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share with us what you’re doing in terms of support networks and we’ll feature that in the next IC e-News. Please visit the IC Council website to view the IC e-News – www.ictennis.net. 

We are aiming for three or four editions of IC e-News each year. Contributions to Tash Starling – ts@ictennis.net

Would all Honorary Secretaries please forward IC e-News to every member of your IC – Now!

2019 Business Returns

ICs who haven’t replied yet, would you please try and do so. We need this data to be annually updated if it is to be useful to us in understanding the membership, activity and other trends in the IC. Please send Returns to Tash – ts@ictennis.net     

Alumni

We are not good at collecting this type of data and keeping in touch with alumni who’ve had wonderful shared experiences at some of our more outstanding events.  I’ve asked ICs to collect lists of their members who have played in the Potter Cup and gather their contact details. We have begun the planning of the 50^th Anniversary of this prestigious event and alumni will play an important role.

I’ve also asked ICs to collect a similar list of those juniors who have represented their ICs in regional and world finals of what is now named the Rod Laver IC Junior Challenge.

Please send these lists to Tash.

Juan Maria Tintoré

I have mentioned the Potter Cup a few times in this letter.  Before the world became submerged in this pandemic, I had the sad, but at the same time honourable, duty to write an obituary for our good friend Juan Maria Tintoré, President of the IC of Spain. Our condolences go out to his sweet wife, Berti, and to their wonderful family.

Look after yourselves and each other,