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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Mike Dunk Elected New Chairman of South Africa IC.

Mike hails from England where he played tennis for his county, Dorset, both as a junior and senior. He was also a Dorset athletic champion. He worked for Midland Bank in England before emigrating to South Africa in 1967 but immediately went to Rhodesia to work for a bank there before returning to South Africa in 1976.

He has served on both club and Provincial committees and represented Gauteng East at inter provincial tournaments. His real talent lies in broadcasting and he has covered all major tournaments in South Africa since 1980 together with a number of overseas Davis Cup ties in Sweden, Germany and Italy.

He worked at the French Open as well as Wimbledon and the ATP year end top 8 tournament.  He also presented sports programs on radio and television.

Although he retired from broadcasting some years back, with the advent of Live Streaming he was able to “come out of retirement” and has covered Davis Cup matches over the past four years.  He also started a tennis magazine program “Game, Set and Match” for streaming.

He is married to June, who is the secretary of the SA IC, and has two daughters both of whom are working in London.

At the AGM Mike paid tribute to the Leonie and thanked her for seven years of “dedication and commitment to the IC here in South Africa.” The establishment of the two development clinics in Vosloorus and Kenton on Sea “will be the landmark tribute to her tenure in office.”

Leonie will not be lost to the IC as she will remain on the South African committee and retains her place at the African representative on the IC Council.

Lorna Krog, who has been involved with veterans’ tennis and the IC for many years, was elected as Honorary President.  It is a befitting honour in view of her dedication to all aspects of tennis in South Africa over many years.