South African Open (tennis)

South African Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourPre-open era (1891–1967)
Open era Independent tour (1968–1971, 1974–89)
Grand Prix Tour (1972–89)
World Championship Series (1983–87)
ATP Tour (1990–1995)
Founded1891
Abolished1995
Editions89
LocationVarious cities in South Africa
VenueVarious
SurfaceHard (1891–1995)

The South African Open – formerly known as the South African Championships, and for sponsorship reasons the Altech NCR South African Open and the Panasonic South African Open – is a defunct Grand Prix Tennis Tour, World Championship Series, ATP Tour and Virginia Slims Circuit affiliated tennis tournament played from 1891 to 1995 in South Africa. It was part of the pre-open era international seasonal tours from 1891 to 1967 from 1968 to 1971, part of the open era independent events tour from 1972, when it became part the men's Grand Prix Tour until 1989. The women's side of the competition was only briefly part of Virginia Slims tour (1970–74) before it returned to the independent circuit.

The men's event joined the ATP Tour in 1990. It was mainly held in Johannesburg in South Africa, but played in other locations such as Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberly and Pretoria. The tournament was played on outdoor hard courts it ran for a period of 105 years until 1995.

History

The first South African Championships were first played in 1891 until 1967 and took place in Port Elizabeth. The tournament was held at and organized by the Port Elizabeth Lawn Tennis Club. This inaugural edition consisted of a men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles event. The tournament was not played from 1900 to 1902 due to the Boer War. After the formation of the South African Lawn Tennis Union in 1903 the location of the tournament circulated between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberly and Pretoria. In 1905 the women's doubles competition was added. The tournament was not held from 1915 to 1919 due to World War I, and from 1941 to 1945 due to World War II. The first men's singles winner was Lionel Richardson from Bloemfontein. In 1931 Ellis Park in Johannesburg became the permanent venue for the championships.[1] In 1968 the event went open and was from then on known as the South African Open Sets were played on advantage until 1971; Lingering death tiebreaks at six games all were subsequently adopted. Finals were the best-of-five-sets until the tournament's suspension in 1990; upon its return in 1992 finals were reduced to the best-of-three-sets the men's tournament was suspended again from 1996 until 2006. The women's tournament was also stopped in 1982,1985 and 1988 it was played in 1990 but did not continue after that date.

ATP Tour tennis returned to South Africa in 2009 under the banner of the SA Tennis Open. The history of this event, however, is not part of the history of the Open.[2] The SA Tennis Open, which was part of the 250 series of events, was discontinued in 2011.[3]

The most successful male player at the South African Championships – played from 1891 to 1967 during the Amateur Era – was Eric Sturgess, who won eleven titles between 1939 and 1957 and lost a further final in 1947 to Eustace Fannin. He also holds the overall record for the most consecutive titles won – seven between 1948 and 1954. Five players share the record for the most male wins at the tournament in the Open Era – Rod Laver (1969, 1970), Jimmy Connors (1973, 1974), Harold Solomon (1975, 1976), Vitas Gerulaitis (1981, 1982) and Aaron Krickstein (1992, 1993).

The most successful female player at the South African Championships – played from 1891 to 1967 during the Amateur Era – was Mrs H.A. Kirby, who won six titles between 1904 and 1912. She also shares the overall record for the most consecutive titles won with Miss H. Grant. Both players won four consecutive titles – Grant won the first four South African titles from 1891 to 1894 and Mrs Kirby won four titles between 1904 and 1907. Margaret Court and Brigitte Cuypers share the record for the most wins at the tournament in the Open Era. Court won three titles in 1968, 1970 and 1971 and Cuypers won in 1976, 1978 and 1979.

The following comprises the full list of South African Open men's singles champions.[4] and South African Open women's singles champions.

