South of England Championships
The South of England Championships [1] is a defunct tennis tournament that was held at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, United Kingdom from 1881 until 1972 it survived for a period of ninety one years until 1972.[1][2] its original name until 1967 also known as the South of England Open Championships until 1973 was an outdoor tennis event held on grass courts at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne, England.
South of England Championships | |
---|---|
Defunct tennis tournament | |
Event name | South of England Championships |
Founded | 1881 |
Abolished | 1972 |
Editions | 82 |
Location | Eastbourne United Kingdom |
Venue | Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club |
Surface | Grass / outdoors |
History
The competition at Eastbourne, even from its early beginnings, was considered one of the most prestigious tournaments that attracted large entries and matches even in those days [3] and it was the world's largest tournament in terms of participants at the turn of the twentieth century.
Women's tennis
The first tournament to be staged at Devonshire Park was a women's event in 1881,[4] known as the South of England Championships, and usually held every September. Winners of the lady's singles championships included Dorothea Chambers, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, and Charlotte Cooper Sterry, May Langrishe. The first overseas non British Isles winner was the American Elizabeth Ryan in collecting 3 consecutive titles (1919–21); after World War One she was followed by the South African Irene Peacock in 1923 and Anita Lizana from Chile in 1936.
Following World War Two tennis British winners included Ann Haydon and Shirley Bloomer the Brazilian player Maria Bueno the Australian player Fay Toyne was the last foreign ladies champion before the advent of the open era in 1968 the South of England Championships changed schedule to July until 1969 after the Championships at Wimbledon in 1970 its schedule changed again so that it was held before Wimbledon the South of England Championships continued until 1967.
From 1968 until today the tournament has attracted many different sponsors.
In 1968 it was known as the Rothman's Invitational for sponsorship reasons from 1969 to 1972 it was called the Eastbourne Invitational, the event ceased in 1972.
Men's tennis
The first Men’s events started in 1881 also called the South of England Championships early winners of the men's championship included Wilfred Baddeley, Sydney Howard Smith, Josiah Ritchie, Anthony Wilding, Otto Froitzheim and Ken Rosewall it continued until 1967 before being renamed for sponsorship reasons in 1968 from 1970 to 1973 the men's tournament was known as the Rothmans South of England Open Championships.[5] The men's event also ceased in 1973.
Tennis after 1973
In 1974 the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis club decided on a completely new format tennis tournament and re-branding of tennis at Eastbourne from the outcome of staging the South of England Championships that became known as the Eastbourne International the tournament is still active today.
Past finals
Notes: Challenge Round: The Final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) [6] in some tournaments not all.
Blanche Bingley Hillyard [7] holds the record for the most women's singles titles with 11.
Singles
Women
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Name | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1881 | (2-1 sets) | South of England Championships | ||||||||
1882 | 6–2, 6–4 | |||||||||
1883 | 10–8, 6–4 | |||||||||
1884 | 6–2, 6–4 | |||||||||
1885 [8] | 6–1, 6–0 | |||||||||
1886 [8] | 6–1, 6–3 | |||||||||
1887 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1888 | 6–1, 6–1 | |||||||||
1889 | 6–2, 5–7, 6–1 | |||||||||
1890 | 6–2, 6–1 | |||||||||
1891 | 2–6, 7–5, 6–0 | |||||||||
1892 | 6–1, 6–4 | |||||||||
1893 | 6–1, 4–6, 15–13 | |||||||||
1894 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1895 | 6–4, 6–1 | |||||||||
1896 | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 | |||||||||
1897 | 6–4, 6–0 | |||||||||
1898 | 7–5, 7–5 | |||||||||
1899 | 6–2, 6–2 | |||||||||
1900 | 7–9, 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1901 | 7–5, 5–7, 6–2 | |||||||||
1902 | 6–2, 6–2 | |||||||||
1903 | 7–5, 6–2 | |||||||||
1904 [9] | 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1905 [8] | 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 | |||||||||
1906 | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | |||||||||
1907 | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 | |||||||||
1908 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1909 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1910 | 7–5, 7–5 | |||||||||
1911 | 7–5, 6–3 | |||||||||
1912 | 6–1, 6–2 | |||||||||
1913 | 6–2, 6–4 | |||||||||
1914–1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | |||||||||
1919 | 6–1, 6–2 | |||||||||
1920 [10] | 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 | |||||||||
