The British Hard Court Championships was a Grand Prix tennis and WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament, played in the Open Era from 1968 to 1983 and again (albeit not named as such) from 1995 to 1999.

History As an amateur tournament, the inaugural edition was held in 1924 in Torquay, moving to the West Hants Tennis Club in Bournemouth, England in 1927. The tournament remained there until 1983, although the 1977 and 1979 editions were cancelled due to lack of sponsorship.

At that time, the tournament was played outdoors on red shale, which is similar to European clay but with a grittier, looser surface, thus leading to faster play. When the tournament became a fixture of the Open Era in 1968 (see below), many professional competitors from overseas, unused to the playing conditions, complained that the shale courts were wet and slippery. By the mid-1970s, however, the event had become a destination for several top European and South American clay courters: winners of the men's singles championship during those years include Ilie Năstase, Adriano Panatta, Manuel Orantes, Victor Pecci and José Higueras. This did not prevent it from being cancelled indefinitely in 1984, which the organisers explained was due to the lack of a sponsor and the withdrawal of television coverage.Bellamy, Rex (23 February 1984). "Tennis: Bournemouth again vanishes from view". The Times, p. 24. Retrieved 20 January 2025.

In 1995, the event was revived at Bournemouth as a women's WTA tournament but was only played there that one time; the final edition the following year was held in Cardiff, Wales. A men's ATP World Series tournament was then staged at the West Hants Club on American green clay from 1996 to 1999, before being relocated to indoor hard courts in Brighton for the 2000 edition (see Brighton International).

Bournemouth was once one of the world's major tournaments, second only to Wimbledon in England and on the same level as Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg. In the pre-war era, it was regarded as the most important event outside the four Grand Slams. Fred Perry is the record holder with five consecutive titles, from 1932 through to 1936.

Start of Open Era

The Championships hold the distinction of being the first tennis tournament to be held in the Open Era, taking place in April 1968. It started on 22 April at 1:43 p.m. when John Clifton served and won the first point. Ken Rosewall won the men's singles title, taking home $2,400, while runner-up Rod Laver received $1,200. Virginia Wade won the women's singles title, defeating Winnie Shaw in the final, but did not take home the winner's prize of $720 as she was still an amateur at the time of the tournament. She thus became the first amateur to win a title in the Open Era. Christine Janes and her sister Nell Truman became the first winners of an open tennis event by winning the women's doubles title.

The tournament was considered a success and attracted almost 30,000 visitors. The young British player Mark Cox went down in tennis history, when at the second round of the championships he became the first amateur player to beat a professional, after defeating the American Pancho Gonzales in five sets in two and a quarter hours.

