The South of France Championships, originally known as the Championnats du Sud de la France, and also known as the Championships of the South of France and the Championship of Southern France, was a tennis event held from 1895 through 1971. It was originally played at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club in Nice, France. It was one of the tournaments of the French Riviera tennis circuit.
History Lawn tennis was introduced to the French Riviera by English tourists, who decided to holiday on the Cote d'Azur after Queen Victoria vacationed there during the late 1800s. The Riviera season was usually December through to March with a number of events that would be staged in Nice. The South of France Championships in Nice was considered the best of these early continental tournament events. Other events founded around this time included the Nice Championships, the Nice Lawn Tennis Club Championships and later the Nice International. The Nice Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1890 at Place Mozart. In 1895 the South of France Championships tournament began; the dates the event was held fluctuated between February, March and April annually. The club and championships changed location to Parc Imperial Avenue Suzanne Lenglen in 1923. It was one of the earliest events open to international players; the tournament survived for a period of 76 years until 1971.
Finals The final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) in some tournaments not all. The * indicates the challenger.
Men's singles YearChampionRunner-upScore1895 A. F. Thomas Victor Voss ?1896 Joseph Hamilton De Robiglio ? ?1897 Reginald Doherty Victor Voss 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–11898 Laurence Doherty James Robert Hay-Gordon 6–1, 6–2, 6–11899 Reginald Doherty (2) Victor Voss 6–0, 6–0, 6–01900 Laurence Doherty (2) Reginald Doherty walkover1901 Laurence Doherty (3) Wilberforce Eaves 6–2, 6–3, 6–21902 Laurence Doherty (4) Reginald Doherty walkover1903 Laurence Doherty (5) Sydney Howard Smith 5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–31904 Laurence Doherty (6) Major Ritchie 6–2, 6–3, 6–31905 Laurence Doherty (7) Edward Roy Allen 6–3, 7–5, 7–51906 Laurence Doherty (8) Anthony Wilding 6–3, 8–6, 6–21907 Anthony Wilding Major Ritchie 6–0, 6–0, 6–31908 Anthony Wilding (2) Major Ritchie 6–0, 6–1, 6–21909 Fred Alexander Major Ritchie 6–2, 6–1, 6–21910 Max Decugis Major Ritchie 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 13–111911 Anthony Wilding (3) Max Decugis 9–7, 6–0, 6–31912 Max Decugis Maurice Germot 10–8, 4–6, 6–2 retd.1913 Max Decugis (2) Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe 7–9, 6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–31914 Anthony Wilding (4) Gordon Lowe 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–21915/1918Not held (due to world war one)1919 Max Decugis (3) Nicolae Mișu 6–3, 6–2, 6–11920 Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston Alain Gerbault 7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–11921 Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston (2) Mino Balbi De Robbeco 6–1, 6–1, 6–01922 Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston (3) Henri Cochet 6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 1923 Gordon Lowe Randolph Lycett 9–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–21924 René Lacoste Jean Washer 6–1, 6–0, 3–6, 7–9, 6–31925 René Lacoste (2) Gordon Lowe 6–1, 6–4, 6–31926 Uberto De Morpurgo Henri Cochet 1–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–31927 Hermann von Artens Brame Hillyard 