[NSTT] Autumn Hard Court Season 12 Everything Thread

by **Britonisea** » Mon Oct 05, 2026 10:17 am

NationStates Tennis Tour Autumn Hard Court Season 12 Everything Thread

This thread will be the thread where roleplays and results will be posted for the NationStates Tennis Tour's indoor hard court season.

Scorination Details
All tournaments are scorinated on xkoranate. Singles tournaments have best of three tiebreak sets and doubles tournaments will be best of two sets with a match tiebreaker.

The logarithm ranking points are used. To determine the doubles seeding the average of the two doubles player's logarithmic rankings are used. Draws for both the singles and doubles competition are seeded. All roleplays are scored with quality over quantity emphasized. Multiple roleplays submitted on the same day will be counted as one larger whole. All players without ranking points will have a skill level equal to the lowest main draw player's logarithmic points, if that nation has roleplayed previously or in the tournament.

Where there are more entrants than available places, a knock-out qualification round is played. At the conclusion of each tournament, rankings are updated to reflect the new points earned by players. These points last one season.

AI text outputs are prohibited. AI images may be used but must be declared and will be disregarded in grading.

Tentative Schedule
30 Sep - Sign-ups begin
12 Oct - ITT Sign-ups close
16 Oct - 28 Oct - International Tennis Trophy
1 Nov - Lubanjaya Open sign-ups close
4 Nov - 11 Nov - Lubanjaya Open
13 Nov - NQM/AHCC sign-ups close
15 Nov - 21 Nov - NQM/AHCC
14 Dec - 22 Dec - End of Year Tournaments

Links
NationStates Tennis Tour Autumn Hard Court Season 12 signups
NSTT Season 11 tournament timeline and rankings
NSTT Discussion/OOC thread
NSTT Discord server

by **Electrum** » Mon Oct 05, 2026 1:31 pm

International Tennis Trophy

The Electrum Lawn Tennis Association is proud to present the tenth edition of the International Tennis Trophy. After a year's absence, the tournament returns to Electrum. While traditionally held at the end of the indoor hard court season, in both Prescott and Somer, due to Olympic preparations, Somer will be hosting the tournament at the start of the indoor season at the newly renovated Somersville Stadium. The International Tennis Trophy is a unique format where players compete for their country for the NSTT Finals.

About Electrum, Prescott and Somer
Electrum is a sports-mad country. It loves its Olympics and its football, but the most important sport is tennis. Tennis in Electrum is administered by the all-powerful Electrum Lawn Tennis Association.

There are a few quirks when coming to Electrum. One of them is its digital currency, the Synergy, which is known for its ubiquity. Upon arrival, all people can gain access to the card based digital currency, but tourists often complain that these cards which are very easily stolen but also incredibly convenient to use. Electrum is also a relaxed country -- it has very socially libertarian laws such as the decriminalisation of all drugs. It's a place to let off some steam and to have some fun.

Somer is a major city facing the Endemien Sea and is known for its eternally sunny days, its golden beaches and theme parks of both the dry and wet variety. It is Electrum's family city, and swells in population every summer with a tourist town reputation more than anything. However, in recent years, the population has increased due to its beachside skyscrapers making living affordable. Somers (the demonym) are also known to frequent the Sandy Coast, a long thirty-kilometre stretch of beaches on the sea. The richer part of town live in the old quarter which is on the North side of the Sandy Coast, where the beach meets the steep hills of the old quarter.

Playing Conditions
The Somersville Stadium and the Somersville Convention Centre will play host to the International Tennis Trophy. All matches will be held on Centre Courts with a capacity of 15,000. Groups A and C will play in the Somersville Stadium (a stadium now adapted to include a retractable roof and a tennis court in the middle a la Miami Masters), while Groups B and D will play in the Somersville Convention Centre. Both venues are a ten minute walk away from each other. Groups A and B will play in the first matchday, alternating with Groups C and D. Finals are to be held in the stadium.

Previous Champions
2015 - Ceni (CEN)
2016 - Schottia (SCH)
2017 - New Gelderland (NGD)
2020 - The Grearish Union (GRU)
2021 - Ceni (CEN)
2022 - Pemecutan (PCU)
2023 - Ceni (CEN)
2024 - Electrum (ETM)
2025 - Britonisea (BRI)

Draws and Schedule
Format
16 nations will participate in four groups of four. Nations will be ranked on the sum of the log points of their best two submitted singles athletes and the best doubles pair. Teams will then be drawn from four pots to make the four groups.

Each matchday will consist of three rubbers -- two singles matches (top ranked players play against each other, second ranked players play against each other) and one doubles match. All rubbers will be played, and rankings points are available for winning. Winning in later rounds and winning against higher ranked opponents will yield more points. There is a maximum of 1,500 points up for grabs.

Group winners and runners up advance to the quarterfinals (tiebreakers are ties won, matches won, set percentage, then games percentage). Quarterfinal draws will be determined after the group stage is complete, with the following draw principles are applied:

Each quarterfinal match will pair a group winner with a group runner-up.
Teams from the same group can not be drawn against each other in the quarterfinals or semifinals.

Pots

Pot 1
Dextera (DEX) [38.839]
Ceni (CEN) [37.044]
Britonisea (BRI) [36.390]
Zenic (ZEN) [35.272]

Pot 2
Tristerra (TRI) [33.912]
Electrum (ETM) [33.478]
Bhumi Matawis Empire (BME) [32.886]
Recuecn (RCN) [32.343]

Pot 3
Calgasia (CGS) [31.592]
United Adaikes (UAD) [29.925]
TJUN-ia (TJU) [29.878]
Kimi-Suomi (KIM) [27.383]

Pot 4
Malalaime (MLI) [25.384]
Jaliserra (JAL) [22.539]
Lisander (LIS) [20.067]
An tAontas Ceiltach (ATC) [0.000]

Groups

Group A
Dexterra (DEX)
Electrum (ETM)
Kimi-Suomi (KIM)
An tAontas Ceiltach (ATC)

Group B
Britonisea (BRI)
Tristerra (TRI)
TJUN-ia (TJU)
Lisander (LIS)

Group C
Zenic (ZEN)
Recuecn (RCN)
United Adaikes (UAD)
Malalaime (MLI)

Group D
Ceni (CEN)
Bhumi Matawis Empire (BME)
Calgasia (CGS)
Jaliserra (JAL)

Knockout rounds

TBA

Schedule
All times in UTC - cut-offs are 0800. Roleplays in the group stage will be worth double points. In character, Group A and B is assumed to on alternating days with Groups C and D during the group stage.

17 October - Matchday 1 - 1v4 2v3
18 October - Matchday 2 - 4v3 1v2
19 October - Matchday 3 - 2v4 3v1
20 October - Quarterfinals
21 October - Semifinals
22 October - Final (will be a few hours late probably)

by **Bhumi Matawis Empire** » Mon Oct 05, 2026 9:33 pm

Reserved

by **Britonisea** » Tue Oct 06, 2026 11:39 am

Reserved - AHCC/NQM (outdoor, indoors QF onwards)

by **Zenic** » Thu Oct 15, 2026 4:02 pm

Recuecn, United Adaikes, and Malalaime.

These were the fellow delegations sorted into Group C alongside Zenic for the International Tennis Trophy. For Royer and most of the players in the Zenician delegation, it was a weird mixture of deja vu and nervousness. They were getting a year-long 'rematch in the making' with Recuecn delegation while also adjusting to the matches with United Adaikes and Malalaime weighing more due to less delegations per group and less rounds in the group stage overall.

Thankfully, that meant that Zenic only needed to win two of these matches to ensure qualification instead of the 3+ that they needed last season. Unfortunately, that also meant that they could only afford to lose one matchup and only if the other two matchups were dominant victories. Effectively, they would need to change their mindset from last season's 'pace yourself, it's a marathon' to 'come out swinging fast and hard'. While Royer would love to say that it would be an easy transition, the real data showed that it could legitimately go either way: either Zenic adapt quickly and dominate the group stage for an easy road in the knockout rounds or they come out slightly flat-footed and either barely miss the playoffs or somehow stumble into them by the slimmest of margins.

Up first was the rematch with Recuecn. Last season, the two were placed into massive Group 2 hosted in Kyvivre, Britonisea. The two had to wait a little before facing each other in the second to last matchday of the group stage where Zenic came out victorious 2-1. Mizushima alongside the duo of Antonino and Salvador managed to outlast their opponents, Abelie Fontana and the duo of Ines and Camille Fournier respectively, to seal the deal after Baardsen lost due to suffering a shockingly bad start against Esterina Picarelli. All four Zenicians make a return to this edition although Antonino and Salvador will be the backups for Son Hana and Corina Olimpia Dinu this time around.

Now, Mizushima will have a chance to show how much he's grown as a player and person while taking on Lucien Le Floch in the top singles matchup. Down the list will feature a rematch between Baardsen and Picarelli as if it was preordained by the universe. Finally, Son and Dinu will hopefully have some pressure off of their shoulders by the time they get their shot against the Fourniers. Win or loss, this squad will need to move on quick to ensure their best chance of clinching qualification early or putting themselves back into a position to qualify at all.

Zenic were a little unfortunate in the group drawing as they got some of the highest seeds from the lower pots but if they wanted to improve on last year's performance and get closer to bring home a ITT back home to the Empire, they would need to roll with the punches and get knockout after knockout against their opponents.

by **Dexterra** » Thu Oct 15, 2026 8:49 pm

16 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 19 November 2021 ★ Event XCI Round I (archive)

Loy wins second-straight Mercedinian title; I.T.T. starts today

Top singles Beagle becomes the first athlete in history to win back-to-back titles in Zoloroni Sports City; Dexters launch their International Tennis Trophy campaign today

History has been made in Mercedini.

Dexterra Beagles singles frontman Michael Loy has done what no one else has ever done before in international tennis history: won back-to-back titles at the Mercedinian Open.

Despite a flare-up of a wrist injury, a poor performance on international grass courts up to this point, and a poor performance in slams since winning the Cenian Open, Loy defied all the odds to defeat Isotta Gallo of Zenic 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the final, netting his fifth grand slam title and becoming the second Dexter to win a grand slam and a national slam in the same month.

