The centenary club of LE TIR (Paris, France), welcomed a CTC +50/+60 tournament on September 27-28, 2025, hosting two clubs from England, East Glos Club (Cheltenham) and The Northern (Manchester), and one club from Barcelona, Reial Club de Tennis Barcelona-1899.
Fortunately, the weather was sunny and all games were played on clay courts, these same courts where the players competing at Roland Garros in may-june practice before the French Open starts.
On Saturday, we chose to spread both English teams: The Northern played against LE TIR and East Glos against RCTB-1899.The experience of clay court was clearly an advantage for French and Spanish players, who all won their games.
On Sunday, East Glos and The Northern competed against each other for the 3rd and 4th rank. The Northern got the 3rd place and East Glos the 4th place.
The winners of Saturday met on Sunday morning for a tough opposition. RCTB-1899 was superior on several singles against LE TIR ; some other singles were more disputed.
The excellent level of RCTB’s players with beautiful technical gestures gathered some crowd around the courts which made the atmosphere even more competitive and friendly. The score was 3-3 after the singles. LE TIR lost the first mixt double and had no other choice than to win the last 2 doubles in order to win the tournament.
Carlos, Barcelona’s captain, was elegant enough to decide not to play the doubles (he had won his single) as there were players dedicated for the doubles, not having played the singles. Le TIR admitted that it is possible that Barcelona may have won the tournament in case Carlos had played one of the last two doubles, with his athletic shape and his tremendous serve & volley game. Thank you Carlos and Bravo!
Le TIR won both doubles at the 3rd set, which were 2 super tie-breaks. In the mixt double, Barcelona was ahead 5-1 … and it ended up 10-8 for LE TIR. The men double ended 10-7 in another super tie-break! So close!
All clubs enjoyed a friendly cocktail and dinner at LE TIR, and also excellent lunches both days and Welcome breakfast on Saturday. As the games finished early enough on Saturday, some players had the good idea to walk to the Champs Elysées and walk back, through the Bois de Boulogne, just before the cocktail. Others enjoyed a sauna, others beers and wine, others a seat in the garden facing the sun.
LE TIR addresses a big Thank You to the CTC association for giving us the opportunity to play senior team events like these ones.
