History of The Friendship Cup
By Richard Jakiel
As one of New England’s longest running tournaments - and only international tournament – the Friendship Cup is a tradition to celebrate. Started more than 40 years ago, the Friendship Cup is a premier annual senior tennis tournament that has both a rich history and successful story of establishing international camaraderie both on and off the court.
The tradition started back in 1967 when Walter Foeger of Vermont was looking to establish competitive senior tennis play in alliance with the New England Lawn Tennis Association (NELTA), now USTA New England. He contacted George Barta of the Canadian Senior Division and the Friendship Cup was created. The ball has been in play ever since.
Foeger, an Austrian Native, was a former member of the Austrian Davis Cup team. Foeger arrived in the United States in 1956 to take leadership of the ski program at Jay Peak Resort located in Jay, VT.
In doing so, he was also to carry on his passion for tennis.
Foeger was a competitive tournament player capturing many titles including eight Vermont State championships. After participating in the tournament for several years, Foeger returned to his native Austria and took over the reins of the Austrian Tennis Association. Walter Foeger passed away in 2007 at the age of ninety.
Irving Levine, co-founder of the New England Senior Tennis Foundation, was one of the original members. Today, at the age of ninety, Levine visibly and keenly recalls the details of the first few years of the tournament.
In 1967, the first Friendship Cup was played on three courts at the Jay Peak Resort in Vermont. Hosting the Canadians, New England’s team consisted of no more than a dozen players. They turned out victorious in humble fashion.
When asked what the Friendship Cup means to him, Levine says, “The very beginning was the most memorable, the places, the atmosphere, the competition. That is what made you want to participate year after year.” Levine especially looked forward to the banquet every Saturday evening of the tournament where the players exchanged gifts and stories.
The Friendship Cup has prospered well over the decades. At the very start of the tournament there was only a 45’s men’s bracket with a select few players. Throughout the years the tournament evolved to hold a men’s 45’s, 55’s, 65’s and 75’s with a 32 man roster.
The addition of the women’s category came in 1980. At first it only held a 15 women roster, now has advanced to a 20 women roster with five age divisions: 40’s, 50’s, 55’s, 65’s and 70’s.
The format of the tournament is both singles and doubles with 32 singles and 16 doubles matches. Each match gives the respective victors’ team a point. This format is the same for men and women competition.
According to the initial guidelines established in 1967, the tournament changes the host country every year. The latest tournament, in June of 2012, was played at Mont Tremblant Ski Resort Quebec, Canada. While traveling between the two countries, the Friendship Cup has left footprints in the United States at the original starting point at Jay Peak Resort, Sugar Bush Resort in Vermont, and also at Mount Royal Club of Montreal. In 2011, the tournament was played at Waterville Valley Resort, Waterville, New Hampshire.
Levine’s long time friend and doubles partner of the Friendship Cup (and also an original 1967 team member), Henry Tiberio says the travel and host location has been one of the tournaments key success factors. “The travel was always something special, we just loved doing it. It’s fun going there and having them here,” said Tiberio – who just celebrated his birthday.
Neither Levine or Tiberio play in the tournament anymore but they continue to be active through their support of the game.
Levine added, “If there were an opponent for me in the 90’s bracket I would still be playing.”
The tradition continues on through current captain, Ken Moulton and his teammates. He expresses the same passion for the Cup as Levine and Tiberio have all these years. Moulton’s favorite recent memory is New England’s 2012 victory over Quebec.
“We were down 17 to 15 and needed 10 of the 16 doubles matches to retain the Cup. It all came down to a 3rd set match that Joe Bouquin and Peter Mcpartland won 7-5 over Quebec's Captain Michel Dagenais and partner. Team New England won a marginal victory of 25 to 23,” explained Moulton. “The competition is clearly still as good as it was.”
Teammate and President of the New England Senior Tennis Foundation, Peter Allen, says the Friendship cup is a reflection of what tennis means to life-long players. “You really look forward to the reunion year after year as much as you do the competition. You see an 85 percent return rate every year. That number alone speaks for itself."
To learn more about the Friendship Cup, visit the England Senior Tennis Foundation's website. | 
