The South of England Championships, also known as the South of England Open Championships, was an outdoor tennis event held on grass courts at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne, United Kingdom from 1881 until 1973.

History The competition at Eastbourne, even from its early beginnings, was considered one of the most prestigious tournaments that attracted large entries and matches even in those days and it was the world's largest tournament in terms of participants at the turn of the twentieth century.

Women's tennis

The first tournament to be staged at Devonshire Park was a women's event in 1881, known as the South of England Championships, and usually held every September. Winners of the lady's singles championships included Dorothea Chambers, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, and Charlotte Cooper Sterry, May Langrishe. The first overseas non British Isles winner was the American Elizabeth Ryan in collecting 3 consecutive titles (1919–21); after World War One she was followed by the South African Irene Peacock in 1923 and Anita Lizana from Chile in 1936.

Following World War Two tennis British winners included Ann Haydon and Shirley Bloomer the Brazilian player Maria Bueno the Australian player Fay Toyne was the last foreign ladies champion before the advent of the open era in 1968 the South of England Championships changed schedule to July until 1969 after the Championships at Wimbledon in 1970 its schedule changed again so that it was held before Wimbledon the South of England Championships continued until 1967.

From 1968 until today the tournament has attracted many different sponsors.

In 1968 it was known as the Rothman's Invitational for sponsorship reasons from 1969 to 1972 it was called the Eastbourne Invitational, the event ceased in 1972.

Men's tennis The first Men’s events started in 1881 also called the South of England Championships early winners of the men's championship included Wilfred Baddeley, Sydney Howard Smith, Josiah Ritchie, Anthony Wilding, Otto Froitzheim and Ken Rosewall it continued until 1967 before being renamed for sponsorship reasons in 1968 from 1970 to 1973 the men's tournament was known as the Rothmans South of England Open Championships. The men's event also ceased in 1973.

Tennis after 1973

In 1974 the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis club decided on a completely new format tennis tournament and re-branding of tennis at Eastbourne from the outcome of staging the South of England Championships that became known as the Eastbourne International the tournament is still active today.

Past finals Notes: Challenge round: 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.

Blanche Bingley Hillyard holds the record for the most women's singles titles with 11.

