Real Tennis World Championship


The Real Tennis World Championship is the premier competition in real tennis.
Men's singles in real tennis was the first world championship in any sport; it also predates the use of the term "real tennis," as the sport was called just "tennis" until lawn tennis gained popularity.
The first recorded champion was Clergé, The Elder in the 1740s.

Start year

  1. Men's singles: 1740
  2. Men's doubles: 2001
  3. Women's singles: 1985
  4. Women's doubles: 1985

    Men's singles

This championship has always been on a challenge basis – the champion retains the title until losing an official challenge, except in cases where the champion has retired. Originally, the champion had the right to accept or reject a challenge, usually depending upon the prize money put up by the challenger's sponsor: several years could thus go by between challenge matches.
The top four ranked players in the world playoff for the right to challenge, with the champion and challenger playing a match of up to 13 sets over three days. In theory, this is the only match the champion has to play in the two years since winning the last one.
The most recent men's world championship match was held in September 2025, with sets being played on 23 and 25 September at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island

World men's singles champions

Men's doubles

The men's doubles title is earned in a tournament with the sport's four top-ranked pairings. Competed every odd-numbered year, it is hosted in rotation among the countries with active courts in the following order: the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the United States. The championship match uses a best of nine sets format.
After the first championship was won by Tim Chisholm and Julian Snow, the title was won and then defended five times by singles world champion Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona. They lost their title in the final set of the final match in 2015, in a championship held at Prested Hall.
The title now belongs to Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm.
YearVenueWinnersRunners-UpScoresNotes
2001Middlesex University

Women's singles

Unlike the men's singles title, the women's title is earned in a tournament: the title holder must win her way through the draw for the right to defend the championship.
The championship tournament is held every odd-numbered year. Since 2011, the title has been held by Claire Fahey.
YearVenueWinnerRunner-UpScores
1985Melbourne

Women's doubles

The women's doubles world championship is held at the same time and venue as the women's singles championship. It is also a tournament format, rather than a challenge.
YearVenueWinnerRunner-UpScores
1985Melbourne