Finals

NB: The following tables below comprise full lists of champions from 1891 until 1995

Men's singles

Year Champion Runner-up Score
1891 Lionel Richardson Lyndhurst Winslow 6–2, 10–8, 6–2
1892 Lionel Richardson(2) R. Davis Unavailable
1893 Walter T. Edmonds Lionel Richardson 6–3, 6–3, 6–4
1894 Lennox L. Giddy Walter T. Edmonds 6–1, 6–3, 6–0
1895 Lennox L. Giddy Stanley Bayly 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1896 Lennox L. Giddy H.R. Eaton Unavailable
1897 Lennox L. Giddy William C. Stevens 8–10, 12–10, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1898 Lennox L. Giddy George C. Collins Unavailable
1899 Leonard G. Heard Lennox L. Giddy 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1
1900–1902 Not held due to Second Boer War
1903 R.W.G. Clarke H.M Steele 6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1904 Percy Sherwell R.W.G. Clarke 6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1905 Harold Kitson A.J. Rowan 6–1, 2–6, 6–3, 8–6
1906 John R. Richardson Cecil E. Howard Tripp 6–4, 7–5, 6–2
1907 A.J. Rowan Cecil E. Howard Tripp 7–5, 5–7, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3
1908 Harold Kitson Victor Gauntlett 6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 7–9, 6–2
1909 Reginald Doherty Lionel Escombe 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1910 Anthony Wilding Harold Kitson 6–0, 6–3, 6–4
1911 Harold Kitson Father Kelly 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1912 George Dodd R.F. Le Sueur 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–0
1913 Harold Kitson Harold I. Aitken 6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1914 Charles Winslow George Dodd 4–6, 7–9, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
1915–1919 Not held (WW1)
1920 Brian Norton Louis Raymond 1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
1921 Louis Raymond Marchant Davies 6–3, 6–0, 6–1
1922 Louis Raymond George Dodd 6–3, 7–5, 6–2
1923 Louis Raymond Jack Condon 6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2
1924 Louis Raymond George Dodd 6–4, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3
1925 Ivie Richardson Charles Winslow 7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4
1926 Jack Condon Cecil Blackbeard 6–0, 6–3, 6–2
1927 J.C. Guy Eaglestone C.H. Robbs 8–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1928 J.C. Guy Eaglestone George Dodd 6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1929 Colin Robbins George Dodd 6–1, 6–0, 6–3
1930 Louis Raymond Colin Robbins 6–2, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1931 Louis Raymond Robert H. M. Bertram 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1932 Robert H. M. Bertram Colin Robbins 2–6, 9–7, 9–7, 6–1
1933 Colin Robbins Vernon Kirby 6–1, 1–6, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4
1934 Norman Farquharson Roy Malcolm 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 14–12
1935 [5] Norman Farquharson Vernon Kirby 6–0, 6–4, 6–1
1936 Norman Farquharson Robert H. M. Bertram 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1937 Josip Palada Vernon Kirby 6–2, 0–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1938 Norman Farquharson Vernon Kirby 4–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–0
1939 Eric Sturgess Eustace Fannin 6–2, 9–7, 3–6, 6–8, 7–5
1940 Eric Sturgess Robert H. M. Bertram 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2
1941–1945 Not held (WW2)
