* Ladies World Doubles Championship Challenge 2025

The Ladies World Doubles Challenge saw the current Open Doubles Champions, Claire Fahey and Tara Lumley play off against India Deakin and Amelia Drayson for the right to play the Champions. Claire and Tara started the stronger pair, easing ahead to take the first game 15/5. But it wasn’t to be an easy match, with Amelia’s powerful serve and India’s rallying combining to take the second game 15/10 and level the match. But Claire and Tara are a strong pair, having dominated the domestic Doubles for the last two years, and responded strongly to take the third game 15/5, before finding their stride and galloping through the final game 15/1. Overall, an exciting match, with both pairs having their moments, but most of these ultimately came to Claire and Tara.

The final was two days later, with the Champions, Lea Van Der Zwalmen and Cesca Sweet, playing Claire and Tara – World Champions against Open Doubles Champions. Lea served into an early 2-1 lead, before the Champions were back in the box, extending the lead to 9-1, with a combination of well-placed serves from Lea and accurate ground shots from Cesca. A single point in response to 2-9 thanks to great defensive work, before Cesca and the Lea took the game to 15-2. Early advantage to the defending champions.

The second game saw the Challengers edge ahead 2-1, only to fall behind 2-4. An uncharacteristic miss by Cesca opened the way for Claire to serve into a 6-4 lead. The Champions rallied to 7-6, before Claire and Tara restored their lead, 9-7. Back came Lea and Cesca, closing in on the second game in the next pair of hands, winning 15/9, and a two-game to love lead.

The third game was vital and Claire and Tara won back the service and then established a healthy 6-0 lead. But then solid play from the Champions reduced the deficit to 5-6. Winning back the service saw Claire and Tara at their best as they added a further six points on the next pair of hands to lead 12-5. Lea and Cesca recovered to 8-12 but, losing the service, gave Tara and then Claire the chance to the game, reaching 14-8. Claire missed the opportunity but the Champions could only manage one more point before Claire closed out the game 15/9, now trailing by one game to two.

Game four and all to play for. Cesca now found her width on the serve, followed by Lea in scintillating form, to establish a healthy 9-1 lead. Superb defence from Tara let the Challengers back in, with Claire serving to 4-9. But now Cesca, playing forward, swept the Champions towards victory and a 14-4 lead and match point, which she didn’t waste.

Final score: Lea Van Der Zwalmen & Cesca Sweet beat Claire Fahey & Tara Lumley 15/2 15/9 9/15 15/4.

Pol Roger to all players for a magnificent match, magnums to the defending Champions, Lea and Cesca. T&RA Chairman, Richard Compton-Burnett and former World Champion, Howard Angus, presented the Grays Trophy to Lea and Cesca. Many thanks also to Nick Sweet for his support of the challenge series alongside the T&RA.