White House Staff Won Kangaroo Cup Tennis Tournament
The annual match held at the Australian residence featured competing teams from the White House and media outlets.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Tennis
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White House staff members Colin Gramley and Michelle Martinkov secured a victory at the Kangaroo Cup tennis tournament on Sunday. The event, hosted and sponsored by CNN, took place at the Australian ambassador's residence in Washington.
Why it matters
The tournament serves as an annual social event held on the only grass court in Washington, fostering interaction between administration staff and various members of the media.
The tournament was played on a grass court at the Australian ambassador's residence, which stands as the only grass court in Washington, DC.
The players
Colin Gramley
He is a White House staff member who helped secure victory in the annual tennis tournament.
Michelle Martinkov
She is a White House staff member who competed on the winning team at the Kangaroo Cup.
Ian Gerard
He serves as the communications chief for the Australian embassy and officiated the final match.
Greg Moriarty
He is the Australian Ambassador who hosted the event at his official Washington residence.
CNN
The media organization hosted and sponsored the tournament after previously being excluded from a separate political trip.
The details
The White House team, featuring representatives from the Treasury and the National Security Council, faced off against a media squad that included journalists from CNN, The New York Times, Semafor, Gray Television, and Axios. Embassy communications chief Ian Gerard officiated the final match of the day.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: CNN was excluded from covering a trip.
September 27, 2026: The Kangaroo Cup tournament was held.
Season Trajectory
The tournament maintains a tradition of informal diplomatic engagement that periodically brings together White House staff and media figures. This event follows the established pattern set by the annual Kangaroo Cup tennis tournament.
The White House team defeated the media squad to claim the trophy, highlighting a win for administration staff in this annual doubles-style engagement. The event utilized the unique grass court at the Australian residence, marking a rare appearance for the surface in the capital.
The takeaway
The Kangaroo Cup continues to serve as a unique social bridge between the federal administration and the press corps in the capital. Participating staff and media members engage in this rare grass-court competition to maintain professional relations outside of the standard political environment.
Further reading
For more updates on local matches and tournaments, visit Tennis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Brisbane Times.
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