Semi Final 1

Semi Final 1 best of 9 sets
1st session 14:00 22nd April 2026 - 2nd session 14:00 23rd April 2026

John Lumley & Steve Virgona (2) v Rob Fahey & Nick Howell (3)
Livestream - T&RA YouTube Channel‍

Event Sponsor Pragnell

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Rob and Steve who won the World Doubles title six time between 2003 and 2013 open the 2026 tournament on opposing teams both looking for a seventh title. Number 2 seeds John and Steve come into the tournament fresh from Victory over the World Champions in the US Open in March. This should make for an exciting opening match.

Set 1

A thrilling first set with both pairs trading games to 5-4 and three deuces finally falling for Lumley and Virgona. 1-0

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Set 2

As the pressure ramped up in the second set Lumley and Virgona began to force errors from their opponents racing to a 5-1 lead. The tide began to turn with Fahey and Howell pulling back to 5-3 before a series of Dedans forces sealed the set for the number 2 seeds. 2-0

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Set 3

Fahey and Howell kept up their momentum at the start of the third set trading games to 2-2 before Lumley and Virgona pulled away establishing a 5-3 lead. Fahey and Howell fought hard in the 9th game battling through over ten deuces before a couple of unforced errors handed the set to Lumley and Virgona. 3-0

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Set 4

A quick final set for the session. Lumley and Virgona kept the pressure up and took the set 6-0 to leave them 4-0 up at the break. Fahey and Howell will benefit most from the time to regroup before the final session tomorrow.

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Set 5

The set opened in much the same manner as yesterday with Lumley and Virgona taking the first game. But Fahey and Howell fought back in the second game taking it into a long deuce game before levelling. Lumley and Virgona went 2-1 up but Fahey an d Howell fought back to the delight of the crowd first levelling and then taking a lead 2-4. Lumley and Briton came back to 3-4 but Fahey and Howell were growing in confidence and finished the set 3-6 winners. To appreciative galleries pleased they would get to watch more tennis. 4-1

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Set 6

Spurred on for their success in the previous set Fahey and Howell raced to a 0-4 lead. Rob Fahey had eliminated many of the unforced errors that had dogged him the day before. Lumley and Virgona in return upped their own game to bring it back to 4-4. Fahey and Howell were the first to five but deuce at 5 all went the way of the number two seeds to take the match 5-1
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