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3, 10–81928 Charles Aeschlimann George Lyttleton-Rogers 7–5, 9–7, 6–1 1929 Emmanuel du Plaix Hermann von Artens 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–01930 Bill Tilden George Lyttleton-Rogers 4–6, 8–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–01931 George Lyttleton-Rogers Christian Boussus 4–6, 0–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0 1932 Jacques Brugnon George Lyttleton-Rogers 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 1933 George Lyttleton-Rogers (2) Max Ellmer 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 4–6, 8–61934 George Lyttleton-Rogers (3) Herman von Artens 2–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 6–21935 Wilmer Hines Max Ellmer 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–41936 Jean Lesueur William W. Robertson 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–31937 Kho Sin-Kie Jean Lesueur 13-11, 6–3, 4–6, 6–31938 Kho Sin-Kie (2) Max Ellmer 6–1, 2–6, 6–0, 8–61939 Constantin Tănăsescu Kho Sin-Kie 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–11940/1943Not held (due to world war two)1944 Pierre Pellizza Henri Pellizza 6–2, 5–7, 6–31945 not played 1946 Pierre Pellizza (2) Yvon Petra 12-10, 5–7, 6–0, 6–1 1947 József Asbóth Torsten Johansson 6–2, 6–4, 6–31948 József Asbóth (2) Jaroslav Drobný 8–6, 6–1, 6–31949 Milan Branović Dragutin Mitić 6–4, 6–8, 4–2 ret.1950 Budge Patty Tony Trabert 6–2, 6–41951 Sven Davidson Straight Clark 6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–21952 Owen Williams Igor Scherbatoff 6–1, 6–21953 Armando Vieira József Asbóth 6–1, 6–11954 Tony Vincent Paul Rémy 6–3, 6–3, 6–11955 Władysław Skonecki Jaroslav Drobný walkover 1956 Paul Rémy Pierre Darmon 6–2, 6–1, 6–0 1957 Jacques Brichant Bobby Wilson 9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 7–9, 6–41958Not held (due to rain)1959 István Gulyás Torben Ulrich 0–6, 4–6, 9–7 6–4, 3–3 retd.1960 Warren Woodcock Barry Phillips-Moore 6–3, 6–2, 6–11961 Pierre Darmon Warren Woodcock 6–2, 6–4, 2–6, 6–11962 Pierre Darmon (2) Wilhelm Bungert 6–1, 6–1, 0–6, 6–21963 Pierre Darmon (3) István Gulyás 8–10, 6–3, 6–2, 7–51964 Sergio Tacchini Jean-Noël Grinda 6–4, 4–0 ret.1965 István Gulyás (2) Milan Holeček 6–1, 6–1, 7–51966 István Gulyás (3) Daniel Contet 6–1, 6–0, 13–111967 Jean-Pierre Courcol Eduardo Zuleta 6–2, 2–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–41968 Alex Metreveli Barry Phillips-Moore 9–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4↓ Open era ↓1969 Georges Goven Daniel Contet 6-3, 6-1, ret.1970 Jean-François Caujolle Jean-Loup Rouyer 5–7, 6–1, 6–3
Women's singles (Incomplete roll) YearChampionsRunners-upScore1899 Mildred Brooksmith Marguerite Chalier 6–3, 6–01900 Clara von der Schulenburg 1901 Blanche Hillyard Clara von der Schulenburg 6–4, 6–31902 Clara von der Schulenburg (2) Mildred Brooksmith 6–3, 6–31903 Toupie Lowther Clara von der Schulenburg 1–6, 6–1, 6–21904 Clara von der Schulenburg (3) de Robiglio 8–6, 7–51905 Connie Wilson Clara von der Schulenburg 6–1, 2–6, 6–41906 Toupie Lowther (2) Gladys Eastlake-Smith 6–4, 5–7, 6–31907 Gladys Eastlake-Smith Margit Madarász 10–8, 6–11908 Dorothea Lambert Chambers Rosamund Salusbury 6–1, 6–11909 Clara von der Schulenburg (4) Jessie Tripp 6–1, 6–8, 6–01910 Rosamund Salusbury Clara von der Schulenburg 6–4, 3–6, 6–31911 Dagmar von Krohn Hedwig Neresheimer 6–2, 2–6, 6–31912 Jessie Tripp Margaret Tripp default1913 Dagmar von Krohn (2) Blanche Colston6–3, 6–11914 Dorothea Lambert Chambers (2) M Stuart 6–2, 6–01915/1918Not held (due to world war one)1919 