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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MONDAY REPORT FROM COMPASS IC JUNIOR CHALLENGE WORLDWIDE FINALS

A great start to the week with some exciting and close matches. Top seeds Italy came through with a win against India but not without several individual matches going to tie breaks.

The other two matches were extremely close and the overall results in the balance through to the doubles matches. In the match between Uruguay and South Africa it was Uruguay who took a 3-1 lead after the singles but only after the top two boys went to a third set tie break which Uruguay won. This meant the doubles were critical with the Uruguay girls coming through to give them their fourth win and so the overall match.

Meanwhile a long match between USA and Japan was again very closely fought. After the singles it was tied 2-2 with the USA girls then winning their doubles to go up 3-2. Then there was a great boys doubles in which they split the first two sets with the USA boys eventually coming through in the third set tie break to give the USA the team win.  Photos from Monday can be seen here

Tuesdays match ups in the round robin are:

Italy v Uruguay

India v USA

South Africa v Japan

In a superb IC tradition the Welcome Dinner at The Grand Hyatt was an outstanding occasion with Imperial Highness Princess Takamado in attendance and giving an inspiring speech to the juniors. At the event were many sponsors, IC members, organisers , Japanese tennis dignitaries and the Ambassadors of India and Italy. In total 187 attendees. Everyone was treated to a fascinating performance of traditional Japanese drumming with the juniors being invited afterwards to try their own hand at it which was much more difficult than it seemed! On a large screen photos from Sunday of the junior teams and their participation in the clinic for the handicapped kids were shown in rotation. This was a good demonstration for all those present of this philanthropic element that the IC encourages. It was also a great demonstration of the IC motto of "Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean". The IC of Japan is to be congratulated on putting on an event which has already become a very memorable one for all involved.