Singles

Women YearChampionRunner-upScoreName1881 Agnes Noon Watts E. Hudson (2-1 sets) South of England Championships1882 E. Hudson Minnie Congreve 6–2, 6–41883 M. Leslie Minnie Congreve 10–8, 6–41884 Frances Burton Nellie Burton 6–2, 6–41885 Blanche Bingley Ada Strapp 6–1, 6–0 1886 Margaret Bracewell Blanche Bingley 6–1, 6–31887 Margaret Bracewell (2) Blanche Bingley 6–4, 6–21888 Blanche Bingley (2) Margaret Bracewell 6–1, 6–11889 May Langrishe May Jacks 6–2, 5–7, 6–11890 May Langrishe (2) Edith Coleridge Cole 6–2, 6–3 1891 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (3) May Langrishe 2–6, 7–5, 6–01892 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (4) Bertha Steedman 6–1, 6–4 1893 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (5) Maud Shackle 6–1, 4–6, 15–13 1894 Helen Jackson Charlotte Cooper 6–4, 6–21895 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (6) Helen Jackson 6–4, 6–11896 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (7) Edith Austin 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 1897 Charlotte Cooper Blanche Bingley Hillyard 6–4, 6–0 1898 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (8) Charlotte Cooper 7–5, 7–5 1899 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (9) Charlotte Cooper 6–2, 6–2 1900 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (10) Charlotte Cooper 7–9, 6–3, 6–3 1901 Charlotte Cooper (2) Blanche Bingley Hillyard 7–5, 5–7, 6–2 1902 Dorothea Douglass Edith Austin Greville 6–2, 6–21903 Connie Wilson Dorothea Douglass 7–5, 6–21904 Dorothea Douglass (2) Charlotte Cooper Sterry 6–3, 6–41905 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (11) Agnes Morton 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 1906 Dorothea Douglass (3) Agnes Morton 3–6, 6–3, 6–21907 Dorothea Douglass Chambers (4) Charlotte Cooper Sterry 4–6, 6–3, 7–51908 Charlotte Cooper Sterry (3) Edith Boucher 6–4, 6–21909 Dora Boothby Charlotte Cooper Sterry 6–3, 6–41910 Dorothea Douglass Chambers (5) Ethel Thomson Larcombe 7–5, 7–51911 Ethel Thomson Larcombe Dora Boothby 7–5, 6–31912 Ethel Thomson Larcombe (2) Agnes Morton 6–1, 6–21913 Ethel Thomson Larcombe (3) Dorothea Douglass Chambers 6–2, 6–41914–1918Not held (due to world war one)1919 Elizabeth Ryan Phyllis Satterthwaite 6–1, 6–21920 Elizabeth Ryan (2) Geraldine Beamish 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 1921 Elizabeth Ryan (3) Irene Bowder Peacock 6–0, 6–31922 Irene Bowder Peacock Kathleen McKane 6–0, 3–6, 7–5 1923 Phoebe Holcroft Christine Tyrrell 6–3, 6–31924 Ermyntrude Harvey Phoebe Holcroft 6–0, 6–8, 6–41925 Phoebe Holcroft Watson (2) Christine Tyrrell 2–6, 7–5, 6–3 1926 Phoebe Holcroft Watson (3) Ermyntrude Harvey 6–4, 6–8, 6–21927 Phoebe Holcroft Watson (4) Phyllis Howkins Covell 6–2, 6–21928 Phoebe Holcroft Watson (5) Phyllis Howkins Covell 6–1, 6–2 1929 Elsie Goldsack Jenny Sandison 8–6, 2–6, 6–31930 Phyllis Mudford Mary Heeley 6–2, 7–51931 Freda James Gwen Sterry divided the title1932 Mary Heeley Florence Ford 8–6, 6–21933 Phyllis Mudford King (2) Ermyntrude Harvey 6–3, 6–11934 Dorothy Round Phyllis Mudford King 6–4, 6–11935 Billie Yorke Susan Noel 3–6, 6–3, 6–21936 Anita Lizana Dorothy Round 6–4, 6–21937 Margaret Scriven Jean Saunders 6–1, 6–01938 Phyllis Mudford King (3) Valerie Scott 5–7, 6–4, 6–41939–1945Not held (due to world war two)1946 Joan Curry Betty Clements Hilton divided the title (rain interruption)1947 Joan Curry (2) Peggy Dawson-Scott 6–1, 9–71948 Jean Walker-Smith Gem Hoahing 7–5, 6–41949 Gem Hoahing Mary Terán de Weiss 6–4, 6–21950 Jean Walker-Smith (2) Jean Quertier 6–2, 6–21951 Jean Walker-Smith (3) Angela Mortimer 6–2, 6–21952 Jean Walker-Smith (4) Jean Quertier Rinkel 6–3, 6–41953 Shirley Bloomer Patricia Harrison 7–5, 6–41954 Shirley Bloomer (2) Patricia Harrison 6–8, 7–5, 6–01955 Anne Shilcock Jenny Middleton 6–4, 6–21956 Anne Shilcock (2) Penny Burrell 6–1, 6–21957 Ann Haydon Angela Mortimer 6–3, 6–41958 Anne Shilcock (3) Sheila Waters 6–0, 6–01959 Sheila Armstrong Jenny Young 6–0, 6–21960 Rita Bentley Lorna Cornell Cawthorn 6–4, 6–21961 Lorna Cornell Cawthorn Inge Overgaard 3–6, 6–1, 11–91962 Carole Rosser Lorna Cornell Cawthorn 10–8, 6–21963 Vivienne Dennis Heather Allen 6–3, 2–6, 7–51964 Fay Toyne Lorna Cornell Cawthorn 6–0, 5–7, 6–31965 Rita Bentley (2) Jill Blackman divided the title (due to bad weather)1966 Susan Tutt Anthea Rigby 4–6, 6–2, 6–41967 Lorna Cornell Greville-Collins (2) Margaret Harris 6–8, 7–5, 6–1 ↓  Open era  ↓1968 Maria Bueno Judy Tegart 6–2, 6–4 Rothmans Invitational1969 Karen Krantzcke Betty Ann Grubb 6–0, 9–7 Eastbourne Invitational1970 Ann Haydon Jones (2) Virginia Wade 8–6, 6–1 1971 Françoise Durr Judy Tegart-Dalton divided the title1972 Françoise Durr (2) Judy Tegart-Dalton 8–6, 6–31973 Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International