1946 Eric Sturgess Norman Farquharson 6–0, 6–2, 6–3
1947 Eustace Fannin Eric Sturgess 6–1, 6–2, 1–6, 0–6, 6–4
1948 Eric Sturgess Tony Mottram 6–3, 6–4, 6–8, 6–1
1949 Eric Sturgess Geoffrey Brown 4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1950 Eric Sturgess Arthur Larsen 6–1, 6–1, 3–6, 6–2
1951 Eric Sturgess Sydney Levy 6–3, 6–2, 7–5
1952 Eric Sturgess Sydney Levy 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1953 Eric Sturgess Russell Seymour 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1954 Eric Sturgess Jaroslav Drobný 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 8–6
1955 Russell Seymour Gordon Forbes 1–6, 9–7, 6–1, 8–6
1956 Ian Vermaak Torsten Johansson 6–2, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6
1957 Eric Sturgess Gaetan Koenig 9–7, 6–3, 6–1
1958 Ulf Schmidt Torben Ulrich 1–6, 12–10, 6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1959 Gordon Forbes Ian Vermaak 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1960 Butch Buchholz Jack Frost 6–1, 7–5, 6–3
1961 Gordon Forbes Julian Mayers 8–6, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1962 Bob Mark Gordon Forbes 6–1, 6–1, 2–6, 8–6
1963 Wilhelm Bungert Gordon Forbes 6–4, 6–4, 8–6
1964 Abe Segal Gordon Forbes 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3
1965 Cliff Drysdale Juan Manuel Couder 1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1966 Roy Emerson Bob Hewitt 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4, 7–5
1967 Manuel Santana Jan Leschly 2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1968 Tom Okker Marty Riessen 12–10, 6–1, 6–4
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969 Rod Laver Tom Okker 6–3, 10–8, 6–3
1970 Rod Laver Frew McMillan 4–6, 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1971 Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 6–4, 6–0, 6–4
1972 Cliff Richey Manuel Orantes 6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4
1973 Jimmy Connors Arthur Ashe 6–4, 7–6, 6–3
1974 Jimmy Connors Arthur Ashe 7–6, 6–3, 6–1
1975 Harold Solomon Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–4, 5–7, 6–1
1976 Harold Solomon Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1977 Guillermo Vilas Buster Mottram 7–6, 6–3, 6–4
1978 Tim Gullikson Harold Solomon 2–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
1979 Andrew Pattison Víctor Pecci 2–6 6–3 6–2 6–3
1980 Kim Warwick Fritz Buehning 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1981 Vitas Gerulaitis Jeff Borowiak 6–4, 7–6, 6–1
1982 Vitas Gerulaitis Guillermo Vilas 7–6, 6–2, 4–6, 7–6
1983 Johan Kriek Colin Dowdeswell 6–4, 4–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–3
1984 Eliot Teltscher Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 6–1, 7–6
1985 Matt Anger Brad Gilbert 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1986 Amos Mansdorf Matt Anger 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 7–5
1987 Pat Cash Brad Gilbert 7–6, 4–6, 2–6, 6–0, 6–1
1988 Jakob Hlasek Christo van Rensburg 6–7, 6–4, 6–1, 7–6
1989 Christo van Rensburg Paul Chamberlin 6–4, 7–6, 6–3
1990 Wayne Ferreira Mark Kaplan 6–3 7–5 7–6
1991 Todd Witsken Wayne Ferreira 4–6 6–4 6–4
1992 Aaron Krickstein Alexander Volkov 6–4, 6–4
1993 Aaron Krickstein Grant Stafford 6–3, 7–6
1994 Markus Zoecke Hendrik Dreekmann 6–4, 6–1
1995 Martin Sinner Guillaume Raoux 6–1, 6–4
1996–2006 Not held
2007 (CH) Mathieu Montcourt Rik de Voest 5–7, 6–3, 6–2
2008 (CH) Ivan Ljubičić Stefan Koubek 7–6, 6–4