Loy's performance in the final was nothing short of clinical, capitalizing on his hunger to make history as well as Gallo's nerves from playing in her first final. With sharp down-the-line backhands and wide-ranging court coverage, the Beagle seamlessly blended offense with defense and opened the match by breaking serve three times, setting the tone for the rest of the match. The Zenician tightened things up in the second set, however, marching in lockstep with the Dexter to a 3-3 tie; however, Loy upped his level by reeling off seven straight games to take the second set and start the third set with a 4-0 lead from which there was no recovery for Gallo. Though Loy had break points to potentially finish the match with a bagel or a breadstick, Gallo fiercely fought with her dying breaths to make Loy work for the win, stretching the final game past seven minutes. But soon up 6-1, 6-3, 5-2, Ad-40, Loy fired off a cross-court drop volley that Gallo raced to catch, but bounced twice before she could get it, and as the umpire called "Game, set, and match," Loy leapt for joy with his fists raised in the air and then turned towards his coaching box with a beaming smile. The match lasted just under three hours, the shortest grand slam final Loy has ever played.

During the trophy presentation ceremony, Loy praised Gallo as a "fierce competitor" whose "magnificent run" to the final "will go down in tennis history," and further added that the Zenician will "certainly be hoisting trophies like this in the very near future."

The 10th Mercedinian Open has had major ramifications on the rankings for the Beagles. In addition to Loy clinching number 1 by reaching the final, the number three singles Beagle Haleigh M. Hartman rose to a career high of world number three, marking the first time in history that the singles top three are all Dexters, although fans and analysts predict that this won't last long, as world number four Mizushima Souma of Zenic is nipping on Hartman's heels and defending very few points at the next tournament. As well, Scarlett Dyer rose to world number 24, becoming the new number five singles Beagle, and with Camille Fletcher being number 25, this marks the first time in history that six Dexters are ranked within the world's top 25. Finally, Serenity Petersen/Jaime Green Jr. became the world's top grass specialists again.

The 10th Mercedinian Open also marked the end of the grass swing. Next up is indoor hard courts, the final swing of the 2026 tour, which begins with a tournament that many Dexters have listed as the one they most want to win: the International Tennis Trophy, this year hosted in Somer, Electrum. The I.T.T. is a competition between national teams, with each nation playing three ties before advancing to knockout rounds. Dexterra have advanced to the semifinals twice before, but lost both times. By holding the world's top three singles athletes and top two doubles teams, the Beagles likely have their best shot ever at winning the title, but experts predict that Dexterra will experience heartbreak in the semis or quarterfinals this year.

Dexterra's I.T.T. team features the top four singles Dexters (Loy and Tristan Armstrong as the main line-up, with Hartman and Julian Hull as alternates) as well as the top four doubles Dexters playing together - in an unusual twist to typical Beagle line-ups, Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere as the main team, and Maxine Woodmere/Serenity Petersen as back-ups. While the Woodmeres normally play together and Petersen plays with Green Jr., Dexters opted to put Hull (who normally plays with Ceni's Perger Rianor) and Mason Woodmere as one team to combine Hull's offensive firepower with Mason's defensive prowess, and likewise put Maxine Woodmere with Petersen to get the best mix of court coverage and speediness. This unfortunately means two things: the Woodmeres and Petersen/Green Jr. will break up in the rankings, and with Rianor playing for team Ceni, the doubles world number 1 ranking is now at stake and will no longer be jointly shared between the Dexter and the Cenian.

The I.T.T. begins today with the first group stage matches. Dexterra - which headed Pot 1 and were drawn into Group A with Kimi-Suomi, An tAontas Ceiltach, and hosts Electrum - will start their I.T.T. campaign against An tAontas Ceiltach, newcomers to the international tour. Hartman will replace Armstrong during the group stage to give him some rest before a potential push for a finals berth, assuming Dexterra make it out of the group stage. However, experts predict that Dexterra will lose the first tie 1-2 in a major upset, with losses coming to Loy and Hull/Woodmere, as Loy's wrist injury is still ongoing (although steadily improving) and Hull/Woodmere will likely struggle to click in their first match together.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Dextennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **Tristerra** » Thu Oct 15, 2026 8:51 pm

16 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 1 January 2026 ★ Event XII Round I

Shelties gearing up for the I.T.T.

Tristerra starting its run at the 10th International Tennis Trophy today

Grass courts are now behind us, and that leaves indoor hard courts as the finale to the NationStates Tennis Tour Season 12.

For the Tristerra Shelties - who were last seen in the quarterfinals of the 10th Mercedinian Open - the new surface season begins with a chance to stake their greatest claim to international fame, by winning one of the most coveted tennis tournaments of all: the International Tennis Trophy, this year hosted at the Somersville Convention Centre and the newly renovated Somersville Stadium in Somer, Electrum.

The I.T.T. is a competition among nations (rather than the usual singles athletes and doubles teams in single-round elimination) whose teams of two singles athletes and one doubles duo will initially compete in group stage rubbers, before group winners and runners-up advance to a knockout stage.

Tristerra's I.T.T. squad - who headed Pot 2 this year and wound up in Group B with TJUN-ia, Lisander, and defending champions Britonisea - will star the best of the best in Tristan tennis. Singles frontmen Curtis West IV and Cooper Woolridge will serve as the main line-up, while Lionel Baird and J.T. Jackson will serve as alternates. In doubles, Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham will be the main team, with Rebecca Waukesha/Shirley Waukesha serving as alternates.

The I.T.T. begins today with the first group stage rubbers. Tristerra will spar TJUN-ia to kick things off for the black, white, and brown. Pundits predict that Tristans will lose the first rubber 0-3, finding themselves badly beaten by a better team on a better day, as Tristans have never had much success on indoor hard courts, and the TJUN-ians appear poised for a solid performance this year.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Tristennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **An tAontas Ceiltach** » Fri Oct 16, 2026 8:10 am

Celtic Union to Make NSTT Debut at ITT

An tAontas Ceiltach will make it's long-awaited global sporting debut in tennis at the upcoming International Tennis Trophy, the Ceiltach Department of Sport today confirmed. An eight-strong squad was today announced at the National Tennis Centre in Cwm Llyvan and will travel to Somer, Electrum in October.

The squad is spearheaded by Ceiltach champion Conor McNamara, who beat now-teammate Declan Kennaghan in the singles final of the union's premier tennis event in July. They are expected to be the first-choice Ceiltach players for the singles rubbers at the ITT, with potential change options of Annae McRogers and Sheena Brychein if required. In the doubles, promising young duo Caoimhe McDonaugh and Gwenllian Taf are expected to continue their partnership in national colours, with Rhiannon Conwy and Morgan Trenant the other specialist doubles players named.
Director of tennis Ross Higgins was in an upbeat mood when talking to the press following the squad announcement, saying that the ITT would be a 'steep learning curve' for players inexperienced at world tour level, but that his team aren't going to make up the numbers and 'can test the best in the world'. He described the chosen players as those who 'have proven form this season', but also have the mental and tactical 'nouse' to succeed in international tennis. McNamara also spoke, describing the ITT as a 'great opportunity' that could 'really elevate' the position of tennis within the union.
Ceiltach Sports Minister Jen Fyne was also in attendance at the event, downplaying suggestions that the selection of the tennis team for the union's international sporting debut was a controversial one, and playing tribute to a 'talented and exciting' squad. A similarly inoffensive and simultaneously-released statement from the Ceiltach Ministry for Sport said that 'the timing of international events means our tennis team is the best-prepared to make the leap into the international arena'.

Analysis: Róisin MacCarthy, Nuachta Ceiltach Sports Editor
So it's decided, An tAontas Ceiltach's first venture into international sport will come in tennis.
From the outside, the decision may come as a surprise. Rugby (union) and athletics are both sports with a larger following in the union and fans of those sports had hoped that their favourite stars would be the ones making the historic leap into the unknown.
The more pragmatically-minded within Ceiltach sport thought differently though. Whilst the next Olympiad is around the corner, there is still some time to go before it gets started and a Rugby World Cup remains some time away. Meanwhile, efforts to enter the Ceiltach football team into the current Baptism of Fire and World Cup cycle have fallen short and the fact that many Rugby fans have a pretty dim view of football would have made it a divisive choice for such a big occasion.
The ITT therefore, is pretty much the only event that is soon, but not too soon, and that is also inoffensive enough for people from all corners of the union to get behind. Ross Higgins and the other heads of Ceiltach tennis may have stumbled into their big break, but to their credit, they have looked eager to make the most of being in the right place at the right time. The boost in funding and attention from this announcement, and the event itself, are certainly once in a generation opportunities for a sport that enjoys decent participation recreationally, but has often let the union's best athletes slip elsewhere.
Higgins will be hoping that his players rise to that attention. Maintaining interest during what may yet prove to be a chastening international debut could also prove to be a challenge with the domestic rugby season and cross-country athletics seasons also getting into their stride closer to home. Time will tell whether this will end up being a debut to remember or a low-key start to the union's international sporting history.

Analysis: Geraint Coen, Nuachta Ceiltach Tennis Editor
The team selection for the International Tennis Trophy has raised few eyebrows within Ceiltach tennis, with any criticism largely along the lines of Ross Higgins and co. opting for something too safe.
McNamara is undoubtedly the class of the squad, following a reasonably comfortable romp to a third Ceiltach title in the summer, and the union's hopes at their maiden tournament will hinge on whether he plays his best tennis - and whether his best tennis is good enough to compete with the world's leading players. They have a young, but well-drilled doubles combination too in Caoimhe McDonaugh and Gwenllian Taf and given their success domestically, it makes sense to keep them together. The flipside is that the volume and intensity of matches is about to leap up and halfway through a high-stakes tournament would be the worst possible time to test any required rotations. Higgins has also chosen to name two specialist doubles players among his squad and it appears the chosen route will be to stick to each players' regular format rather than giving him additional flexibility in the singles rubbers.
Certainly the rumours of McNamara joining McDonaugh in the first-choice doubles combination seem to have been quashed for now. Whether they will resurface will depend on how the team fares in their first ever tie in international tennis - and indeed the union's first international sports match-up.
Being realistic, the union's stay at the ITT could be fairly brief. Those within Ceiltach sport who have banked on this event will hope it still gives travelling and home-based fans enough moments to celebrate.

TeiliRaidio Ceilta are expected to secure exclusive domestic television and radio rights for the tournament, ensuring that the union's first foray into international sport will be free to watch and listen to. Coverage begins on the 17th October.

