Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court
Encyclopedia
The Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court Palace
is a real tennis
court which was built for Henry VIII of England
, who played there from 1528, and is still home to an active real tennis club.
During the 17th century various improvements were made to the court. One of the first acts of Charles II after his restoration in 1660 was to order the extensive refitting of the Tudor Tennis Court. This included the laying of a new tile floor, the remodelling of the galleries and repairs to the roof. At the same time, new nets, curtains and velvet cushions for the spectator's seats were provided. The interlaced initials above the net on the wall opposite the corridors are however not those of Charles but of William and Mary (1689–1702). Since the end of the 17th century the court has undergone little alteration. However progress is not incompatible with history: in 1975 sodium halide lighting was installed making the court the best lit in Great Britain and possibly anywhere.
The Ladies' World Championship, inaugurated in 1985, was played at the Royal Tennis Court in 1999, when defending champion Penny Lumley beat Sue Haswell 2-1 in the final .
The club regularly records the highest court usage of any court in the world, along with the courts at Radley College, Oxford and the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club .
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
is a real tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
court which was built for Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, who played there from 1528, and is still home to an active real tennis club.
During the 17th century various improvements were made to the court. One of the first acts of Charles II after his restoration in 1660 was to order the extensive refitting of the Tudor Tennis Court. This included the laying of a new tile floor, the remodelling of the galleries and repairs to the roof. At the same time, new nets, curtains and velvet cushions for the spectator's seats were provided. The interlaced initials above the net on the wall opposite the corridors are however not those of Charles but of William and Mary (1689–1702). Since the end of the 17th century the court has undergone little alteration. However progress is not incompatible with history: in 1975 sodium halide lighting was installed making the court the best lit in Great Britain and possibly anywhere.
Real Tennis World Championship Matches
The Real Tennis World Championship has been played at the Royal Tennis Court on five occasions .- 1885 Thomas Pettitt beat George Lambert 7-5
- 1977 Howard Angus beat Gene Scott 7-2
- 1979 Howard Angus beat Chris Ronaldson 7-0
- 1983 Chris Ronaldson beat Wayne Davies 7-4
- 2002 Rob Fahey beat Tim Chisholm 7-6
The Ladies' World Championship, inaugurated in 1985, was played at the Royal Tennis Court in 1999, when defending champion Penny Lumley beat Sue Haswell 2-1 in the final .
The Court Today
The court is home to a real tennis club of over 450 members . The club is active in interclub competitions and fields sides in the National League (adminstered by the International Real Tennis Professionals Association) and also in Tennis & Rackets Association tournaments including the Field Trophy.The club regularly records the highest court usage of any court in the world, along with the courts at Radley College, Oxford and the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club .