# 1996 British Open (real tennis)

The 1996 Real Tennis British Open was the 17th edition of the British Open since it became an annual event in 1979. The men's event was held at the Queen's Club in London between November 16–26, 1996 and was organised by the Tennis and Rackets Association. The men's draw was the fourth and final grand slam event of the year. The women's events were organised by the Ladies Real Tennis Association at both Canford School and the Seacourt Tennis Club.
The men's singles draw was won by Mike Gooding. It was his first British Open title, and his third Open title, having won the French Open in 1995 and 1996. It would be his last Open singles title of his career. He beat six-time winner Lachlan Deuchar in the final. Defending champion Robert Fahey did not participate. Gooding split with his long-term partner Chris Bray for the doubles, pairing up with Deuchar instead. Gooding and Deuchar lost to Bray and Australian amateur Mike Happell in the doubles final, with three of the four sets ending 6/5. Steve Virgona made his British Open debut.
The women's singles draw was won by Penny Lumley for the second consecutive year, and fifth overall. She beat Alex Garside in the final. Lumley also defended her doubles title with Sue Haswell.

## Draw and results
### Men's Singles

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | | | | | | | J Snow | J Snow | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N Pendrigh | N Pendrigh | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | N Pendrigh | N Pendrigh | 1 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A Lyons | A Lyons | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | J Snow | J Snow | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Gunn | R Gunn | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | R Gunn | R Gunn | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Howell | J Howell | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | J Howell | J Howell | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| H Latham | H Latham | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Snow | J Snow | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L Deuchar | L Deuchar | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | F Filippelli | F Filippelli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P Brake | P Brake | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | P Brake | P Brake | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Howard | M Howard | 4 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | F Filippelli | F Filippelli | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | L Deuchar | L Deuchar | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | L Deuchar | L Deuchar | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| K Sheldon | K Sheldon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | K Sheldon | K Sheldon | 2 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| R Dery | R Dery | 0 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L Deuchar | L Deuchar | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Gooding | M Gooding | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | C Bray | C Bray | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| B McFarlane | B McFarlane | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | B McFarlane | B McFarlane | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Coghlan | M Coghlan | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | C Bray | C Bray | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Male | J Male | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | N Wood | N Wood | 0 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Male | J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | J Male | J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Virgona | S Virgona | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Male | J Male | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Gooding | M Gooding | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | M Happell | M Happell | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| D Jones | D Jones | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | D Jones | D Jones | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Eadle | M Eadle | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | M Happell | M Happell | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Gooding | M Gooding | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | M Gooding | M Gooding | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P Tabley | P Tabley | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | P Tabley | P Tabley | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P Jarvis | P Jarvis | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Men's Doubles

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| M Gooding L Deuchar | M Gooding L Deuchar | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Ryan D Jones | M Ryan D Jones | 1 | 4 | 1 | | | M Gooding L Deuchar | M Gooding L Deuchar | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Howell B McFarlane | J Howell B McFarlane | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | J Howell B McFarlane | J Howell B McFarlane | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Eadle M Hayward | M Eadle M Hayward | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | M Gooding L Deuchar | M Gooding L Deuchar | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| P Tabley R Gunn | P Tabley R Gunn | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | P Tabley R Gunn | P Tabley R Gunn | 2 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| S Ronaldson A Snelgrove | S Ronaldson A Snelgrove | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | P Tabley R Gunn | P Tabley R Gunn | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A Phillips N Wood | A Phillips N Wood | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | A Phillips N Wood | A Phillips N Wood | 4 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| D Jones S Virgona | D Jones S Virgona | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Gooding L Deuchar | M Gooding L Deuchar | 6 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| C Bray M Happell | C Bray M Happell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Bray M Happell | C Bray M Happell | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| P Brake N Cripps | P Brake N Cripps | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | C Bray M Happell | C Bray M Happell | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| F Filippelli N Pendrigh | F Filippelli N Pendrigh | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | F Filippelli N Pendrigh | F Filippelli N Pendrigh | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Howard A Page | M Howard A Page | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | C Bray M Happell | C Bray M Happell | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| A Oliver K Ludekens | A Oliver K Ludekens | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| walkover | walkover | | | | | | A Oliver K Ludekens | A Oliver K Ludekens | 1 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A Lyons K Sheldon | A Lyons K Sheldon | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Women's Singles

| First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Quarter Finals | Quarter Finals | Quarter Finals | Semi Finals | Semi Finals | Semi Finals | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | P Lumley | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| P Danby | 6 | 6 | P Danby | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| C Armstrong-Smith | 4 | 0 | | | | | P Lumley | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | C Southwell | 1 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | C Southwell | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | E Wood | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | P Lumley | 6 | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | K Allen | 0 | 2 | | | |
| | | | A Cockroft | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L Barnfield | 6 | 6 | L Barnfield | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| I Tuffnell | 1 | 0 | | | | | A Cockroft | 5 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | J Dathan | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | P Lumley | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | A Garside | 2 | 5 |
| | | | A Garside | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | S Day | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | A Garside | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | K Leeming | 1 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | K Leeming | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Macintosh | 6 | 6 | S Macintosh | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Owens | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | A Garside | 6 | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | S Haswell | 1 | 2 | | | |
| | | | S Metherell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | M Pignon | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | S Metherell | 0 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | F Syson | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Women's Doubles

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | | | | P Lumley S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| S Owens C Armstrong-Smith | 6 | 6 | | S Owens C Armstrong-Smith | 0 | 1 | | | | | | |
| A Gardiner F Irwin | 0 | 3 | | | | | P Lumley S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | |
| S Metherell J Newby | 6 | 6 | | | | | C Clark K Leeming | 3 | 1 | | | |
| S Bicheno C Southwell | 3 | 1 | | S Metherell J Newby | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| C Clark K Leeming | 6 | 6 | | C Clark K Leeming | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| M Briggs G Stuart-Smith | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | P Lumley S Haswell | 6 | 6 |
| F Deuchar K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | A Garside S Jones | 2 | 3 |
| I Tuffnell L Barnfield | 0 | 1 | | F Deuchar K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| D Dooley G Philip | 6 | 2 | 6 | D Dooley G Philip | 0 | 0 | | | | | | |
| A Reichardt P Lear | 1 | 6 | 5 | | | | F Deuchar K Allen | 5 | 4 | | | |
| C Harding J Watts | 6 | 6 | | | | | A Garside S Jones | 6 | 6 | | | |
| B Deal G Jones | 2 | 4 | | C Harding J Watts | 0 | 0 | | | | | | |
| A Garside S Jones | 6 | 6 | | A Garside S Jones | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| L Davies A Davies | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |