1931 men's and women's ILTF tennis circuit

The year 1931 in tennis was a complex mixture of mainly amateur tournaments composed of international, invitational, national, exhibition, team (city leagues, country leagues, international knock-out tournaments) events and joined by an up-and-coming Pro Tour both on competitive and exhibitional levels.

At the end of the pro season the champion title was awarded. Bill Tilden held the title at the end of the year. He also ran his own pro organization called the Tilden Tennis Tours and toured the world with a series of pro exhibition-like matches. The European professionals of Germany, France, Britain, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland founded the International Federation of Professionists and Professionals headed by Roman Najuch to represent their interest against the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF). There were a few occasional professionals against amateur challenges as well held in team competition format. The amateur events were almost all co-educated thus the majority included a mixed title contest. Irishman George Lyttleton-Rogers dominated the European scene winning eight singles titles, all of which were confined to French and Italian championships. Ellsworth Vines was the dominant male player on the North American tour. The women's most successful players were Miss Elizabeth Ryan in North America and Cilly Aussem in Europe and in South America. Australian tennis life was figureheaded by Jack Crawford.

The most prestigious team cups were the Wightman Cup for ladies and the Davis Cup (called the International Lawn Tennis Challenge) for men. The 1931 Wightman Cup was its 9th edition and was organized by the United States Tennis Association between the teams of Great Britain and the United States. The 1931 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was its 26th edition and was organized by the ILTF. The Americas Zone was split into the North/Central American Zone and the South American Zone. The winner of each sub-zone would play to determine who moved to the Inter-Zonal round. 22 teams entered the Europe Zone, while 7 participated in the Americas Zone. The United States defeated Argentina in the American Zone, but would then lose to Great Britain in the Inter-Zonal play-off. France defeated Great Britain in the Challenge Round, giving France their fifth straight title. The final was played at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, on 24–26 July.

Legend Pro MajorsNational championshipsInternational championshipsTeam eventsPro tour

This list includes men and women international tournaments (where at least several different nations were represented), main (annual) national championships, professional tour events and the Davis Cup

Pre-tournament season Italy beat Monaco and the team of São Paulo in international team challenges four to one in both matches. In the Paris – Stockholm club competition, the French troupe led by Jacques Brugnon and Christian Boussus beat the Swedish squadron four to one. The Czechoslovak professionals headed by Karel Koželuh and Pavel Macenauer toured South Africa where they scored two draws against the home team twice in Durban and Port Elizabeth. Vincent Richards retired and dropped his World Pro title as of the start of the year to handle his business affairs, although he came back to playing during the season. Emmett Paré turned professional and later joined the Tilden Tennis Tours.

January Bill Tilden turned professional as of this season after violating the amateur rules by signing a three-picture contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer and thus was expelled from the ILTF. Frank Hunter turned professional in mid-January. Harry Hopman wins all three titles at the Sydney Metropolitan Championship. The simultaneous use of two racquets by one player was officially banned as of this season. Jean Schopfer, the second ever champion of the French Championships, died. In the Berlin – Paris city club competition on 10 and 11 January, the French team led by Borotra, Boussous and Brugnon beat the German team led by Von Cramm, Kleinschroth and Prenn by eleven to two. A British team led by Bunny Austin and John Olliff toured British India.

