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'''Claire Fahey''' (born 19 June 1991)<ref name=irtpa>{{cite web |title=Claire Fahey |url=https://www.irtpa.com/player-profile/192/ |website=www.irtpa.com |date=6 February 2013 |access-date=9 July 2021}}</ref> is a British [[real tennis]] player and current real tennis Ladies World Champion.<ref>{{cite web |title=THE LADIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 |url=https://www.tennisandrackets.com/real-tennis/tournaments-fixtures/ladies-world-championships-2023 |website=Tennis & Rackets Association}}</ref>
'''Claire Fahey''' {{née|'''Vigrass'''}} (born 19 June 1991)<ref name=irtpa>{{cite web |title=Claire Fahey |url=https://www.irtpa.com/player-profile/192/ |website=www.irtpa.com |date=6 February 2013 |access-date=9 July 2021}}</ref> is a British [[real tennis]] and [[Rackets (sport)|rackets]] player and current real tennis [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Champion]].<ref>{{cite web |title=THE LADIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 |url=https://www.tennisandrackets.com/real-tennis/tournaments-fixtures/ladies-world-championships-2023 |website=Tennis & Rackets Association}}</ref> She holds over 40 Open singles titles and has completed a [[Grand Slam (real tennis)|Grand Slam]] on five occassions. She is
the first female player to play in the main draw of three of the four Men's Opens, and the first to female player to reach a semi final stage. She has also challenged for the [[Rackets World Championships]] on two occasions and has won five British Open Rackets titles.


==Career==
==Career==


===Real Tennis===
Fahey became the youngest [[List of real tennis world champions|world champion]] for real tennis in 2011 when she was 19. She won again in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. She also won the doubles championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 alongside her sister [[Sarah Vigrass]] and again in 2019 alongside [[Tara Lumley]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Record of Champions Toggle |url=https://uscourttennis.org/record-of-champions-toggle/ |website=USCTA |access-date=9 July 2021 |date=20 November 2014}}</ref>


Claire Fahey began playing [[real tennis]] at [[Prested Hall]] in [[Feering]], [[Essex]] alongside her elder sister [[Sarah Vigrass]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Player Profile - Claire Fahey |url=https://www.tennisandrackets.com/real-tennis/player-profiles/claire-fahey |publisher=Tennis and Rackets Association}}</ref> In her junior career, she won the British Open Junior Under 16 girl's competition at age 11 and again at age 14. Even on the junior circuit, she played in the boys competitions including reaching the final of the British Open Junior Under 16 competition against future professional [[Conor Medlow]]. Her first international competition was the 2005 [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] in [[Paris]], where she lost in the first round to eventual winner [[Charlotte Cornwallis]]. A year later, Fahey made her Ladies Open debut at the 2006 French Open, aged 15 losing in the first round to [[Frederika Adam]]. She played in the 2007 [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] in [[Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club|Manchester]], this time reaching the second round and falling to professional [[Kate Leeming]].
She won the British Opens every year between 2010 and 2019; the French Opens every year between 2010 and 2018; the US Opens in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018; and won the Australian Opens in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.<ref name=irtpa />

Fahey won her first Open title at the 2008 US Ladies Open in [[Aiken Tennis Club|Aiken]], where she defeated [[Sue Haswell]] in the final in three sets. Her loss to [[Karen Hird]] in the 2009 French Ladies Open final would be the last time she lost a set or a match in a competitive women's fixture in over one and a half decades. By the time she graduated out of the junior ranks, she began competing at minor Men's Open and Amateur tournaments including the [[Marylebone Cricket Club|MCC Silver Racquet]], the [[Seacourt Tennis Club|Seacourt Silver Racquet]] and the Category B Championships at [[Cambridge University Real Tennis Club|Cambridge]]. Notably, she won the 2010 British U21's Open at [[Middlesex University]] and the 2010 [[Prested Hall|Prested Cup]] U20's against male competition. Also in 2010, she completed her first [[Grand Slam (real tennis)|Grand Slam]] by winning all four Ladies Open championships becoming the second female to do so after [[Charlotte Cornwallis]] in 2006. She competed in her first IRTPA sanctioned Men's event at the 2010 [[International Real Tennis Professionals Association|IRTPA Championships]] becoming the first female player to do so (Cornwallis had previously entered but failed to progress past qualifying). She lost in the first round against [[Steve Virgona]].

