British Hard Court Championships

The British Hard Court Championships was a Grand Prix tennis and WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1968 to 1983 and 1995 to 1999. The inaugural edition of the tournament was held in 1924 in Torquay, moving to the West Hants Tennis Club in Bournemouth, England in 1927 and was held there until 1983. The 1977 and 1979 editions were cancelled due to lack of sponsorship.[1] In 1995 the event was revived at Bournemouth as a women's WTA tournament but was only played there that year.[2] The women's final edition in 1996 was held in Cardiff, Wales. The tournament was played on outdoor clay courts.[3] Bournemouth was one of the world's major tournaments, second only to Wimbledon in England and on the same level as Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg.[3] In the pre-war era, it was regarded as the most important event outside the four Grand Slams. Fred Perry is the record holder with five consecutive titles, from 1932 through 1936.[2]

British Hard Court Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameBritish Hard Court Championships (1968–70, 1978, 1980–83)
Rothmans British Hard Court Championships (1971–74)
Coca-Cola British Hard Court Championships (1975–76)
Rover British Clay Court Championships (1996–99)
TourILTF (1968–70)
Grand Prix circuit (1970–76, 1978, 1980–83)
WTA Tour (1968, 1971–76, 1995–96)
Founded1924
Abolished1999
LocationTorquay (1924–26)
Bournemouth (1927–83, 1995–99)
Cardiff (1996, women)
SurfaceClay

Start of Open Era edit

The Championships hold the distinction of being the first tennis tournament to be held in the Open Era, taking place in April 1968.[4] It started on 22 April at 1:43 p.m. when John Clifton served and won the first point of the open era.[5][6] Ken Rosewall won the men's singles title, taking home $2,400, while runner-up Rod Laver received $1,200. Virginia Wade won the women's singles title, defeating Winnie Shaw in the final, but did not take home the winner's prize of $720 as she was still an amateur at the time of the tournament. She subsequently became the first amateur to win a title in the Open Era.[7][8] Christine Janes and her sister Nell Truman became the first winners of an open tennis event by winning the women's doubles title.[3] The tournament was considered a success and attracted almost 30,000 visitors.[6][9] The young British player Mark Cox went down in tennis history, when at the championships, he became the first amateur player to beat a professional, when he beat the American Pancho Gonzales in five sets in two and a quarter hours.[5][8][10]

Results edit

Men's singles edit

Year Champion Runner-up Score
1924   Randolph Lycett   Christiaan van Lennep 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1925   Patrick Spence   Charles Kingsley 6–1, 6–4, 9–7
1926   Jacques Brugnon   Bunny Austin 7–5, 4–6, 3–6, 8–6, 6–3
1927   René Lacoste   Patrick Spence 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1928   René Lacoste   Patrick Spence 6–2, 6–2, 6–2
1929 [11]   Bunny Austin   Louis Raymond 6–3, 6–2, 1–6, 6–4
1930   Harry Lee   Eric Peters 6–3, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1931   Christian Boussus   Pat Hughes 8–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1932   Fred Perry   George Lyttleton Rogers 4–6, 7–9, 6–3, 6–0, 6–2
1933   Fred Perry   Bunny Austin 2–6, 7–5, 7–5, 6–2
1934   Fred Perry   Jack Crawford 8–6, 7–5, 6–1
1935   Fred Perry   Bunny Austin 0–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 6–0
1936   Fred Perry   Bunny Austin 6–2, 8–6, 6–3
1937   Bunny Austin   Harry Lee 6–2, 6–2, 6–0
1938   Kho Sin-Kie   Bunny Austin 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1939   Kho Sin-Kie   Choy Wai-Chuen 7–5, 6–1, 6–4
1940–1945 Not held (WW2)
1946   Jack E. Harper   Derrick W. Barton 7–5, 6–2, 6–1
1947   Eric Sturgess   Ignacy Tłoczyński 11–9, 6–1, 6–4
1948   Eric Sturgess   Ignacy Tłoczyński 6–2, 6–3, 6–1
1949   Pedro Masip   Henri Cochet 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 9–7
1950   Jaroslav Drobný   Geoff Brown 7–5, 6–0, 6–4
1951   Jaroslav Drobný   Felicisimo Ampon 6–4, 6–2, 6–0
1952   Jaroslav Drobný   Frank Sedgman 6–2, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4
1953   Enrique Morea   Felicisimo Ampon 6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1954   Tony Mottram   Geoffrey Paish 6–4, 6–3, 7–5
1955   Sven Davidson   Roger Becker 11–9, 6–3, 6–1
1956   Budge Patty   Ham Richardson 1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1957   Jaroslav Drobný   Lew Hoad 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1958   William Knight   Giuseppe Merlo 5–7, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3
1959   Lew Gerrard   William Knight 3–6, 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 9–7
1960   Mike Davies   William Knight 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1961   Roy Emerson   Rod Laver 8–6, 6–4, 6–0
1962   Rod Laver   Ian Crookenden 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1963   William Knight   Martin Mulligan 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–3
1964   William Knight   Cliff Drysdale 6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 5–7, 7–5
1965   Jan-Erik Lundqvist   Cliff Drysdale 3–6, 6–4, 8–6, 6–1
1966   Ken Fletcher   Tom Okker 7–5, 6–4
1967   Jan-Erik Lundqvist   Bob Hewitt 6–1, 6–8, 6–3, 6–2
↓  Open era  ↓
1968   Ken Rosewall   Rod Laver 3–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–3
1969   John Newcombe   Bob Hewitt 6–8, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
1970   Mark Cox   Bob Hewitt 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1971   Gerald Battrick   Željko Franulović 6–3, 6–2, 5–7, 6–0
1972   Bob Hewitt   Pierre Barthès 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1973   Adriano Panatta   Ilie Năstase 6–8, 7–5, 6–3
1974   Ilie Năstase   Paolo Bertolucci 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
1975   Manuel Orantes   Patrick Proisy 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
1976   Wojciech Fibak   Manuel Orantes 6–2, 7–9, 6–2, 6–2
1977 Not held
1978   José Higueras   Paolo Bertolucci 6–2, 6–1, 6–3
1979 Not held
1980   Ángel Giménez   Shlomo Glickstein 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1981   Víctor Pecci   Balázs Taróczy 6–3, 6–4
1982   Manuel Orantes   Ángel Giménez 6–2, 6–0
1983   José Higueras   Tomáš Šmíd 2–6, 7–6, 7–5
1984–1995 Not held
1996[12]   Albert Costa   Marc-Kevin Goellner 6–7, 6–2 6-2
1997   Félix Mantilla   Carlos Moyá 6–2, 6–2
1998   Félix Mantilla   Albert Costa 6–3, 7–5
1999   Adrian Voinea   Stefan Koubek 1–6, 7–5, 7–6

