December 2023

Double victory for IC Spain at the 50th Potter Cup and Two Presidents’ Cup

The International Lawn Tennis Club of Spain achieved a significant double victory in October at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona. The men's team successfully defended their title in the celebratory 50th edition of the Potter Cup, while the women's team, competing at the RCTB 1899 facilities, secured an unprecedented milestone by winning the Two Presidents' Cup.

The victorious men's team, comprising former world veterans' champion Roberto Menéndez, Pepe Vicente, Jonathan García-Leo, Eduardo Sanz, and Xavier Llucià, clinched the Potter Cup with a decisive 5-0 victory over IC Germany in the final. Earlier rounds saw them triumph over IC Belgium (5-0) and IC Italy (4-1), with former Davis Cup and Roland Garros champion Albert Costa, Ivan Angulo, Oriol Molina and Antonio Díaz de las Casas also contributing to their success. On the opposite side of the draw, IC Germany secured a narrow 4-3 win over IC France, earning them the third position after a loss to IC Italy.

IC USA claimed fifth place by defeating IC Great Britain 4-1, while IC Belgium and IC Ireland secured the seventh and eighth positions respectively, after IC Belgium won their match 4-1.

In the VI Two Presidents Cup, IC Spain, represented by Gisela Riera, Cristina Fontelles, Eva Bes and Sonia Delgado, captivated local spectators in a closely contested match that went down to the wire. Manon Kruse narrowly defeated Gisela Riera 7-6(2) 6-4 in the singles, but the score was levelled at 1-1 when Spanish player Cristina Fontelles won 7-6(7) 6-3 against Steffi Lauton Schlager. The decisive doubles match saw Bes and Gisela Riera secure a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kruse and Kraupa, clinching the championship for IC Spain. Earlier in the competition, IC Spain had defeated IC Ireland (2-0) and IC Great Britain (2-0). IC Switzerland claimed the fifth position, followed by IC France, IC Belgium, and IC Ireland.

Following intense competition, players and captains enjoyed the social aspects of the tournament's conclusion, which also recognised the many institutions that have supported the Potter Cup over its 50 years and was attended by Peter McQuibban, President of the Council of International Clubs. Team captains gave their thanks to the organizers and expressed interest in participating in future editions.

The L Potter Cup, also known as the "XIX Campionat de Catalunya de Veterans - XX Gran Premi Generalitat de Catalunya," received support from the Real Federacion Española de Tenis, the Federacio Catalana de Tennis, the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the RCT Barcelona-1899, the Real Club de Polo, Lexus and AON.