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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Meet a member: Helena Suková, IC of the Czech Republic

Former Czech professional tennis player Helena Suková enjoyed a successful career on the international stage, renowned for her finesse in both singles and doubles play. Born into a prominent Czech tennis family, she rose to fame during the 1980s and 1990s, achieving a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 and capturing an impressive 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. In addition to the legacy of her illustrious career as a player, Helena has continued to contribute to the tennis world, particularly through her role in the IC of the Czech Republic.

Helena first got involved in the IC in December 1998, when some of her tennis colleagues from I.CLTK – the oldest tennis club in Czechoslovakia – asked if she would be willing to help re-establish the IC in the Czech Republic. The IC had been suspended since the Second World War and Helena took on the key role of gathering the necessary documentation and following the procedures to bring the Czech IC back to life. Upon achieving this, she took on the presidency of the IC of the Czech Republic, a role which she held for 25 years until stepping down this summer. From 2001 until 2008, she also served as a co-opted member of the IC Council.

“The thing I like most about being part of the IC is having friends all around the globe”, Helena says, reflecting on the lasting friendships she has built across the IC community. "Staying in touch with so many past players who, normally, you wouldn’t have the chance to meet anymore. It’s wonderful to be part of an organization that keeps the legend of the game alive."

Helena’s favourite IC moment was helping to establish the highly successful IC doubles event originally known as the "IC June in Prague." Now renamed the "IC Jiri Medonos Cup by Deloitte," this event has become a staple of the IC event calendar. "It has been a continuing success, and I hope it will take place for many years to come."