Leamington Open Tournament
The Leamington Open Tournament also known as the Leamington Lawn Tennis Club Tournament founded on 1 August 1882[1] 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.[2]
| 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
The Leamington Open Tournament were established on 1 August 1882,[3] and first staged at Jephson Gardens. At the same meeting held in August 1882 a dual tournament was stage called the Warwickshire Championships (1882-1938).
At the inaugural event the first men's all comers singles champion was England's Robert Wallace Braddell, (son of Sir Thomas Braddell) defeated Edward Lake Williams in 3 straight sets.[4][5] The all comers mixed doubles title was won by Erskine Gerald Watson and his sister Maud Watson.[6]
This tournament continued seperatley 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
Mens 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 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 |
| 1909 | Neville Gard Deed | William Caleb Wood Curtis | 9-7, 6-2 |
| 1920 |  Cotah Ramaswami | John Cecil F. Masterman | w.o. |
| 1931 | Henry Woolf Standring | R.L. Tower | 6-4, 6-2 |
Mix 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 Hoadley Ashe Ross Mrs Hornby | Thomas Mellersh Gertrude Mellersh | 6-2, 6-3 |
References
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882. George Routledge and Son. London. p.116.
- Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Leamington". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- 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
- 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.