1921 [10] | 6–0, 6–3 | |||||||||
1922 | 6–0, 3–6, 7–5 | |||||||||
1923 | 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1924 | 6–0, 6–8, 6–4 | |||||||||
1925 | 2–6, 7–5, 6–3 | |||||||||
1926 | 6–4, 6–8, 6–2 | |||||||||
1927 | 6–2, 6–2 | |||||||||
1928 | 6–1, 6–2 | |||||||||
1929 | 8–6, 2–6, 6–3 | |||||||||
1930 | 6–2, 7–5 | |||||||||
1931 | divided the title | |||||||||
1932 | 8–6, 6–2 | |||||||||
1933 | 6–3, 6–1 | |||||||||
1934 [11] | 6–4, 6–1 | |||||||||
1935 | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | |||||||||
1936 [12] | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1937 | 6–1, 6–0 | |||||||||
1938 | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 | |||||||||
1939–1945 | Not held (due to world war two) | |||||||||
1946 | divided the title (rain interruption) | |||||||||
1947 | 6–1, 9–7 | |||||||||
1948 | 7–5, 6–4 | |||||||||
1949 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1950 | 6–2, 6–2 | |||||||||
1951 | 6–2, 6–2 | |||||||||
1952 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1953 | 7–5, 6–4 | |||||||||
1954 | 6–8, 7–5, 6–0 | |||||||||
1955 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1956 | 6–1, 6–2 | |||||||||
1957 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1958 | 6–0, 6–0 | |||||||||
1959 | 6–0, 6–2 | |||||||||
1960 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1961 | 3–6, 6–1, 11–9 | |||||||||
1962 | 10–8, 6–2 | |||||||||
1963 | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 | |||||||||
1964 | 6–0, 5–7, 6–3 | |||||||||
1965 | divided the title (due to bad weather) | |||||||||
1966 | 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 | |||||||||
1967 | 6–8, 7–5, 6–1 | |||||||||
↓ Open era ↓ | ||||||||||
1968 | 6–2, 6–4 | Rothmans Invitational | ||||||||
1969 | 6–0, 9–7 | Eastbourne Invitational | ||||||||
1970 | 8–6, 6–1 | |||||||||
1971 | divided the title | |||||||||
1972 | 8–6, 6–3 | |||||||||
1973 | Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International |
Men
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Name | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1881 [13] | 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 | South of England Championships | ||||||||
1882 | 8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | |||||||||
1883 | 6–1, 8–6, 4–6, 7–5 | |||||||||
1884 | ? | |||||||||
1885 | 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1886 | 6–3, 6–4, 6–0 | |||||||||
1887 | 8–6, 7–5, 6–4 | |||||||||
1888 [14] | 4–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3 | |||||||||
1889 | 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4 | |||||||||
1890 | 7–9, 6–1, 6–2, 7–5 | |||||||||
1891 | 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | |||||||||
1892 | 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1893 | 7–5, 6–0, 6–1 | |||||||||
1894 | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 | |||||||||
1895 | 6–3, 7–9, 7–5, ret. | |||||||||
1896 | walkover | |||||||||
1897 | 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 | |||||||||
1898 | 6–3, 2–6, 8–6, 7–5 | |||||||||
1899 | 6–0, 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1900 | 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–1 | |||||||||
1901 | 6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0, ret. | |||||||||
1902 | 6–1, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 | |||||||||
1903 | ? | |||||||||
1904 | 6–0, 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1905 [15] | 8–6, 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1906 [14] | 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 | |||||||||
1907 [14] | ? | |||||||||
1908 [16] | walkover | |||||||||
1909 | 6–3, 6–8, 6–4, 7–5 | |||||||||
1910 [17] | walkover | |||||||||
1911 [18] | 6–8, 4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 6–3 | |||||||||
1912 [14] | 6–4, 7–9, 6–0, 6–4 | |||||||||
1913 | 6–3, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 | |||||||||
1914–1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | |||||||||
1919 | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 | |||||||||
1920 [14] | 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 | |||||||||
1921 [20] | 0–6, 6–4, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 | |||||||||
1922 | 6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |||||||||
1923 | 6–1, 8–6, 10–8 | |||||||||
1924 | 6–2, 6–1, 6–1 | |||||||||
1925 | 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | |||||||||
1926 | walkover | |||||||||
1927 | 6–4, 6–4 | |||||||||
1928 | 3–6, 6–1, 6–0 | |||||||||
1929 | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | |||||||||
1930 [14] | 7–5, 6–3 | |||||||||
1931 | 6–4, 6–3 | |||||||||
1932 | 6–8, 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1933 | 8–6, 6–2 | |||||||||
1934 [11] | 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1935 | 8–6, 10–8 | |||||||||
1936 | 2–6, 9–7, 6–1 | |||||||||
1937 | 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1938 | 6–4, 6–1 | |||||||||
1939–1945 | Not held (due to world war two) | |||||||||