Suzanne Lenglen Doris Wolfson 6–0, 6–01920 Geraldine Beamish Suzanne Lenglen default1921 Suzanne Lenglen (2) M. Septier 6–1, 6–11922 Elizabeth Ryan Geraldine Beamish 3–6, 6–3, 6–11923 Suzanne Lenglen (3) Elizabeth Ryan 6–1, 6–01924 Suzanne Lenglen (4) Phyllis Covell 6–2, 6–11925 Suzanne Lenglen (5) Ermyntrude Harvey walkover1926 Helen Wills Isabella Mumford 6–0, 6–11927 Lilí Álvarez Phyllis Satterthwaite 6–3, 6–31928 Paula von Reznicek Cilly Aussem 6–3, 6–21929 Paula von Reznicek (2) Phyllis Covell 6–8, 6–2, 6–41930 Cilly Aussem Carolyn Hirsch 6–0, 6–21931 Phyllis Satterthwaite Paulette Marjollet 6–1, 6–31932 Elizabeth Ryan (2) Phyllis Satterthwaite 6–3, 1–6, 6–21933 Sheila Hewitt Cilly Aussem 6–4, 6–31934 Muriel Thomas Mary Hardwick 6–1, 6–01935 Simonne Mathieu Edith Belliard 10–12, 7–5, 6–31936 Simonne Mathieu (2) Phyllis Satterthwaite 6–1, 6–01937 Simonne Mathieu (3) Anita Lizana 6–3, 2–6, 7–51938 Gracyn Wheeler Gem Hoahing 6–4, 6–21939 Simonne Mathieu (4) Gracyn Wheeler 6–0, 6–21940/1945Not held (due to world war two)1946 Event not held1947 Alice Weiwers ? ?1948 Annelies Ullstein Bossi ? ?1949 Myriam De Borman ? ?1950 Gussie Moran Josette Amouretti 6–0, 6–01951 Doris Hart Shirley Fry 4–6, 6–3, 6–31952 Márta Peterdy ? ?1953 Joan Curry Shirley Bloomer 6–4, 6–11954 Joan Curry (2) Christiane Mercelis 7–5, 6-8, 12–101955 Anne-Marie Seghers Joan Curry 6–1, 6–41956 Christiane Mercelis Ingrid Metzner 6–0, 7–51957 Christiane Mercelis (2) Jacqueline Kermina 4–6, 6–1, 6–11958Not held (due to rain)1959 Yola Ramírez Paule Courteix 6–2, 6–41960 Edda Buding Renate Ostermann 4–6, 6–3, 8–61961 Margaret Smith Flo de la Courtie 9–7, 6–41962 Zsuzsa Körmöczy Rita Bentley 6–4, 6–41963 Jan Lehane Janine Lieffrig 7–5, 6–21964 Almut Sturm Christiane Mercelis 0–6, 6–2, 6–41965 Helga Schultze Jill Blackman 7–5, 6–21966 Sonja Pachta Jill Blackman 6–4, 6–41967 Winnie Shaw Joan Gibson Cottrill 6–4, 6–21968 Gail Sherriff Robin Blakelock-Lloyd 9–7, 6–4↓ Open era ↓1969 Peaches Bartkowicz Gail Sherriff Chanfreau 6–3, 6–41970 Helga Niessen Julie Heldman 6–1, 6–11971 Jill Cooper Marijke Schaar 6–1, 6–1
Records
Men's singles Source: The Tennisbase included Most titles: Laurence Doherty, (8) Most consecutive titles: Laurence Doherty, (7) Most finals: Laurence Doherty, (8) Most consecutive finals: Laurence Doherty, (7) Most matches played: Pierre Darmon, (39) Most matches won: Pierre Darmon, (33) Most consecutive match wins: Anthony Wilding, and Laurence Doherty, (19) Most editions played: Georges Goven, (12) Best match winning %: Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty (100%) Longest final: Jacques Brichant v Bobby Wilson, result: 9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 7–9, 6–4 (63 games), (1957) Shortest final: Armando Vieira v József Asbóth, result: 6–1, 6–1 (14 games) (1953) Shortest final: Sergio Tacchini v Jean-Noël Grinda, result: 6–4, 4–0 retired (14 games) (1964) Title won with the fewest games lost, Anthony Wilding, (12), (1908) Oldest champion: Gordon Lowe, 38y 8m and 23d, (1923) Youngest champion: René Lacoste, 19y 8m and 9d, (1924)
See also Monte-Carlo Masters Open de Nice Côte d'Azur
References
Sources
Ayre's Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, A. Wallis Myers. UK. Dunlop Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, G.P. Hughes, 1939 to 1958, Published by Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd, UK. Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annuals and Compendia, Lowe, Sir F. Gordon, Eyre & Spottiswoode.
External links Nice Lawn Tennis Club Tennisbase The South of France Championships-Roll of Honor