The Potter Cup 2025 - Barcelona

Potter Cup – 2025 – Match Report

The 2025 Potter Cup started much as many recent editions have started – with Spain and Italy commanding the top two seedings with exceptionally strong and deep teams.  The constant challenge for IC of GB is to select a team that can go toe to toe with the best that European over 45s clay court tennis has to offer, and to this end, there were new and younger names on the GB squad this year – Phil Loose, Barry Fulcher and Tariq Khalifa all debuted, joining Tom Wride, Craig Edmondson and veteran Nick Adams on the starting sheet.  Step 1 – avoid drawing one of the top two seeds in the first round – FAIL.  IC of GB vs Italy on day 1.

The team of (relative) youngsters took to the singles court against Italy, putting up a stern fight throughout the order.  Tariq served for the first set before falling just short in a tight two set battle.  Craig took on ex-Argentinian top 120 ATP player Marcelo Charpentier, again falling in two gruelling sets.  And Tom Wride, almost put a point on the board for IC of GB, coming out on the wrong end of a champions tie-break decider.  So 5-0 down after singles, and with a consolation doubles win for Barry and Nick we prepared to compete for 5^th place over the next couple of days.

We fared rather better against Ireland on day 2, despite them fielding two Spanish ringers.  Singles wins for Tom, Phil, Barry, Craig and Tariq took us to a commanding 5-0 win, with doubles being washed out due to rain.  As expected, by this time, Spain and Italy had won their respective semifinals and were destined to play each other in the final.

So Saturday saw us competing against Belgium for the coveted 5^th spot.  Tight wins for Tom (in two tie breaks) and Nick (in a pulsating 14-12 champions tie-break) saw the IC of GB 3-2 down at lunch with two doubles to play.  Managing the damp conditions better and exhibiting strong displays of courtcraft, Tom & Phil, and Barry & Nick both pulled out doubles victories ensuring a 4-3 win for IC of GB and an overall 5^th place finish.  Italy thumped Spain in the final 4-1, not needing to resort to doubles matches.

The Potter Cup (and Two President Cup for the ladies) is a highlight of the International Club calendar.  The level of tennis is exceptionally high, akin to a World Championships over 45 event.  And the hospitality of the Spanish is every bit as exceptional as the tennis.  We are hosted at two wonderful tennis clubs, namely the Real Club de Polo and the Real Club de Tennis, and are made to feel truly at home.  Many thanks to our Spanish hosts, to our captain Peter Harding and his wife Sue for their support, and to Benson Greatrex, our representative on the Potter and Two Presidents Cups committee for making the difficult Autumn trip to Barcelona for another year!