Fahey turned professional in 2011 after competing in the British Amateur and [[Marylebone Cricket Club|MCC Silver Racquet]] Men's events. She worked as a professional at the [[Prested Hall|Prested Tennis Club]] before moving to the [[Holyport Real Tennis Club]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ladies Real Tennis Association - Current Top Players |url=https://www.lrta.org.uk/current-top-players.html |publisher=Ladies Real Tennis Association}}</ref> In 2011, she would win the [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] for the first time in [[Royal Melbourne Tennis Club|Melbourne]]. She continued her unbeated run through 2012, earning her second career [[Grand Slam (real tennis)|Grand Slam]], going on to her defend her second [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] at [[Paris]] in 2013 against her sister [[Sarah Vigrass]].

In 2014, Fahey became the first female player to enter and play in a Men's Open Championships, competing at the 2014 British Open at [[Queen's Club]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shaftel |first1=David |title=The Antique Sport of Real Tennis and the Woman who Dominates It |url=https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/the-antique-sport-of-real-tennis-and-the-woman-who-dominates-it |publisher=The New Yorker |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> She quickly became the first female to win a match at a Men's Open Championship, defeating amateur Mark Mathias in the first round, before losing to [[Ben Taylor-Matthews]] in the second round. The following year, she competed for the first time in the Men's US Open Championships at [[Tennis and Racquet Club|Boston]], again defeating her first round opponent [[Leon Smart]] before losing to [[Chris Chapman (real tennis)|Chris Chapman]] in the second round. Due to a walkovers in the quarter final, she became the first female player to play in a Men's Open Semi Final in the doubles competition with her partner [[Matthew Ronaldson]]. In late 2015, she made the finals of two separate Men's competitions: the US Professional Singles Satellite in [[International Tennis Hall of Fame|Newport]] and the [[International Real Tennis Professionals Association|IRTPA Satellite]] in [[Holyport Real Tennis Club|Holyport]]. She also defended her [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] for the third time at [[Leamington Tennis Court Club|Leamington]], again against her sister [[Sarah Vigrass]].

Fahey took a break from the game at the end of 2015 through the start of 2016 due to her pregnancy, moving back to [[Prested Hall|Prested Tennis Club]] with her husband [[Robert Fahey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=World champion real tennis players, Rob and Claire Fahey, on the hunt for the next generation of stars |url=https://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/15100040.world-champion-real-tennis-players-rob-and-claire-fahey-on-the-hunt-for-next-generation-of-stars/ |publisher=Braintree & Witham Times |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> In 2017, Claire Fahey became the first player, male or female, to win all four singles Opens, all four Doubles Opens, the singles [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] and doubles World Championship in the same calendar year ([[Camden Riviere]] also acheived this feat in 2017 whilst holding the singles title he won in [[2016 Real Tennis World Championship|2016]]). Fahey would repeat the same feat in 2019, while Riviere lost his singles title in [[2018 Real Tennis World Championship|2018]]. Fahey defended her 2017 [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]] in [[Tuxedo Club|Tuxedo]] and her 2019 title in [[Ballarat Tennis Club|Ballarat]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brehaut |first1=David |title=Real tennis world champion within real of fifth title |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529233903/https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5870002/fahey-into-another-world-singles-final-in-ballarat-videos/#slide=4 |publisher=The Courier}}</ref>

Fahey did not play any competitive real tennis in 2020 due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Real Tennis|COVID-19 Pandemic]] whilst also dealing with a [[lupus]] diagnosis.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Sally |title=Despite having a rare disease, I'm a world-champion athlete |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715020253/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/despite-having-lupus-im-a-world-champion-athlete/ |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Duesterwald |first1=Rose |title=She has lupus but just won her 7th 'Real Tennis' Title and remains a World Champion |url=https://patientworthy.com/2023/07/21/claire-fahey-has-lupus-but-remains-a-world-champion/ |publisher=Patient Worthy}}</ref> Her and her husband [[Robert Fahey]] moved to take up positions revitalising the club at [[The Oratory School]] in [[Woodcote]], [[Berkshire]] - Rob taking up the Head Professional position at the club while Claire began working as Head of Racquets teaching at the school.<ref>{{cite web |title=World champion Fahey retains French Open |url=https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/real-tennis/184677/world-champion-fahey-retains-french-open.html |publisher=Henley Standard |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> She returned to play a the 2021 Men's British Open, but did not progress past the first round. In 2022, she successfully defended her World Championship title at [[Palace of Fontainebleau|Fontainebleau]] against new challenger and [[Rackets (sport)|rackets]] [[Rackets World Championships|World Champion]] [[Lea van der Zwalmen]]. Her sixth World Championship victory equalled the record previously held by [[Penny Lumley]]. The following year, another world championship was held, this time at Fahey's home court at [[The Oratory School]], which she again defended against van der Zwalmen.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fahey in seventh heaven after retaining world titles |url=https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/real-tennis/179887/fahey-in-seventh-heaven-after-retaining-world-titles.html |publisher=Henley Standard |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>

