Summer County Cup 2019: Everything you need to know

One of the most loved events in the national tennis calendar takes place next week as county teams battle it out in the LTA’s Summer County Cup.

From Monday 22 to Friday 26 July, 44 counties will compete across 13 grass court venues with Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park once again set to stage the pinnacle of the competition.

First played in 1895, ‘County Week’, as it is fondly known, is one of the oldest tournaments in the tennis calendar.  County teams are organised into seven women’s groups and seven men’s groups, with teams for each tie consisting of three doubles pairs. 

This year will see over 200 ties and almost 2,000 rubbers played during the week, as teams from 44 counties across Great Britain compete to earn promotion and avoid relegation from their respective groups. The leading two counties in each group will earn promotion to the group above them for the 2020 competition, with the bottom two counties relegated to the group below.

Top teams target success at Devonshire Park 

The premier group matches in both the men’s and women’s events will take place on the outstanding courts at Devonshire Park, the traditional home of the event, with free entry for specators.  Six women’s and six men’s teams will be battling it out for the 2019 County Cup titles in the unique and atmospheric setting of the seaside tennis venue.

Suffolk will be aiming to defend the men’s title they won for the first time ever last year, with them facing newly promoted Kent and South Wales, as well as teams representing Essex, Hertfordshire and Middlesex.  In the women’s competition, reigning champions Surrey won the title for a record 50^th time last year – promoted Middlesex and Yorkshire will join Essex, Hertfordshire and Warwickshire in trying to take the title from them.

The provisional nominations for the twelve teams feature a number of well-known players, including both Evan Hoyt (South Wales) and Eden Silva (Essex), who reached the Quarter-Finals of the Mixed Doubles together at Wimbledon last week, as well as Anton Matusevich (Kent) who reached the  Quarter-Finals of the Junior Boys' Event.

Who said what? 

Julie Piper, LTA Tournament Director 

“We are once again excited to be returning to Eastbourne to bring this top class event back to the fantastic courts at Devonshire Park. The players all feel a great sense of pride representing their County and the crowds really get behind them. There is always a great atmosphere which is part of what makes this event such a special part of the tennis calendar.  It’s free to attend and we’d love to see as many local people as possible come along to enjoy some entertaining, top quality and hard-fought tennis.”

Jo Craven, Team Captain of Yorkshire Ladies - who are back in the top division for the first time since 2002

“We are excited to be back playing in Eastbourne – it’s been 17 years since Yorkshire Ladies were in Group 1.  I am very proud of the team who have worked so hard to get us back to the top flight of County Cup tennis and we are very much looking forward to the week”.

Mandy Spicer, Team Captain of defending champions Surrey Ladies

“County Week 2018 unfolded into an unbelievable week for Surrey Ladies, there was some exceptional tennis played with match after match going to the wire in seriously intense heat! To lift the trophy at the end of the week was very special indeed!”

Jeremy Cowley, Team Captain of defending champions Suffolk Men

"We are very humbled and honoured to be coming back this year as defending champions, we had such an amazing response from our County and we hope that it has given inspiration to our next generation that they can be successful if they persevere and work hard. County Week has always been such an honour to be part of and I hope future generations will continue to respect this great tradition"

Fun facts 

• Men’s Group 3 is running alongside the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships at Nottingham Tennis Centre 
• Over the course of the week, a county plays a maximum of 45 rubbers (nine rubbers per day). If an individual player competes in every rubber it’s possible for them to win 15/15 – an incredible feat! To celebrate all players who are part of the 15/15 Club, we pulled together a roll of honour – check it out here 
  
• 2017 saw the introduction of the County Cup Race, so counties have an extra incentive to perform to the best of their ability