South African Open (tennis)

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 2011 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.

South African Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourPre-open era (1877-1967)
Open era Independent tour (1968-1971, 1974-89)
Grand Prix Tour (1972–89)
GP Championship Series (1970–73)
World Championship Series (1983–87)
ATP Tour (1990–2011)
Founded1891
Abolished2011
Editions89
LocationVarious cities in South Africa
VenueVarious
SurfaceHard (1891–1995)

The men's event joined the ATP Tour in 1990. Between 1970 and 1973 the men's event was part of the Grand Prix Super Series of tournaments that were the precursors to the current ATP World Tour Masters 1000. 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 120 years until 2011.

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" tie-breaks 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 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.

Results

NB: The following tables below comprise full lists of champions from 1891 until 2011

Men's singles
YearChampionRunner-upScore
1891 Lionel Richardson Lyndhurst Winslow6–2, 10–8, 6–2
1892 Lionel Richardson R. DavisUnavailable
1893 Walter T. Edmonds Lionel Richardson6–3, 6–3, 6–4
1894 Lennox L. Giddy Walter T. Edmonds6–1, 6–3, 6–0
1895 Lennox L. Giddy Stanley Bayly6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1896 Lennox L. Giddy H.R. EatonUnavailable
1897 Lennox L. Giddy William C. Stevens8–10, 12–10, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1898 Lennox L. Giddy George C. CollinsUnavailable
1899 Leonard G. Heard Lennox L. Giddy6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1
1900–1902Not held due to Second Boer War
1903 R.W.G. Clarke H.M Steele6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1904 Percy Sherwell R.W.G. Clarke6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1905 Harold Kitson A.J. Rowan6–1, 2–6, 6–3, 8–6
1906 John R. Richardson Cecil E. Howard Tripp6–4, 7–5, 6–2
1907 A.J. Rowan Cecil E. Howard Tripp7–5, 5–7, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3
1908 Harold Kitson Victor Gauntlett6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 7–9, 6–2
1909 Reginald Doherty Lionel Escombe6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1910 Anthony Wilding Harold Kitson6–0, 6–3, 6–4
1911 Harold Kitson Father Kelly6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1912 George Dodd R.F. Le Sueur6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–0
1913 Harold Kitson Harold I. Aitken6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1914 Charles Winslow George Dodd4–6, 7–9, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
1915–1919Not Held (WW1)
1920 Brian Norton Louis Raymond1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
1921 Louis Raymond Marchant Davies6–3, 6–0, 6–1
1922 Louis Raymond George Dodd6–3, 7–5, 6–2
1923 Louis Raymond Jack Condon6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2
1924 Louis Raymond George Dodd6–4, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3
1925 Ivie Richardson Charles Winslow7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4
1926 Jack Condon Cecil Blackbeard6–0, 6–3, 6–2
1927 J.C. Guy Eaglestone C.H. Robbs8–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1928 J.C. Guy Eaglestone George Dodd6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1929 Cyril Robbins George Dodd6–1, 6–0, 6–3
1930 Louis Raymond Colin J.J. Robbins6–2, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1931 Louis Raymond Robert H. M. Bertram6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1932 Robert H. M. Bertram Colin J.J. Robbins2–6, 9–7, 9–7, 6–1
1933 Cyril Robbins Vernon Kirby6–1, 1–6, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4
1934 Norman Farquharson Roy Malcolm4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 14–12
1935 [5] Norman Farquharson Vernon Kirby6–0, 6–4, 6–1
