British Hard Court Championships

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)
Men: Bournemouth International/Samsung Open (1996–99)
Women: Rover British Clay Court Championships (1995–96)
TourILTF (1968–70)
Grand Prix circuit (1970–76, 1978, 1980–83)
ATP World Series (1996–99)
WTA Tour (1968, 1971–76, 1995–96)
Founded1924
Abolished1999
LocationTorquay (1924–26)
Bournemouth (1927–83, 1995–99)
Cardiff (1996, women)
SurfaceClay

The British Hard Court Championships was a Grand Prix tennis and WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament, played in the Open Era from 1968 to 1983 and again (albeit not named as such) from 1995 to 1999.

History

As an amateur tournament, the inaugural edition was held in 1924 in Torquay, moving to the West Hants Tennis Club in Bournemouth, England in 1927. The tournament remained there until 1983, although the 1977 and 1979 editions were cancelled due to lack of sponsorship.[1]

At that time, the tournament was played outdoors on red shale,[a] which is similar to European clay but with a grittier, looser surface, thus leading to faster play.[2][3] When the tournament became a fixture of the Open Era in 1968 (see below), many professional competitors from overseas, unused to the playing conditions, complained that the shale courts were wet and slippery.[4] By the mid-1970s, however, the event had become a destination for several top European and South American clay courters: winners of the men's singles championship during those years include Ilie Năstase, Adriano Panatta, Manuel Orantes, Victor Pecci and José Higueras. This did not prevent it from being cancelled once again in 1984, which the organisers explained was due to the lack of a sponsor and the withdrawal of television coverage.[5]

In 1995, the event was revived at Bournemouth as a women's WTA tournament but was only played there that one time; the final edition the following year was held in Cardiff, Wales.[6] A men's ATP World Series tournament was then staged at the West Hants Club on American green clay from 1996 to 1999, before being relocated to indoor hard courts in Brighton for the 2000 edition (see Brighton International).[7]

Bournemouth was once one of the world's major tournaments, second only to Wimbledon in England and on the same level as Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg.[2] 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 to 1936.[6]

Start of Open Era

Main article: 1968 British Hard Court Championships

The Championships hold the distinction of being the first tennis tournament to be held in the Open Era, taking place in April 1968.[8] It started on 22 April at 1:43 p.m. when John Clifton served and won the first point.[9][10] 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 thus became the first amateur to win a title in the Open Era.[11][12] Christine Janes and her sister Nell Truman became the first winners of an open tennis event by winning the women's doubles title.[2] The tournament was considered a success and attracted almost 30,000 visitors.[10][13] The young British player Mark Cox went down in tennis history, when at the second round of the championships he became the first amateur player to beat a professional, after defeating the American Pancho Gonzales in five sets in two and a quarter hours.[9][12][14]

Results

Men's singles

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 [15] 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[16] 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

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 [15] 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

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

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

Men's singles

Source:The Tennis Base.[17]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In Britain, shale courts were usually referred to as 'hard' in order to distinguish them from grass, which was termed a 'soft' surface.

References

  1. ^ "Tennis tabled". The Spokesman-Review. AP. 31 March 1979. p. 24 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ a b c Max Robertson, ed. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. pp. 210, 211. ISBN 0047960426.
  3. ^ Clarey, Christopher (22 April 2018). "The Forgotten Home of Tennis's Open Era". New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  4. ^ Briggs, Simon (21 April 2018). "When sleepy Bournemouth was the centre of a tennis revolution fifty years ago". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  5. ^ Bellamy, Rex (23 February 1984). "Tennis: Bournemouth again vanishes from view". The Times, p. 24. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Britain Starts Building on Clay". The Independent. 19 May 1995. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  7. ^ Roberts, John (16 September 1999). "TENNIS; Bournemouth seeking prime-time slot". The Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  8. ^ Steve Tignor (22 January 2015). "1968: Open Era Begins in Bournemouth". Tennis.com.
  9. ^ a b C.M. Jones (6 May 1968). "The First Open Makes Its Mark". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 28, no. 18. pp. 20–21.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Amateurs Shy Of First Net Open". The Montreal Gazette. 22 April 1968 – via Google News Archive.
  12. ^ a b "Set Each in Tennis". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 April 1968 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ "British Say Open Tennis is 'Bonanza'". Rome News-Tribune. 28 April 1968 – via Google News Archive.
  14. ^ "ATP player profile – Mark Cox". www.atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  15. ^ a b "English tennis". The Argus. No. 25, 847. Melbourne. 15 June 1929. p. 10 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "BRITISH HARD COURT CH. Tournament Roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base, 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  17. ^ "British Hard Court Championship, Tournament Records". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base, 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
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