Coral Beach Invitation

Coral Beach Club Invitation
Coral Beach Invitation
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF North American Circuit
Founded1940 (1940)
Abolished1978 (1978)
LocationWarwick, Bermuda.
VenueCoral Beach Club
SurfaceClay – outdoors

The Coral Beach Invitation[1] also known as the Coral Beach Club Invitation was combined tennis tournament played on green clay courts at the Coral Beach Club resort, Warwick, Bermuda. It was founded in 1940 and ran annually until 1978 when it was discontinued.[1] The tournament was part of the ILTF North American Circuit.[1]

History

In 1939, the first two ‘Bermuda Clay’ courts were laid down (now Har-Tru).[2] A few months later in 1940 the invitation tournament was held.[3] The winner of the men's singles, W. Donald McNeill, the same year, won the United States Lawn Tennis Championship at Forest Hills.[3] The first lady champion, Miss Gracyn Wheeler, defeated Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Cooke who later also at Forest Hills.[3] The tournament was part of the ILTF North American Circuit.

Finals

Men's Singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winner Runner-up Score
1940 Don McNeill Elwood Thomas Cooke 6–8, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[1]
1952 Vic Seixas Gustavo Palafox 6–4, 9–7, 6–3.[1]
1953[4] Don McNeill Lorne Main 7–5, 6–4, 6–2.
1966 Bill Tym Ellis Slack 6–4, 6–1.[1]
1979 Stephen Alger King Van Nostrand 6–2, 6–1.[1]

Women's Singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winner Runner-up Score
1940[3] Gracyn Wheeler Sarah Palfrey Cooke 10–8, 6–3
1953[5] Louise Brough Thelma Coyne Long 6–3, 6–4
1961 Dottie Head Knode Barbara Scofield Davidson 6–1, 7–5
1970 Sally Fuller Kay Hubbell 6–2, 6–1

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Tournaments: Coral Beach Invitation". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "About The Club". members.coralbeachclub.com. Warwick, Bermuda: Coral Beach And Tennis Club.
  3. ^ a b c d Coral Beach and Tennis Club
  4. ^ Stern, Andrew (Jun 1953). "The Bermuda Championships". Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis (PDF). New York City: Family Media. p. 26.
  5. ^ Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis