Varsity
We think that the real tennis varsity is the oldest real tennis event to be held annually, and that it is the fourth oldest sport to be contested by Oxford and Cambridge (after cricket, rowing and rackets). The first match was in 1859, and in 2021 the 150th fixture was played.
Early Years
Tennis has existed in both Oxford and Cambridge since the sixteenth century. Today there is one court in Oxford, and two courts in Cambridge.
The first Real Tennis Varsity was held in 1859. It has been held annually ever since (apart from 1864 and the two world wars), which makes it the oldest annual tennis event.
There has been a real tennis varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge ever since 1859. Held every year ever since (with the exception of 1864 and during the first and second world wars), it is the oldest tennis event to be contested annually.
Cambridge in 1575
Venue
The match was originally held at the James Street court off the Haymarket. A court had been there since the early 17th century, but it closed in 1866 and the varsity match relocated to Lord’s from 1867. In the 20th centuries Leamington, Manchester and Queen’s also all held the Varsity match. In the early 2000s the fixture returned to its spiritual home at Lord’s.
Lord's
Format
The format of the varsity match has undergone a number of changes over the years. In the beginning only two players from each university were involved in two matches, a doubles and a singles. A second string singles match started in 1912, but it only counted towards the fixture, and put a stop to drawn fixtures, in 1922.
In 1976 a second doubles match was introduced, and a third and fourth string singles as well. Doubles matches have always been the best of five sets. Singles too were once the best of five sets, but have been best of three since 1976. Should the score be three all after six matches, a deciding doubles is played over the best of three sets. Each university must produce a new doubles pairing for this match.
Before the second doubles and third and fourth string singles, the curious “dinner match” occurred. This was a match consisting of three singles matches for the players ranked third, fourth and fifth at each university. The losers of this match had to pay for the match dinner which was held afterwards and so a lot was at stake.
Oxford
Cambridge
Ladies Match
In 1992 the first women’s varsity match was contested. Oxford undergraduate Louise Air (later Louise Ludekens) was the driving force behind the inaugural fixture which was played at Oxford. Oxford won and a return match was played at Cambridge the next year.
For the next few years Hardwick House was the neutral venue used, until parity was achieved and the match moved to Lord’s in the late 2000s.
Champagne house Pol Roger have been exceptionally generous supporters of the women’s varsity from the late 1990s, took on the men’s match too when that moved back to Lord’s, and thus were an instrumental force in ensuring the men’s and women’s matches took place together.
As with the men’s match, four singles and two doubles matches are played, but all women’s matches are contested over the best of three sets.
Full and half blues
Full blue and half blue eligibility at each university has changed since the first varsity match. Nowadays each player (both male and female) customarily receives a half blue, and a handicap threshold is used to decide whether a player deserves a full blue.
Oxford Blue
Cambridge Blue
Giraffes and Unicorns
A second team match is also contested each year, the venue alternating between Oxford and Cambridge. It is informally known as the Unicorns vs Giraffes match, as these animals appear on the Grilles at the Oxford and Cambridge tennis courts.
The match today
Under the continued auspices of Pol Roger’s kind sponsorship, the varsity weekend at Lord’s has gone from strength to strength and is an annual highlight of the tennis calendar. Normally held in early March, spectators are warmly encouraged.
In 2017 the women’s varsity marked its 25th anniversary with an Oxford win. 2021 was the 150th men’s match to be contested and, although Covid-19 enforced a spectator less event, the need for a third deciding doubles since 2013 suggests the fixture is in rude health going forward for the next 150 years.
Results
A list of results can be found on the T&RA website.