1946 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
1947 | 6–2, 6–3 | |||||||||
1948 | 5–7, 6–4, 8–6 | |||||||||
1949 | 6–3, 6–2 | |||||||||
1950 | 5–7, 7–5, 6–4 | |||||||||
1951 | 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 | |||||||||
1952 | 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 | |||||||||
1953 | 7–5, 6–0 | |||||||||
1954 | 6–2, 2–6, 7–5 | |||||||||
1955 | 6–4, 6–4 | |||||||||
1956 | 6–3, 6–1 | |||||||||
1957 | 6–3, 6–2 | |||||||||
1958 | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 | |||||||||
1959 | 8–6, 4–6, 6–3 | |||||||||
1960 | 6–4, 6–4 | |||||||||
1961 | 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 | |||||||||
1962 | 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 | |||||||||
1963 | 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 | |||||||||
1964 | 6–3, 6–3 | |||||||||
1965 | Tournament not completed (rain) | |||||||||
1966 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||||||||
1967 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||||||||
↓ Open era ↓ | ||||||||||
1968 | 6–4, 6–4 | Rothmans Invitational | ||||||||
1969 | 6–4, 2–6, 9–7 | Eastbourne Invitational | ||||||||
1970 [21] | 6–2, 6–1 | Rothmans South of England Open Championship | ||||||||
1971 | Tournament not played (rain) | |||||||||
1972 | 7–5, 6–3 | |||||||||
1973 | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 | |||||||||
1974 | Tournament ended |
Statistics
Singles champions by country
Women
Country | Winner | First title | Last title |
---|---|---|---|
70 | 1881 | 1970 | |
3 | 1919 | 1921 | |
2 | 1964 | 1969 | |
1 | 1922 | 1922 | |
1 | 1936 | 1936 | |
1 | 1968 | 1968 | |
2 | 1971 | 1972 | |
Men
Country | Winner | First title | Last title |
---|---|---|---|
49 | 1881 | 1973 | |
6 | 1920 | 1967 | |
4 | 1905 | 1929 | |
3 | 1897 | 1932 | |
3 | 1928 | 1931 | |
3 | 1972 | 2014 | |
2 | 1909 | 1969 | |
2 | 1923 | 1924 | |
2 | 1947 | 1948 | |
1 | 1949 | 1949 | |
1 | 1950 | 1950 | |
References
- Clarke, James (2014-06-16). "How has Eastbourne become a major part of the tennis calendar?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- "The current tournament came out of the South of England Lawn Tennis Championship, which was held down here in Eastbourne,". devonshireparkltc.co.uk. Devonshire Park LTC, July 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- Lowerson, John (1995). Sport and the English middle classes, 1870-1914 (Pbk. ed.). Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 108. ISBN 9780719046513. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- editors, John Nauright, Charles Parrish (2012). Sports around the world : history, culture, and practice. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 198. ISBN 9781598843002.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "BBC Radio Times Listings 1923 to 2009". bbc.co.uk. BBC Radio Times, Issue 2589. 23 June 1973, Page 22. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". Evening Post. 20 March 1922. p. 11. Retrieved 2 October 2017 – via PapersPast.
- Barrett, John (2001). Wimbledon: The Official History of the Championships. London: CollinsWillow. p. 37. ISBN 0007117078.
- Tarran, Bruce (2013). George Hillyard: The man who moved Wimbledon. Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 143. ISBN 9781780885490. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- "Lawn Tennis in 1904". Southland Times (19465). 19 November 1904. p. 3 (supplement) – via PapersPast.
- "Eastbourne Tournament". The Glasgow Herald. 19 September 1921. p. 12. Retrieved 2 October 2017 – via Google News Archive.
- "Lawn Tennis". The Argus (Melbourne) (27, 482). Victoria, Australia. 17 September 1934. p. 14. Retrieved 22 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Tennis in England". The New Zealand Herald. 15 September 1936. p. 9 – via PapersPast.
- "South of England Championships 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- "1877 to 2012 Finals Results". stevegtennis.com. SteveG Tennis. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- "Lawn Tennis". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. LXXX (2295). New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1905. p. 1146. Retrieved 2 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "A Win for Wilding". Taranaki Herald. LIV (13757). 21 September 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2017 – via PapersPast.
- "Lawn Tennis". The Sydney Morning Herald (22, 714). New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1910. p. 13. Retrieved 22 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Lawn Tennis". The West Australian. XXVII (7, 979). Western Australia. 27 October 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Curious Lawn Tennis Final". The Express and Telegraph. LVIII (17, 490). South Australia. 17 November 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- See.[10][19]
- "Emerson in form". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 June 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 2 October 2017 – via Google News Archive.