Real Tennis: Fahey quick to leave Chisholm behind

Robert Fahey, the Australian world champion, took a three sets to one lead against the United States No 1, Tim Chisholm, on the first day of their head-to-head World Real Tennis Challenge at Hampton Court yesterday.

Fahey, still smarting from his defeat to Chisholm in the British Land National Open final, his first loss in three years, took the first set confidently then, although Chisholm led 4-3 in the second set, the 34-year-old kept his concentration to narrowly clinch the last three games.

Chisholm sneaked the third set, but Fahey hit back in the fourth and now needs to win four more sets in the best-of-13 set match to retain the world title he has held since 1994.