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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Mexico win the North American IC Rod Laver Junior Challenge

It was close on the third day after both Mexico and The USA had wins over The Bahamas and Barbados on the first two days.   So it was all to play for on day three.  Mexico got a good start winning both boys singles but The USA levelled it at 2-2 by winning the two girls singles.  In the doubles the Mexican boys again came through meaning the girls doubles was now critical.   This time the Mexican girls were able to reverse their two losses in the singles to come through in the doubles giving Mexico a 4-2 victory and a place in The Worldwide Finals at La Jolla, California. This will be 8th - 14th November 2020 where we are hoping Rod Laver will be able to attend.   The USA who had fought a good match were disappointed but do have the consolation that as the hosts for The Worldwide Finals they will also have a place in that.  These two teams will be joined by the winners of the other regional events which are:  Japan, Italy, Argentina and South Africa.

In the match for 3rd and fourth place between Barbados and host Bahamas it was even closer than the match to win this regional event.  In Boys singles The Bahamas won both matches followed also by the doubles while in the girls matches Barbados came through in all three matches to level the tie at 3 matches each by winning both singles and doubles.  So it was a mixed tie break to decide the winner.  The Bahamas went in to a 3-0 lead but Barbados rallied to come back and win to get third place.

During the event an excellent clinic was held for 25 kids who lost their homes in Northern Bahama islands during Hurricane Dorian and are living in temporary accommodation in the main island in Nassau, New Providence.   All the juniors and their coaches joined in to help with this under the guidance of Perry Newton head of BLTA Junior Development .  The junior players were split in to four groups under the guidance of a main coach with a boy and girl junior from all the different nationality teams in each group. This helped them to  mix and get to know each other better too. The hurricane kids were rotated through each group with different drills ending up combining in to two groups for a “tennis contest” on a real court of volleying with soft balls.  All the kids were given a small something to take away plus a tennis ball to help continue their interest.

Overall the event went off well and the sportsmanship was good throughout helped by the coaches/captains setting a good example and talking to their teams about this.  The IC philosophy of “hands across the net, friendship across the ocean” was well evident and the juniors not only had a great tennis experience but made good friends as the event progressed.

Sportsmanship awards went to Chloe Weeks of Barbados and Denali Nottage of The Bahamas and there were many other deserving candidates.

The two teams of Barbados and Mexico who stayed overnight were taken on a sail boat trip up Nassau Harbour by one of our IC members  after matches on the third day. This was followed by “Chinese and Ice Cream cake” at another IC Members home overlooking the dock where the boat is moored.  All in good IC spirit of friendship.