Wolverhampton Open

Wolverhampton Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameWolverhampton Lawn Tennis Tournament (1897-1900)
Wolverhampton Tennis Tournament (1903-30)
Wolverhampton Open Lawn Tennis Tournament (1931-49)
Wolverhampton Open (1950-69)
Bio-Strath Wolverhampton Open (1970-71)
Wolverhampton Open (1972-74)
TourILTF (1913-1969)
Bio-Strath Circuit (1971)
Founded1897; 127 years ago (1897)
Abolished1974; 50 years ago (1974)
LocationWolverhampton, West Midlands, England
VenueParkdale, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Midlands
SurfaceClay- outdoors

The Wolverhampton Open[1] was a combined men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1897 as the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Tournament. The first tournament was staged at Parkdale, Wolverhampton from 1897 to 1900 before it was discontinued in 1900. In 1903 a second tournament was revived and played in Newbridge, in Wolverhampton, where it ran until 1974.[2]

History

The Wolverhampton Open was established as the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Tournament in 1897,[3][4] under auspices of the Albert Lawn Tennis Club, Parkdale, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Midlands - before it was discontinued in 1900. In 1903 a second Wolverhampton tournament was revived by Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Club, in Newbridge.[5] In 1931 the tournament was renamed as the Wolverhampton Open Lawn Tennis Tournament.[6] By the 1950s it was branded as the Wolverhampton Open and ran until 1974.[7] In 1970 the event was marketed under the brand name the Bio-Strath Wolverhampton Open as part of the Bio-Strath Circuit, it remained part of that tour through till 1971.[8]

Notable winners of the men's singles title included; Sydney Howard Smith, Cam Malfroy, George Lyttleton-Rogers, Claude Lister, Tony Pickard, Bill Hoogs Jr., Frew McMillan, and Andrew Pattison.[9] Winners of the women's singles title included; Phoebe Holcroft Watson, Dorothy Holman, Rita Bentley, Angela Mortimer, Ann Haydon Jones, Faye Toyne, Mary Habicht, Kerry Melville and Valerie Ziegenfuss.

Venues

The Albert Lawn Tennis Club was founded at Parkdale, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire around 1894.[10] It staged the first Wolverhampton tennis tournament until 1900. In 1903 a second Wolverhampton tournament was revived by the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Club (f. 1885),[11] in Newbridge, Wolverhampton.

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
↓  LTA Circuit  ↓
Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Tournament
1897 United Kingdom Sydney Howard Smith United Kingdom Charles Henry Ridding 6–0, ret.[2]
1898 United Kingdom Sydney Howard Smith (2) United Kingdom Wilberforce Eaves 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2.[2]
1900 United Kingdom Wilberforce Eaves United Kingdom John Mycroft Boucher 7–5, 7–5, 6–3.[2]
Wolverhampton Tennis Tournament
1905 United Kingdom Edward Roy Allen United Kingdom Alfred Beamish 4–6, 2–6, 6–3, 8–6, 6–4.[2]
1910 United Kingdom Edward Joseph Sampson[12] United Kingdom Xenophon Kasdaglis 6–2, 8–6.[2]
↓  ILTF Circuit  ↓
1915/1919 Not held (due to World War I)
1924[13] India Hassan Ali Fyzee United Kingdom Edward (Teddy) Higgs 3-2 sets.[14]
1929 United Kingdom Donald Greig United Kingdom George Meredith 6–2, 7–5.[2]
Wolverhampton Open Lawn Tennis Tournament
1930 United Kingdom George Meredith United Kingdom Thomas Slater 6–4, 3–6, 6–3.[2]
1934 Australia Cam Malfroy Japan Ryuki Miki 6–2, 6–1.[2]
1935 Republic of Ireland George Lyttleton Rogers Italy Umberto De Morpurgo 6–3, 8–6.[2]
1939 United Kingdom Jack Moore United Kingdom Claude Lister 2–6, 6–1, 7–5.[2]
1940/1946 Not held (due to World War II)
1947 United Kingdom Claude Lister United Kingdom Jack Moore 4–6, 7–5, 9–7.[2]
1948 United Kingdom Claude Lister (2) United Kingdom John B. Griffith 8–6, 9–7.[2]
1949 United Kingdom Claude Lister (3) United Kingdom John B. Griffith 6–4, 6–3.[2]
Wolverhampton Open
1950 United Kingdom W.P.W. Anderson United Kingdom George Godsell 6–3, 2–6, 6–2.[2]
1951 United Kingdom N.E. Hooper United Kingdom J.B. Payne 6–1, 6–1.[2]
1952 United Kingdom Rex H. Hack United Kingdom John C. Upton 6–4, 6–3.[2]
1953 United Kingdom J.C. Upton United Kingdom K.G. Jones 6–4, 6–1.[2]
1954 United Kingdom Claude Lister (4) United Kingdom K.G. Jones 6–2, 8–6.[2]
1955 United Kingdom M.A. Harris United Kingdom L.M. Kilby 6–2, 7–5.[2]
1956 United Kingdom M.L. Booth United Kingdom L.M. Kilby 6–4, 6–2.[2]
1957 United Kingdom K.G. Jones United Kingdom P.G. Wainwright 4–6, 6–1, 6–2.[2]
1959 South Africa Robin Sanders South Africa John Maloney 4–6, 6–4, 6–1.[2]
1960 United Kingdom Tony Pickard South Africa David Samaai 6–2, 5–7, 6–3.[2]
1961 Australia Will Coghlan United Kingdom Roger Taylor 6–4, 6–1.[2]
1962 South Africa Frew McMillan Australia John B. Hillebrand 6–4, 6–4.[2]
1963 South Africa Frew McMillan (2) United Kingdom Roy W. Dixon [15] 6–4, 4–6, 7–5
1964 United Kingdom Billy Knight South Africa Frew McMillan 6–3, 4–6, 6–4.[2]
1965 United Kingdom Billy Knight (2) Chile Patricio Cornejo 9–7, 6–3.[2]
1966 United States Bill Hoogs Jr. New Zealand Onny Parun 6–4, 8–6.[2]
1967 United Kingdom Jaroslav Drobný United Kingdom Billy Knight 6–8, 6–4, 6–3.[2]
1968 Canada Keith Carpenter South Africa Graydon Garner 6–4, 7–5.[2]
↓  Open era  ↓
Bio-Strath Wolverhampton Open
1970 South Africa Frew McMillan (3) Rhodesia Hank Irvine 6–4, 4–6, 6–4.[2]
1971 Rhodesia Andrew Pattison Australia Peter Doerner 6–3, 6–2.[2]
Wolverhampton Open
1974 Australia Alvin Gardiner United Kingdom Roger Webb 6–2, 6–2.[2]

