Rob Fahey - Real Tennis

March 2020

The Guardian Magazine sent me to photography Rob Fahey, who Is the Real Tennis World Champion and has been for the past 26 years - with one brief 2 years interruption. I think that’s pretty incredible in a physical sport. He is now 51 and was due to defend his title this May.

Real tennis is an older version of tennis, originally played in France and made popular by Henry the VIII. There are now just 50 courts worldwide and the rules are quite complicated. Games last 3 days with the players playing a total of up to 13 sets, and there are many ways to win points, including hitting windows. Also the balls are hand made, often by the players themselves and they also string their own rackets.

This was shot at the Queens Club in Kensington, where he last one the title.