Results

Men's singles YearChampionRunner-upScore 1924 Randolph Lycett Christiaan van Lennep 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1925 Patrick Spence Charles Kingsley 6–1, 6–4, 9–7 1926 Jacques Brugnon Bunny Austin 7–5, 4–6, 3–6, 8–6, 6–3 1927 René Lacoste Patrick Spence 6–1, 6–2, 6–2 1928 René Lacoste Patrick Spence 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 1929 Bunny Austin Louis Raymond 6–3, 6–2, 1–6, 6–4 1930 Harry Lee Eric Peters 6–3, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 1931 Christian Boussus Pat Hughes 8–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 1932 Fred Perry George Lyttleton Rogers 4–6, 7–9, 6–3, 6–0, 6–2 1933 Fred Perry Bunny Austin 2–6, 7–5, 7–5, 6–2 1934 Fred Perry Jack Crawford 8–6, 7–5, 6–1 1935 Fred Perry Bunny Austin 0–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 6–0 1936 Fred Perry Bunny Austin 6–2, 8–6, 6–3 1937 Bunny Austin Harry Lee 6–2, 6–2, 6–0 1938 Kho Sin-Kie Bunny Austin 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 1939 Kho Sin-Kie Choy Wai-Chuen 7–5, 6–1, 6–41940–1945 Not held (WW2) 1946 Jack E. Harper Derrick W. Barton 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 1947 Eric Sturgess Ignacy Tłoczyński 11–9, 6–1, 6–4 1948 Eric Sturgess Ignacy Tłoczyński 6–2, 6–3, 6–1 1949 Pedro Masip Henri Cochet 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 9–7 1950 Jaroslav Drobný Geoff Brown 7–5, 6–0, 6–4 1951 Jaroslav Drobný Felicisimo Ampon 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 1952 Jaroslav Drobný Frank Sedgman 6–2, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 1953 Enrique Morea Felicisimo Ampon 6–3, 6–2, 6–1 1954 Tony Mottram Geoffrey Paish 6–4, 6–3, 7–5 1955 Sven Davidson Roger Becker 11–9, 6–3, 6–1 1956 Budge Patty Ham Richardson 1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 1957 Jaroslav Drobný Lew Hoad 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 1958 William Knight Giuseppe Merlo 5–7, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3 1959 Lew Gerrard William Knight 3–6, 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 9–7 1960 Mike Davies William Knight 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 1961 Roy Emerson Rod Laver 8–6, 6–4, 6–0 1962 Rod Laver Ian Crookenden 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 1963 William Knight Martin Mulligan 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–3 1964 William Knight Cliff Drysdale 6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 5–7, 7–5 1965 Jan-Erik Lundqvist Cliff Drysdale 3–6, 6–4, 8–6, 6–1 1966 Ken Fletcher Tom Okker 7–5, 6–4 1967 Jan-Erik Lundqvist Bob Hewitt 6–1, 6–8, 6–3, 6–2 ↓  Open era  ↓ 1968 Ken Rosewall Rod Laver 3–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–3 1969 John Newcombe Bob Hewitt 6–8, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 1970 Mark Cox Bob Hewitt 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 1971 Gerald Battrick Željko Franulović 6–3, 6–2, 5–7, 6–0 1972 Bob Hewitt Pierre Barthès 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 1973 Adriano Panatta Ilie Năstase 6–8, 7–5, 6–3 1974 Ilie Năstase Paolo Bertolucci 6–1, 6–3, 6–2 1975 Manuel Orantes Patrick Proisy 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 1976 Wojciech Fibak Manuel Orantes 6–2, 7–9, 6–2, 6–21977 Not held 1978 José Higueras Paolo Bertolucci 6–2, 6–1, 6–31979 Not held 1980 Ángel Giménez Shlomo Glickstein 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 1981 Víctor Pecci Balázs Taróczy 6–3, 6–4 1982 Manuel Orantes Ángel Giménez 6–2, 6–0 1983 José Higueras Tomáš Šmíd 2–6, 7–6, 7–51984–1995 Not held 1996 Albert Costa Marc-Kevin Goellner 6–7, 6–2, 6–2 1997 Félix Mantilla Carlos Moyá 6–2, 6–2 1998 Félix Mantilla Albert Costa 6–3, 7–5 1999 Adrian Voinea Stefan Koubek 1–6, 7–5, 7–6

Women's singles YearChampionRunner-upScore 1924 Elizabeth Ryan Geraldine Beamish 6–2, 6–2 1925 Elizabeth Ryan Joan Fry 6–2, 6–2 1926 Joan Fry Phoebe Holcroft Watson 6–1, 7–9, 6–1 1927 Betty Nuthall Edith Clarke 8–6, 6–2 1928 Elsie Goldsack Joan Ridley 8–6, 6–3 1929 Bobby Heine Joan Ridley 6–4, 3–6, 8–6 1930 Joan Fry Madge List 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 1931 Simonne Mathieu Mary Heeley 6–4, 6–4 1932 Simonne Mathieu Dorothy Round 6–1, 6–2 1933 Dorothy Round Helen Jacobs 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 1934 Dorothy Round Peggy Scriven 6–2, 2–6, 8–6 1935 Kay Stammers Peggy Scriven 6–2, 6–2 1936 Kay Stammers Anita Lizana 7–5, 7–5 1937 Anita Lizana Peggy Scriven 7–5, 6–3 1938 Peggy Scriven Nancye Wynne 7–5, 6–2 1939 Kay Stammers Anita Ellis 6–3, 6–3 1940–1945 Not held 1946 Jean Bostock Kay Menzies 6–3, 6–4 1947 Nancye Bolton Joan Curry 7–5, 6–3 1948 Betty Hilton Pamela Bocquet 6–1, 6–4 1949 Joan Curry Jean Quertier 3–6, 7–5, 7–5 1950 Joan Curry Mary Terán de Weiss 8–6, 8–6 1951 Doris Hart Jean Walker-Smith 6–4, 8–6 1952 Doris Hart Shirley Fry 6–4, 6–3 1953 Doris Hart Shirley Fry 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 1954 Doris Hart Joy Mottram 6–1, 6–3 1955 Angela Mortimer Angela Buxton 6–1, 6–1 1956 Angela Mortimer Shirley Bloomer 7–5, 5–7, 6–1 1957 Shirley Bloomer Patricia Ward 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 1958 Shirley Bloomer Ann Haydon 6–4, 6–4 1959 Angela Mortimer Christine Truman 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 1960 Christine Truman Ann Haydon 6–2, 6–2 1961 Angela Mortimer Deidre Catt 6–2, 6–3 1962 Renée Schuurman Angela Mortimer 5–7, 6–2, 6–4 1963 Ann Haydon-Jones Norma Baylon 6–0, 1–6, 9–7 1964 Ann Haydon-Jones Jan Lehane 6–2, 12–10 1965 Ann Haydon-Jones Annette Van Zyl 7–5, 6–1 1966 Ann Haydon-Jones Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–1 1967 Virginia Wade Ann Haydon-Jones 6–1, 10–8 ↓  Open era  ↓ 1968 Virginia Wade Winnie Shaw 6–4, 6–1 1969 Margaret Court Winnie Shaw 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 1970 Margaret Court Virginia Wade 6–2, 6–3 1971 Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong 7–5, 6–1 1972 Evonne Goolagong Helga Niessen Masthoff 6–0, 6–4 1973 Virginia Wade Evonne Goolagong 6–4, 6–4 1974 Virginia Wade Julie Heldman 6–1, 3–6, 6–1 1975 Janet Newberry Terry Holladay 7–9, 7–5, 6–3 1976 Helga Masthoff Sue Barker 5–7, 6–3, 6–31977–1994 Not held 1995 Ludmila Richterová Patricia Hy-Boulais 6–7, 6–4, 6–3 1996 Dominique Van Roost Laurence Courtois 6–4, 6–2

