Robert Fahey
Encyclopedia
Robert Fahey is an Australia
n real tennis
player.
On 27 April 2006, at the Oratory Tennis Club
in Woodcote, South Oxfordshire
, he matched the great Pierre Etchebaster's
feat of seven consecutive defenses of the real tennis singles World Championship, which he has held since 1994. The defence was against Tim Chisholm
in the latter's third consecutive challenge. In May 2008 he again successfully defended his title, and thus broke Etchebaster's record, against US pro Camden Riviere
on the historic court at Fontainebleau Palace, France, winning 7 sets to 5 (6/1 3/6 5/6 6/4, 6/2 6/3 5/6 6/0, 6/1 2/6 1/6 6/5). In May 2010 he retained his title for a record ninth time, defeating Steve Virgona
7 sets to 2.
In 2000 and 2001 he won back-to-back Grand Slams
, and a third in 2008. In 2003 (Hobart
), partnered with Steve Virgona, he won the World Doubles Championship; the pair successfully defended the title in 2005 (Fontainebleau), 2007 (Boston
), 2009 (Seacourt - Hayling Island) and 2011 (RMTC - Melbourne).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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...
player.
On 27 April 2006, at the Oratory Tennis Club
Oratory Tennis Club
The Oratory Tennis Club plays on the real tennis court of the Oratory School in Woodcote, South Oxfordshire. It was the first school in the United Kingdom to construct a court for 80 years, finishing the building in 1990....
in Woodcote, South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire is a local government district in Oxfordshire, England. Its council is based in Crowmarsh Gifford, just outside Wallingford....
, he matched the great Pierre Etchebaster's
Pierre Etchebaster
Pierre Etchebaster is widely considered history's greatest player of real tennis , the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended.Born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, a Basque fishing village, he served in the French Army during World War I before...
feat of seven consecutive defenses of the real tennis singles World Championship, which he has held since 1994. The defence was against Tim Chisholm
Tim Chisholm
Tim Chisholm is a semi-retired American real tennis player. Tim is currently Racquets Director at The Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, New York. A former lawn tennis player, Chisholm switched to the original game of tennis around the year 2000...
in the latter's third consecutive challenge. In May 2008 he again successfully defended his title, and thus broke Etchebaster's record, against US pro Camden Riviere
Camden Riviere
Camden Riviere is an American left-handed real tennis player. As of February 2010, he is ranked second in the world for the sport. In March 2007, paired with Tim Chisholm, he unsuccessfully challenged the reigning world doubles champions, Robert Fahey and Steve Virgona...
on the historic court at Fontainebleau Palace, France, winning 7 sets to 5 (6/1 3/6 5/6 6/4, 6/2 6/3 5/6 6/0, 6/1 2/6 1/6 6/5). In May 2010 he retained his title for a record ninth time, defeating Steve Virgona
Steve Virgona
Steve Virgona is a professional real tennis player based in Philadelphia. He is currently ranked number two in the world and is a world doubles champion. Virgona's victories include the Australian Open in 2007, the British Pro and the US Open.-Career:...
7 sets to 2.
In 2000 and 2001 he won back-to-back Grand Slams
Grand Slam (real tennis)
A Grand Slam in the sport of real tennis is earned by a player who holds the following titles in the same calendar year:* Australian Open* U.S. Open* French Open* British Open...
, and a third in 2008. In 2003 (Hobart
Hobart Real Tennis Club
The Hobart Real Tennis Club is one of the oldest sporting clubs in the Southern hemisphere, having been founded in 1875. The court is located at 45 Davey Street, Hobart, Tasmania....
), partnered with Steve Virgona, he won the World Doubles Championship; the pair successfully defended the title in 2005 (Fontainebleau), 2007 (Boston
Tennis and Racquet Club
The Tennis and Racquet Club is a private social club and athletic club located at 939 Boylston Street, in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is a contributing structure in the National Register Historic District....
), 2009 (Seacourt - Hayling Island) and 2011 (RMTC - Melbourne).
Singles titles
- World Champion: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 (since 1996 played on even years only)
- Australian Open: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008
- British Open: 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- French Open: 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- U.S. Open: 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- IRTPA Championships (formerly UK Professional): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009
- U.S. Professional / Schochet Cup: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- European Open: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011