The Leamington Open Tournament, also known as the Leamington Lawn Tennis Club Tournament, was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament held at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England from 1882 to 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]
| Leamington Open Tournament | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | Amateur |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Abolished | 1931 |
| Editions | 49 |
| Location | Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England |
| Venue | Leamington Lawn Tennis Club |
| Surface | outdoor (grass) |
History
editThe 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
editMen's Singles
edit- 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Leamington". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882. George Routledge and Son. London. p.116.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.
- ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.
- ^ Nieuwland, Alex. Tennis Archives.
- ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.
Sources
edit- 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.