Anna 
In a sporting world increasingly drawn to fast, accessible games like pickleball and padel, one Sydney club is heading in the opposite direction—back to the Tudor era.
This week, Sydney became home to Australia’s fourth “real tennis” court, also known as royal tennis. The game is the historic predecessor of modern lawn tennis and squash. Unlike newer racket sports known for their simplicity and fast pace, real tennis is defined by tradition, complex rules, and unique equipment.
“It’s like three-dimensional chess. It’s much more intellectual than your average sport because it’s so complicated,” said Maggie Henderson-Tew, smiling after finishing a match.
Real tennis began as jeu de paume, or “palm game,” in France. Today it’s played with a racket that has an angled head, mimicking an outstretched hand. Only one company, Grays, still makes these rackets, and reportedly does so without turning a profit.
Henderson-Tew explained that the game is tough to pick up at first. “You’re doing well if you hit one in every 20 balls your first time. The ball doesn’t bounce much—you have to get low like you’re playing handball.”
Her husband, Chris Ronaldson, a former world champion, adds with a laugh, “It takes two years of playing to be hopeless.”
A Game of Slopes, Nets, and Strategy
Real tennis courts are enclosed, asymmetrical spaces with roofs and sloped walls—designs inspired by the medieval streets where early versions of the game were played. One wall has a sloping section called the “penthouse,” where every serve must land. When the ball hits the slope, it makes a heavy thud, much like a bowling alley.
Openings or “galleries” in the walls function almost like pinball targets. Hitting the right one wins a point. But a misplaced shot can result in a sudden change of ends and create a situation called a “chase,” requiring players to restart play from different positions.
The scoring system mimics modern tennis—love, 15, 30, 40—but that’s where the similarities end. Matches can stretch across 13 sets over three days, and winning a point often depends on placement and angles rather than outright power.
A Long Journey to a New Home
For over 20 years, the Sydney Real Tennis Club operated without a permanent court, travelling to cities like Melbourne and Hobart to play. A court once built at Macquarie University closed after only seven years due to low interest and internal disputes.
Their new home is at the Cheltenham Recreation Club in Sydney’s north, made possible by a $1.4 million New South Wales government grant. At the court’s opening ceremony this week, former premier Dominic Perrottet was praised for supporting the project.
The inaugural tournament, named the Bilby competition, welcomed players from the UK, US, and other parts of Australia.
Chris Cooper, the club’s secretary, said local interest has been strong, with many new players booking sessions and some returning after years away. “Percentage-wise, it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the country,” he joked.
Still, real tennis likely won’t reach the popularity of pickleball anytime soon. The game’s heavy rackets, low-bouncing balls, and steep learning curve remain barriers.
Adding to the challenge is that no two courts are alike. Ronaldson has even handcrafted over 300 balls in his Sydney garage—each made from cork, cotton webbing, and yellow cloth.
A New Generation Takes Over
With the court now complete, Ronaldson and Henderson-Tew are returning to the UK. Their successor is 29-year-old Alex Marino-Hume, formerly of the Lord’s real tennis club in London and once a choral singer at King Charles’s coronation.
He and his wife, Charlotte, have moved to Sydney for four years, where managing the club will be his full-time role. Marino-Hume hopes to attract a broader group of players, including women and children.
“It’s not elite—it started in the streets,” he said.
Charlotte, still new to the game, said her immediate goal is finding someone who can return a shot. “When you can actually rally with someone, it feels pretty good,” she said.
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