* Brown Advisory British Open Doubles Championship 2026

Tom and Mike set off at a blistering pace, with Tom covering every inch of the court and Mike making seamless (and winning) interceptions. The gallery was in awe at the superb standard of Rackets, and Alex and James were playing their part but unable to trouble the scoreboard. 

After an hour, Tom and Mike were three games up for the loss of just nine points, an incredible 15/4 15/1 15/4 triplet of games. But, as the fourth game started and seemingly heading to its inevitable conclusion, a medical emergency brought the match to a halt, with the marvellous Alys Bird (Queen’s Club) taking charge of the situation. 45 minutes later a different match emerged, with Alex and James starting to capitalise with a series of strong hands. At 14/6 it seemed they were back in the match but then Tom levelled to 14-all, three points from victory. Another swing saw Alex and James take the vital set to love to trail one game to three. The next two games were just as tight, with Alex and James now serving to a superb length but never quite breaking away from a resilient Tom and Mike. But they had the momentum, taking these games 15/10 and 15/12. This was now the come back of all-time and the gallery was transfixed at the spectacle. 

The final game saw Tom re-engage and serve into a 8-1 lead, with Mike in meticulous support. Alex and James rallied, serving powerfully and accurately, with some incredible rallies, eventually trailing by a single point at 11-12. The title was in the grasp of either pair, but it was Tom and Mike who hauled themselves over the line, winning the final game 15/11, and the Open Doubles Championship, followed by an immediate roar of emotion from Tom. This was Tom’s seventh Open Doubles title, the previous six with fellow World Champion Richard Owen; and it was Mike’s first, at the fifth attempt he crossed the line. For Alex, a third final and for James a first of many more to come.

T&RA President, William Maltby, and Quintin Ings-Chambers (Brown Advisory) presented the prizes after a truly sublime final, where all four players played their part in a mercurial match, and a special thanks to Queen’s Club for both the venue and the emergency medical support.

CSD