The inaugural de Ramel Cup, presented by Stephen and Christine Schwarzman, delivered a strong debut on the SDA Pro Tour calendar, bringing professional doubles to the YMCA in Newport, Rhode Island for the first time. As the only summer ranking event, the $30,000 men’s tournament offered a unique setting and fresh energy, backed by strong support and an engaged local crowd.
Top seeds Daelum Mawji and Charles Culhane arrived in Newport as the form team of the tour, and they lived up to that billing with another impressive performance. Having closed out the regular season with three titles, they continued their momentum, navigating a competitive draw to claim the title with a 3–1 victory over second seeds Andrew Muran and James Stout in the final.
Mawji and Culhane were tested in the semifinals by the dangerous pairing of Sergio Martin and Kush Kumar, coming through a hard-fought 3–1 match that showcased the quality and depth of the field. Their ability to manage pressure moments and maintain control proved decisive once again.
In contrast, Muran and Stout had a more uneven path to the final. They were pushed to the limit in the quarterfinals, narrowly edging past Merritt Wurst and Anderson Good in a tight five-game battle, closing it out 15–10 in the fifth. The second seeds were more comfortable in the semifinals, moving past Adham Madi and Jaymie Haycocks in straight games to secure their place in the final.
Elsewhere in the draw, the opening round produced one of the matches of the tournament, as tour veteran Chris Walker and Cesar Segundo Corona were narrowly defeated by Henry Parkhurst and Lockie Munro in a dramatic five-game contest, with Parkhurst and Munro prevailing 15–13 in the decider.
As a first-time event, the de Ramel Cup proved to be a strong addition to the calendar, combining competitive matches with a new venue and summer setting. With Mawji and Culhane continuing their rise at the top of the game, the event provided both a fitting continuation of their form and an encouraging sign for the future of the tour.