Fahey Wins 11th World Championship 
The World Challenge is over for another two years, with Rob Fahey retaining his title by 7 sets to 3 sets.
After the first day of play Rob Fahey led 3/1 in sets.
On the second day the sets were drawn 2/2 with the last two sets some of the most exciting ever seen. Steve Virgona in the last two sets played awesome tennis, Rob Fahey tried to stop him all the way, but Virgona was just too focused and too good.
On the last day of play on Saturday, it was Fahey who was moving like the younger man and he dominated the play and won the required two sets to retain his title.
The event over the week, hosted so brilliantly by The Queen's Club was only blighted by the wet and cold weather, but there is nothing one could do about that!
R Fahey (Australia) defeats S Virgona (Australia) 7 sets to 3.
Day 1: 6/5 3/6 6/1 6/3 Day 2: 6/4 6/3 3/6 5/6 Day 3: 6/1 6/3
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MCCRTS Singles Championship 2012
This event is played off club handicaps. All matches are one set, first to 8 games. Advantage all at 40-All.
Matches must be completed in the following months:
Round 2 - September
Round 3 - October
Round 4 - November
Finals - December
Champioship Final - Friday 7 December at the MCCRTS Christmas Party
The first listed player for each match is responsible for arranging the match and playing it by the due date. If no arrangement has been made, they forfeit the match. After being contacted, if the second listed player is not able to play the match by the due date, they forfeit the match.
Good luck to all players!
Club Championship Draw - Pool 1
Club Championship Draw - Pool 2
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Introductory Sessions
Our real tennis Club professional begins a lesson for beginners on court from 6:30pm on Club Nights. You will be provided with a racquet and coaching to enable you get a good feel for the game by the end of the evening. We also provide you with drinks and supper for the modest cost of $25 for the evening to cover court hire for your first session.
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Invitation to “Club Nights”
Friday 9th November
Friday 7th December
Our regular “first Friday of the month” sessions enable members to play, be coached and relax over drinks and a fine supper. These nights are held at The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club, 18 Sherwood Street, Richmond – centrally located just near the MCG. Additional court time can be arranged via our Club professional.
Contact: MCC real tennis professional - Paul Tabley 0403 594 576 - for bookings.
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Upcoming Tournaments
- Sunday 18 November - MCC v Ballarat Tennis Club – at Romsey
- Thursday July 18 - Monday July 22 - MCC v MCC (Cowper - Cowdrey Cup) - at Lord's
As per tradition, the real tennis players of these great clubs do battle again to coincide with the second Ashes Test, Australia v England, at Lord's July 18 - 22. It’s going to be a busy time playing for the trophy – the Ashes Test at Lord’s will see our team going head to head with the other MCC, and there will be a return fixture after the Boxing Day Test when the cricketers do battle again.
If you are interested in playing in London please contact our Secretary, Iain Buchanan on 0417 565 215 or email: mccrts@y7mail.com.
Tournament Results 2012
12/02/12 – Royal Melbourne Tennis Club d MCC, 6/4 – at Richmond
24/03/12 - Hobart Tennis Club d MCC, 9/7 – at Hobart
27/05/12 – MCC d Ballarat Tennis Club, 8/2 – at Ballarat
06/07/12 – MCC d Ballarat Tennis Club, 3/0 at Melbourne (Pennant)
20/07/12 – Royal Melbourne Tennis Club d MCC, 4/2 at Melbourne
17/08/12 - MCC d Ballarat Tennis Club, 4/2 at Ballarat (Pennant)
07/09/12 - MCC d Irish Real Tennis Association, 3/1 at Melbourne
23/09/12 - Sydney Tennis Club d MCC, 6/3 at Romsey
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MCC in fine form
Participants from the MCC Real Tennis Section and the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club (see photo, right) pose for the camera during their interclub match at Romsey in October, 2011.
The MCC emerged victorious, and has won all its interclub matches this year.
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Rob Fahey wins 10th world title
Saturday May 8, 2010
MCC Real Tennis Section representative Robert Fahey has won an amazing 10th world title, taking nine sets to defeat challenger Steve Virgona on the third day of the final at Royal Melbourne Tennis Club on Saturday.
The man dubbed the “Roger Federer of real tennis” controlled the contest from the outset.
Needing seven sets to win the best-of-13-set final, he led 3-1 on the opening day, increased his lead to 6-2 on the second day, closing it out in the opening set on Saturday.
Fahey belied his 42 years to repeatedly run down shots from his younger opponent. Fahey's railroad serve worked well, while Virgona struggled to find a serve to curb the champion's return.
Fahey has been the world champion since 1994, which makes him one of Australia’s most successful sportsmen. A modest man, the world number one’s achievements are extraordinary. He has won 11 Australian Opens, 10 French Opens, eight US Opens and eight British Opens. Not to mention three grand slams (2000, 2001 and 2008) and three world doubles titles!
ABOUT REAL TENNIS
According to Melbourne’s head professional Frank Filippelli, real tennis at the top level is “brutal, awesome, savage and intellectually demanding.”
“There are so many ways of getting on top of your opponent and strategies and tactics play a big part of the game," he said. "Real Tennis is easily the best racquet game on earth, especially when you know the capabilities of the players and how difficult the game is to master.”
According to Filippelli (who won the Australian Open in 1995) Fahey is the Roger Federer of real tennis, equipped with both mental and physical strength, a flawless technique, the best serve in the game and a brutal return.
Notably, during his career Fahey has won 40 national titles – Australian, French, US, British Opens.
Fahey is the 26th holder of the world championship title, which was first contested in 1740 when it was won by a Frenchman, Clerge the Elder.
Real tennis, first played in France in monastery courtyards, precedes its lawn tennis cousin by more than 600 years and is the forerunner of all the world’s racquet games.
Although there were hundreds of real tennis courts throughout the world 300 years ago, including 250 in Paris alone, there are now only 40, and about 10,000 active players.
Australia has four clubs – Melbourne, Hobart, Romsey (north-west of Melbourne) and Ballarat.
The game requires great commitment to play the top level. The balls are solid and can be hit at speeds of 160 kilometres an hour (hit with uppercut rather than topspin). There are also 50 types of serve including the boomerang, railroad, demi-piquet and giraffe.