Courts
Royal Melbourne Tennis Club
Royal Melbourne Tennis Club
the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club was opened in 1882 by Lord Normanby, located in Exhibition Street in the centre of Melbourne. The Club consisted of a tennis court and club rooms, and later squash courts and a swimming pool were added.
During the 1970s, the Committee sold the Exhibition Street site and boldly purchased the Richmond site in 1974, which included several houses in Richmond Hill, allowing for a bigger Club and expansion plans. The new building boasted two real tennis courts, two squash courts, a car park, a private garden, and swimming pool and beautiful surrounds that some call ‘the hidden oasis’.
The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club building and grounds were designed by Melbourne architect Daryl Jackson, built in 1974.
The new Club site was opened in 1975 by Lord Aberdare, President of the Tennis & Rackets Association.
Today, the Club has a relaxed feel with people popping in for social occasions, tennis, lunch on Wednesday and Friday, and the many evening Pennant events. We run a full calendar of events with something for players of all standards. The schedule is full nearly every weekend.
The Club is centrally located on Richmond Hill, 10 minutes from Melbourne CBD and includes:
Buses run along Punt road, conveniently stopping nearby on Punt Road/Rowena Parade. The train stops in Richmond, and is conveniently a 10 min walk to the Club. The club has a private car park for members to use when playing.
Catch the #75 and #48 Trams from the city along Flinders St to the first stop on Richmond Hill opposite Epworth Hospital. Less than 10 minutes from the city centre.
Our premier regular event is the Boomerang Cup, established over 20 years ago. In January 2014 we hosted the Australian Open (Men’s and Ladies) and in May we hosted the World Championship. We saw the great champion, Rob Fahey retain the title for the 13th time; this time against challenger Camden Riviere.
We have also been fortunate to host the Women’s World Championship over the years. The 2011 event attracted the best players in the world, and cemented Claire Vigrass as Champion, with her first World Championship victory.
Why would you be interested in joining?
The RMTC is a friendly club, with playing members ranging from 11 to 80+
We offer a range of activities including:
Our team of Professionals make the members time at the Club a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
It is said that being a member of RMTC is like having a personal assistant to help organise your tennis. That’s because the professionals help arrange games for you with players of a similar standard. They try to get to know when you like to play and help get you on court. It’s a wonderful service they provide to the members.
Our professional team are also busy hand making our 14 sets of 56 tennis balls, stringing racquets, taking lessons and clinics, marking competition matches and organising tournaments. There is also a range of tennis apparel available to purchase from the Pro-shop.
We are blessed to have a very experienced Pro team, headed by Frank Filippelli & Jonathan Howell and includes Paul Tabley, Kate Leeming and Nick Howell. They have worked in many Clubs throughout the world, ranked highly as players and know their craft well. Their contribution is greatly appreciated by the members.
real tennis is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis, or tennis, is descended. Real tennis is still played by enthusiasts on 47 existing courts in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and France.
Real Tennis has its origins in Europe during the Middle Ages. Though tennis is traditionally thought of as the game of kings, early records show that it was widely played among the French clergy. It is thought the monastic style buildings lent themselves to games played within the quadrangles and games that utilised the walls. The balls were first made from the monks’ discarded robes. Among the English kings Henry VII, Henry VIII, Charles I and Charles II and James II are all known to have played, with Henry VIII being responsible for the Royal court, which still exists at Hampton Court Palace.
The Real Tennis World Championship is the longest running continuous world championship of any sport. Australian Robert Fahey, a former RMTC professional, is the current world champion. Rob successfully defended his title in May 2010 at the RMTC for the tenth time since first winning it in 1994. Rob has gone on to retain the World Champion title since, with his win against Steve Virgona at Queen’s Club London in 2012. Our game has since 2001 also conducted the World Tennis Doubles Championship. This event was held at the RMTC in February 2011; Rob Fahey and Steve Virgona successfully defended their title for the fourth time, defeating Julian Snow (a winner of the inaugural event) and Ben Matthews.
We are also fortunate to have hosted the womens world championship in 2011, where Claire Vigrass won her first championship. Claire is the current women’s world champion and continues to raise the bar, regularly competing against men and a true ambassador for women’s tennis..
This year, we are delighted to host the Men’s World Championship in May 2014.
The Australian Open is currently being played from Tuesday 13th to Tuesday 20th January 2015.
On Wednesday 21st January we will be holding the Pr0 Am event. The format is a silent auction with 8 pros up for grabs including Camden Riviere. Please let the Pros know or come in to the Club to make your bid. All the information is one the notice board.
Roo Trophy Latest Information:
The Roo Trophy 2015 from Saturday 17th- Saturday 24th January.
Roo-Trophy Draw – First three days
Visit the Club for further information on the draw, doubles pools and the schedule.