At the 2024 Australian Open in [[Royal Melbourne Tennis Club|Melbourne]], playing with her husband [[Robert Fahey]] she became the first female to win through to a semi final at a Men's Open (having only previously done so due to withdrawals in earlier rounds).

===Rackets===

Fahey competed in the inaugural British Ladies Open [[Rackets]] event in 2011 at the [[Queen's Club]], winning against [[Barbara Vintcent]] 3-0. She competed in the burgeoning women's rackets scene for four years, and was undefeated in the sport going into the first Ladies [[Rackets World Championship]] in 2015. However, in the final she lost to [[Lea van der Zwalmen]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Clifton College Pupil Is Is First Ever Ladies Rackets World Champion |url=https://www.ukboardingschools.com/news/clifton-college-pupil-first-ever-ladies-rackets-world-champion/ |publisher=UK Boarding Schools |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> and subsequently retired from competitive rackets, owing to the difficulty of accessing courts and her newborn children. In 2023, Fahey returned to rackets, winning the 2023 Ladies British Open in the absence of van der Zwalmen, who had since moved to [[Bordeaux]]. With [[Tara Lumley]], she unsuccessfully challenged van der Zwalmen and [[Cesca Sweet]] for the 2023 Doubles World Championship. 2024 saw her first loss in an Open Competition, losing to [[Georgie Willis]] in the 2024 Ladies British Open. Also in 2024, she earned the right to challenge van der Zwalmen for the World Championship title, having defeated [[Tara Lumley]] and [[Georgie Willis]] in the Eliminators. Depsite earning an early 2-0 lead, Fahey was unsuccessful in her challenge, ultimately losing the match 2-3.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lea Van Der Zwalmen Retains World Champion Title |url=https://www.tennisandrackets.com/news/lea-van-der-zwalmen-retains-world-champion-title |publisher=Tennis and Rackets Association}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==


Fahey has a twin sister Sarah and is married to fellow real tennis player [[Robert Fahey]]<ref name=irtpa /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview with Real Tennis World Champion Claire Fahey |url=https://thesporting.blog/blog/2020/4/15/isolated-memories-claire-fahey |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=The Sporting Blog |language=en-GB}}</ref> and they have two children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ledwith |first=Mario |date=20 August 2022 |title=Couple's long reign in favourite royal sport |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/couples-long-reign-in-favourite-royal-sport-89t6hjhv8 |access-date=2022-11-05 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
Fahey has a twin sister Sarah and is married to fellow real tennis player [[Robert Fahey]]<ref name=irtpa /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview with Real Tennis World Champion Claire Fahey |url=https://thesporting.blog/blog/2020/4/15/isolated-memories-claire-fahey |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=The Sporting Blog |language=en-GB}}</ref> and they have two children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ledwith |first=Mario |date=20 August 2022 |title=Couple's long reign in favourite royal sport |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/couples-long-reign-in-favourite-royal-sport-89t6hjhv8 |access-date=2022-11-05 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

