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.

Load last 15 media item(s)Loading...

Meet a member: Guillermina Grant, IC of Uruguay

Guillermina Grant, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia (UGA) with a degree in Business Management & Administration, is now pursuing a master's in Financial Planning at the same institution. During her time at UGA, she was a key player on the university's tennis team, contributing significantly to their NCAA National Championship victory.

Guillermina's dedication to tennis extends beyond her collegiate career. She's been a proud member of the IC of Uruguay for eight years, starting her journey at just 13 years old. Her first involvement was in 2015, representing Uruguay in the South American IC Junior Challenge regional qualifier in Argentina. There, she not only competed but also earned the Sportsmanship Award alongside Chile's Patricio Gómez.

Her most cherished IC memories came from the Worldwide Finals in Tokyo and the ICGB 100 anniversary last year in London. In Tokyo Guillermina made her mark, winning her first official mixed doubles match against Japan. She fondly recalls the experience: "Apart from the tennis, we had the chance to meet players from different countries and develop friendships for life." In London, the event allowed her to have the unique opportunity to play doubles with her mother at the prestigious Wimbledon and connect with members from around the world.

Beyond the court, Guillermina highly values the networking aspect of the IC community. She appreciates the opportunity to connect with members who have successful careers and to learn from their experiences. When she's back home, Guillermina also dedicates her time to the IC of Uruguay’s philanthropy programme. She finds immense satisfaction in "seeing more and more kids holding tennis rackets," highlighting her passion for introducing the sport to a new generation.

You can connect with Guillermina and learn more about her journey through her LinkedIn profile.