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
↓  ILTF Circuit  ↓
Wolverhampton Tennis Tournament
1920 United Kingdom Marie Hazel United Kingdom Mrs South 6–1, 6–2
1921 United Kingdom Marie Hazel (2) United Kingdom Mrs Bellord 6–3, 6–0
1922 United Kingdom Marie Hazel (3) United Kingdom Miss Wynne 6–1, 6–0
1923 United Kingdom Marie Hazel (4) United Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft 6–4, 7–5
1924[16] United Kingdom Jessie Russell Colegate United Kingdom Marie Hazel 6–0, 6–2
1925 United Kingdom Irene Maltby United Kingdom Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1926 United Kingdom M. Wynne United Kingdom Irene Maltby 6–2, 6–4
1927 United Kingdom Marie Hazel (5) United Kingdom Irene Maltby 6–1, 6–8, 8–6
1928 United Kingdom Dorothy Round United Kingdom Marie Hazel 8–6, 4–6, 6–3
1930 United Kingdom Dorothy Round (2) United Kingdom Marie Hazel 6–1, 6–2
Wolverhampton Open Lawn Tennis Tournament
1931 United Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft Watson United Kingdom Jackie McAlpine 6–3, 6–2
1932 United Kingdom Dorothy Round (3) United Kingdom Mrs H. Page 6–1, 6–2
1933 United Kingdom Mie Johnstone United Kingdom Mrs H. Page 6–3, 6–4
1934 United Kingdom Dorothy Round (4) United Kingdom Grace Vaughton 6–1, 6–2
1935 United Kingdom Christabel Wheatcroft United Kingdom Gladys Southwell 6–3, 6–3
1936 United Kingdom Christabel Wheatcroft (2) Bermuda Barbara Freisenbruch 6–0, 6–2
1937 United Kingdom Mrs H. Page United Kingdom Isobel Cooke 7–5, 6–1
1939 United Kingdom Elsie Hamilton United Kingdom Mary Norman 6–4, 6–3
1940/1946 Not held (due to World War II)
1947 United Kingdom Sally Stoney Lister United Kingdom Elsie Hamilton Phillips 6–1, 6–4
1948 United Kingdom Sally Stoney Lister (2) United Kingdom Isabel Follows 6–2, 6–2
1949[17] United Kingdom Elsie Hamilton Phillips United Kingdom Patricia Cowney 8–6, 6–3
Wolverhampton Open
1950 United Kingdom Patricia Cowney United Kingdom Gillian Gittings Worrall 6–3, 6–3
1951 United Kingdom Elsie Hamilton Phillips (2) United Kingdom Molly Wadlow Stone 6–2, 6–2
1952 United Kingdom Elsie Hamilton Phillips (3) United Kingdom Molly Wadlow Stone 6–3, 6–3
1953 United Kingdom Y. Toyne United Kingdom L. Bishop 6–4, 0–6, 6–4
1954 United Kingdom Sally Stoney Lister (3) United Kingdom Jane Godfrey 7–5, 6–3
1955 United Kingdom Molly Wadlow Stone United Kingdom Jane Godfrey 12–10, 3–6, 7–5
1956 United Kingdom Valerie Pitt United Kingdom Molly Wadlow Stone 6–4, 6–1
1957 United Kingdom Mrs R. Worrall United Kingdom Mrs L. Newman 3–6, 6–0, 6–1
1958 United Kingdom Rita Bentley United Kingdom Hazel Austin Cheadle 8–6, 6–2
1959 United Kingdom Angela Mortimer United Kingdom Ann Haydon 6–1, 6–4
1960 United Kingdom Angela Mortimer (2) United Kingdom Rita Bentley 8–6, 9–7
1961 United Kingdom Ann Haydon Australia Lynn Hutchings 6–0, 6-1
1962 United Kingdom Hazel Cheadle Republic of Ireland Eleanor O'Neill 6–1, 1–6, 6–3
1963 United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones (2) South Africa Renée Schuurman 9–7, 1–6, 6–4
1964[18] Australia Faye Toyne United Kingdom Alison Stroud 6–1, 6–3
1965 Brazil Mary Habicht United Kingdom Jean Haskew 4–6, 6–4, 6–1
1966 United Kingdom Susan Tutt United Kingdom Jean Haskew 6–1, 6–1
1968 United States Valerie Ziegenfuss United Kingdom Janice Townsend divided title
↓  Open era  ↓
Bio-Strath Wolverhampton Open
1970 Australia Kerry Melville Australia Sue Alexander 6–2, 6–2
1971 United Kingdom Janice Townsend Wainwright Ecuador Maria Guzman 6–3, 6–2
Wolverhampton Open
1974 Australia Jenny Dimond United Kingdom Jenny Helliar 2–6, 6–1, 6–1