Full Team:
Singles:
1. Conor McNamara
2. Declan Kennaghan
Change. Annae McRogers, Sheena Brychein

Doubles:
1. Caoimhe McDonaugh & Gwenllian Taf
Change. Rhiannon Conwy, Morgan Trenant.

by **Electrum** » Sat Oct 17, 2026 1:11 am

GROUP A
Dexterra vs An tAontas Ceiltach

Michael Loy (DEX)                               7   3   6
Conor Mcnamara (ATC)                            5   6   1

Haleigh M. Hartman (DEX)                        6   6
Declan Kenaghan (ATC)                           2   1

Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere (DEX)                5   4
Caoimhe McDonaugh/Gwenllian Taf (ATC)           7   6

Dexterra wins tie 2-1

Electrum vs Kimi-Suomi

Andrew Simmons (ETM)                            1   5
Åke Simberg (KIM)                               6   7

Maddison Scott (ETM)                            6   3
Sanna Nikko (KIM)                               7   6

Sonya Gredello/Rosa Levinsky (ETM)              7   4  10
Åke Simberg/Tarja Wahlroos (KIM)                5   6   8

Kimi-Suomi wins tie 2-1

GROUP B
Britonisea vs Lisander

Aaliyah de Leon (BRI)                           6   6
Robin Wentworth (LIS)                           3   2

Ricardo Toli (BRI)                              6   6
Anneliese Damsgard (LIS)                        4   4

Nathan Bensaïd/Ricardo Toli (BRI)               6   5  10
Filipe Korf/Stella Bressen (LIS)                2   7   5

Britonisea wins tie 3-0

Tristerra vs TJUN-ia

Curtis West IV (TRI)                            3   6   6
Valentina Spetsova (TJU)                        6   4   7

Cooper Woolridge (TRI)                          6   6
Hakim Kalah-Mustafa (TJU)                       1   2

Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham (TRI)        6   7
Shinji Makauchi/Felipe de la Rosa (TJU)         0   6

Tristerra wins tie 2-1

GROUP C
Zenic vs Malalaime

Mizushima Souma (ZEN)                           4   6   6
Birgit Breeveld (MLI)                           6   2   3

Tim Gunne Baardsen (ZEN)                        2   7   6
Martha de Jong (MLI)                            6   6   4

Son Hana/Corina Olimpia Dinu (ZEN)              7   6
Mitchel Surorejo/Kevin Prawirodikromo (MLI)     6   3

Zenic wins tie 3-0

Recuecn vs United Adaikes

Lucien Le Floch (RCN)                           3   6   6
Kallie Atkinson (UAD)                           6   3   2

Esterina Picarelli (RCN)                        5   6   6
Alphonzo Shakespeare (UAD)                      7   1   2

Inès Fournier/Camille Fournier (RCN)            6   4   8
Bryanne Lovel/Domingo Ainsworth (UAD)           2   6  10

Recuecn wins tie 2-1

GROUP D
Ceni vs Jaliserra

Ardil Navsal (CEN)                              7   6
JJ Taruc (JAL)                                  5   2

Xander Foyner-Evatee (CEN)                      4   6   2
Deja Sasmita (JAL)                              6   2   6

Perger Rianor/Kell Korden (CEN)                 6   6
Kyler Zabala/Vanessa Gales (JAL)                4   4

Ceni wins tie 2-1

Bhumi Matawis Empire vs Calgasia

Adi Ananda Tejakusuma (BME)                     4   6   6
Karel z Falkenštejna (CGS)                      6   2   4

Anisa Cantika (BME)                             7   6
Jakob Hofer (CGS)                               5   2

Kevin Arya Subrata/Kinan Ayu Subrata (BME)      3   4
Josef Blos/Max Felsing (CGS)                    6   6

Bhumi Matawis Empire wins tie 2-1

by **An tAontas Ceiltach** » Sat Oct 17, 2026 2:53 pm

Celtic Union Lose Tie, But Celebrate Doubles Win

An tAontas Ceiltach were defeated by Dexterra in their ITT opener, but did more than enough to justify their presence at the tournament as Caoimhe McDonaugh and Gwenllian Taf earned a hard-fought doubles victory in Somer.
The union face a tricky group and having to play top seeds Dexterra in round one was the toughest possible start to the team's international career. Despite Mercedinian open champion Michael Loy still being hampered by a wrist injury and the doubles pairing of Julian Hull and Mason Woodmere being somewhat experimental, Dexterra were still expected to have the quality to cruise past a team with no previous NSTT experience, and all but Dexterra's own tennis 'experts' predicting a 3-0 loss. In the end, the Dexterran analysts were wrong, but not by as much as their fans would have hoped.
First was Conor McNamara vs Loy. The first set was a tight affair, but the travelling support became increasingly more vocal with each service hold from the Ceiltach number one until Loy eventually managed to find some more threatening returns of serve. Any threat of the flood gates opening were soon dashed by McNamara though as he seized on a lapse in tempo from Loy to force an early break of serve. Loy mustered some late pressure, but the second set went largely the same way as the first with both sides struggling to threaten a break of serve and McNamara was able to hold out to level things up.
That effort took its toll however, and Loy found a decisive break at 2-1 up in the deciding set to take control of the match and seal a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 win.

Declan Kenaghan was ultimately outclassed by Haleigh M.Hartman and struggled to land any significant punches in a 2-6, 1-6 defeat that ultimately sealed the tie for Dexterra. Whilst the final doubles match would be a dead rubber, pride was very much at stake for McDonaugh and Taf as they took on a makeshift, but still highly dangerous combination in Julian Hull and Mason Woodmere.
The Ceiltach pair looked typically well-drilled from the start however, and with the Dexterrans struggling early on with their own lines of communication, were able to comfortably accumulate holds of serve whilst piling the pressure on their opponents, particularly the scattergun first serve of Woodmere. That pressure eventually told at 6-5, with Woodmere again faltering and some aggressive return routines sealing a the first of two well-timed break points.
The Dexterrans improved somewhat in the second set, but still looked there for the taking. Taf dealt the decisive blow at 4-4 with a brutal backhand return down the line as Hull looked to cover the middle of the net, before hitting two aces in a nerveless service game of her own to seal a historic maiden match for the union in international sport.

Analysis: Geraint Coen, Nuachta Ceiltach Tennis Editor

The union's debut always looked like it would be a tough task and so it proved, but there were ultimately many more positives than even the most optimistic travelling fans would have expected.
Conor McNamara gave multiple grand-slam champion Michael Loy a real run for his money in the opening game, stealing a set before ultimately succumbing, but looked like he has both the serve and the variety of shots needed to operate at this level. Fitness, physically and psychologically, cost him in the final set, but against less esteemed opponents where he is able to dictate more points, that may well be less of an issue. Declan Kenaghan's form is more concerning, but he had a tough task in his opener and is still very much finding his feet as a senior team player.
The doubles duo too showed plenty of promise. Hull and Woodmere are clearly yet to gel together and Woodmere in particular was having an off day, but McDonaugh and Taf exploited their weaknesses intelligently and were able to keep their own side of the scoreboard ticking over in two close sets. More practically, the win will yield a good haul of ranking points, opening up opportunities in any future tournaments they enter.
Ross Higgins was adamant that his players could compete with the world's best. His players have now proven that - and more. They now need to produce a similar performance against Kimi-Suomi - a team who are on paper more beatable, but themselves produced a brilliant collective performance in a 2-1 upset against Electrum in which both singles rubbers were sealed in straight sets.
An honourable mention too to the Ceiltach fans who were terrific, and will have an even bigger role to play in a tie which will decide how much longer their team gets to spend in Electrum.

An tAontas Ceiltach vs Kimi-Suomi is live on TeiliRaidio Ceiltach to watch and listen tomorrow.

by **Dexterra** » Sat Oct 17, 2026 8:42 pm

18 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 19 November 2021 ★ Event XCI Round II (archive)

Loy, Hartman secure Dexterra's first win in the 10th I.T.T.

Singles world numbers 1 and 3 get the job done on the first day of International Tennis Trophy action, although the doubles world numbers 1 and 3 have some explaining to do

The Dexterra Beagles have tasted the sweet nectar of victory in their first tie at the 10th International Tennis Trophy in Somer, Electrum, but the win did not come without its surprises.

Michael Loy and Haleigh M. Hartman both won their matches to clinch the tie for Dexterra over tour newcomers An tAontas Ceiltach, but Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere lost their match in what was a surprising twist that many fans and analysts are taking as a sign that the new duo may have been a mistake.

However, the Beagles I.T.T. head coach John Henry Moore - Loy's head coach, and a former member of Dexterra's I.T.T. squad - said he still has "the utmost confidence" in Hull/Woodmere, and believes "they are Dexterra's best chance for doubles success."

The tie began with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 victory by Loy over Conor McNamara which was initially tight but turned into a runaway. Though the Dexter and the tAontas Ceiltachian initially marched in lockstep to a 4-4 tie, the tAontas Ceiltachian drew first blood by breaking the Dexter's serve and serving for the set; however, the Dexter broke right back, consolidated, and then broke serve again to take the first set, effectively reeling off three straight games. But Loy found himself in a sudden slump in the second set, hitting uncharacteristic unforced errors and double faults as well as struggling to recapture his strong offensive performance from the first set. McNamara broke serve and then consolidated while up 4-3 to take the second set. However, the Beagle had plenty of bite left. After both athletes held serve to start the third set, Loy went on a rampage by winning five straight games, clamping down on a magnificent first-ever international match by McNamara with down-the-line backhand winners, which fans and analysts say is becoming Loy's biggest weapon in the wake of his wrist injury.

With Dexterra one win away from clinching victory in the tie, Haleigh M. Hartman stepped onto the court and blew away fans and analysts with a stellar performance. Hartman dominated Declan Kenaghan 6-2, 6-1, breaking serve five times in total and garnering more than a dozen break chances. The Dexter came out of the gates swinging, amassing a 4-0 lead in the first set from which there was no escape. She then jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set, saving the only break chance she faced the entire match during the third game. And though she failed to convert break points to go up 4-0 again, it ultimately didn't matter, as the Beagle won every other game thereafter. To Kenaghan's credit, he did hit some amazing forehand winners and slice serves for which Hartman had no response, especially while facing break, set, and even match points. But Hartman's experience, mental fortitude, and defensive strength proved all too much for the tAontas Ceiltachian. With the win, Hartman became the first Dexter woman, Hispanic Dexter, and openly gay Dexter to clinch an I.T.T. tie, let alone win an I.T.T. match.

With the tie victory secured, Julian Hull and Mason Woodmere just needed to wrap up the tie in a neat little bow, but they were stunned 5-7, 4-6 by Caoimhe McDonaugh/Gwenllian Taf. In addition to poor communication and clear evidence that they weren't clicking as a team in their first match together, both Hull and Woodmere also had off days in their own respects, with Hull's serving being less powerful than usual and Woodmere's defense having more holes than normal. Case in point, though the two teams nearly wrestled to a tiebreak in the first set, Hull hit a rare double fault while the Dexters faced set point, and in the second set, Woodmere poached a couple shots at the net that sailed either long or wide, setting up crucial break chances. With Hull's loss and Perger Rianor's victory for team Ceni, Hull is now behind Rianor in the race for the world number 1 ranking.

