The Bermuda Open was originally founded as the Bermuda Open Tennis Championships in 1879 the later called the Bermuda Championships in 1914 and was staged in Hamilton, During the 1950s and 1960s it was called the Bermuda International Championships. and was staged under that name until 1974. In 1976 the tournament was known as the Bermuda Classic. From 1914 until at least 1944 it was played on outdoor hard courts. In later years it was held in Paget in Bermuda and played on outdoor clay courts.
History The first known tennis event to be staged in Bermuda occurred in September 1876 when a Bermuda Tournament for women was held only one time, that was won by Mary G. Gray. The first edition of the Bermuda Open Tennis Championships was staged in 1879 at Hamilton, the men's doubles event was won by Pelham Von Donop and Charles Wood.Bankcroft By 1914 the tournament was known as the Bermuda Championships. In 1950s-1960s the denomination used was the Bermuda International or sometimes the Bermuda Invitation (for the women's events). The tournament was also staged at Paget the last time occurring in 1968. The original surface was hard courts until 1944 when it switched to clay courts. In 1975 the Bermuda Championships was rebranded as the Bermuda Open. In 1976 at the final edition its name was changed again to the Bermuda Classic.
Finals ILTF World Circuit ILTF Grand Prix Circuit
Men's singles (incomplete roll) YearChampionsRunners-upScoreBermuda Championships 1914 Arthur Berger Albert J. Ostendorf 6–2, 6–1 ret.1914/1919No competition (due to WWI) 1922 Lawrence Bridges Rice Vinnie Richards6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 6–2.1923 Vinnie Richards Lawrence Bridges Rice6–3, 6–3, 6–0.1924 Herbert Bowman Gerald Emerson4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–2.1925 Fred Anderson F. R. Leighton Crawford5–7, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3.1926 Herbert Bowman (2) Willard Crocker6–8, 6–4, 6–2, 0–6, 6–3.1927 George Lott Fritz Mercur4–6, 6–2, 7–5, 12–10.1928 Herbert Bowman (3) Hare W. Powell Jr.6–4, 6–1, 6–3.1929 Herbert Bowman (4) J. Gilbert Hall3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 8–6.1930 Herbert Bowman (5) Bruce Barnes6–4, 6–3, 6–2.1931 John Doeg Berkeley Bell6–4, 2–6, 6–1, 0–6, 6–3.1932 Fred Perry Harry Lee4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4.1933 Cliff Sutter Gregory Mangin6–2, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2.1934 Lester Stoefen Wilmer Allison6–1, 6–2, 1–6, 6–3.1935 Bryan Grant J. Gilbert Hall6–0, 6–0, 6–4.1936 Bryan Grant (2) Bob Murray6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 7–5.1937 Frank Parker Bob Murray6–1, 6–0, 6–2.1938 Wayne Sabin Don McNeill4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–4.1939 Bobby Riggs Elwood Cooke6–3, 1–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–4.1940 Elwood Cooke Gardnar Mulloy6–1, 6–4, 6–3.1941 Brownlow Eve William Freisenbruch6–4, 3–6, 6–0.1942/1943No competition (due to WWII)Bermuda International Championships1944 Jack Skelton Brownlow Eve6–1, 6–2.1947 Earl Cochell Sidney Wood6–4, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3.1948 Bill Talbert Marcel Bernard6–3, 6–2, 5–7, 7–5.1949 Earl Cochell (2) Sidney Wood6–2, 11–9, 6–4. 1950 Bill Talbert (2) Tony Trabert6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 6–2.1951 Vic Seixas Ham Richardson6–4, 9–7, 6–4.1952 Vic Seixas (2) Bill Talbert5–7, 1–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–0.1953 Gardnar Mulloy Fred Kovaleski6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 9–7.1954 Irvin Dorfman Jordan Bentley 6–1, 6–1.1955 Bill Tully John Riihiluoma6–8, 6–2, 6–3, 6–4.1956 Tony Vincent Bob Freedman6–4, 6–4.1957 Tony Vincent (2) Don Thompson6–2, 9–71959 Kingman Lambert Don Thompson6–3, 6–0.1961 Gilmore (Gil) Rothrock Leif Beck6–1, 6–1.1963 Bill Tully (2) Alan Fleming 6–3, 6–0.1964 Don Thompson Alan Fleming 2–6, 8–6, 9–7.1965 Bill Tym John Fleitz2–6, 8–6, 9–7.1966 Bill Tym (2) Ellis Slack6–2, 7–5.1967 Ellis Slack John Galinato6–2, 6–3.1968 Ellis Slack (2) John Galinato2–6, 7–5, 6–3.↓ Open era ↓1970 Harry Fauquier Keith Carpenter6–2, 6–1.1972 Jim Hanlon Ladislav Legenstein 6–3, 6–4.1974 Claude Schoenlank Ladislav Legenstein 6–3, 6–4.Bermuda Open1975 Jimmy Connors Vitas Gerulaitis 6–1, 6–4Bermuda Classic 1976 Cliff Richey Gene Mayer 7–6, 6–2Bermuda Open 1979 Stephen Alger Harry Fauquier6–3, 6–2.