==Performance Timeline==

===Women's Singles===
{{Performance key|short=yes}}
''Current through the 2024 British Ladies Open''
{|class="wikitable nowrap" style=text-align:center;font-size:94%
!Tournament!!2005!!2006!!2007!!2008!!2009!!2010!!2011!!2012!!2013!!2014!!2015!!2016!!2017!!2018!!2019!!2020!!2021!!2022!!2023!!2024||SR||W–L!!Win %
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:left" |'''[[Real Tennis World Championship|World Championship]]'''
|-
|align=left | [[Real Tennis World Championship|Ladies World Championship]]
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| NH
|bgcolor=afeeee|2R
| NH
| A
| NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| colspan="2" | NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| NH
| 7 / 9
| 25–2
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=25|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Win–loss
| 0–1
| 0–0
| 1–1
| 0–0
| 2–0
| 0–0
| 4–0
| 0–0
| 5–0
| 0–0
| 4–0
| 0–0
| 2–0
| 0-0
| 3–0
| 0–0
| 0-0
| 2-0
| 3-0
| 0-0
| 7 / 9
| 25–2
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=25|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:left" |'''[[Grand Slam (real tennis)|Grand Slam tournaments]]'''
|-
|align=left| Australian Open
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|NH
|A
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| 8 / 8
| 21–0
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=21|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left| British Open
|A
|A
|A
| style="background:thistle;"|F
| style="background:yellow;"|SF
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| colspan="2" | NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| 12 / 14
| 33–2
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=33|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left| French Open
| A
|bgcolor=ffebcd|QF
| style="background:yellow;"|SF
| style="background:yellow;"|SF
| style="background:thistle;"|F
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| colspan="2" | NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|
| 10 / 14
| 29–4
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=29|lost=4|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left| US Open
| A
| A
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
| A
| A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|A
| colspan="2" | NH
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|bgcolor=lime|'''W'''
|
| 9 / 9
| 20–0
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=20|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Win–loss
| 0–0
| 0–1
| 1–1
| 4–2
| 4–2
| 10–0
| 6–0
| 7–0
| 5–0
| 6–0
| 2–0
| 9–0
| 8–0
| 11–0
| 6–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 6–0
| 7–0
| 5–0
| 39 / 45
| 97–6
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=97|lost=6|integer=yes}}
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:left" |'''Career Statistics'''
|- style="font-weight:bold;background:#EFEFEF;"
|||2005||2006||2007||2008||2009||2010||2011||2012||2013||2014||2015||2016||2017||2018||2019||2020||2021||2022||2023||2024||colspan=3|Career
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
|align=left|Tournaments
|1
|1
|1
|3
|3
|4
|4
|3
|3
|3
|2
|3
|4
|4
|4
|0
|0
|4
|4
|2
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: 53'''
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Titles
|0
|0
|0
|1
|1
|4
|4
|3
|3
|3
|2
|3
|4
|4
|4
|0
|0
|4
|4
|2
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: 45'''
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Finals
|0
|0
|0
|2
|2
|4
|4
|3
|3
|3
|2
|3
|4
|4
|4
|0
|0
|4
|4
|2
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: 47'''
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Overall win–loss
| 0–1
| 0–1
| 2–2
| 4–2
| 6–2
| 10–0
| 10–0
| 7–0
| 10–0
| 6–0
| 6–0
| 9–0
| 10–0
| 11–0
| 9–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 8–0
| 10–0
| 5–0
| colspan="2" | 123–8
|{{tennis win percentage|won=123|lost=8|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|align=left|Win %
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=2|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=4|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=6|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=10|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=10|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=7|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=10|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=6|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=6|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=9|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=10|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=11|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=9|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=8|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=10|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=5|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: {{tennis win percentage|won=123|lost=8|integer=yes}}'''
|}