Still, Dexterra won the first tie and that much is good news. The Beagles are either in first place or second place in Group A, likely second, as Kimi-Suomi defeated Electrum in two straight set singles matches, meaning that the Kimi-Suomis likely have the edge through the tiebreaker of sets won.

In the upcoming second tie, Dexterra must tackle Electrum in what will be the brown, white, and blue's biggest test of the I.T.T. group stage. Loy must survive Andrew Simmons in a rematch of the 2023 Beçonailles semifinals where Simmons came back from down two sets to love to defeat Loy, Hartman must escape Maddison Scott (who recently lost to Loy in the Mercedinian Open semifinals), and Hull/Woodmere must overcome Sonya Gredello/Rosa Levinsky - better known as Ronya - who have history with both Hull and Woodmere.

Experts predict that Dexterra will lose the tie 1-2 or even 0-3, as the Electrumites will have their home crowds loudly on their side. Loy will likely be toppled by Simmons again, Hartman will surely struggle against Scott, and Hull/Woodmere will have a tough time against Ronya.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Dextennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **Tristerra** » Sat Oct 17, 2026 8:44 pm

18 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 1 January 2026 ★ Event XII Round II

Tristans start off strong at the I.T.T.

Shelties come within one tiebreak of sweeping their first tie at the 10th International Tennis Trophy

The Tristerra Shelties have won their first tie at the 10th International Tennis Trophy.

But it was relatively close. Curtis West IV lost the first match of the tie in a final set tiebreak, but then Cooper Woolridge and Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham propelled Tristerra to victory over TJUN-ia.

The tie began with bad news for the Shelties, when West IV lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 to Valentina Spetsova, in which the Sheltie nearly mounted a successful comeback after being thwarted early on. The TJUN-ian came out firing on all cylinders with cross-court forehand winners and all-encompassing court coverage that made it nigh impossible for the Tristan to keep consistent momentum. Spetsova ultimately broke serve twice in the first set, taking advantage of key errors by West IV including costly double faults in an uncharacteristically off-kilter serving performance by the Sheltie. However, West IV struck back in the second set, breaking serve early and never letting the lead go, although he did have to fend off several break back points. In the third set, the Sheltie found himself down 3-5, 0-30 and thus likely doomed, but he reeled off three consecutive games to turn the tables on the TJUN-ian. Yet Spetsova held serve in the next game to force a final set tiebreak, where she would barrel through with breakneck winners and punishing aces to decisively win 7-4, although West IV did save her first two match points with passing forehand winners.

From then on, Tristerra found itself in a do-or-die conundrum in which any other loss would mean that TJUN-ia would take the tie. But the remaining Tristans stepped up in a big way.

Cooper Woolridge rolled onto the court and, exhibiting zero nerves whatsoever, absolutely smoked Hakim Kalah-Mustafa 6-1, 6-2. The Tristan came out swinging for the fences with backhand winners aplenty and minimal errors or faults, jumping to a 5-0 lead in one of his most flawless performances to date, and though he had set points to complete the bagel, the TJUN-ian forced him to serve it out, which the Sheltie did in under one minute. Woolridge continued to beat up on Kalah-Mustafa in the second set, successfully attacking the TJUN-ian's forehand and using sneak attack returns on second serves that helped the Tristan hit numerous brutal returns that the TJUN-ian struggled to counter. The Sheltie broke serve twice in the second set to clinch the match for Tristerra and level the tie at 1-1, bringing victory in the tie down to doubles.

While pundits were predicting a close doubles match, they were only partially right. Lankford/Branham toppled Shinji Makauchi/Felipe de la Rosa 6-0, 7-6, absolutely dominating in the first set but having to sue for tiebreak peace in the second set. Indeed, much like Woolridge, Lankford/Branham came out seemingly feeling zero pressure and proceeded to crush Makauchi/de la Rosa with a 21 minute bagel in which the Tristans were completely clicking on both offense and defense, painting the court with uncatchable lobs, narrow drop shots, and overhead smashes. But the TJUN-ians would turn into a brick wall during the second set, where they returned nearly everything that came their way and consistently held at love while forcing nearly every Tristan service game to deuce. With the Tristans only one set from winning the tie, the TJUN-ians were clearly making the Shelties feel the weight of the moment, causing Lankford/Branham to make critical errors especially while they held crucial break points. Soon ensnarled in a tight tiebreak, Lankford/Branham saved two set points from which Makauchi/de la Rosa would surely have run away with the match, after which the Tristans finally garnered one match point that they converted with a passing backhand winner by Lankford, effectively clinching the tie for Tristerra.

Next up in the second tie, Tristerra face the mother of all I.T.T. challenges: defending champions Britonisea, one of the strongest nations in international tennis, with whom Tristerra are tied for first place in Group B. This tie will likely determine who wins Group B. Pundits predict that the Britons will clean the Tristans' clock and hand them a 0-3 loss, with West IV struggling to get anything going against Aaliyah de Leon, Woolridge finding nothing working against Ricardo Toli, and Lankford/Branham getting worn down by Nathan Bensaïd/Ricardo Toli.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Tristennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

Edit: typo

by **Zenic** » Sat Oct 17, 2026 10:56 pm

"So, you all knew the correct opponents and yet none of you bothered to tell me?"

"We all assumed it was a test to keep us focused and not get ahead of ourselves," one courageous staff member said amongst a sea of TAZ staff in Electrum. Royer dropped his head into his hands in frustration and embarrassment. Turns out HE himself had gotten ahead of himself as the rematch with Recuecn was matchday 2, not matchday 1. That would be their opening matchup with upstart Malalaime, the highest rated team from Pot 4.

Thankfully, Zenic were prepared and came out determined to come away with a victory. Mizushima Souma stumbled a little at the beginning before gaining control early in the second set and never relinquishing it again. Baardsen had a more worrisome match as he came out very slow before winning a highly contested second set and eventually putting away his opponent in the third. Son and Dinu nearly dropped their first set but eventually claimed it for themselves and then taking the second set before any resistance from Malalaime could come.

Now, Zenic sit alone at the top of Group C as United Adaikes' Bryanne Lovel and Domingo Ainsworth managed to win the doubles match against the Fourniers so Recuecn could only claim a 2-1 victory. Zenic were now in prime position to clinch a spot in the playoffs by winning the group with a victory against the only other team to win so far. Royer was positive that even a 2-1 victory would suffice for their goals. Although, Royer had been positive that Zenic would have already faced Recuecn so he would put some checks in place to ensure EVERYONE was on the same page before the start of a tournament.

Zenic had gotten fortunate once; they might not get so fortunate again.

by **Electrum** » Sun Oct 18, 2026 1:43 am

GROUP A
An tAontas Ceiltach vs Kimi-Suomi

Conor Mcnamara (ATC)                            3   6   7
Åke Simberg (KIM)                               6   3   5

Declan Kenaghan (ATC)                           6   6
Sanna Nikko (KIM)                               1   0

Caoimhe McDonaugh/Gwenllian Taf (ATC)           6   4  10
Åke Simberg/Tarja Wahlroos (KIM)                3   6   5

An tAontas Ceiltach wins tie 3-0

Dexterra vs Electrum

Michael Loy (DEX)                               7   6
Andrew Simmons (ETM)                            6   3

Haleigh M. Hartman (DEX)                        7   6
Maddison Scott (ETM)                            6   1

Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere (DEX)                6   7
Sonya Gredello/Rosa Levinsky (ETM)              0   5

Dexterra wins tie 3-0

GROUP B
Lisander vs TJUN-ia

Robin Wentworth (LIS)                           2   6
Valentina Spetsova (TJU)                        6   7

Anneliese Damsgard (LIS)                        6   6
Hakim Kalah-Mustafa (TJU)                       1   4

Filipe Korf/Stella Bressen (LIS)                4   4
Shinji Makauchi/Felipe de la Rosa (TJU)         6   6

TJUN-ia wins tie 2-1

Britonisea vs Tristerra

Aaliyah de Leon (BRI)                           4   7   6
Curtis West IV (TRI)                            6   5   4

Ricardo Toli (BRI)                              5   6   6
Cooper Woolridge (TRI)                          7   4   3

Nathan Bensaïd/Ricardo Toli (BRI)               6   4  10
Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham (TRI)        2   6   4

Britonisea wins tie 3-0

GROUP C
Malalaime vs United Adaikes

Birgit Breeveld (MLI)                           6   3
Kallie Atkinson (UAD)                           7   6

Martha de Jong (MLI)                            6   7   4
Alphonzo Shakespeare (UAD)                      7   5   6

Mitchel Surorejo/Kevin Prawirodikromo (MLI)     6   0   5
Bryanne Lovel/Domingo Ainsworth (UAD)           3   6  10

United Adaikes wins tie 3-0

Zenic vs Recuecn

Mizushima Souma (ZEN)                           6   6
Lucien Le Floch (RCN)                           1   1

Tim Gunne Baardsen (ZEN)                        1   6   6
Esterina Picarelli (RCN)                        6   4   4

Son Hana/Corina Olimpia Dinu (ZEN)              4   4
Inès Fournier/Camille Fournier (RCN)            6   6

Zenic wins tie 2-1

GROUP D
Jaliserra vs Calgasia

JJ Taruc (JAL)                                  1   7   4
Karel z Falkenštejna (CGS)                      6   6   6

Deja Sasmita (JAL)                              1   5
Jakob Hofer (CGS)                               6   7

Kyler Zabala/Vanessa Gales (JAL)                6   6
Josef Blos/Max Felsing (CGS)                    2   4

Calgasia wins tie 2-1

Ceni vs Bhumi Matawis Empire

Ardil Navsal (CEN)                              6   6
Adi Ananda Tejakusuma (BME)                     1   4

Xander Foyner-Evatee (CEN)                      6   1   6
Anisa Cantika (BME)                             0   6   7

Perger Rianor/Kell Korden (CEN)                 6   6
Kevin Arya Subrata/Kinan Ayu Subrata (BME)      2   3

Ceni wins tie 2-1

by **An tAontas Ceiltach** » Sun Oct 18, 2026 2:26 pm

Celtic Union Down Kimi-Suomi to Clinch First ITT Tie

An tAontas Ceiltach secured a 3-0 win over qualification rivals Kimi-Suomi for their first victory at the ITT.
Conor McNamara came from a set down to beat Åke Simberg in a tight three-set tie early in a nervy encounter at the start of the day's play. The Ceiltach number one was slow to get going following another three set encounter in the opening tie with Dexterra and was punished for a series of unforced errors, particularly off the forehand wing as he slipped to a 5-1 deficit. He earned one break back, but Simberg held firm to see out the set with a composed performance on serve.
Things tightened up in the second set however and it was McNamara that struck first in the second with a flurry of successful serve volleys to wrestle some momentum back. Simberg levelled up with a break of his own to make it 3-3, but McNamara held comfortably before taking advantage in a drop in Simberg's first serve percentage to break again, going on to serve out the set.
With neither side wanting to give away a good position, the third set started in cagey fashion with serve dominating. McNamara found an excellent stretching return winner at 6-5 up on the Simberg serve to set up a smash-and-grab match point and then took his opportunity when Simberg netted from the back of the court.
If the Ceiltach fans had set themselves up for another nailbiter, they didn't get one. Number two Declan Kenaghan looked outclassed for much of his opening game, but showed all his promise and more in a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win over Sanna Nikko, who struggled to deal with the Ceiltach's power and depth from the baseline. He served out a bagel second set win to rapturous celebrations from the travelling supporters and his own bench, securing the union's first ITT win in the process.
Doubles pairing Gwenllian Taf and Caoimhe McDonaugh could have been forgiven for getting carried away in the wake of those celebrations, but saw out a tense tie-break with the returning Simberg and partner Tarja Wahlroos to convert their win into a 3-0 whitewash.
That scoreline gives them an excellent chance of qualification with a win, or even a 2-1 defeat to a stacked but struggling Electrum side likely to be good enough to qualify for the knockouts as group runners-up after top-ranked side Dexterra beat the hosts without dropping a set.