Women' singles (incomplete roll) Championship of BermudaYearChampionsRunners-upScore1889 Mabel Grant Grace Roosevelt4–6, 6–3, 6–3Bermuda Championships1913 Bessie Gosling Harvey Mary Gray6–4, 4–6, 6–4 1914 Bessie Gosling Harvey (2) Marion Cresswell walkover1915-19Not held (due to World War I) 1922 Marie Wagner Miss Yuillo 6–0, 3–6, 6–1 1923 Mayme McDonald Gladys Hutchings 6–4, 6–4 1924 Mollie Thayer Gladys Hutchings 8–6, 6–4 1925 Mary Hart McIlquham Joan Reid-Thomas6–2, 6–0 1926 Martha Bayard Gladys Hutchings 6–2, 6–2 1927 Martha Bayard (2) Penelope Anderson 6–2, 2–6, 6–1 1928 Alice Francis Gladys Hutchings 6–3, 6–1 1929 Penelope Anderson Mary Harland7–9, 6–4, 6–2 1930 Edith Sigourney Penelope Anderson 2–6, 6–3, 8–6 1931 Sarah Palfrey Marjorie Morrill 6–3, 6–2 1932 Sarah Palfrey (2) Betty Nuthall 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 1933 Virginia Rice Virginia Hilleary 10–8, 6–3 1934 Marjorie Sachs Penelope Anderson McBride 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 1935 Sylvie Jung Henrotin Dorothy Andrus walkover 1936 Sylvie Jung Henrotin (2) Norma Taubele 6–2, 8–6 1937 Helen Pedersen Penelope Anderson McBride 6–1, 6–2 1938 Sylvie Jung Henrotin (3) Marjorie Gladman van Ryn 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 1939 Helen Bernhard Pauline Betz 6–3, 7–5 1940 Sarah Palfrey Fabyan (3) Pauline Betz 6–2, 6–4 1941 Gladys Hutchings Barbara Robinson Freisenbruch 5–7, 6–3, 7–51942-43Not held (due to World War II)Bermuda International Championships 1944 Barbara Robinson Freisenbruch Gladys Hutchings 6–1, 6–3 1947 Doris Hart Barbara Scofield 6–2, 9–7 1948 Doris Hart (2) Pat Canning Todd 4–6, 6–1, 6–2 1949 Dorothy Head Nancy Chaffee 6–2, 6–1 1950 Betty Rosenquest Helen Pedersen Rihbany 5–7, 6–3, 6–4Bermuda Invitation 1951 Beverly Baker Barbara Scofield 9–7, 7–5 Bermuda International Championships 1952 Pat Canning Todd Barbara Scofield Davidson 6–4, 6–0Bermuda Invitation 1953 Louise Brough Margaret Osborne duPont 9–7, 4–6, 6–1 1954 Heather Nicholls Brewer Kay Hubbell 6–2, 6–3 1955 Sheila West Gosling J. Pollitt 2–6, 6–3, 6–1 Bermuda International Championships 1956 Sheila West Gosling (2) Mrs J. Jones 6–2, 6–3 1957 Sheila West Gosling (3) Mrs J. Jones 6–2, 6–1 1957 Florence Blanchard Ann Alger 6–4, 6–3Bermuda Invitation 1959 Barbara Scofield Davidson Elizabeth Coleman 6–2, 6–4 1961 Dottie Head Knode (2) Barbara Scofield Davidson 6–0, 6–3 1964 Barbara Scofield Davidson Jean French 6–1, 6–1 1965 Alice Tym Kay Hubbell 6–4, 7–5 1966 Alice Tym (2) Kay Hubbell 6–1, 6–2 ↓ Open era ↓ 1970 Ann Alger Grace Rathbun Findlay 7–5, 7–5
Men's Doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScoreBermuda Open Tennis Championships 1879 Pelham Von Donop Charles Wood ? ? ?Bermuda Open1975 Not heldBermuda Classic1976 Mike Cahill John Whitlinger Dick Crealy Ray Ruffels 6–4, 4–6, 7–6
See also XL Bermuda Open, a tennis tournament held between 1993 and 2008
References
ATP Results Archive