Women's singles

Year Champion Runner-up Score
1891 Mabel Grant Miss Blackburn 6–2, 6–0
1892 Mabel Grant Mrs MacLagan Unavailable
1893 Mabel Grant Mrs MacLagan 6–1, 6–0
1894 Mabel Grant Miss B. Grant 6–1, 6–0
1895 Miss L. Biddulph Miss Fry 6–1, 6–4
1896 Mrs H. Green Miss L. Biddulph Unavailable
1897 Miss N. Hickman Mrs H. Green 7–9, 12–10, 6–2
1898 Miss N. Hickman Miss L. Biddulph Unavailable
1899 Miss N. Hickman Mrs H. Green 6–8, 6–2, 6–3
1900–1902 Not held (Boer War)
1903 Miss F. Kuys Mrs Mackay 6–0, 6–2
1904 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs M. Nevill (Grant) 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1905 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs S.B.Syfret 6–2, 6–0
1906 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs Greatwood 7–5, 6–2
1907 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs R.H.Miller 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1908 Miss M. Kelly Mrs Gillmore 6–2, 6–1
1909 Mrs G. Washington Miss Edwards 6–2, 7–9, 6–4
1910 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs J Reid 6–1, 6–2
1911 Mrs G. Washington Miss M. Kelly 6–0, 6–1
1912 Mrs H.A. Kirby Olive Mathias 6–2, 6–0
1913 Miss M. Coles Miss M. Kelly 6–3, 9–7
1914 Olive Mathias Mrs H.A. Kirby 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1915–1919 Not held (WW1)
1920 Olive Winslow (Mathias) Miss Phillips 6–3, 7–5
1921 Miss N. Edwards Mrs W.F. du Plessis 6–1, 6–2
1922 Mrs M. McJannett Miss J. Parker 6–2, 6–2
1923 Mrs C.K. Pitt Mrs D.R.Moor 6–4, 6–3
1924 Irene Peacock Mrs L. McArthur 7–5, 6–4
1925 Irene Peacock Mrs L. McArthur 5–7, 6–1, 6–1
1926 Irene Peacock Miss A. de Smit 6–2, 6–1
1927 Mrs M. McJannett Mrs V. Everett 12–10, 6–4
1928 Bobbie Heine Billie Tapscott 8–6, 6–3
1929 Mrs M. McJannett Miss W.N. Miller 7–5, 6–2
1930 Billie Tapscott Mrs V. Everett 7–5, 6–2
1931 Bobbie Heine Miss W.N. Miller 6–3, 6–3
1932 Bobbie Heine Miller Mrs W.N. Lowe (Miller) 6–0, 6–3
1933 Billie Tapscott Robbins Mrs W.N. Lowe 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1934 Billie Tapscott Robbins Mrs W.N. Lowe 6–0, 6–3
1935 Mrs A. Allister Billie Tapscott Robbins 6–4, 6–3
1936 Bobbie Heine Miller Mrs V. Everett 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1937 Bobbie Heine Miller Alida Neave 6–4, 4–6, 6–0
1938 Billie Tapscott Robbins Olive Craze 6–4, 6–4
1939 Olive Craze Sheila Piercey 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1940 Olive Craze Sheila Piercey 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1941–1945 Not held (WW2)
1946 Mary D. Muller Mrs O. Plessis 6–4, 6–4
1947 Mary D. Muller Sheila Piercey Summers 6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1948 Sheila Summers Kay Menzies 6–1, 6–4
1949 Sheila Summers Thelma Long 6–1, 6–1
1950 Shirley Fry Doris Hart 4–6, 7–5, 6–3
1951 Sheila Summers Hazel Redick-Smith 8–6, 2–6, 7–5
1952 Doris Hart Julia Wipplinger 6–1, 7–5
1953 Hazel Redick-Smith Julia Wipplinger 6–2, 6–2
1954 Hazel Redick-Smith Gwendy Love 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1955 Hazel Redick-Smith Lucille van der Westhuizen 6–4, 6–3
1956 Dora Kilian Gwendy Love 4–6, 7–5, 6–4
1957 Heather Brewer Gwendy Love 8–10, 6–2, 6–3
1958 Bernice Carr Heather Brewer-Segal 3–6, 7–5, 6–4
1959 Sandra Reynolds Bernice Vukovich (Carr) 6–0, 8–6
1960 Bernice Vukovich Sandra Reynolds 6–1, 2–6, 12–10
1961 Sandra Reynolds Lynette Hutchings 6–4, 7–5
1962 Heather Brewer-Segal Jean Forbes 6–1, 7–5
1963 Annette Van Zyl Margaret Hunt 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
1964 Darlene Hard Ann Haydon-Jones 6–3, 7–5
1965 Christine Truman Annette Van Zyl 6–2, 6–3
1966 Billie Jean King Margaret Court 6–3, 6–2
1967 Billie Jean King Maria Bueno 7–5, 5–7, 6–2
1968 Margaret Court Virginia Wade 6–4, 6–4
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969 Billie Jean King Nancy Richey 6–3, 6–4
1970 Margaret Court Billie Jean King 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1971 Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong 6–3, 6–1
1972 Evonne Goolagong Virginia Wade 4–6, 6–3, 6–0
1973 Chris Evert Evonne Goolagong 6–3, 6–3
1974 Kerry Melville Dianne Fromholtz 6–3, 7–5
1975 Annette du Plooy (van Zyl) Brigitte Cuypers 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1976 Brigitte Cuypers Laura duPont 6–7, 6–4, 6–1
1977 Linky Boshoff Brigitte Cuypers 6–1, 6–4
1978 Brigitte Cuypers Linda Siegel 6–1, 6–0
1979 Brigitte Cuypers Tanya Harford 7–6, 6–2
1980 Lesley Charles Rene Uys 7–5, 6–4
1981 Kathy Horvath Kathy Rinaldi 7–6, 6–4
1982–1983 Not held
1984 Chris Evert-Lloyd Andrea Jaeger 6–3, 6–0
1985 Not held
1986 Dinky van Rensburg Rene Mentz 6–3, 6–1
1987 Gretchen Magers Louise Allen 6–7, 7–6, 6–4
1988–1989 Not held
1990 Amanda Coetzer Dinky van Rensburg 6–4, 6–4