Ross Higgins: Ceiltach captain and Director of Tennis

I'm pretty ecstatic. All credit to the players, we had a tough tie against Dexterra and if they don't turn up today, we're having a very different conversation [about] needing a bit of a miracle to qualify.
We knew we could compete at this tournament with the talent we have, but we still need to perform to win at this level and we did that today. Conor showed real strength of character to come back from a set down and I'm really pleased Declan got to show how dangerous he can be. Credit to Gwen and Caoimhe as well because staying in the game and getting the 3-0 win puts us in a really good position.
Electrum are going to be tough to beat. They're a proud tennis nation and they'll want to give something back to the fans, but we'll rest-up and bring our best tennis in a couple of days.

[On whether the team plans to make any changes for the final group match]

We've got a current group of players who've found their groove and are playing really well. Obviously we've had two big ties and if someone tells me they're not able to play their best tennis, I'm not going to hold that against them, we brought a squad for a reason and I back the other players in that squad. I'm not anticipating making any changes though.

[On the wider impact for tennis in An tAontas Ceiltach]

We've honestly been in our competitive bubble here to try and win games, so it's not something I've thought about too much. Hopefully it changes the narrative that tennis can be a sport where we can do really well on the world stage and hopefully some young kids will be watching this and want to play. We've had some great support over here from the fans and it's been massive to get us through the big points, so hopefully we'll see more of that in the future.

The Celtic Union have a rest day before another crucial tie against hosts Electrum. That will be available to watch and listen live on TeiliRaidio Ceiltach.

by **Dexterra** » Sun Oct 18, 2026 9:10 pm

19 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 19 November 2021 ★ Event XCI Round III (archive)

Dexterra outshine the gold and silver of Electrum

Beagles take down the International Tennis Trophy hosts without dropping a set

While experts were expecting the Dexterra Beagles to struggle against Electrum in the second tie of the 10th International Tennis Trophy group stage, they were pleasantly surprised to see Dexters put up one of their finest performances at the I.T.T. ever.

Dexterra not only swept Electrum 3-0, but won each match of the tie in straight sets, despite the Electrumite crowds cheering loudly for their home team.

In the first match of the tie, Michael Loy vanquished longtime rival Andrew Simmons 7-6, 6-3, a tussle which started out tense but gradually slid in favor of the Dexter. There were no breaks of serve in the first set despite both players having multiple opportunities to do so, leading to a tense eleven minute tiebreak in which both the Dexter and the Electrumite held set points. It only ended on Loy's second set point with him up 9-8, when Simmons charged the net and tried to attack Loy's forehand, only for Loy to hit an overhead lob that Simmons tried to chase down but could not catch. The second set started out much the same as the first, with both players squandering break points that would have amassed a decisive lead; however, while leading 4-3 the Beagle finally broke through with a fierce down-the-line backhand winner that only landed in bounds by mere millimeters, after which he consolidated at 30 to take the match.

The second match of the tie started out similar to the first match before it quickly turned into a landslide, with Haleigh M. Hartman outlasting Maddison Scott 7-6, 6-1. There were no breaks of serve in the first set until the very end, when Scott broke Hartman's serve to go up 6-5 and thus set up a chance to serve out the set; however, Hartman broke right back to force a tiebreak, where she leapt out to a 4-0 lead that - though eventually erased as Scott won four straight points of her own - she eventually converted into a 7-5 win through a lethal combo of unreturned serves and forehand winners. With Dexterra only one set away from victory in the tie, Hartman put the pedal to the metal and stepped up her offensive onslaught while tightening up the holes in her defense. The Dexter won four straight games to start the second set, and later broke serve one final time to deal the Electrumites a fatal breadstick.

With the tie effectively clinched, all Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere needed to do was put an exclamation mark on the victory and prove that they could work as a team, which they did with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Sonya Gredello/Rosa Levinsky that was much the opposite of Loy's and Hartman's wins. Hull/Woodmere came out guns a-blazing having clearly worked on the things that had hamstrung them in their loss in the first tie, with Hull's serving being far more accurate and powerful while Woodmere's defense was much steelier and cleaner. The Dexters started the match by bageling the Electrumites in 24 minutes, a sharp turnaround from their performance in the first match, although to the Electrumites' credit they did force many games to deuce. The second set was a much different beast, however, with Ronya fiercely resisting Hull/Woodmere and lengthening many deuce-bound games in a tight tug-of-war. Neither team broke serve until the end of the set, when Hull/Woodmere finally broke through to go up 6-5 through pummeling unreturned serves by Hull and net poaches by Woodmere whenever the ball did make it back in play. The Dexters then consolidated at 15 to complete the sweep of the 10th I.T.T. hosts despite having less crowd support.

At the moment, Dexterra are the only team in Group A to have a 2-0 record, and while this means the Beagles are currently in first place, it does not necessarily mean that they have clinched a spot in the knockout rounds. There are possibly some scenarios in which they lose the upcoming third tie and ultimately miss out on the knockouts with a 2-1 record, which would arguably be more heartbreaking than a loss in the quarterfinals or a third career loss in the semifinals.

Indeed, that upcoming third and final tie could ultimately make or break Dexterra's shot at the 10th I.T.T., and it comes against a team that could easily pull off the upset: Kimi-Suomi, who currently stand at 1-1. Experts predict that Dexterra will ultimately win the tie 2-1, with Loy successfully handling Åke Simberg, Hartman falling to Sanna Nikko, and Hull/Woodmere getting the job done against Åke Simberg/Tarja Wahlroos, although it would not surprise most fans and analysts if Kimi-Suomi pulled off the upset and defeated Dexterra.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Dextennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **Tristerra** » Sun Oct 18, 2026 9:14 pm

19 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 1 January 2026 ★ Event XII Round III

Shelties crushed by the Britons in three close matches

Tristerra has been swept by Britonisea in the second International Tennis Trophy rubber, but all three matches went to three sets

Pundits were right about the final tally of Tristerra's International Tennis Trophy rubber against defending champions Britonisea, but they did not foresee how close Tristans would come to pulling off an upset.

In the second rubber of the 10th I.T.T. group stage, Tristerra was defeated 0-3 by Britonisea, an outcome that most pundits had foreseen. However, it was not a runaway victory by the Britons: the ever-resilient Tristans pushed all three matches to a deciding third set.

In the first match of the rubber, Curtis West IV tumbled 6-4, 5-7, 4-6 to world number 5 Aaliyah de Leon, in a match where West IV started out strong but could not stop de Leon from wresting control. The Tristan's serve and offense were especially hard-hitting in the first set, thwacking 140+ mph aces and 100+ mph cross-court winners that enabled him to break serve midway through the set and march towards winning the set. And while West IV maintained his level in the second set, de Leon managed to up hers, leading to a close tie that was only broken by an overhead smash by de Leon to go up 6-5, after which the Briton consolidated at 30 to level the match at one set apiece. It seemed that losing the set deflated the Sheltie, whose first serve percentage and forehand speed dipped in the third set, causing him to be broken at 2-2. And though West IV pursued hotly for the rest of the match, in fact garnering points to break back, he was unable to convert any of them and de Leon ultimately took the match.

With Britonisea one win away from clinching the rubber, it was on Cooper Woolridge to save Tristerra, and while hoping to replicate his amazing performance during the first rubber against TJUN-ia, he was unable to recapture that magic in a 7-5, 4-6, 3-6 loss to world number 8 Ricardo Toli. Toli came out strong and quickly boxed Woolridge into a corner with a 5-2 lead that seemed insurmountable. However, Woolridge shocked the tennis world by coming all the way back and winning five straight games to steal the first set, along the way saving three set points that would have allowed the Briton to put the final nail in Tristerra's coffin. But Toli was not to be outdone. He broke serve early in the second set and fought his way to triumph, forcing a deciding third set, where he would ultimately break serve twice to clinch the rubber for Britonisea, despite Woolridge wowing spectators with a number of high-powered winners and some close drop shots that nearly clipped the net.

Though the rubber was lost for Tristerra, Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham had the opportunity to turn defeat into a moral victory by getting at least one win for Tristerra, but they too were defeated 2-6, 6-4, 5-10 by world numbers 6 and 17 Nathan Bensaïd/Ricardo Toli. The Britons were firing on all cylinders to start with, jumping to a 4-0 lead by forcing critical errors and pouncing on offensive mistakes by the Tristans, who had to fight to avoid a bagel. But despite the difficult start to the match, Lankford/Branham rebounded by patching things up offensively through a rework of their court positions, enabling them to break serve and consolidate while tied 4-4, effectively bringing the match down to a super tiebreak. But that super tiebreak turned out to be much the same as the first set, with Bensaïd/Toli jumping out to an early lead which the Tristans struggled to catch up to. In the end, the Britons rallied to rip four straight points and take advantage of the Tristans falling apart at the worst possible time, clinching the match and a 3-0 win for Britonisea.

