Robert Abdesellam Trophy

23rd - 25th June 2017

Results: Finished runners-up | IC of GB 3 – 1 IC of France; IC of GB 4 – 0 IC of Belgium; and IC of GB 1-3 IC of Spain
Venue: Club de Campo Villa de Madrid

The three-day Robert Abdesellam Trophy took place in scorching temperatures at one of Spain’s most prestigious country clubs in the heart of Madrid. Represented by Graham Neale (55s), Richard Wayman (65s), Karen Cass (50s) and Miranda Hosking (55s), the team played three matches in three days against the ICs of France, Belgium and Spain, each playing one doubles and a mixed per day.

With court temperatures exceeding 40 degrees on the first day, play didn’t start until 6pm in the evening. Despite the challenging conditions the GB team stormed to a 3-1 victory against France, with all three wins coming from third set 10-point tiebreaks.  This was followed the next day with a 4-0 win against Belgium. Unfortunately the team lost to Spain in the last match. Spain and GB both had two wins each after three great days of competition but GB finished runners-up overall after a count back on sets won.

Final Positions:
1. IC of Spain
2. IC of GB
3. IC of France
4. IC of Belgium

About Robert Abdesselam
Robert Abdesselam’s legacy is an important one for the world of tennis. Son of an Algerian lawyer, he was a junior champion of France in 1937 and 1938 and university champion in 1939 before going on to feature on the French Davis Cup team. On a personal level, he participated a volunteer in the second World War and went on to have an international political career that led to him being acclaimed with the French Legion of Honour. He was a French delegate at the United Nations and a founder of NATO. An international lawyer for Lacoste, he was Vice President of the French Tennis Federation and of the International Tennis Federation, a founder of the Centenary Tennis Clubs Association and President of the International Club of France.