Men

YearChampionRunner-upScoreName 1881 Edgar Lubbock Robert Braddell 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 South of England Championships 1882 William Taylor Teddy Williams 8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 1883 Teddy Williams Charles Walder Grinstead 6–1, 8–6, 4–6, 7–5 1884 Teddy Williams (2) William Taylor ? 1885 Ernest Lewis William Taylor 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 1886 Ernest Lewis (2) Herbert Wilberforce * 6–3, 6–4, 6–0 1887 Ernest Lewis (3) Herbert Wilberforce * 8–6, 7–5, 6–4 1888 Andrew Ziffo Harry S. Barlow * 4–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3 1889 Andrew Ziffo (2) Harry Grove * 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4 1890 Andrew Ziffo (3) James Baldwin * 7–9, 6–1, 6–2, 7–5 1891 Harry S. Barlow Andrew Ziffo * 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 1892 Harry S. Barlow (2) Wilberforce Eaves * 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 1893 Wilfred Baddeley Harry S. Barlow * 7–5, 6–0, 6–1 1894 Wilfred Baddeley (2) Harry S. Barlow * 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 1895 Wilfred Baddeley (3) George Hillyard * 6–3, 7–9, 7–5, ret. 1896 Wilfred Baddeley (4) Herbert Baddeley * walkover 1897 Joshua Pim Lawrence Doherty * 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 1898 Sydney Howard Smith Lawrence Doherty * 6–3, 2–6, 8–6, 7–5 1899 Sydney Howard Smith (2) Harold Mahony * 6–0, 6–3, 6–4 1900 Lawrence Doherty Sydney Howard Smith (2) * 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–1 1901 Sydney Howard Smith (3) Lawrence Doherty * 6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0, ret. 1902 Sydney Howard Smith (4) Clement Cazalet * 6–1, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 1903 Major Ritchie Sydney Howard Smith * ? 1904 Sydney Howard Smith (5) Major Ritchie * 6–0, 6–4, 6–2 1905 Norman Brookes Sydney Howard Smith * 8–6, 6–4, 6–2 1906 Anthony Wilding Roderick McNair * 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 1907 George Hillyard Walter Crawley * ? 1908 Anthony Wilding (2) George Hillyard * walkover 1909 Otto Froitzheim Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe 6–3, 6–8, 6–4, 7–5 1910 Gordon Lowe Arthur Lowe walkover 1911 Algernon Kingscote Stanley Doust 6–8, 4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 6–3 1912 Arthur Lowe Stanley Doust 6–4, 7–9, 6–0, 6–4 1913 James Cecil Parke Arthur Lowe 6–3, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 1914–1918Not held (due to world war one) 1919 Theodore Mavrogordato Nicolae Mișu 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 1920 George Dodd Alfred Beamish 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 1921 Brian Norton Mohammed Sleem 0–6, 6–4, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 1922 Brian Norton (2) Gordon Lowe 6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3 1923 Cotah Ramaswami Gordon Lowe 6–1, 8–6, 10–8 1924 Mohammed Sleem Gordon Lowe 6–2, 6–1, 6–1 1925 Charles Kingsley Gordon Lowe 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 1926 Charles Kingsley (2) Bunny Austin walkover 1927 Bunny Austin William Powell 6–4, 6–4 1928 Yoshiro Ota Charles Kingsley 3–6, 6–1, 6–0 1929 Eskel Andrews Keats Lester 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 1930 Ryuki Miki Charles Kingsley 7–5, 6–3 1931 Jiro Sato Vernon Kirby 6–4, 6–3 1932 George Lyttleton-Rogers Atri Madan Mohan 6–8, 6–3, 6–4 1933 Vernon Kirby George Lyttleton-Rogers 8–6, 6–2 1934 Nigel Sharpe Eskel Andrews 6–3, 6–3 1935 Robert Tinkler Clarence Medlycott Jones 8–6, 10–8 1936 Pat Hughes Charles Hare 2–6, 9–7, 6–1 1937 Donald Butler Henry Billington 6–3, 6–3 1938 Donald Butler (2) Clarence Medlycott Jones 6–4, 6–1 1939–1945Not held (due to world war two) 1946 Donald Butler (3) Choy Wai-Chuen 6–3, 6–4 1947 Ignacy Tłoczyński Jeff Robson 6–2, 6–3 1948 Czesław Spychała Ignacy Tłoczyński 5–7, 6–4, 8–6 1949 Heraldo Weiss Donald Butler 6–3, 6–2 1950 Ivo Rinkel Geoffrey Paish 5–7, 7–5, 6–4 1951 Geoffrey Paish Tony Mottram 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 1952 Geoffrey Paish (2) Anthony Starte 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 1953 Geoffrey Paish (3) Robert Lee 7–5, 6–0 1954 Geoffrey Paish (4) Bobby Wilson 6–2, 2–6, 7–5 1955 Geoffrey Paish (5) Mike Davies 6–4, 6–4 1956 Roger Becker Gerald Oakley 6–3, 6–1 1957 Reginald Bennett Geoffrey Owen 6–3, 6–2 1958 Roger Becker (2) Reginald Bennett 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 1959 Alan Mills Mike Hann 8–6, 4–6, 6–3 1960 Mark Otway John R. McDonald 6–4, 6–4 1961 Mark Otway (2) Roger Becker 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 1962 Roger Becker (3) Mark Cox 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 1963 Mark Cox Warren Jacques 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 1964 Geoff Bluett Clay Iles 6–3, 6–3 1965 Tournament not completed (rain) 1966 Bob Maud Brian Fairlie 6–4, 6–2 1967 Frew McMillan Mark Cox 6–3, 6–4 ↓  Open era  ↓ 1968 Mark Cox (2) Owen Davidson 6–4, 6–4 Rothmans Invitational 1969 Christian Kuhnke Manuel Orantes 6–4, 2–6, 9–7 Eastbourne Invitational 1970 Ken Rosewall Bob Hewitt 6–2, 6–1 Rothmans South of England Open Championship 1971 Tournament not played (rain) 1972 Andrés Gimeno Pierre Barthès 7–5, 6–3 1973 Mark Cox (3) Patrice Dominguez 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 1974 Tournament ended

Statistics

Singles champions by country

Women

CountryWinnerFirst titleLast title 70 1881 1970 3 1919 1921 2 1964 1969 1 1922 1922 1 1936 1936 1 1968 1968 2 1971 1972

Men