Though Britonisea has all but wrapped up first place in Group B, Tristerra is still in prime position to finish second, if they can just win their third and final rubber over Lisander. Pundits predict that Tristerra will indeed defeat Lisander 2-1 in a mirror to their first rubber, with West IV getting knocked out by Robin Wentworth, but then Woolridge saves the Tristan day against Anneliese Damsgard and Lankford/Branham bring home the W against Filipe Korf/Stella Bressen. If pundits are correct and Tristerra do defeat Lisander, they will almost certainly advance to the knockout rounds.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Tristennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **Electrum** » Mon Oct 19, 2026 1:26 am

GROUP A
Electrum vs An tAontas Ceiltach

Andrew Simmons (ETM)                            1   6   3
Conor Mcnamara (ATC)                            6   4   6

Maddison Scott (ETM)                            3   1
Declan Kenaghan (ATC)                           6   6

Sonya Gredello/Rosa Levinsky (ETM)              6   3
Caoimhe McDonaugh/Gwenllian Taf (ATC)           7   6

An tAontas Ceiltach wins tie 2-1

Kimi-Suomi vs Dexterra

Åke Simberg (KIM)                               6   6
Michael Loy (DEX)                               4   3

Sanna Nikko (KIM)                               4   4
Haleigh M. Hartman (DEX)                        6   6

Åke Simberg/Tarja Wahlroos (KIM)                6   2  11
Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere (DEX)                4   6   9

Kimi-Suomi wins tie 2-1

Group standings

-                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Dexterra                3    2   1     6    3   +3     2
2 An tAontas Ceiltach     3    2   1     6    3   +3     2
3 Kimi-Suomi              3    2   1     4    5   −1     2
4 Electrum                3    0   3     2    7   −5     0

GROUP B
Tristerra vs Lisander

Curtis West IV (TRI)                            6   6
Robin Wentworth (LIS)                           3   0

Cooper Woolridge (TRI)                          7   7
Anneliese Damsgard (LIS)                        5   6

Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham (TRI)        3   6   3
Filipe Korf/Stella Bressen (LIS)                6   2  10

Tristerra wins tie 2-1

TJUN-ia vs Britonisea

Valentina Spetsova (TJU)                        5   4
Aaliyah de Leon (BRI)                           7   6

Hakim Kalah-Mustafa (TJU)                       1   1
Ricardo Toli (BRI)                              6   6

Shinji Makauchi/Felipe de la Rosa (TJU)         6   6   7
Nathan Bensaïd/Ricardo Toli (BRI)               7   0  10

Britonisea wins tie 3-0

Group standings

-                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Britonisea              3    3   0     9    0   +9     3
2 Tristerra               3    2   1     4    5   −1     2
3 TJUN-ia                 3    1   2     3    6   −3     1
4 Lisander                3    0   3     2    7   −5     0

GROUP C
Recuecn vs Malalaime

Lucien Le Floch (RCN)                           5   2
Birgit Breeveld (MLI)                           7   6

Esterina Picarelli (RCN)                        6   6
Martha de Jong (MLI)                            4   4

Inès Fournier/Camille Fournier (RCN)            6   5   7
Mitchel Surorejo/Kevin Prawirodikromo (MLI)     1   7  10

Malalaimeh wins tie 2-1

Zenic vs United Adaikes

Kallie Atkinson (UAD)                           1   3
Mizushima Souma (ZEN)                           6   6

Alphonzo Shakespeare (UAD)                      0   3
Tim Gunne Baardsen (ZEN)                        6   6

Bryanne Lovel/Domingo Ainsworth (UAD)           1   7  11
Son Hana/Corina Olimpia Dinu (ZEN)              6   6   9

Zenic wins tie 2-1

Group standings

-                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Zenic                   3    3   0     7    2   +5     3
2 United Adaikes          3    1   2     5    4   +1     1
3 Recuecn                 3    1   2     4    5   −1     1
4 Malalaime               3    1   2     2    7   −5     1

GROUP D
Bhumi Matawis Empire vs Jaliserra

Adi Ananda Tejakusuma (BME)                     2   6   6
JJ Taruc (JAL)                                  6   0   3

Anisa Cantika (BME)                             7   4   5
Deja Sasmita (JAL)                              6   6   7

Kevin Arya Subrata/Kinan Ayu Subrata (BME)      7   2  10
Kyler Zabala/Vanessa Gales (JAL)                5   6   4

Bhumi Matawis Empire wins tie 2-1

Calgasia vs Ceni

Karel z Falkenštejna (CGS)                      3   5
Ardil Navsal (CEN)                              6   7

Jakob Hofer (CGS)                               3   2
Xander Foyner-Evatee (CEN)                      6   6

Josef Blos/Max Felsing (CGS)                    6   6
Perger Rianor/Kell Korden (CEN)                 4   4

Ceni wins tie 2-1

Group standings

-                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ceni                    3    3   0     6    3   +3     3
2 Bhumi Matawis Empire    3    2   1     5    4   +1     2
3 Calgasia                3    1   2     4    5   −1     1
4 Jaliserra               3    0   3     3    6   −3     0

KNOCKOUT DRAW

All matches held at the traditional home of the ITT, the Somersville Convention Centre.

Ceni (CEN) vs An tAontas Ceiltach (ATC) @ Morning, Day 1 Quarterfinals
Zenic (ZEN) vs Tristerra (TRI) @ Twilight, Day 1 Quarterfinals
Britonisea (BRI) vs United Adaikes (UAD) @ Morning, Day 2 Quarterfinals
Dexterra (DEX) vs Bhumi Matawis Empire (BME) @ Twilight, Day 2 Quarterfinals

by **Zenic** » Mon Oct 19, 2026 10:43 am

Second best record in the entire ITT.

Zenic were definitely on a roll as they clinched Group C with a solid victory over United Adaikes to make it a near-perfect group stage performance. The only losses came from Son and Dinu as they reasonably lost to the Fourniers against Recuecn and then disappointingly lost to Bryanne Lovel and Domingo Ainsworth. Disappointing for Royer as he had hoped they would win at least two of their three matches before the knockouts arrived. As a result of those two losses, they finished with 7 matches won and 2 matches lost in 3 matchups won. The only team to finish with a better overall record? Britonisea with 9 matches won and 0 matches lost in 3 matchups won.

Royer finally had some time to peruse the rest of the field and found some interesting surprises. No hometown heroes as Electrum were eliminated and replaced by An tAontas Ceiltach who also beat out Kimi-Suomi on total matches won. Tristerra advanced from Group B but only by the skin of their teeth instead of comfortably. Finally, Bhumi Matawis Empire qualified after making a comeback to flip positions with Calgasia on the final matchday.

Now, all eight qualified teams will head over to the Somersville Convention Centre to see who walks away with the ITT itself to kick off the outdoor hardcourt period of the season. Zenic will take part on Day 1 of the Quarterfinals with Ceni squaring off against An tAontas Ceiltach while Zenic takes on Tristerra later that same day. The former looks to be a fascinating balanced matchup that could legitimate go either way to surprise everyone and maybe even break some brackets. The later was Royer's concern and just as hard to determine potential outcomes. On paper, Zenic had a massive advantage as they somewhat comfortably won their group while Tristerra were still trying to regain their footing.

If there was any chance of Zenic winning the ITT, this was a very good year to try for it. Overall gameplan: overcome a fumbling Tristerra, beat a solid but not perfect Ceni or An tAontas Ceiltach and then pull off an upset against most likely Britonisea or Dexterra. Although a surging Bhumi Matawis Empire or United Adaikes was not completely out of the question but simply highly unlikely. For now though, their focus was on Curtis West IV, Cooper Woolridge, and the duo of Geraldine Lankford and Leonard Branham, assuming Tristerra did not try to mix it up and generate any sort of spark for momentum.

Zenic may literally never get a better shot than this to walk away with THE team trophy of the NSTT. Royer was not going to let TAZ and the Zenician delegation underperform on such a grand stage.

by **An tAontas Ceiltach** » Mon Oct 19, 2026 1:24 pm

Celtic Union Cruise Past Electrum to Seal Place in Quarters

An tAontas Ceiltach completed a 3-0 win over hosts Electrum to qualify for the knockout stages of the ITT at the first time of asking.
Confidence was high among an unchanged Ceiltach line-up following a tight defeat to top seeds Dexterra and a 3-0 win against Kimi-Suomi in their previous tie. Electrum in contrast had slumped to two straight defeats and needed a big win against the Ceiltach team to stand any chance of qualifying.
Conor McNamara was once again first up against world number 20 Andrew Simmons and to the dismay of the home support, got away to a fast start. The Ceiltach number one raced to a 3-0 lead as Simmons failed to find his range from the baseline and while the Electrumite clawed a game back under further pressure, he was broken again to make the score 5-1, leaving McNamara to serve out the first set. Simmons duly blasted another forehand return long at set point, and at that stage, it looked like the Ceiltach was heading for his first straight sets win of the tournament.
Things are rarely that easy with McNamara though, and to be fair to Simmons, he upped his game considerably in the second set. A much tighter affair went with serve for the opening 6 games, before a poorly judged dropshot handed Simmons a break point which he took with a murderous backhand return. McNamara was able to put some pressure back on the Simmons serve, but his consistency let him down at the crucial moments, allowing Simmons to seal the set 6-4.
With both players tiring, the third set was more chaotic. Errors flew off the racquets of both players, but if anything the loose nature of the match favoured McNamara and his combinations of sharp slice and heavy topspin sent Simmons scampering. The two traded breaks early on in the set, but McNamara eventually got the decisive break of serve for a 5-3 lead and managed to serve out the match.

Once again, Declan Kenaghan was given the opportunity to wrap up the tie and once again, he did so relatively comfortably. Whilst it wasn't quite the 6-1, 6-0 victory from the Kimi-Suomi tie, the Ceiltach number two only dropped four games in a 6-3, 6-1 win over world number 22 Maddison Scott to send the union into the knockout stages. As in his previous rubber, the Ceiltach summoned a supreme display of power-hitting, with the forehand wing in particular doing the damage and subduing the home crowd, who have had a fairly miserable time of things at this tournament.
As in the Kimi-Suomi tie, Caoimhe McDonaugh and Gwenllian Taf had the luxury of a dead rubber, but the opportunity to earn a 3-0 victory and the potential to send the union top of the group. They faced the experienced duo of Sonya Gredello and Rosa Levinsky, known generally as 'Ronya', as the leading Electrumite doubles pairing, and the pair the home faithful were relying on to save some face at the end of a dire tournament.
Serve dominated the opening set, with each side only generating an unconverted break point apiece. The Ceiltach duo have already seen out one tie break this tournament though and kept up their record to take their second 7-4. An equally tight second set followed, but this time the Ceiltach pair were able to take their opportunity, Taf gambling at the net to poach a well-timed volley after McDonaugh had set up break points with some consistent returns. With the scoreline at 4-3, the Electrumites didn't have long to hit back and although McDonaugh had to stave off a break point on her own serve, Levinsky missed a tricky low volley to let the visitors off the hook. Taf followed up with another excellent service hold to secure a 7-6, 6-4 win and with it a huge 3-0 win against one of the biggest nations in world tennis.
The union are scheduled to play group D winners Ceni in the first of the quarter finals and although their opponents boast a stacked line-up of players, results from the Ceiltach ties and elsewhere in the tournament have shown that reputation doesn't count for as much when national pride is on the line.