Women's singles edit

Year Champion Runner-up Score
1924   Elizabeth Ryan   Geraldine Beamish 6–2, 6–2
1925   Elizabeth Ryan   Joan Fry 6–2, 6–2
1926   Joan Fry   Phoebe Holcroft Watson 6–1, 7–9, 6–1
1927   Betty Nuthall   Edith Clarke 8–6, 6–2
1928   Elsie Goldsack   Joan Ridley 8–6, 6–3
1929 [11]   Bobby Heine   Joan Ridley 6–4, 3–6, 8–6
1930   Joan Fry   Madge List 6–1, 2–6, 6–2
1931   Simonne Mathieu   Mary Heeley 6–4, 6–4
1932   Simonne Mathieu   Dorothy Round 6–1, 6–2
1933   Dorothy Round   Helen Jacobs 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
1934   Dorothy Round   Peggy Scriven 6–2, 2–6, 8–6
1935   Kay Stammers   Peggy Scriven 6–2, 6–2
1936   Kay Stammers   Anita Lizana 7–5, 7–5
1937   Anita Lizana   Peggy Scriven 7–5, 6–3
1938   Peggy Scriven   Nancye Wynne 7–5, 6–2
1939   Kay Stammers   Anita Ellis 6–3, 6–3
1940–1945 Not held
1946   Jean Bostock   Kay Menzies 6–3, 6–4
1947   Nancye Bolton   Joan Curry 7–5, 6–3
1948   Betty Hilton   Pamela Bocquet 6–1, 6–4
1949   Joan Curry   Jean Quertier 3–6, 7–5, 7–5
1950   Joan Curry   Mary Terán de Weiss 8–6, 8–6
1951   Doris Hart   Jean Walker-Smith 6–4, 8–6
1952   Doris Hart   Shirley Fry 6–4, 6–3
1953   Doris Hart   Shirley Fry 6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1954   Doris Hart   Joy Mottram 6–1, 6–3
1955   Angela Mortimer   Angela Buxton 6–1, 6–1
1956   Angela Mortimer   Shirley Bloomer 7–5, 5–7, 6–1
1957   Shirley Bloomer   Patricia Ward 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1958   Shirley Bloomer   Ann Haydon 6–4, 6–4
1959   Angela Mortimer   Christine Truman 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1960   Christine Truman   Ann Haydon 6–2, 6–2
1961   Angela Mortimer   Deidre Catt 6–2, 6–3
1962   Renée Schuurman   Angela Mortimer 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
1963   Ann Haydon-Jones   Norma Baylon 6–0, 1–6, 9–7
1964   Ann Haydon-Jones   Jan Lehane 6–2, 12–10
1965   Ann Haydon-Jones   Annette Van Zyl 7–5, 6–1
1966   Ann Haydon-Jones   Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–1
1967   Virginia Wade   Ann Haydon-Jones 6–1, 10–8
↓  Open era  ↓
1968   Virginia Wade   Winnie Shaw 6–4, 6–1
1969   Margaret Court   Winnie Shaw 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
1970   Margaret Court   Virginia Wade 6–2, 6–3
1971   Margaret Court   Evonne Goolagong 7–5, 6–1
1972   Evonne Goolagong   Helga Niessen Masthoff 6–0, 6–4
1973   Virginia Wade   Evonne Goolagong 6–4, 6–4
1974   Virginia Wade   Julie Heldman 6–1, 3–6, 6–1
1975   Janet Newberry   Terry Holladay 7–9, 7–5, 6–3
1976   Helga Masthoff   Sue Barker 5–7, 6–3, 6–3
1977–1994 Not held
1995   Ludmila Richterová   Patricia Hy-Boulais 6–7, 6–4, 6–3
1996   Dominique Van Roost   Laurence Courtois 6–4, 6–2