===Open Singles===

{|class="wikitable nowrap" style=text-align:center;font-size:94%
!Tournament!!2010!!2011!!2012!!2013!!2014!!2015!!2016!!2017!!2018!!2019!!2020!!2021!!2022!!2023!!2024||SR||W–L!!Win %
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:left" |'''[[Grand Slam (real tennis)|Grand Slam tournaments]]'''
|-
|align=left| Australian Open
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|A
| NH
| A
| A
|bgcolor=ffebcd|QF
| 0 / 4
| 1–4
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=1|lost=4|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left| British Open
| A
| A
| A
| A
|bgcolor=afeeee|2R
| A
| A
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| A
|bgcolor=afeeee|2R
| NH
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|
| 0 / 6
| 2–6
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=2|lost=6|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left| US Open
| A
| A
|A
|A
|A
| bgcolor=afeeee|2R
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
|A
| 0 / 11
| 1–1
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=1|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Win–loss
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 1–1
| 1–1
| 0–0
| 0–2
| 0–1
| 1–2
| 0–0
| 0–1
| 0–1
| 0–1
| 1–1
| 0 / 21
| 4–11
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=4|lost=11|integer=yes}}
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:left" |'''IRTPA Sanctioned Tournaments'''
|-
|align=left| European Open
| A
| A
| A
|bgcolor=ecf2ff| Q1
| NH
| A
| colspan="9" | NH
| 0 / 0
| 0–0
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left | IRTPA Championship
| bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| A
|bgcolor=ecf2ff| Q1
| bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| A
|bgcolor=ffebcd|QF
| A
| bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| bgcolor=afeeee|1R
| colspan="5" | NH
| 0 / 6
| 0–6
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=6|integer=yes}}
|-
|align=left | US Pro (Schochet Cup)
| A
|bgcolor=ecf2ff| Q1
| A
|bgcolor=ecf2ff| Q1
| A
| bgcolor=afeeee|1R
|bgcolor=ecf2ff| Q1
|bgcolor=ecf2ff| Q1
| A
| A
| NH
| A
| A
| A
|
| 0 / 1
| 0–1
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Win–loss
| 0–1
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0–1
| 0–0
| 0–2
| 0–0
| 0–1
| 0–1
| 0–1
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0–0
| 0 / 7
| 0–7
|bgcolor=efefef|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=7|integer=yes}}
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:left" |'''Career Statistics'''
|- style="font-weight:bold;background:#EFEFEF;"
|||2010||2011||2012||2013||2014||2015||2016||2017||2018||2019||2020||2021||2022||2023||2024||colspan=3|Career
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
|align=left|Tournaments
|1
|0
|0
|1
|1
|3
|0
|3
|2
|3
|0
|1
|1
|1
|1
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: 18'''
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Titles
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: 0'''
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Finals
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: 0'''
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|style=text-align:left|Overall win–loss
|0–1
|0–0
|0–0
|0–1
|1–1
|1–3
|0–0
|0–3
|0–2
|1–3
|0–0
|0–1
|0–1
|0–1
|1–1
| colspan="2" | 4–18
|{{tennis win percentage|won=4|lost=18|integer=yes}}
|-style=font-weight:bold;background:#efefef
|align=left|Win %
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=1|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=1|lost=3|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=3|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=2|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=1|lost=3|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=0|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=0|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|{{tennis win percentage|won=1|lost=1|integer=yes}}
|colspan="3"|'''Career total: {{tennis win percentage|won=4|lost=18|integer=yes}}'''
|}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 23:26, 18 May 2024

Claire Fahey
Full nameClaire Fahey
Country (sports)United Kingdom United Kingdom
ResidenceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Born (1991-06-19) 19 June 1991 (age 33)
PlaysRight-handed
World Championships
Ladies SinglesW (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Ladies DoublesW (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Singles
Career titles40
Highest ranking1
Current ranking1
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenLadies: W (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)
Open: QF (2024)
British OpenLadies: W (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Open: R2 (2014, 2019)
French OpenLadies: W (2010, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
US OpenLadies: W (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Open: R2 (2015)
Doubles
Career titles36
Highest ranking1
Current ranking1
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenLadies: W (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024)
Open: SF (2024)
French OpenLadies: W (2012, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023)
British OpenLadies: W (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Open: QF (2023)
US OpenLadies: W (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Open: SF (2015)

Claire Fahey née Vigrass (born 19 June 1991)[1] is a British real tennis and rackets player and current real tennis Ladies World Champion.[2] She holds over 40 Open singles titles and has completed a Grand Slam on five occassions. She is the first female player to play in the main draw of three of the four Men's Opens, and the first to female player to reach a semi final stage. She has also challenged for the Rackets World Championships on two occasions and has won five British Open Rackets titles.

Career

Real Tennis

Claire Fahey began playing real tennis at Prested Hall in Feering, Essex alongside her elder sister Sarah Vigrass.[3] In her junior career, she won the British Open Junior Under 16 girl's competition at age 11 and again at age 14. Even on the junior circuit, she played in the boys competitions including reaching the final of the British Open Junior Under 16 competition against future professional Conor Medlow. Her first international competition was the 2005 Ladies World Championship in Paris, where she lost in the first round to eventual winner Charlotte Cornwallis. A year later, Fahey made her Ladies Open debut at the 2006 French Open, aged 15 losing in the first round to Frederika Adam. She played in the 2007 Ladies World Championship in Manchester, this time reaching the second round and falling to professional Kate Leeming.

