Porto Azzurro Vintage Tennis

A dive into the tennis of yesteryear in Porto Azzurro

Porto Azzurro Vintage Tennis is a sporting and social event held at the Porto Azzurro Sporting Club, in the heart of the Island of Elba, in the province of Livorno. The concept is simple and charming: return to the roots of tennis, when the game was played with wooden rackets and players took to the court in elegant vintage outfits. This tournament is both a sporting challenge and a nostalgic tribute to an era when the sport had a different, more artisanal and romantic feel.

Tournament format

The event features a mixed doubles 'yellow' tournament format, with pairs drawn at each round: a choice that prioritizes fun and team spirit over pure competition. Participants of all ages can compete using only wooden rackets, which the club provides free of charge along with vintage clothing for those who do not have their own. The required dress code is classic total white, perfectly in line with traditional tennis style.

What makes the competition unique is a select jury that, in addition to awarding winners, finalists, and semi-finalists, grants special recognition for the best outfit, best shot, most harmonious pair, and numerous other fun categories. The total prize pool, provided by the many sponsors who have supported the project, amounts to approximately 3,000 euros.

More than just tennis: the 1950s party

Vintage Tennis is not just about sport. The event is surrounded by a grand 1950s-themed party, with dinner, music, and a captivating exhibition of historic cars, motorcycles, and vehicles, as well as a display of vintage clothing. This is the aspect that transforms the tournament into an event open to the entire Porto Azzurro community and the many visitors to Elba, capable of uniting different generations around the charm of the vintage era.

Porto Azzurro and the Island of Elba

Overlooking the gulf of the same name, Porto Azzurro is one of the most characteristic villages on the Island of Elba, in the Tuscan archipelago. Its narrow streets, the tourist port, and the Forte San Giacomo provide the backdrop for an event that highlights the local identity. Promoted by the local Sporting Club with the patronage of the Municipality of Porto Azzurro, the tournament aspires to become a permanent fixture on the Elban calendar, the first of a long series.