Men's doubles edit

Year Champion Runner-up Score
1968   Roy Emerson
  Rod Laver
  Andrés Gimeno
  Pancho Gonzales
8–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1969   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Jean-Claude Barclay
  Bobby Wilson
6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 9–7
1970   Tom Okker
  Tony Roche
  William Bowrey
  Owen Davidson
2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1971   William Bowrey
  Owen Davidson
  Patricio Cornejo
  Jaime Fillol
8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 4–6, 6–3
1972   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Ilie Năstase
  Ion Țiriac
7–5, 6–2
1973   Juan Gisbert Sr.
  Ilie Năstase
  Adriano Panatta
  Ion Țiriac
6–4, 8–6
1974   Juan Gisbert Sr.
  Ilie Năstase
  Corrado Barazzutti
  Paolo Bertolucci
6–4, 6–2, 6–0
1975   Juan Gisbert Sr.
  Manuel Orantes
  Syd Ball
  Dick Crealy
8–6, 6–3
1976   Wojciech Fibak
  Fred McNair
  Juan Gisbert Sr.
  Manuel Orantes
4–6, 7–5, 7–5
1977 Not held
1978   Louk Sanders
  Rolf Thung
  David Carter
  Rod Frawley
6–3, 6–4
1979 Not held
1980   Eddie Edwards
  Craig Edwards
  Andrew Jarrett
  Jonathan Smith
6–3, 6–7, 8–6
1981   Ricardo Cano
  Víctor Pecci
  Buster Mottram
  Tomáš Šmíd
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1982   Paul McNamee
  Buster Mottram
  Henri Leconte
  Ilie Năstase
3–6, 7–6, 6–3
1983   Tomáš Šmíd
  Sherwood Stewart
  Heinz Günthardt
  Balázs Taróczy
7–6, 7–5

Women's doubles edit

Year Champion Runner-up Score
1968   Christine Truman Janes
  Nell Truman
  Fay Toyne-Moore
  Annette du Plooy
6–4, 6–3
1969   Margaret Court
  Judy Tegart
  Ada Bakker
  Marijke Schaar
6–1, 6–4
1970   Margaret Court
  Judy Tegart
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–2, 6–8, 7–5
1971   Mary-Ann Eisel
  Françoise Dürr
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1972   Evonne Goolagong
  Helen Gourlay
  Brenda Kirk
  Betty Stöve
7–5, 6–1
1973   Patricia Coleman
  Wendy Turnbull
  Evonne Goolagong
  Janet Young
7–5, 7–5
1974   Julie Heldman
  Virginia Wade
  Patti Hogan
  Sharon Walsh
6–2, 6–2
1975   Lesley Charles
  Sue Mappin
  Delina Ann Boshoff
  Greer Stevens
6–3, 6–3
1976   Delina Ann Boshoff
  Ilana Kloss
  Lesley Charles
  Sue Mappin
6–3, 6–2
1977–1994 Not held
1995   Mariaan de Swardt
  Ruxandra Dragomir
  Kerry-Anne Guse
  Patricia Hy-Boulais
6–3, 7–5
1996   Katrina Adams
  Mariaan de Swardt
  Els Callens
  Laurence Courtois
6–0, 6–4

Records edit

Men's singles edit

Source:The Tennis Base.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Tennis tabled". The Spokesman-Review. AP. 31 March 1979. p. 24 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ a b "Britain Starts Building on Clay". The Independent. 19 May 1995. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Max Robertson, ed. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. pp. 210, 211. ISBN 0047960426.
  4. ^ Steve Tignor (22 January 2015). "1968: Open Era Begins in Bournemouth". Tennis.com.
  5. ^ a b C.M. Jones (6 May 1968). "The First Open Makes Its Mark". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 28, no. 18. pp. 20–21.
  6. ^ a b Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book (2nd ed.). New York: New Chapter Press. pp. 144, 145. ISBN 9780942257700.
  7. ^ "Amateurs Shy Of First Net Open". The Montreal Gazette. 22 April 1968 – via Google News Archive.
  8. ^ a b "Set Each in Tennis". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 April 1968 – via Google News Archive.
  9. ^ "British Say Open Tennis is 'Bonanza'". Rome News-Tribune. 28 April 1968 – via Google News Archive.
  10. ^ "ATP player profile – Mark Cox". www.atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  11. ^ a b "English tennis". The Argus. No. 25, 847. Melbourne. 15 June 1929. p. 10 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "BRITISH HARD COURT CH. Tournament Roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base, 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  13. ^ "British Hard Court Championship, Tournament Records". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base, 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.

External links edit