The Roo Trophy is one week of handicap doubles played in pairs (pools and then knock out) plus a Singles main draw and repercharge event, so plenty of tennis for all. There will be an informal function at the club to welcome players on the Monday 19 January at 6.00PM, to coincide with the singles final of the 2015 Australian Open and the cost will be $60 per head. The Ladies Australian Open final will commence at 5pm so head on in to the Club to show your support from 5pm, with the Men’s Australian Open Final at 6.30pm.
The online registration for the Roo Trophy is available here, including sign up to the end of tournament dinner.
Functions for January include:
This is a great time to visit Melbourne with our Real tennis carnival and also see some world class lawn tennis at Rod Laver, with the Australian Open from 19th January to 1st February.
The club’s premier amateur event, the Boomerang Cup was held in January 2014. The RMTC Chasers were victorious over the Hatfield Hedonists in the narrowest of victories. The event normally occurs every two years.
The 2015 Australian Open is the first major event in the 2015 real tennis calendar. This year, we are honoured to welcome visiting pros, both the Mens World number 1, Camden Riviere and number 9, Chris Chapman. We will also see our local stars, world number 7, Kieran Booth, and Frank Filippelli and Nick Howell, world number 11 and 12 respectively.
In the doubles we are also expecting to see a fine display of tennis from the combination of Camden Riviere and Julian Snow, likely to be challenged by our very own 2014 Gold Racquet holder and last year’s Australian Open Doubles winner Kieran Booth playing this time with the recent Gold Racquet Challenger Bret Richardson.
LIVE STREAMING FOR THE MENS SINGLES QUARTERS, SEMIS AND FINALS
Semi Final #1 1.30pm Saturday 17th January
Camden Riviere v Nick Howell
Semi Final #2 3.30pm Saturday 17th January
Chris Chapman v Kieran Booth
Live streaming of the Australian Open Finals
Google – Royal Melbourne Tennis Club (search/videos)
Results for Thursday 15th January
Camden Riviere def James Gould 6/1 6/0 6/0
Kieran Booth def CJ White 6/1 6/2 5/6 6/1
Nick Howell def Frank Filippelli 6/3 6/2 6/1
Chris Chapman def Bret Richardson 6/2 6/2 6/4
Schedule for Play
Friday 16th January – come in to the club and support our local players in the Australian Open Doubles (no streaming).
4pm Nick Howell and Chris Chapman v James Gould and CJ White
6pm Chris Hince (replaces Paul Tabley) with Graham Hyland v Frank Filippelli and Jonners (Jonathan Howell).
Come in to the Club for a drink and enjoy this fine display of tennis.
Saturday 17th January – come in to the club and support the players in the Australian Open Singles Semi Finals at 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
Semi #1 Camden Riviere v Nick Howell (1.30pm)
Semi #2 Kieran Booth v Chris Chapman (3.30pm)
Sunday 18th January – come in to the club and support the players in the Australian Open Doubles Semi Finals at 4pm and 6pm.
Semi#1 Julian Snow and Camden Riviere v winner of Filipelli and Howell v Hince and Hyland (4pm) – live streaming
Semi#2 Richardon and Booth v winner of Chapman and Howell v Gould and White (6pm) – live streaming
Monday 19th January – come in to the club for the ladies followed by the men’s singles finals from 5pm, also streamed
Tuesday 20th January – come in the the club for the ladies doubles followed by the men’s doubles final from 5pm, also streamed.
The draw can be viewed at the IRTPA website.
The full 2015 Australian Open Men’s and Ladies Draws can be downloaded here.
The Doubles Draw will also see young guns CJ White and James Gould take on the homegrown young pro talent, Nick Howell and Chris Chapman as the first match for the tournament at 4pm on Friday 16th Janaury.
Following on from the young guns match we will see crowd pleasers Paul Tabley and Graeme Hyland for the cocktail match at 6pm against local Proshop duo of Head Pro Frank Filippelli and Deputy Head Jonners Howell!
The Womens Open will see local ladies Rose Snell and Prue McCahey play against each other in the singles draw.
Rose and Prue will then combine as an experienced pair in the doubles against Jo Edwards and Harriet Ingham.
The Womens Singles Final is to be played on Monday 19th January at 5pm.
The Womens Doubles Final will be played on Tuesday 2oth January at 5pm.
View the Australian Women’s draw alongside the Men’s draw and download here. 2015 Australian Open Men’s and Ladies Draws
The 2015 Australian Open is proudly brought to you by RMTC and ARTA.
T: +61 (3) 9429 9788
A: 18 Sherwood Street
Richmond
Victoria 3121
E: pros@rmtc.com.au
Head Professional – Frank Filippelli
Deputy Head Professional – Jonathan Howell
Professional – Kate Leeming
Professional – Paul Tabley
Professional - Nick Howell
M: 0408 663 623
By Appointment only Mon/Wed/Fri
Contact: Honni Rooney
T: +61 (3) 9429 9009
F: +61 (3) 9428 3280
E: admin@rmtc.com.au
T: +61 (3) 9429 9788
A: 18 Sherwood Street
Richmond
Victoria 3121
Contact: Barbara Craig (Wed & Fri)