Analysis: Geraint Coen, Nuachta Ceiltach Tennis Editor

And breathe.
Ross Higgins was tight-lipped when it came to targets for his Ceiltach team at the ITT, but a 3-0 win against Electrum and a place in the knockout stages is surely dreamland compared to his private aspirations before the tournament.
Once again, the Ceiltach team found another level during this tie. McNamara in particular found the psychological endurance that slipped during the opening game to get past Andrew Simmons, even if his body was starting to tighten up. The Ceiltach number one is developing a reputation for not making life easy, but his fans might not necessarily mind being put through the mixer if he can keep getting results over the line against some of the best in the world.
Declan Kenaghan on the other hand has put his shaky start at the tournament behind him and looks to be thriving in international tennis. The added intensity at this level suits his high-power game and having a secure serve is a huge asset. He will face tougher matches in the knockouts, but he is currently playing with huge freedom and crucially seems to have the ability to put a bad performance behind him.
If Kenaghan has taken most of the plaudits so far, it's the doubles team of Caoimhe McDonaugh and Gwenllian Taf who have provided the most Ceiltach points, extending their 100% record with a straight-sets win against the legendary Ronya.
Gwenmhe, to give them a slightly less catchy nickname, looked every bit as in sync as their opponents. It seemed like they were getting lucky with every gambled volley interception, but in reality that comes with practice and time together on court. In a world of frequently more common mixed-nation doubles partnerships, having a settled national team pairing who can hit the ground running at the ITT may be a very worthwhile investment for Ceiltach tennis.
Spare a thought for Electrumite fans. Whilst they are not quite the same force in world tennis that they have once been, to leave the ITT bottom of the group without a single tie won is a real shocker at a home tournament, especially in a country where tennis holds more importance than any other sport. The fallout for this team may linger long into the rest of the season.
For the Ceiltachs, rest and recovery is going to be vital. This squad aren't used to playing this many matches at such a high intensity and McNamara in particular will appreciate the best of Somer's facilities, but with 48 hours between the Electrum tie and their quarter-final, they should be back out to fight for another huge upset.

by **Dexterra** » Mon Oct 19, 2026 8:48 pm

20 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 19 November 2021 ★ Event XCI Round IV (archive)

Dexterra stunned by Kimi-Suomi, but still finish atop Group A

Clearly tired Beagles lose their third International Tennis Trophy tie, but nevertheless reach the quarterfinals

The Dexterra Beagles have suffered a surprise upset in the third tie of the 10th International Tennis Trophy group stage, but it ultimately did not stop them from winning their group and reaching the knockout rounds held in the traditional home of the I.T.T.: the Somersville Convention Centre.

Dexterra lost 1-2 to Kimi-Suomi, marking the second year in a row where the Beagles lost at least one of their group stage ties. But despite the loss, Dexterra still finished in first place in Group A.

Fans and analysts agree that the Beagles' loss likely stemmed from them being gassed despite having rest days in between each of their group stage ties, although head coach John Henry Moore denied this in a presser, saying, "We just lost to better opponents having better days. And we had an off day of our own. It happens. We know what we have to work on going forwards."

The tie's first match immediately spelled trouble for the Beagles, when Michael Loy was toppled 4-6, 3-6 by Åke Simberg. Though the Dexter and the Kimi-Suomian initially battled to a 4-4 stalemate, the Kimi-Suomian drew first blood by forcing key errors and breaking the Dexter's serve before consolidating at love to take the set. And while fans and analysts hoped that Loy would regroup in the second set, he continued to make critical errors and struggled to get anything going offensively or defensively, frequently stopping to catch his breath as he was unable to run down balls he normally would be able to get. Simberg ultimately broke his serve twice in the second set to clinch the match for Kimi-Suomi.

With Dexterra one loss away from losing the tie, it was up to Haleigh M. Hartman to dash the upset, who stepped up in a big way by defeating Sanna Nikko 6-4, 6-4. The Beagle started out strong by breaking serve in the very first game, and although she had to fend off numerous break back points throughout the set, she stormed ahead to take the first set. Hartman would replicate this effort in the second set, breaking serve early to put Nikko on the ropes, but the Kimi-Suomian did break back at one point to level the set. However, Hartman recovered the break in the final game of the match, a nine minute game that went to multiple deuces and swung back and forth between the Dexter and the Kimi-Suomian.

With the tie evened at 1-1, it was up to Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere to clinch the tie, but they failed to do so in a 4-6, 6-2, 9-11 loss to Åke Simberg/Tarja Wahlroos. The match started out badly for the Dexters, who committed several uncharacteristic errors and struggled with communication as they had in the first tie, with both Hull's serve lacking its usual zip and Woodmere's defense resembling swiss cheese. The Kimi-Suomians broke serve at 3-3 and subsequently put down any attempts by the Dexters to stop them from taking the set. But the Dexters would strike back in the second set, breaking serve early and then getting an insurance break later to level the match at one set apiece, bringing the tie down to a super tiebreak - a super tiebreak that proved to be gritty and intense. Neither team ever gained a significant foothold in the super tiebreak as momentum rapidly swung between them, leading to both teams failing to capitalize on match points as the super tiebreak neared the end. But on their third match point, Simberg/Wahlroos fired off an overhead smash which Woodmere leapt to barely catch with the frame of their racquet but could not return in play, clinching the tie for Kimi-Suomi.

The Beagles were clearly upset after losing the tie, but microphones picked up Coach Moore consoling the team by saying, "It's okay, it's one tie, and we're still going to the quarterfinals. I believe in you guys."

Still, Dexterra cannot afford to make mistakes anymore. Next up are the knockout rounds, where any loss in a tie means they are going home.

In the quarterfinals, Dexterra face a familiar foe: Group D runners-up Bhumi Matawis Empire, whom the Beagles defeated in last year's quarterfinals. The Dexters will play the Matawisans around twilight on the second day of quarterfinal action.

While Tristan Armstrong will take over for Hartman going forwards - hopefully giving Dexterra the jolt they need - experts still predict that Dexterra will lose the tie 0-3, as Loy's wrist injury and tiredness will cost him dearly against Adi Ananda Tejakusuma, Armstrong's rustiness will imperil him against Anisa Cantika, and Hull/Woodmere's consistent issues will doom them against recent Mercedinian Open champions Kevin Arya Subrata/Kinan Ayu Subrata. As much as Dexters hope to reach their third I.T.T. semifinals with one of its strongest teams ever, it does not appear likely to happen this year, fans and analysts agree.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Dextennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **Tristerra** » Mon Oct 19, 2026 8:51 pm

20 October 2026

served to you by the Dexter Cultural Bureau

Thanks For Reading ★ Est. 1 January 2026 ★ Event XII Round IV

Tristans win final I.T.T. rubber and advance to the knockouts

The Shelties finish strong by placing second in Group B, advancing to the International Tennis Trophy quarterfinals for the second-straight year

The scrappy and determined Tristerra Shelties have won their third and final rubber in the 10th International Tennis Trophy group stage, for which they have clinched a spot in the win-or-go-home quarterfinals.

In the third rubber - a do-or-die moment for the Shelties as they had lost the previous rubber and thus stood at 1-1 in the group - Tristerra defeated Lisander 2-1, winning both singles matches but losing in doubles.

Indeed, despite losing a majority of their matches in the group stage, Tristerra ultimately managed to finish second in Group B with a record of 2-1, behind only defending champions Britonisea - a superteam which is heavily favored to repeat as I.T.T. champions, as they have not lost any matches so far.

In the first match of the third rubber, Curtis West IV entered hoping to finally win one after losing both previous matches, and in the end he put together a magnificent performance in a 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Robin Wentworth. While West IV's serving was particularly impeccable, so too was his offense, blasting forehands and backhands that picked apart Wentworth's defense like he was a new man. The Tristan broke serve twice in the first set, including in a 51 second final game to take the set. From there, the match was all Sheltie, if it wasn't already. West IV bowled over the Lisanderian by winning every game in the second set, completing the bagel in just 25 minutes, although Wentworth did have some points to break back and snag a game or two.

With Tristerra one win away from the knockouts, it was on Cooper Woolridge to bring home the victory - and though he did manage to pull it off, he did so in a gnarly 7-5, 7-6 dogfight with Anneliese Damsgard. The match was a close tie to start, with neither the Tristan nor the Lisanderian breaking serve despite both having one or two opportunities to do so. Both players also put forth some of their finest tennis, including one 19-shot rally now trending on social media that had the crowds on their feet, where Woolridge and Damsgard both got back shots most players would be unable or unwilling to retrieve. But in the end, it was the Tristan who finally broke through and consolidated to take the set after successfully switching his attacks to Damsgard's backhand. In the second set, however, the Lisanderian was clearly keen to the Tristan's game, fighting his own backhand tooth and nail and trading breaks of serve that - after nearly an hour of a gritty tug-of-war - sent them into a deciding tiebreak, where Damsgard eventually held two set points. With Tristan fans and analysts holding their breath, Woolridge was able to save both set points on the backs of his offensive firepower, and then generated one match point of his own that he converted by forcing a key error off of the Lisanderian's backhand - clinching the rubber and a place in the knockouts for Tristerra.

All that was left was the doubles match, which Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham lost 3-6, 6-2, 3-10 to Filipe Korf/Stella Bressen. The Lisanderians came out swinging hard to start with, attacking up the middle and causing confusion amongst the Tristans as to how to effectively counter the onslaught. Korf/Bressen jumped out to a 3-0 lead that never evaporated despite Lankford/Branham's best efforts to catch up. But the Tristans seemed to figure things out in the second set, changing up their court positions and taking greater risks on defense, allowing them to break serve twice and level the match at one set apiece. However, their success was short-lived, as the Lisanderians quickly figured them out. Much like they had in the previous rubber, the Shelties completely fell apart in the super tiebreak, losing seven of the last eight points in a dismal end to the rubber.

Around twilight on day one of the upcoming quarterfinals, Tristerra must tackle a supremely challenging competitor: Group C winners Zenic, a team which appears scarily confident to the point that they already seem to be planning for the semifinals and the final. Zenician media has not minced words about its view of the Tristans, saying that the Shelties are "fumbling," "trying to regain their footing," and that they "advanced from Group B but only by the skin of their teeth," as well as adding that Zenic have "a massive advantage" at least on paper. Pundits don't see Tristerra winning this match-up, as Zenicians seem to have the magic formula for winning in Electrum: West IV will likely be downed by Electrum Slam champion Mizushima Souma, Woolridge will be crushed by Tim Gunne Baardsen, and the ever-struggling Lankford/Branham will probably get blown away in a super tiebreak against Son Hana/Corina Olimpia Dinu.