Event Names

  • Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Tournament (1897-1900)
  • Wolverhampton Tennis Tournament (1903-30)
  • Wolverhampton Open Lawn Tennis Tournament (1931-49)
  • Wolverhampton Open (1950-69)
  • Bio-Strath Wolverhampton Open (1970-71)
  • Wolverhampton Open (1972-74)

References

  1. ^ "TENNIS: WOLVERHAMPTON OPEN: D. A. Jones, is the only Staffordshire county player left in the men's singles by round three was unexpectedly eliminated by W. D. Wickham in the Wolverhampton Open tennis tournament". Sports Argus. Warwick, Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archives. 5 August 1950. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "Tournaments: Wolverhampton Open". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Wolverhampton". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ "TENNIS:THE WOLVERHAMPTON LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT:The entries for the second Tennis Tournament be staged at the Albert Lawn Tennis Club at Parkdale starts Monday next". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Birmingham, England: British Newspaper Archives. 26 May 1898. p. 3.
  5. ^ "WOLVERHAMPTON TOURNAMENT. At Newbridge. Wolverhampton, the third annual tennis tournament, under the auspices of the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis Club was commenced today". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Birmingham, England: British Newspaper Archives. 6 August 1906. p. 7.
  6. ^ "WOLVERHAMPTON OPEN EVENT. The Wolverhampton Open Lawn Tennis Tournament, which opens to-morrow, has attracted a record number of entries this year". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Birmingham, England: British Newspaper Archives. 29 July 1931. p. 12.
  7. ^ Tennis Archives
  8. ^ Barrett, John; Tingay, Lance; West, Peter (1971). "The 1970 British Tournament Season". World of Tennis 1971 : a BP yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 260–271. ISBN 978-0-362-00091-7.
  9. ^ Tennis Archives
  10. ^ "History of the Albert Lawn Tennis Club". albertltc.co.uk/. Albert Lawn Tennis Club. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  11. ^ "ABOUT WLTSC". www.wltsc.com. Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  12. ^ "E.J. Sampson: Overview". ATP Tour. London: ATP. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Lawn Tennis: WOLVERHAMPTON. Mr A H Fyzee defeated E Higgs in the final round of the Men's Singles at Wolverhampton yesterday after being two sets down. Mrs Colegate had an easy task against Mrs Hazel in the final of the Ladies' Singles". The Sportsman. London, England: British Newspaper Archive. 6 August 1924. p. 3. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. ^ The Sportsman
  15. ^ "Roy Dixon: Overview". ATP Tour. London: ATP. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  16. ^ The Sportsman
  17. ^ "WOLVERHAMPTON TENNIS Women's Singles Final: Mrs M Phillips beat Miss P Cowney 8-6, 6-3". Evening Despatch. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 2 August 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  18. ^ "AT WOLVERHAMPTON: Fay Toyne (Australia): justified her No. 1 seeding in the Wolverhampton tennis tournament women's singles by winning the final today, defeating Alison Stroud (Kent) 6-1, 6-3 in 18 minutes". Coventry Evening Telegraph. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 30 May 1964. p. 34. Retrieved 31 August 2023.