Men's doubles YearChampionRunner-upScore 1968 Roy Emerson Rod Laver Andrés Gimeno Pancho Gonzales 8–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 1969 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan Jean-Claude Barclay Bobby Wilson 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 9–7 1970 Tom Okker Tony Roche William Bowrey Owen Davidson 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 1971 William Bowrey Owen Davidson Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol 8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 4–6, 6–3 1972 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac 7–5, 6–2 1973 Juan Gisbert Sr. Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta Ion Țiriac 6–4, 8–6 1974 Juan Gisbert Sr. Ilie Năstase Corrado Barazzutti Paolo Bertolucci 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 1975 Juan Gisbert Sr. Manuel Orantes Syd Ball Dick Crealy 8–6, 6–3 1976 Wojciech Fibak Fred McNair Juan Gisbert Sr. Manuel Orantes 4–6, 7–5, 7–51977 Not held 1978 Louk Sanders Rolf Thung David Carter Rod Frawley 6–3, 6–41979 Not held 1980 Eddie Edwards Craig Edwards Andrew Jarrett Jonathan Smith 6–3, 6–7, 8–6 1981 Ricardo Cano Víctor Pecci Buster Mottram Tomáš Šmíd 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 1982 Paul McNamee Buster Mottram Henri Leconte Ilie Năstase 3–6, 7–6, 6–3 1983 Tomáš Šmíd Sherwood Stewart Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy 7–6, 7–5

Women's doubles YearChampionRunner-upScore 1968 Christine Truman Janes Nell Truman Fay Toyne-Moore Annette du Plooy 6–4, 6–3 1969 Margaret Court Judy Tegart Ada Bakker Marijke Schaar 6–1, 6–4 1970 Margaret Court Judy Tegart Rosie Casals Billie Jean King 6–2, 6–8, 7–5 1971 Mary-Ann Eisel Françoise Dürr Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 1972 Evonne Goolagong Helen Gourlay Brenda Kirk Betty Stöve 7–5, 6–1 1973 Patricia Coleman Wendy Turnbull Evonne Goolagong Janet Young 7–5, 7–5 1974 Julie Heldman Virginia Wade Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh 6–2, 6–2 1975 Lesley Charles Sue Mappin Delina Ann Boshoff Greer Stevens 6–3, 6–3 1976 Delina Ann Boshoff Ilana Kloss Lesley Charles Sue Mappin 6–3, 6–21977–1994 Not held 1995 Mariaan de Swardt Ruxandra Dragomir Kerry-Anne Guse Patricia Hy-Boulais 6–3, 7–5 1996 Katrina Adams Mariaan de Swardt Els Callens Laurence Courtois 6–0, 6–4

Records

Men's singles Most titles: Fred Perry, 5 Most consecutive titles: Fred Perry, 5 Most finals: Bunny Austin, 7 Most consecutive finals: Fred Perry, 5 Most matches played: William Knight, 55 Most matches won: William Knight, 44 Most consecutive match wins: Fred Perry, 25 Most editions played: Tony Pickard, 16 Best match winning %: Kho Sin-Kie 100.00% Longest final: John Newcombe v Bob Hewitt, result: 6–8, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 55 games, 1969 Shortest final: Manuel Orantes v Ángel Giménez, result: 6–2, 6–0, 14 games, 1982 Title with the fewest games lost: Ken Fletcher, 21, 1966 Oldest champion: Randolph Lycett, 37y 7m and 26d, 1924 Youngest champion: Lew Gerrard, 21y 0m and 15d, 1959

Source:The Tennis Base.

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

Notes

References

External links WTA results archive British Pathé film reel – British Hard Court Championship 1934