Live coverage of the International Tennis Trophy is provided courtesy of Tristennis, a subsidiary of the Dexter Cultural Bureau.

by **Electrum** » Tue Oct 20, 2026 6:19 am

QUARTERFINALS
Ceni vs An tAontas Ceiltach

Ardil Navsal (CEN)                             6   6   6
Conor Mcnamara (ATC)                           0   7   7

Xander Foyner-Evatee (CEN)                     1   5
Declan Kenaghan (ATC)                          6   7

Perger Rianor/Kell Korden (CEN)                1   1
Caoimhe McDonaugh/Gwenllian Taf (ATC)          6   6

An tAontas Ceiltach wins tie 3-0

Zenic vs Tristerra

Mizushima Souma (ZEN)                          6   6   6
Curtis West IV (TRI)                           3   7   4

Tim Gunne Baardsen (ZEN)                       6   4   1
Cooper Woolridge (TRI)                         2   6   6

Son Hana/Corina Olimpia Dinu (ZEN)             0   6  10
Geraldine Lankford/Leonard Branham (TRI)       6   1   6

Zenic wins tie 2-1

Britonisea vs United Adaikes

Aaliyah de Leon (BRI)                          6   6
Kallie Atkinson (UAD)                          1   4

Ricardo Toli (BRI)                             6   6
Alphonzo Shakespeare (UAD)                     0   2

Nathan Bensaïd/Ricardo Toli (BRI)              6   6
Bryanne Lovel/Domingo Ainsworth (UAD)          3   4

Britonisea wins tie 3-0

Dexterra vs Bhumi Matawis Empire

Michael Loy (DEX)                              2   6   1
Adi Ananda Tejakusuma (BME)                    6   0   6

Tristan Armstrong (DEX)                        2   6   6
Anisa Cantika (BME)                            6   4   3

Julian Hull/Mason Woodmere (DEX)               6   6
Kevin Arya Subrata/Kinan Ayu Subrata (BME)     4   3

Dexterra wins tie 2-1

KNOCKOUT DRAW

An tAontas Ceiltach vs Zenic @ Twilight, Day 1 Semifinals
Britonisea vs Dexterra @ Twilight, Day 2 Semifinals

by **Zenic** » Tue Oct 20, 2026 12:32 pm

"You know, for someone whose delegation reached back to back Quarterfinals and just now made the Semifinals in their second trip to the ITT tournament, you seem awfully annoyed."

Federico Tulli had been relatively quiet these last few tournaments as Zenic had a mixture of great successes mixed in with scenarios that the Ministry of Sports eventually understood to be common missteps that happened to even the largest tennis delegation from time to time, court type to court type. It had made Tulli's job significantly easier but also more boring as a result. Finally, he had seen something that needed some further investigation and he wasn't going to pass up the chance.

"Seriously? Like you don't know. How in the hell did the media get my team speech?" Everything suddenly made sense to Tulli. He had noticed, and made mention to his buddies in the Ministry to look into, how some of the news outlets and gossip pages were running phrases he had heard come from Royer in said meeting. Somewhat harsh but definitely intended to be motivational and truthful statements to help the players focus on the common goal at hand: make it to the ITT Final and win it.

However, he was under the assumption that the TAZ Executive Director had reiterated those same words and sentiments to reporters a little later that same day so to learn that he had mention those words to no one else was not good. Royer hadn't been particularly loud or angry so the words certainly would not have carried out of that locker room in the Convention Centre. TAZ and the Ministry had also established a nice practice of keeping some security outside to monitor who or what came near the entrance or walls of the room to try and prevent eavesdropping from reporters or opponents alike.

"Well, if you didn't say anything to the press, I didn't say anything to the press, and security didn't notice anyone listening in, then there are only two possibilities. 1: These security cameras pick up audio incredibly well and someone on the SCC staff leaked it. Or 2: someone else in that room leaked it." Royer and Tulli stared at each other for a few seconds that felt more like a minute or two. "Yes, yes. I'll work with my team in the Empire to try and find the source of the leak then try to seal it. You and your team have got a Semifinal to focus on," Tulli said, throwing up his arms playfully. "Thanks. We owe you." Tulli was a little taken back by how quiet and sincere Royer thanked him.

"Of course. See you all soon," Tulli replied as he walked away to get to work. Meanwhile, Royer pulled out his phone and looked at the research his team had done on their upcoming opponent. Last season, Zenic went up against Ceni in the Quarterfinals where they were fought tooth and nail only to get swept 3-0. Mizushima, Baardsen and the duo of Antonino and Salvador went the distance in each of the matches but Foyner-Evatee, Hansil, and the duo of Korden and Rentos were simply too much as the Cenian marched forward to a runner-up finish. Now, many of those same faces were just swept by new kids on the block, An tAontas Ceiltach, in this year's Quarterfinals.

Mizushima, Baardsen, Son, and Dinu had gotten the Empire this far with a perfect overall record so far and Royer had no reason to try and switch things up like some of the other teams had. It was basically a ride or die situation right now so Royer was going to get everyone as prepared as possible to punch their ticket to the ITT finals.

Zenic had already climbed the treacherous mountain that was winning a NSTT tournament several times this year: once more was certainly possible.

by **An tAontas Ceiltach** » Tue Oct 20, 2026 1:37 pm

Ceiltachs Stun Cenians to Continue ITT Fever Dream

An tAontas Ceiltach continued their remarkable ITT run with another 3-0 win, this time over second seeds Ceni, to qualify for the semi-finals.
Conor McNamara scraped past world number 6 Ardil Navsal in another nervy three-set encounter early in the day's play, before Declan Kenaghan and the doubles team of Caoimhe McDonaugh and Gwenllian Taf secured the tie with straight sets victories to set up a semi-final encounter with Zenic.

McNamara has gained a reputation for some nail-biting matches and this was the biggest rollercoaster of his four matches so far. It initially looked like the previous trio of three set encounters had taken too much of a toll on the Ceiltach number one - McNamara looked uncomfortable straight from the off against Navsal and the Cenian raced to a 6-0 first set lead. McNamara had started to look slightly more fluid towards the end of the first set however and following a well-timed bathroom break, got stuck into his opponent's serve at the beginning of the second set. Two break points came and went with the Ceiltach 1-0 up, but he kept the pressure on and took his opportunity to take a 3-1 lead.
This is knockout tennis though and Navsal hit back with the scoreline at 4-3 as McNamara struggled to find his first serve before holding firm at 6-5 to force a tie-break. With a crucial lead in the tie at stake, the Ceiltach found another gear to grind out some errors from Navsal's racquet and claim a 7-4 win to level things up at a set all.
With both players tiring, serve largely dominated the decider and another tie break was eventually the outcome of 12 bruising games. Navsal struck first, forcing a backhand wide from McNamara on his serve, however the Ceiltach hit back, nullifying a strong serve with a looping return that dropped just inside the baseline, before slamming a cross-court forehand winner. He eventually struck the decisive blow at 5-5 on the Navsal serve, coming out on top in an attritional rally as the Cenian dumped a backhand into the net. McNamara finished off the set with a serve out wide that Navsal could only skew into the stands to complete a stunning comeback win that had shredded the nerves of all but the coldest of travelling fans.

Declan Kenaghan, as in the previous two ties, had the chance to seal the tie with a win over world number 7 Xander Foyner-Evatee. Having enjoyed successive dominant wins, he started in similar fashion with some dominant power hitting too much for an inconsistent Foyner-Evatee in the first set, which the Ceiltach wrapped up 6-1 in under 40 minutes. The second set was a tighter affair however. Kenaghan's level dipped at the start of the set and he conceded an early break to the Cenian. He recovered some of his earlier form to put increased pressure on his opponent's serve and that pressure eventually told with Foyner-Evatee serving for the set at 5-4. Kenaghan took advantage of some cagey second serves to earn two break points before a rare double fault levelled things up at 5-5. From there, it was one-way traffic and the Ceiltach was able to break again to snatch the set, and with it the match.
McDonaugh and Taf's match was a true dead rubber, but they still performed against highly-ranked Cenian duo Perger Rianor and Kell Korden to record a 6-1, 6-1 victory and maintain their 100% record at the tournament.
There was ecstasy and a healthy amount of disbelief among the travelling fans, and possible even the Ceiltach bench, after Kenaghan sealed the tie. Their run to the semis is remarkable already, but they now have the opportunity to reach a final on debut if they can get past Zenic in the last four. Dexterra meanwhile face Britonisea in the second semi-final.

Analysis: Geraint Coen, Nuachta Ceiltach Tennis Editor

Wow.
Given An tAontas Ceiltach's complete lack of any international tennis experience, all of their wins have constituted significant upsets. This however, is the biggest of the lot.
Ceni are a team of big players. Their two singles players are within the world top 10 and they have on paper the best doubles team outside of Dexterra. Unlike fellow giant Electrum, who the union took down in their final group game, Ceni have been playing to their ranking, finishing top of their group with three wins from three. The Ceiltachs somehow found another level though. Pre-tournament, many were saying that the union would be lucky to walk away from the ITT with a match to their name. A tie would be a bonus, not finishing bottom of the group a win. Getting out of the group would require some sort of divine intervention.

Conor McNamara matches should come with a health warning. All four of his matches so far have been three-set rollercoasters and although he seems incapable of making it easy, he has developed a useful knack of grinding out wins against the opposition's best player. It clearly tallies that winning the first rubber gives you a better chance of winning the tie, but McNamara coming through has been a feature of their three wins from four so far and appears to take the pressure off of young talent Declan Kenaghan, who thrives the most when allowed to explore the margin for error that comes with his high-power game.
The doubles duo are yet to have to play a real high-stakes match, with all the ties so far decided after the singles rubbers, but they kept up their winning record and have had the best possible preparation against some of the world's best.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, this team seems to have mastered the combination of self-belief and laser-like focus on the task at hand, and that so far has paid dividends. Zenic are up next and have another stacked team at their disposal with number one Mizushima Souma ranked 4th in the world and Tim Gunne Baardsen ranked 12th. The doubles may be a weakness though, with Son Hana and Corina Olimpia Dinu ranked outside the world's top 30. Zenic's path to the semis has also involved near-McNamara levels of stress, with all their rubbers against Tristerra going the distance.
Being forced to fight your way out of tight spots can be a curse and a blessing in tournaments like this. McNamara aside, this team haven't had to do too much of it so far. They'll be hoping that doesn't come to bite them in the union's biggest sporting occasion yet.

Follow live video and radio coverage of An tAontas Ceiltach vs Zenic on TeiliRaido Ceilta.

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