The Grandfather of Modern Tennis

The resurgence of a medieval pasttime

Played over a net and scored like tennis, in an enclosed court like squash and with tactics as intricate as chess, Real tennis feels familiar yet intriguingly unusual. It’s the original form of the game from which lawn tennis emerged in the nineteenth century.

In Real tennis, even wine corks get a second serve. “You know those corks from wine you have with your dinner can be used to make Real tennis balls,” laughs Poppy Hinds, captain and president of the St Andrews Real Tennis Club.

Step into a Real tennis court with its sloping roof and wooden, asymmetrical racquet, and you’ll realise that the only thing modern about the game is how confusing it feels at first. Just wait until you try to understand the unique scoring system called the ‘chase’ — where no point is immediately won or lost.

Much like university coursework, Real tennis rewards those who pay attention, put the work in, and dedicate time — it’s a game of patience, strategy, and precision. The game begins with a thud as the ball hits the sloping side roof before bouncing into the service box on the opposite side of the court.

There are only 27 Real tennis courts in the UK, and one of them lies just 40 minutes from St Andrews. Falkland Palace, the world’s oldest Real tennis court, built in 1539, transports you five centuries into the past.

At the start of the academic year, the Tennis & Racket Association (T&RA) funded a give-it-a-go taster session for students, helping the St Andrews club to attract new members. Though unaffiliated with the university, the club is eager to welcome students and broaden the sport’s reach.

“Real tennis as a community is really welcoming,” says Hinds. “ What’s special about the sport is getting to play on the same courts across the country where world championships have taken place — and where the best players have played.”

In a male-dominated sport, Hinds looks up to Claire Fahey, the Ladies World Champion, as a role model. “There are some really strong female players sharing their expertise with the younger generation, which I really admire,” Hinds adds. “My best memory of playing the sport was winning the U21 women’s doubles handicap tournament with Isabel Harvey, captain of Real Tennis at Reading.”

The St Andrews team trains on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons at Falkland Palace. The club hosts regular round-robin tournaments and club days, complete with cakes from Helen’s Bakery, which sits conveniently across the road.

Last year, the club’s top eight players competed in the Inter-University Cup at the Cambridge Real Tennis Club, facing students from across the UK. Guganeshan Muralitharan came first, and Alex Goss-Pastor was runner-up in the handicap singles tournament — an impressive display from the club. The highlight of the season, though, came abroad. The team travelled to France, competing in Paris, Bordeaux, and Fontainebleau.

Real tennis is a sport that brings together players of all ages: “We don’t just play students,” Hinds says. “I have had opponents a few decades older than me, some nearing 90. That’s not to say they aren’t mobile, though!”

Although it remains niche, the St Andrews club hopes to keep the traditional sport alive for students at the university. Whether it’s reusing corks from last night’s wine, competing against players twice your age, or stepping into centuries-old courts, Real tennis connects past and present in a way few sports can.

Illustration by Isabella Abbott