Men's doubles

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1969 Pancho Gonzales
Ray Moore		 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1970 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 Cliff Drysdale
Roger Taylor		 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 [6]
1971 Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle		 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 5–7, 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 [7]
1972 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 Ray Moore
Georges Goven		 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 [8]
1973 Arthur Ashe
Tom Okker		 Lew Hoad
Robert Maud		 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1974 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 7–6, 6–4, 6–3
1975 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 Karl Meiler
Charlie Pasarell		 7–5, 6–4
1976 Brian Gottfried
Sherwood Stewart		 Juan Gisbert
Stan Smith		 1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 7–6
1977 Robert Lutz
Stan Smith		 Peter Fleming
Raymond Moore		 6–3, 7–5, 6–7, 7–6
1978 Peter Fleming
Raymond Moore		 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 6–3, 7–6
1979 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 Mike Cahill
Christopher Mottram		 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
1980 Robert Lutz
Stan Smith		 Heinz Günthardt
Paul McNamee		 6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1981 Terry Moor
John Yuill		 Fritz Buehning
Russell Simpson		 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–7, 12–10
1982 Brian Gottfried
Frew McMillan		 Shlomo Glickstein
Andrew Pattison		 6–2, 6–2
1983 Steve Meister
Brian Teacher		 Andrés Gómez
Sherwood Stewart		 6–7, 7–6, 6–2
1984 Tracy Delatte
Francisco González		 Steve Meister
Eliot Teltscher		 7–6, 6–1
1985 Colin Dowdeswell
Christo van Rensburg		 Amos Mansdorf
Shahar Perkiss		 3–6, 7–6, 6–4
1986 Mike De Palmer
Christo van Rensburg		 Andrés Gómez
Sherwood Stewart		 3–6, 6–2, 7–6
1987 Kevin Curren
David Pate		 Eric Korita
Brad Pearce		 6–4, 6–4
1988 Kevin Curren
David Pate		 Gary Muller
Tim Wilkison		 7–6, 6–4
1989 Luke Jensen
Richey Reneberg		 Kelly Jones
Joey Rive		 6–0, 6–4
1990–1991 Not Held
1992 Pieter Aldrich
Danie Visser		 Wayne Ferreira
Piet Norval		 6–4, 6–4
1993 Lan Bale
Byron Black		 Johan de Beer
Marcos Ondruska		 7–6, 6–2
1994 Marius Barnard
Brent Haygarth		 Ellis Ferreira
Grant Stafford		 6–3, 7–5
1995 Rodolphe Gilbert
Guillaume Raoux		 Martin Sinner
Joost Winnink		 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1996–2006 Not held
2007 (CH) Rik de Voest
Dominik Meffert 		Stéphane Bohli
Noam Okun 		6–4, 6–2
2008 (CH) Jonas Björkman
Dominik Meffert 		Thomas Johansson
Stefan Koubek 		6–2, 6–2

See also

  • SA Tennis Open
  • Category:National and multi-national tennis tournaments

References

  1. ^ Russell Eldridge, ed. (1977). Tennis : The South African Story. Owen Williams. pp. 14, 15. OCLC 86066820.
  2. ^ 2009 Official Guide to Professional Tennis, page 48, compiled by the ATP World Tour.
  3. ^ "Door shut on 2012 ATP-sanctioned SA Open". SuperSport. 4 May 2011.
  4. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1989). The International Tennis Federation World of Tennis 1989. London: Collins Willow. pp. 408, 409. ISBN 978-0002183116.
  5. ^ "SOUTH AFRICAN TITLE". The West Australian. Perth. 18 March 1935. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Margaret Court Wins Net Title". The Indianapolis Star. Associated Press. 5 April 1970. p. 89.
  7. ^ "Margaret Court Wins Two Titles". The Indianapolis Star. United Press. 19 April 1971. p. 75.
  8. ^ "Evonne Goolagong Wins Title". The Logansport Press. Logansport, Indiana. United Press. 9 April 1972. p. 21.
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