Fahey won her first Open title at the 2008 US Ladies Open in Aiken, where she defeated Sue Haswell in the final in three sets. Her loss to Karen Hird in the 2009 French Ladies Open final would be the last time she lost a set or a match in a competitive women's fixture in over one and a half decades. By the time she graduated out of the junior ranks, she began competing at minor Men's Open and Amateur tournaments including the MCC Silver Racquet, the Seacourt Silver Racquet and the Category B Championships at Cambridge. Notably, she won the 2010 British U21's Open at Middlesex University and the 2010 Prested Cup U20's against male competition. Also in 2010, she completed her first Grand Slam by winning all four Ladies Open championships becoming the second female to do so after Charlotte Cornwallis in 2006. She competed in her first IRTPA sanctioned Men's event at the 2010 IRTPA Championships becoming the first female player to do so (Cornwallis had previously entered but failed to progress past qualifying). She lost in the first round against Steve Virgona.

Fahey turned professional in 2011 after competing in the British Amateur and MCC Silver Racquet Men's events. She worked as a professional at the Prested Tennis Club before moving to the Holyport Real Tennis Club in 2014.[4] In 2011, she would win the Ladies World Championship for the first time in Melbourne. She continued her unbeated run through 2012, earning her second career Grand Slam, going on to her defend her second Ladies World Championship at Paris in 2013 against her sister Sarah Vigrass.

In 2014, Fahey became the first female player to enter and play in a Men's Open Championships, competing at the 2014 British Open at Queen's Club.[5] She quickly became the first female to win a match at a Men's Open Championship, defeating amateur Mark Mathias in the first round, before losing to Ben Taylor-Matthews in the second round. The following year, she competed for the first time in the Men's US Open Championships at Boston, again defeating her first round opponent Leon Smart before losing to Chris Chapman in the second round. Due to a walkovers in the quarter final, she became the first female player to play in a Men's Open Semi Final in the doubles competition with her partner Matthew Ronaldson. In late 2015, she made the finals of two separate Men's competitions: the US Professional Singles Satellite in Newport and the IRTPA Satellite in Holyport. She also defended her Ladies World Championship for the third time at Leamington, again against her sister Sarah Vigrass.

Fahey took a break from the game at the end of 2015 through the start of 2016 due to her pregnancy, moving back to Prested Tennis Club with her husband Robert Fahey.[6] In 2017, Claire Fahey became the first player, male or female, to win all four singles Opens, all four Doubles Opens, the singles Ladies World Championship and doubles World Championship in the same calendar year (Camden Riviere also acheived this feat in 2017 whilst holding the singles title he won in 2016). Fahey would repeat the same feat in 2019, while Riviere lost his singles title in 2018. Fahey defended her 2017 Ladies World Championship in Tuxedo and her 2019 title in Ballarat.[7]

Fahey did not play any competitive real tennis in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic whilst also dealing with a lupus diagnosis.[8][9] Her and her husband Robert Fahey moved to take up positions revitalising the club at The Oratory School in Woodcote, Berkshire - Rob taking up the Head Professional position at the club while Claire began working as Head of Racquets teaching at the school.[10] She returned to play a the 2021 Men's British Open, but did not progress past the first round. In 2022, she successfully defended her World Championship title at Fontainebleau against new challenger and rackets World Champion Lea van der Zwalmen. Her sixth World Championship victory equalled the record previously held by Penny Lumley. The following year, another world championship was held, this time at Fahey's home court at The Oratory School, which she again defended against van der Zwalmen.[11]

At the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne, playing with her husband Robert Fahey she became the first female to win through to a semi final at a Men's Open (having only previously done so due to withdrawals in earlier rounds).

Rackets

Fahey competed in the inaugural British Ladies Open Rackets event in 2011 at the Queen's Club, winning against Barbara Vintcent 3-0. She competed in the burgeoning women's rackets scene for four years, and was undefeated in the sport going into the first Ladies Rackets World Championship in 2015. However, in the final she lost to Lea van der Zwalmen[12] and subsequently retired from competitive rackets, owing to the difficulty of accessing courts and her newborn children. In 2023, Fahey returned to rackets, winning the 2023 Ladies British Open in the absence of van der Zwalmen, who had since moved to Bordeaux. With Tara Lumley, she unsuccessfully challenged van der Zwalmen and Cesca Sweet for the 2023 Doubles World Championship. 2024 saw her first loss in an Open Competition, losing to Georgie Willis in the 2024 Ladies British Open. Also in 2024, she earned the right to challenge van der Zwalmen for the World Championship title, having defeated Tara Lumley and Georgie Willis in the Eliminators. Depsite earning an early 2-0 lead, Fahey was unsuccessful in her challenge, ultimately losing the match 2-3.[13]