1936 Norman Farquharson Robert H. M. Bertram6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1937 Josip Palada Vernon Kirby6–2, 0–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1938 Norman Farquharson Vernon Kirby4–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–0
1939 Eric Sturgess Eustace Fannin6–2, 9–7, 3–6, 6–8, 7–5
1940 Eric Sturgess Robert H. M. Bertram6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2
1941–1945Not Held (WW2)
1946 Eric Sturgess Norman Farquharson6–0, 6–2, 6–3
1947 Eustace Fannin Eric Sturgess6–1, 6–2, 1–6, 0–6, 6–4
1948 Eric Sturgess Tony Mottram6–3, 6–4, 6–8, 6–1
1949 Eric Sturgess Geoffrey Brown4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1950 Eric Sturgess Arthur Larsen6–1, 6–1, 3–6, 6–2
1951 Eric Sturgess Sydney Levy6–3, 6–2, 7–5
1952 Eric Sturgess Sydney Levy6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1953 Eric Sturgess Russell Seymour6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1954 Eric Sturgess Jaroslav Drobný5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 8–6
1955 Russell Seymour Gordon Forbes1–6, 9–7, 6–1, 8–6
1956 Ian Vermaak Torsten Johansson6–2, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6
1957 Eric Sturgess Gaetan Koenig9–7, 6–3, 6–1
1958 Ulf Schmidt Torben Ulrich1–6, 12–10, 6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1959 Gordon Forbes Ian Vermaak6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1960 Butch Buchholz Jack Frost6–1, 7–5, 6–3
1961 Gordon Forbes Julian Mayers8–6, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1962 Bob Mark Gordon Forbes6–1, 6–1, 2–6, 8–6
1963 Wilhelm Bungert Gordon Forbes6–4, 6–4, 8–6
1964 Abe Segal Gordon Forbes4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3
1965 Cliff Drysdale Juan Manuel Couder1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1966 Roy Emerson Bob Hewitt6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4, 7–5
1967 Manuel Santana Jan Leschly2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1968 Tom Okker Marty Riessen12–10, 6–1, 6–4
1969 Rod Laver Tom Okker6–3, 10–8, 6–3
1970 Rod Laver Frew McMillan4–6, 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1971 Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle6–4, 6–0, 6–4
1972 Cliff Richey Manuel Orantes6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4
1973 Jimmy Connors Arthur Ashe6–4, 7–6, 6–3
1974 Jimmy Connors Arthur Ashe7–6, 6–3, 6–1
1975 Harold Solomon Brian Gottfried6–2, 6–4, 5–7, 6–1
1976 Harold Solomon Brian Gottfried6–2, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1977 Guillermo Vilas Buster Mottram7–6, 6–3, 6–4
1978 Tim Gullikson Harold Solomon2–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
1979 Andrew Pattison Víctor Pecci2–6 6–3 6–2 6–3
1980 Kim Warwick Fritz Buehning6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1981 Vitas Gerulaitis Jeff Borowiak6–4, 7–6, 6–1
1982 Vitas Gerulaitis Guillermo Vilas7–6, 6–2, 4–6, 7–6
1983 Johan Kriek Colin Dowdeswell6–4, 4–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–3
1984 Eliot Teltscher Vitas Gerulaitis6–3, 6–1, 7–6
1985 Matt Anger Brad Gilbert6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1986 Amos Mansdorf Matt Anger6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 7–5
1987 Pat Cash Brad Gilbert7–6, 4–6, 2–6, 6–0, 6–1
1988 Jakob Hlasek Christo van Rensburg6–7, 6–4, 6–1, 7–6
1989 Christo van Rensburg Paul Chamberlin6–4, 7–6, 6–3
1990 Wayne Ferreira Mark Kaplan6–3 7–5 7–6
1991 Todd Witsken Wayne Ferreira4–6 6–4 6–4
1992 Aaron Krickstein Alexander Volkov6–4, 6–4
1993 Aaron Krickstein Grant Stafford6–3, 7–6
1994 Markus Zoecke Hendrik Dreekmann6–4, 6–1
1995 Martin Sinner Guillaume Raoux6–1, 6–4
1996–2006Not held
2007 (CH) Mathieu Montcourt Rik de Voest5-7 6-3 6-2
2008 (CH) Ivan Ljubičić Stefan Koubek7-6 6-4
2009 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Jérémy Chardy6-4 7-6
2010 Feliciano López Stéphane Robert7-5 6-1
2011 Kevin Anderson Somdev Devvarman4-6 6-3 6-2

