# 1997 British Open (real tennis)

The 1997 Real Tennis British Open was the 18th 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 15–25, 1997 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 Chris Bray. It was his first and only British Open title, and his third Open title, having won the French Open in 1994 and 1997. He beat World Champion Robert Fahey in the final in straight sets. Defending champion Mike Gooding lost in the quarter finals. The doubles was won by Julian Snow and James Male, having previously won the US Open and French Open together in the same year.
The women's singles draw was won by Penny Lumley for the third consecutive year, and sixth overall. She beat Sue Haswell in the final at Seacourt. Lumley paired with Haswell to win the doubles draw at Canford School, defending their 1996 title. Lumley would go on to record a calendar year grand slam in doubles in 1997.

## 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 |
| | | | | | | | R Fahey | R Fahey | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Virgona | S Virgona | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | S Virgona | S Virgona | 1 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P Tabley | P Tabley | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | R Fahey | R Fahey | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | N Wood | N Wood | 5 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | G Hyland | G Hyland | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N Wood | N Wood | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | N Wood | N Wood | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Brockenshaw | S Brockenshaw | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Fahey | R Fahey | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | W Davies | W Davies | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | F Filippelli | F Filippelli | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| R Gunn | R Gunn | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | R Gunn | R Gunn | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Eadle | M Eadle | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | F Filippelli | F Filippelli | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | W Davies | W Davies | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | W Davies | W Davies | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Howell | J Howell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | J Howell | J Howell | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Happell | M Happell | 3 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Fahey | R Fahey | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Bray | C Bray | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | J Snow | J Snow | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| H Latham | H Latham | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | H Latham | H Latham | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Willcocks | J Willcocks | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | J Snow | J Snow | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Bray | C Bray | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | C Bray | C Bray | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A Lyons | A Lyons | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | A Lyons | A Lyons | 1 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N Pendrigh | N Pendrigh | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Bray | C Bray | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Male | J Male | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | J Male | J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Devine | M Devine | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | M Devine | M Devine | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| K Sheldon | K Sheldon | 5 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | J Male | J Male | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Gooding | M Gooding | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | M Gooding | M Gooding | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A Phillips | A Phillips | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | A Phillips | A Phillips | 5 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| B Dale | B Dale | 2 | 3 | 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 | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Howell M Eadle | J Howell M Eadle | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| R Gunn P Tabley | R Gunn P Tabley | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | R Gunn P Tabley | R Gunn P Tabley | 1 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Seigneur A Davis | M Seigneur A Davis | 1 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| A Phillips N Wood | A Phillips N Wood | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | W Davies F Filippelli | W Davies F Filippelli | 1 | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| J Willcocks B Ronaldson | J Willcocks B Ronaldson | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | A Phillips N Wood | A Phillips N Wood | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| W Davies F Filippelli | W Davies F Filippelli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | W Davies F Filippelli | W Davies F Filippelli | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Dawes S Virgona | J Dawes S Virgona | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Snow J Male | J Snow J Male | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| C Bray M Happell | C Bray M Happell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Fahey M Gooding | R Fahey M Gooding | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| P Jarvis J Acheson-Gray | P Jarvis J Acheson-Gray | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | C Bray M Happell | C Bray M Happell | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| G Hyland B Dale | G Hyland B Dale | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | G Hyland B Dale | G Hyland B Dale | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| H Latham D Johnson | H Latham D Johnson | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | G Hyland B Dale | G Hyland B Dale | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| A Lyons K Sheldon | A Lyons K Sheldon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | R Fahey M Gooding | R Fahey M Gooding | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| C Swallow M Ryan | C Swallow M Ryan | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | A Lyons Kevin Sheldon | A Lyons Kevin Sheldon | 4 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| R Fahey M Gooding | R Fahey M Gooding | 6 | 1 | 6 | | 6 | R Fahey M Gooding | R Fahey M Gooding | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N Pendrigh T Goodale | N Pendrigh T Goodale | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Women's Singles

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| | | | | P Lumley | P Lumley | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C Armstrong-Smith | C Armstrong-Smith | 6 | 6 | C Armstrong-Smith | C Armstrong-Smith | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A Gardiner | A Gardiner | 2 | 1 | | | | | P Lumley | P Lumley | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | S Metherell | S Metherell | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | S Metherell | S Metherell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| P Danby | P Danby | | | P Danby | P Danby | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| bye | bye | | | | | | | | | | | | P Lumley | P Lumley | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | K Allen | K Allen | 1 | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | F Deuchar | F Deuchar | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Owens | S Owens | 6 | 6 | S Owens | S Owens | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| T Kuit | T Kuit | 0 | 0 | | | | | F Deuchar | F Deuchar | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | K Allen | K Allen | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | K Allen | K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Briggs | M Briggs | | | M Briggs | M Briggs | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| bye | bye | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | P Lumley | P Lumley | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S Haswell | S Haswell | 3 | 0 |
| | | | | A Garside | A Garside | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M Pignon | M Pignon | | | M Pignon | M Pignon | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| bye | bye | | | | | | | A Garside | A Garside | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | K Leeming | K Leeming | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | K Leeming | K Leeming | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| J Watts | J Watts | 6 | 6 | J Watts | J Watts | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| I Tuffnell | I Tuffnell | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | K Leeming | K Leeming | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | S Haswell | S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | A Cockcroft | A Cockcroft | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S Day | S Day | | | S Day | S Day | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| bye | bye | | | | | | | A Cockroft | A Cockroft | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | S Haswell | S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | S Haswell | S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| F Syson | F Syson | 6 | 6 | F Syson | F Syson | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| D Dooley | D Dooley | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Women's Doubles

| 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 J Watts | w/o | | S Owens J Watts | 1 | 1 | | | | | | |
| E Duel G Jones | | | | | | P Lumley S Haswell | 6 | 6 | | | |
| S Metherell C Southwell | 6 | 6 | | | | S Metherell C Southwell | 3 | 1 | | | |
| P Lear A Reichardt | 2 | 4 | S Metherell C Southwell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| A Cockroft S Macintosh | 6 | 6 | A Cockroft S Macintosh | 5 | 1 | | | | | | |
| G Philip M Undery | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | S Haswell P Lumley | 6 | 6 |
| F Deuchar K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | A Garside S Jones | 4 | 4 |
| S Falkner C Harding | 0 | 2 | F Deuchar K Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| M Briggs S Day | 6 | 6 | M Briggs S Day | 3 | 0 | | | | | | |
| D Dooley J Felton | 1 | 0 | | | | K Allen F Deuchar | 1 | 2 | | | |
| C Harding P Tomalion | 6 | 6 | | | | A Garside S Jones | 6 | 6 | | | |
| A Gardiner F Irwin | 2 | 4 | C Harding P Tomalin | 0 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | A Garside S Jones | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |