Leamington Open

Leamington Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourAmateur
Founded1882
Abolished1931
Editions49
LocationLeamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
VenueLeamington Lawn Tennis Club
Surfaceoutdoor (grass)

The Leamington Open was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament held at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England founded in 1882 it ran annually until 1931 as part of the pre-open era tennis tour.[1] It was founded on 1 August 1882[2] as the Royal Leamington Lawn Tennis Tournament.[3]

History

The Leamington Open Tournament was established on 1 August 1882,[4] and first staged at Jephson Gardens. At the same meeting held in August 1882, a dual tournament called the Warwickshire Championships (1882–1938) was staged.

At the inaugural event, the first men's all comers singles champion was England's Robert Wallace Braddell (son of Sir Thomas Braddell), who defeated Edward Lake Williams in 3 straight sets.[5][6] The all comers mixed doubles title was won by Erskine Gerald Watson and his sister Maud Watson.[7]

The tournament continued separately to that of the county championship until 1931. Formers men's winners of this event include Charles Walder Grinstead (1883) and Cotah Ramaswami (1920).

Finals

Men's Singles

Incomplete roll
Year Champions Runners-up Score
1882 Robert Wallace Braddell Teddy Williams 7-5 6-2 6-3
1883 Charles Walder Grinstead Herbert Wilberforce 8-6 3-6 6-3 3-6 6-3
1884 Teddy Williams Frank Seymour Noon 6-3 6-2 6-2
1885 James Dwight Alfred Henry Betham 6-1 6-3 6-0
1886 Alfred Henry Betham Harry Grove 8-6 8-6 6-4
1889 Charles Gladstone Eames Francis Seymour Noon 4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
1909 Neville Gard Deed William Caleb Wood Curtis 9-7, 6-2
1920 Cotah Ramaswami John Cecil F. Masterman walkover
1931 Henry Woolf Standring R.L. Tower 6-4, 6-2

Mixed Doubles

Incomplete roll
Year Champions Runners-up Score
1884 Frank Noon
Effie Noon
Alfred Betham
Miss Exham
6-2, 6-4, 6-1
1886 Charles Ross
Mrs Hornby
Thomas Mellersh
Gertrude Mellersh
6-2, 6-3

References

  1. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Leamington". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  2. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882. George Routledge and Son. London. p.116.
  3. ^ "THE LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT. The Seventh Royal Leamington Lawn Tennis Tournament, promoted by the Town Improvement Association, Alas passed off with remarkable success, at the Jephson Gardens, considering that the elements were militated very seriously against it". Leamington Spa Courier. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 21 July 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.
  5. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.
  6. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. Tennis Archives.
  7. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.

Sources

  • Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Leamington. www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland.
  • Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) George Routledge and Son. London.
  • Warwickshire County Tennis Championships. Leamington Lawn Tennis & Squash Club". lltsc.co.uk.