Personal life

Fahey has a twin sister Sarah and is married to fellow real tennis player Robert Fahey[1][14] and they have two children.[15]

Performance Timeline

Women's Singles

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through the 2024 British Ladies Open

Tournament 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 SR W–L Win %
World Championship
Ladies World Championship 1R NH 2R NH A NH W NH W NH W NH W NH W NH W W NH 7 / 9 25–2 93%
Win–loss 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 4–0 0–0 5–0 0–0 4–0 0–0 2–0 0-0 3–0 0–0 0-0 2-0 3-0 0-0 7 / 9 25–2 93%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A A A A W A W A W A W W W W A NH A A W 8 / 8 21–0 100%
British Open A A A F SF W W W W W W A W W W NH W W W 12 / 14 33–2 94%
French Open A QF SF SF F W W W A W A W W W W NH W W 10 / 14 29–4 88%
US Open A A A W W W W A W A A W A W A NH W W 9 / 9 20–0 100%
Win–loss 0–0 0–1 1–1 4–2 4–2 10–0 6–0 7–0 5–0 6–0 2–0 9–0 8–0 11–0 6–0 0–0 0–0 6–0 7–0 5–0 39 / 45 97–6 94%
Career Statistics
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Career
Tournaments 1 1 1 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 4 4 4 0 0 4 4 2 Career total: 53
Titles 0 0 0 1 1 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 4 4 4 0 0 4 4 2 Career total: 45
Finals 0 0 0 2 2 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 4 4 4 0 0 4 4 2 Career total: 47
Overall win–loss 0–1 0–1 2–2 4–2 6–2 10–0 10–0 7–0 10–0 6–0 6–0 9–0 10–0 11–0 9–0 0–0 0–0 8–0 10–0 5–0 123–8 94%
Win % 0% 0% 50% 67% 75% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%  –   –  100% 100% 100% Career total: 94%

Open Singles

Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A A A A A A 1R 1R 1R A NH A A QF 0 / 4 1–4 20%
British Open A A A A 2R A A 1R A 2R NH 1R 1R 1R 0 / 6 2–6 25%
US Open A A A A A 2R A A A A A A A A A 0 / 11 1–1 50%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 0–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 0 / 21 4–11 27%
IRTPA Sanctioned Tournaments
European Open A A A Q1 NH A NH 0 / 0 0–0 0%
IRTPA Championship 1R A Q1 1R A QF A 1R 1R 1R NH 0 / 6 0–6 0%
US Pro (Schochet Cup) A Q1 A Q1 A 1R Q1 Q1 A A NH A A A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Win–loss 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0 / 7 0–7 0%
Career Statistics
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Career
Tournaments 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 3 2 3 0 1 1 1 1 Career total: 18
Titles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Career total: 0
Finals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Career total: 0
Overall win–loss 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–3 0–0 0–3 0–2 1–3 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 4–18 18%
Win % 0%  –   –  0% 50% 25%  –  0% 0% 25%  –  0% 0% 0% 50% Career total: 18%

References

  1. ^ a b "Claire Fahey". www.irtpa.com. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  2. ^ "THE LADIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2023". Tennis & Rackets Association.
  3. ^ "Player Profile - Claire Fahey". Tennis and Rackets Association.
  4. ^ "Ladies Real Tennis Association - Current Top Players". Ladies Real Tennis Association.
  5. ^ Shaftel, David. "The Antique Sport of Real Tennis and the Woman who Dominates It". The New Yorker. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  6. ^ "World champion real tennis players, Rob and Claire Fahey, on the hunt for the next generation of stars". Braintree & Witham Times. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ Brehaut, David. "Real tennis world champion within real of fifth title". The Courier.
  8. ^ Jones, Sally. "Despite having a rare disease, I'm a world-champion athlete". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  9. ^ Duesterwald, Rose. "She has lupus but just won her 7th 'Real Tennis' Title and remains a World Champion". Patient Worthy.
  10. ^ "World champion Fahey retains French Open". Henley Standard. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Fahey in seventh heaven after retaining world titles". Henley Standard. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Clifton College Pupil Is Is First Ever Ladies Rackets World Champion". UK Boarding Schools. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Lea Van Der Zwalmen Retains World Champion Title". Tennis and Rackets Association.
  14. ^ "Interview with Real Tennis World Champion Claire Fahey". The Sporting Blog. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  15. ^ Ledwith, Mario (20 August 2022). "Couple's long reign in favourite royal sport". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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