The Prentice Cup
The Prentice Cup started in 1921 as the first international intercollegiate tennis event ever held and stands today as the oldest truly amateur tennis competition played on an international scale. It is a match between a joint Oxford/Cambridge Team and a combined Harvard/Yale Team.
THE FORMAT
It takes place every two years alternately in the UK, where it is held at the All England Club, and in the USA, where it is held at the Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club. The visiting side of six players tour the host country for a total of 6 weeks, playing at some of the most prestigious tennis clubs in the United States or the UK. Every two years, three Oxford players are chosen to play in the match.
RECENT SUCCESSES
In the summer of 2008, we sent three players (Marc Baghdadi, Tim Weir and Greg Weir) over with three Cambridge players to compete in the Prentice Cup. In an historic encounter, the dominant Oxbridge team managed to triumph 16-5 over a very strong American side. With the best scoreline for a British side in nearly 80 years, the match showed the strength that both Oxford and Cambridge Tennis teams have. Special congratulations must go to Greg Weir for being the only Oxford player to remain undefeated in the match. In 2010 three Oxford players (Marc Baghdadi, Tim Matthewson and Greg Weir) played the Harvard/Yale Team in the home match played at the All England Club. Harvard/Yale won 12-9.
1921 | Harvard/Yale | 5-4 | 1922 | Harvard/Yale | 15-6 |
1923 | Harvard/Yale | 13-8 | 1924 | Oxford/Cambridge | 15-6 |
1925 | Harvard/Yale | 11-10 | 1927 | Oxford/Cambridge | 11-7 |
1929 | Oxford/Cambridge | 15-6 | 1931 | Oxford/Cambridge | 16-5 |
1933 | Oxford/Cambridge | 12-8 | 1935 | Harvard/Yale | 11-9 |
1937 | Harvard/Yale | 11-10 | 1939 | Harvard/Yale | 12-6 |
1948 | Harvard/Yale | 8-2 | 1950 | Oxford/Cambridge | 13-8 |
1952 | Oxford/Cambridge | 13-8 | 1954 | Harvard/Yale | 12-9 |
1956 | Harvard/Yale | 7-5 | 1958 | Harvard/Yale | 15-6 |
1960 | Harvard/Yale | 17-10 | 1962 | Oxford/Cambridge | 15-6 |
1964 | Oxford/Cambridge | 18-9 | 1966 | Oxford/Cambridge | 14-7 |
1968 | Oxford/Cambridge | 16-8 | 1970 | Oxford/Cambridge | 12-7 |
1972 | Oxford/Cambridge | 18.5-6.5 | 1974 | Harvard/Yale | 11-10 |
1976 | Harvard/Yale | 14-13 | 1978 | Harvard/Yale | 19-2 |
1980 | Harvard/Yale | 14-13 | 1982 | Harvard/Yale | 20-1 |
1984 | Harvard/Yale | 20-7 | 1986 | Harvard/Yale | 20-1 |
1988 | Harvard/Yale | 16-5 | 1990 | Harvard/Yale | 15-6 |
1992 | Harvard/Yale | 11-10 | 1994 | Harvard/Yale | 17-4 |
1996 | Oxford/Cambridge | 12-9 | 1998 | Harvard/Yale | 18-3 |
2000 | Oxford/Cambridge | 14-7 | 2002 | Harvard/Yale | |
2004 | Harvard/Yale | 2006 | Harvard/Yale | ||
2008 | Oxford/Cambridge | 16-5 | 2010 | Harvard/Yale | 12-9 |
2012 | Harvard/Yale | 18-3 | 2014 | Harvard/Yale | 14-7 |