WeekEventMenWomenMixedChampionsRunner-upChampionsRunner-upChampionsRunner-up22–28 DecL.T.C. Juan-les-Pins ChampionshipJuan-les-Pins, France Charles Aeschlimann6–4, 6–2, 6–1 Erik Worm Muriel Thomas6–2, 6–1 Elizabeth Ryan Aeschlimann Thomas6–0, 6–2 Hunter Ryan24 Dec-1 Jan New Zealand Lawn Tennis ChampionshipsChristchurch, New Zealand Alan Stedman7–5, 6–1, 6–3 H.A. Barnett May Dykes6–1, 9–7 Marjorie Macfarlane Charles Angas Ivan Seay6–3, 6–3, 6–3 France / France Melody May MyersN/AN/A Ivan Seay May Andrew7–5, 3–6, 7–5 Thomson / Wilson29 Dec – 4 JanBeausite – L. T. C. de Cannes ChampionshipCannes, France George Lyttleton-Rogers8–6, 6–1, 3–6, 7–5 Charles Aeschlimann Elizabeth Ryan4–6, 8–6, 6–1 Phyllis Satterthwaite Aeschlimann Erik Worm6–3, 9–7, 6–2 Rogers Hillyard Thomas Taunay8–10, 6–2, 6–2 Satterthwaite Ryan Aeschlimann Thomas4–6, 6–3, 6–3 Rogers Ryan5–11 JanMétropole Club de Cannes BeausiteCannes, France George Lyttleton-Rogers8–10, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 Paul Féret Hélène Contostavlos6–2, 6–3 Phyllis Satterthwaite Hillyard Landau7–5, 6–4, 6–8, 2–6, 4–6 Rogers Féret Satterthwaite Ryan6–1, 6–2 Thomas Taunay Rogers Ryan6–3, 6–3 Worm Satterthwaite10–17 Jan Bristol CupMenton, France Karel Koželuh6–1, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 Albert Burke Burke Plaa6–2, 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 Koželuh Najuch12–19 Jan Italian Riviera championshipsSanremo, Italy Jean Lesueur8–6, 7–5, 1–6, 3–6, 6–2 Benny Berthet Phyllis Satterthwaite5–7, 6–2, 6–2 Lucia Valerio de Martino Lesueur6–0, 7–5, 6–0 Serventi de Minerbi Valerio Soames6–3, 2–6, 6–3 Riboli Meunier Aeschlimann Ryan6–3, 2–6, 6–1 de Stefani Valerio12–19 Jan Nice L.T.C. ChampionshipsNice, France George Lyttleton-Rogers6–4, 6–4, 8–6 Edmond Lotan Rosie Berthet6–3, 7–5 P. Marjollet Rogers Lotan7–5, 6–3, 6–4Capt. Price Poligny Rogers Berthet6–1, 6–0 J. Franks Sumarokov19–25 JanNew Courts L.T.C. de CannesCannes, France Max Ellmer6–3, 7–5 Brame Hillyard Muriel Thomas6–1, 6–0 Cosette St. Omer Roy Hillyard Minchin6–4, 6–2 Ellmer Natason Thomas Natason6–3, 6–4 Ellmer Omer RoyJan Mannheim International Covered Courts tournamentMannheim, Weimar Republic Cilly Aussem6–2, 6–4 Ilse Friedleben Aussem Nourney12–10, 8–6 Friedleben BussCoupe de NoëlParis, France René de Buzelet6–1, 6–3 André Merlin Simone Barbier3–6, 6–2, 6–2 Arlette Neufeld Glasser Borotra6–3, 6–1, 6–4 Gentien Féret Guillier Gallay6–4, 7–5 Charnelet Gallay Lesueur Noel6–4, 2–6, 8–6 Maier AdamoffSydney Metropolitan Club ChampionshipSydney, Australia Harry Hopman6–2, 3–6, 6–0 Jack Crawford Hopman Crawford4–6, 6–2, 6–4 Dunlop Sproule Hopman Eleanor Mary Hall6–2, 6–4 Crawford Crawford26–31 Jan Canadian Covered Court ChampionshipsMontreal, Quebec, Canada George Lott6–2, 5–7, 1–6, 6–3 John Van Ryn Lott Van Ryn18–16, 6–3, 6–1 Gilbert Hall Ch. W. Leslie24–31 JanNew South Wales ChampionshipsSydney, Australia Jack Crawford3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 Harry Hopman Marjorie Cox Crawford7–5, 6–2 Ula Valkenburg Crawford Hopman6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 Willard Thompson Crawford Cozens6–1, 8–6 Valkenburg Dingle Willard Pinckerton6–4, 6–2 Crawford Crawford19–26 Jan New Court Lawn Tennis Club II.Cannes, France George Lyttleton-Rogers6–0, 6–4, 6–4 Benny Berthet Phyllis Satterthwaite6–3, 10–8 Lucia Valerio Lyttleton-Rogers Hillyard2–6, 6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 8–6 Berthet Hecht Ryan Satterthwaite6–1, 6–2 Valerio Mrs. Taunay Aeschlimann Thomasw/o Lyttleton-Rogers Ryan-31 Jan All-India national championshipsAllahabad, India Dip Narain Kapoor Leila RowN/A Lena McKenna E. Vivian Bobb Ahad HussainN/A, N/A, 6–3 Edwards Michelmore Bobb Miss Roberts Sandison10–8, N/A, N/A Ahad Hussain Leila Row

February Dutch player Hendrik Timmer was hit by a disease and missed the season. Two Dutch female players announced their engagements and subsequently their retirement from professional sports. Netherlands' number one Kea Bouman married in Almelo and moved to Java while second ranked Margaretha Dros-Canters married and decided to dedicate herself solely to her marriage after the season. The strike of the German tennis players continued from last month and caused a major setback on the indoor tournaments. Thus the German International Covered Courts tournament field was dominated by foreign and senior players such as World War I French veteran Eugene Broquedis who reached the semifinal of the singles and the final of the doubles competition despite being 45 years old and having his right shoulder and two fingers paralyzed in the war. Newcomer young German tennis player Harry Schwenker shocked the tennis world by defeating Italian champion Umberto De Morpurgo in the semifinals of the Berlin Covered Court Championships. He went on to defeat Austrian champion Hermann Artens in the final of his debut tournament. The match lasted until midnight. Jack Crawford won his first Australian Championships singles and mixed doubles title (partnering his wife Marjorie Cox Crawford). He defeated last year's runner-up Harry Hopman for the singles title and teamed up with him for the doubles. He didn't succeed in defending his doubles title losing to Donohoe/Dunlap in the final. The team of England played Denmark in Copenhagen as part of their North Europe indoors exhibition tour and drew 4–4. Takeichi Harada announced he will skip the Davis Cup due to his business affairs. Jacques Brugnon swept all possible titles at the Gallia L. T. C. de Cannes.