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
1990-1991Not 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

Women's singles
Year Champion Runner-up Score
1891 Mabel Grant Miss Blackburn6–2, 6–0
1892 Mabel Grant Mrs MacLaganUnavailable
1893 Mabel Grant Mrs MacLagan6–1, 6–0
1894 Mabel Grant Miss B. Grant6–1, 6–0
1895 Miss L. Biddulph Miss Fry6–1, 6–4
1896 Mrs H. Green Miss L. BiddulphUnavailable
1897 Miss N. Hickman Mrs H. Green7–9, 12–10, 6–2
1898 Miss N. Hickman Miss L. BiddulphUnavailable
1899 Miss N. Hickman Mrs H. Green6–8, 6–2, 6–3
1900–1902Not held (Boer War)
1903 Miss F. Kuys Mrs Mackay6–0, 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.Syfret6–2, 6–0
1906 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs Greatwood7–5, 6–2
1907 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs R.H.Miller6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1908 Miss M. Kelly Mrs Gillmore6–2, 6–1
1909 Mrs G. Washington Miss Edwards6–2, 7–9, 6–4
1910 Mrs H.A. Kirby Mrs J Reid6–1, 6–2
1911 Mrs G. Washington Miss M. Kelly6–0, 6–1
1912 Mrs H.A. Kirby Olive Mathias6–2, 6–0
1913 Miss M. Coles Miss M. Kelly6–3, 9–7
1914 Olive Mathias Mrs H.A. Kirby3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1915–1919Not held (WW1)
1920 Olive Winslow (Mathias) Miss Phillips6–3, 7–5
1921 Miss N. Edwards Mrs W.F. du Plessis6–1, 6–2
1922 Mrs M. McJannett Miss J. Parker6–2, 6–2
1923 Mrs C.K. Pitt Mrs D.R.Moor6–4, 6–3
1924 Irene Peacock Mrs L. McArthur7–5, 6–4
1925 Irene Peacock Mrs L. McArthur5–7, 6–1, 6–1
1926 Irene Peacock Miss A. de Smit6–2, 6–1
1927 Mrs M. McJannett Mrs V. Everett12–10, 6–4
1928 Bobbie Heine Billie Tapscott8–6, 6–3
1929 Mrs M. McJannett Miss W.N. Miller7–5, 6–2
1930 Billie Tapscott Mrs V. Everett7–5, 6–2
1931 Bobbie Heine Miss W.N. Miller6–3, 6–3
1932 Bobbie Heine Miller Mrs W.N. Lowe (Miller)6–0, 6–3
1933 Billie Tapscott Robbins Mrs W.N. Lowe6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1934 Billie Tapscott Robbins Mrs W.N. Lowe6–0, 6–3
1935 Mrs A. Allister Billie Tapscott Robbins6–4, 6–3
1936 Bobbie Heine Miller Mrs V. Everett6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1937 Bobbie Heine Miller Alida Neave6–4, 4–6, 6–0
1938 Billie Tapscott Robbins Olive Craze6–4, 6–4
1939 Olive Craze Sheila Piercey4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1940 Olive Craze Sheila Piercey4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1941–1945Not held (WW2)
1946 Mary D. Muller Mrs O. Plessis6–4, 6–4
1947 Mary D. Muller Sheila Piercey Summers6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1948 Sheila Summers Kay Menzies6–1, 6–4
1949 Sheila Summers Thelma Long6–1, 6–1
1950 Shirley Fry Doris Hart4–6, 7–5, 6–3
1951 Sheila Summers Hazel Redick-Smith8–6, 2–6, 7–5
1952 Doris Hart Julia Wipplinger6–1, 7–5
1953 Hazel Redick-Smith Julia Wipplinger6–2, 6–2
1954 Hazel Redick-Smith Gwendy Love4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1955 Hazel Redick-Smith Lucille van der Westhuizen6–4, 6–3
1956 Dora Kilian Gwendy Love4–6, 7–5, 6–4
1957 Heather Brewer Gwendy Love8–10, 6–2, 6–3
1958 Bernice Carr Heather Brewer-Segal3–6, 7–5, 6–4
1959 Sandra Reynolds Bernice Vukovich (Carr)6–0, 8–6
1960 Bernice Vukovich Sandra Reynolds6–1, 2–6, 12–10
1961 Sandra Reynolds Lynette Hutchings6–4, 7–5
1962 Heather Brewer-Segal Jean Forbes6–1, 7–5
1963 Annette Van Zyl Margaret Hunt6–4, 2–6, 6–3
1964 Darlene Hard Ann Haydon-Jones6–3, 7–5
1965 Christine Truman Annette Van Zyl6–2, 6–3
1966 Billie Jean King Margaret Court6–3, 6–2
1967 Billie Jean King Maria Bueno7–5, 5–7, 6–2
1968 Margaret Court Virginia Wade6–4, 6–4
1969 Billie Jean King Nancy Richey6–3, 6–4
1970 Margaret Court Billie Jean King6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1971 Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong6–3, 6–1
1972 Evonne Goolagong Virginia Wade4–6, 6–3, 6–0
1973 Chris Evert Evonne Goolagong6–3, 6–3
1974 Kerry Melville Dianne Fromholtz6–3, 7–5
1975 Annette du Plooy (van Zyl) Brigitte Cuypers6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1976 Brigitte Cuypers Laura DuPont6–7, 6–4, 6–1
1977 Linky Boshoff Brigitte Cuypers6–1, 6–4
1978 Brigitte Cuypers Linda Siegel6–1, 6–0
1979 Brigitte Cuypers Tanya Harford7–6, 6–2
1980 Lesley Charles Rene Uys7–5, 6–4
1981 Kathy Horvath Kathy Rinaldi7–6, 6–4
1982–1983Not held
1984 Chris Evert-Lloyd Andrea Jaeger6–3, 6–0
1985Not held
1986 Dinky van Rensburg Rene Mentz6–3, 6–1
1987 Gretchen Magers Louise Allen6–7, 7–6, 6–4
1988–1989Not held
1990 Amanda Coetzer Dinky van Rensburg6-4, 6-4
1991–2011Not held

See also

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: National Library of Australia. 18 March 1935. p. 15.
  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, IN. United Press. 9 April 1972. p. 21.
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