World Hard Court Championships (French: Championnats du Monde de Tennis sur Terre Battue) were an annual major tennis tournament sanctioned by the International Lawn Tennis Federation, held from 1912 to 1923. It was principally held in Paris, on clay courts of the Stade Français in the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud, with one exception when the tournament was held at the Royal Leopold Club in Brussels, Belgium, in 1922.

The name of the event referred to its venues that were surfaced with clay, which at the time was customarily transcribed as "hard court" in English. It was open to all international amateur players from all nationalities, unlike the French Championships, which were open only to tennis players who were members of clubs in France through 1924; because of this the World Hard Court Championships is sometimes considered as the proper precursor to the French Open. The French Championships were also held at a different venue at the time, the Racing Club de France, Paris.

At an annual general meeting held on 16 March 1923 in Paris, the International Lawn Tennis Federation issued the ‘Rules of Tennis’ that were adopted with public effect on 1 January 1924. The United States became an affiliated member of the International Lawn Tennis Federation. The World Championship title was also dropped at this meeting and a new category of Official Championship was created for events in Great Britain, France, USA and Australia – today’s Grand Slam events. The World Hard Court Championships tournament was then disbanded by the International Lawn Tennis Federation.

The World Hard Court Championships was not played in 1924, when Paris hosted the Olympic Games and its tennis tournament, also held on clay courts, took the place of the championship. In 1925 the French Championships opened to international competitors for the first time, with the event held alternately between the Stade Français (1925, 1927), which was the site of the World Hard Court Championships, and the Racing Club de France (1926), which was the site of the previous French Championship. From 1928, the French Championships moved to Stade Roland Garros.

Anthony Wilding was the only male multiple champion in the singles event, winning the title in 1913 and 1914, while Suzanne Lenglen won the women's singles title four times (1914, 1921–23).

Champions

Men's singles YearChampionRunner-upScore1912 Otto Froitzheim Oscar Kreuzer 6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 7–51913 Anthony Wilding André Gobert 6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–41914 Anthony Wilding Ludwig von Salm-Hoogstraeten 6–0, 6–2, 6–41915 No competition (due to World War I)1916191719181920 William Laurentz André Gobert 9–7, 6–2, 3–6, 6–21921 Bill Tilden Jean Washer 6–3, 6–3, 6–31922 Henri Cochet Manuel de Gomar 6–0, 2–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–21923 Bill Johnston Jean Washer 4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–31924 No competition (Paris Olympics held instead)

Women's singles YearChampionRunner-upScore1912 Marguerite Broquedis Mieken Rieck 6–3, 0–6, 6–41913 Mieken Rieck Marguerite Broquedis 6–4, 3–6, 6–41914 Suzanne Lenglen Germaine Golding 6–2, 6–11915 No competition (due to World War I)1916191719181920 Dorothy Holman Francisca Subirana 6–0, 7–51921 Suzanne Lenglen Molla Mallory 6–2, 6–31922 Suzanne Lenglen Elizabeth Ryan 6–3, 6–21923 Suzanne Lenglen Kitty McKane 6–3, 6–31924 No competition (Paris Olympics held instead)

Men's doubles YearChampionRunner-upScore1912 Otto Froitzheim Oscar Kreuzer Harold Kitson Charles Winslow 4–6, 6–2, 6–1, 6–31913 Moritz von Bissing Heinrich Kleinschroth Otto Froitzheim Anthony Wilding 7–5, 0–6, 6–3, 8–61914 Max Decugis Maurice Germot Arthur Gore Algernon Kingscote 6–1, 11–9, 6–8, 6–21915 No competition (due to World War I)1916191719181920 André Gobert William Laurentz Cecil Blackbeard Nicolae Mişu 6–4, 6–2, 6–11921 André Gobert William Laurentz Pierre Albarran Alain Gerbault 6–4, 6–2, 6–8, 6–21922 Jean Borotra Henri Cochet Marcel Dupont Nicolae Mişu 6–8, 6–1, 6–2, 6–31923 Jacques Brugnon Marcel Dupont Léonce Aslangul Uberto de Morpurgo 10–12, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–41924 No competition (Paris Olympics held instead)

Women's doubles YearChampionRunner-upScore1912 No women's doubles held19131914 Suzanne Lenglen Elizabeth Ryan Blanche Amblard Suzanne Amblard 6–0, 6–01915 No competition (due to World War I)1916191719181920 Dorothy Holman Phyllis Satterthwaite Germaine Golding Jeanne Vaussard 6–3, 6–11921 Germaine Golding Suzanne Lenglen Dorothy Holman Irene Peacock 6–2, 6–21922 Suzanne Lenglen Elizabeth Ryan Winifred Beamish Kitty McKane 6–0, 6–41923 Winifred Beamish Kitty McKane Germaine Golding Suzanne Lenglen 6–2, 6–31924 No competition (Paris Olympics held instead)

Mixed doubles YearChampionRunner-upScore1912 Max Decugis Anne de Borman Heinrich Kleinschroth Mieken Rieck 6–4, 7–51913 Max Decugis Elizabeth Ryan Anthony Wilding Germaine Golding walkover1914 Max Decugis Elizabeth Ryan Ludwig von Salm-Hoogstraeten Suzanne Lenglen 6–3, 6–11915 No competition (due to World War I)1916191719181920 William Laurentz Germaine Golding Max Decugis Suzanne Amblard walkover1921 Max Decugis Suzanne Lenglen William Laurentz Germaine Golding 6–3, 6–21922 Henri Cochet Suzanne Lenglen Brian Gilbert Geraldine Beamish 6–4, 4–6, 6–01923 Henri Cochet Suzanne Lenglen Brian Gilbert Kitty McKane 6–2, 10–81924 No competition (Paris Olympics held instead)

See also World Covered Court Championships :Category:National and multi-national tennis tournaments

References

External links