Who would have thought the diplomatic corps in Canberra were such big tennis fans?

In idyllic spring sunshine last weekend, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, diplomats, and local Canberrans pulled up their socks, grabbed their racquets, and gathered at embassies across the city to play in the semi-competitive, semi-professional – and 100 per cent friendly – biannual Diplomatic-Australian Tennis Tournament.

Since the very first tournament was played in 1965, it has become “basically an institution” in Canberra, according to Belgian Ambassador to Australia, Michel Goffin.

Ambassador Goffin was first posted to Canberra 30 years ago, and says he played in the tournament when he arrived. He now sits as the chair of the organising committee.

Played by members of the diplomatic corps and Canberra residents over two weekends every year, the tournament aims to bring the community together and help foster connections between diplomats from different embassies, Ambassador Goffin says.

“Sometimes we tend to forget that Canberra is a big diplomatic city – I don’t remember the exact figures but more than 120 embassies – and it’s sometimes difficult for a diplomat to know your neighbours, to make friends, and that’s a very nice way to do it,” he says.

While the Belgian Ambassador wasn’t familiar with the term ‘trash talk,’ when asked if it can get competitive between the diplomatic missions, he says the tournament can get contentious – but it’s all in the name of friendly fun.

The competitors are divided into six categories – intermediate and advanced mixed, women’s, and men’s doubles – due to some of the players being “a little bit to good”, he smiles.

“It’s very relaxed, and thanks to Ambassador Kennedy, we can have the finals here at the US Embassy – first time in more than 20 years, I think.”

US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, generously re-opened the gates to allow the tournament to be held at the US Embassy, to the delight of players and spectators.

For almost every level, there’s a trophy that has been donated by an embassy – an ‘embassy cup’ – and the winners of the advanced men’s doubles receive the US Embassy Cup. This year’s winners were Hashem Abdal (Embassy of Kuwait) and Dario Polski (Embassy of Argentina).

Although a knee operation has stopped Ambassador Goffin from pulling out the racquet this year, he says by next April he’ll be raring to go.

A long-time tournament attendee, Dutch Ambassador to Australia, Marion Derckx, says the events are “always lovely” and it’s particularly special to be back at the US Embassy this year.

“It’s lovely to be out there together and doesn’t matter who you are, what your position is, it’s about having a nice day together,” Ambassador Derckx says.

“So, you get to know many more colleagues but also many more Canberrans … the mix of diplomatic corps and the Canberrans is very nice and in the end, Canberra is hosting us, so it’s nice to mingle.”

Ambassador Derckx is sure the event will continue in future decades because of the amount of positivity it generates.

“The atmosphere is very supportive. It’s not about winning. It’s about being together and having a good time,” she says.

“There are a few people who are competitive, but they’re also laughed at … in the end, come on – we are all amateurs,” she smiles.

“I can imagine that people think ‘oh, what’s behind those hedges and those gates’, so it’s nice to bring the people in. In my case, I also have a court. Yeah, [it’s] nice to share that with other people.”

The men’s doubles intermediate game was won by Thomas Curran and David LaMontagne; a DFAT – US Embassy combination – the quintessential picture of what the tournament is all about.

The Diplomatic-Australian Tennis Tournament has been sponsored by the Rolfe family through BMW and Phillip Mazda for over 10 years.

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