The Exmouth Open, originally called the Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament or simply Exmouth Tournament, was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1880. From 1890 the event was known as the Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament. It was hosted by the Exmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, Exmouth, Devon, Great Britain until 1927. It was then hosted by the newly founded Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club until it was abolished as a senior tour event in 1975.

History The Exmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1879. In 1880 the club hosted the first Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament for men only.The Boy's Own Annual (1880) In 1881 the tournament became an open event for both men and women as well. The first winner of the open men's singles was England's Ernest Maconchy (later Brigadier General), and first winner of the women's open singles was Ireland's Lilian Cole. The event was one of the earliest English tournaments that featured a women's singles event.

In 1880s following the Wimbledon Championships it was part of what was known as the "Western tour" over the course of five weeks taking in the grass court events such as the Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament at Teignmouth, the Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament at Torquay,Lake (2014) the Bournemouth Open Tournament at Bournemouth, and finishing off at the South of England Championships at Eastbourne.

In August 1888 a Battle of the Sexes charity tennis match was staged at the tournament, predating the modern famous match by 85 years, between Ernest Renshaw and Lottie Dod, Renshaw won but only just! From 1890 the event was known as the Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament. In 1968 following the start of the open era it was renamed to the Exmouth Open. The event was part of the Amateur Tour (1877–1912), the ILTF Amateur Tour (1913–1967) and the ITF Independent Tour (1968–1975). In 1970 the tournament was called the Robertson Viota Exmouth Open for sponsorship reasons. In 1971 it was known as the Bio-Strath Exmouth Open until 1972.World of Tennis 1971 : a BP year book. London: Queen Anne Press. 1971. pp. 270–271. ISBN 9780362000917.

Former notable of winners the men's singles event include; Charles Lacy Sweet, Charles Walder Grinstead, Harry Grove, Ernest Wool Lewis, William Renshaw, Reggie Doherty, Ryuki Miki, Jaroslav Drobny. Former winners of the women's singles title included; Maud Watson, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, Phyllis Satterthwaite and Sue Barker. The final men's edition held in 1975 was won by Britain's Jonathan Smith, and the final winner of the women's singles was Czech player Jana Simonova.

Finals Men's singles Incomplete roll YearWinnersRunners-upScoreExmouth LTC Tournament1881 Ernest Maconchy Thomas Hoare6–3, 1–6, 6–4 1882Routledge Sporting Annual 1883 Charles Lacy Sweet Pelham Von Donop6–1, 6–4 1883 Charles Walder Grinstead Teddy Williams 6–2, 6–5, 6–4 1884 Charles Walder Grinstead (2) Erskine Gerald Watson 6–2, 6–2, 6–3 1886 Harry Grove Henry E. Hunter Kent6–2, 7–9, 6–4, 7–5 1887 Harry Grove (2) James Baldwin6–1, 6–3, 7–5 1888 Ernest Wool Lewis Herbert Chipp6–1, 6–3, 6–3 1889 Ernest Wool Lewis (2) John Redfern Deykin 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament1890 Ernest Wool Lewis (3) Manliffe Goodbody6–2, 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 1891 Ernest Wool Lewis (4) Horace Chapman6–1, 6–4, 7–5 1892 Tom Chaytor H. Walters6–2, 7–5, 6–0 1893 William Renshaw Harry Grove6–2, 6–4, 6–3 1894 Harry S. Barlow Tom Chaytor6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 0–6, 12–10 1895 Reggie Doherty Harry S. Barlow 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 1897 John Mycroft Boucher Arthur Riseley6–1, 6–0, 6–4 1898 Roy Allen Frank Riseley 6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 6–4 1902 Sidney Charles Atkey E. W. Church6–3, 6–3 1903 B. Walker M. A. H. Fell6–0, 7–51907 Charles Gladstone Eames R. F. J. Harrison6–2, 6–0 1910 Roy Allen Henry Reginald Fussell6–2 6–2 ret. 1914/1919Not held (due to World War I)1920 Henry Reginald Fussell Arthur John Veysey5–7, 6–3, 6–4 1921 Herbert Amphlett Davis Charles E. L. Lyle4–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 1922 Charles Pyne Luck Charles E. L. Lyle6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–4 1923 Charles Pyne Luck (2) Charles E. L. Lyle6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–4 1931 Ryuki Miki John Pennycuick9–7, 6–3 1935 Cam Malfroy Bob Tinklerdivided title 1936 Pat Hughes William Michelmore6–1, 6–3 1937 Henry Billington Bob Tinkler6–1, 6–4 1938 Henry Billington (2) Bob Tinkler4–6, 6–4, 6–3 1939 Harry Lee Henry Billington4–6, 6–4, 6–3 1940/1945Not held (due to World War II)1946 Derrick Leyland Jeffrey Michelmore6–2, 6–4 1947 Derrick Leyland (2) John K. Drinkall9–7, 2–6, 6–3 1949 Paddy Roberts Douglas Scharenguivel6–3, 7–5 1950 Douglas Scharenguivel Jeffrey Michelmore6–3, 6–2 1951 Douglas Scharenguivel (2) Jeffrey Michelmore6–3, 3–6, 6–3 1952 Colin Hannam D. S. Anderson6–3, 6–3 1953 Bob Lee Tony Starte3–6, 6–2, 10–8 1954 John M. Ward Geoffrey L. Ward8–6, 6–2 1955 Darrell H. Shaw D. S. Anderson7–5, 6–2 1956 Bill Threlfall Mike Sangster8–6, 6–4 1957 Bill Threlfall (2) A. N. Price6–3, 6–3 1958 Mike Sangster Peter Moys6–3, 9–7 1959 Mike Sangster (2) Freddy S. Field6–1, 5–7, 6–1 1960 Mark Cox Geoff Bluett6–2, 6–0 1961 Alan Mills Tony Pickard8–6, 4–6, 6–1 1962 Jaroslav Drobny Roger Becker8–6, 6–4 1966 Brian Fairlie Onny Parun6–8, 7–9, 6–2 1967 John D. C. Crump Rayno Seegers7–5, 6–2 1968 Brian Fairlie (2) Onny Parun10–8, 7–9, 6–2 ↓  Open Era  ↓Exmouth Open1969 Paul W. Sussams Lindsey P. Murphy12–14, 6–2, 6–4 Robertson Viota Exmouth Open1970 Munawar Iqbal Mark Joseph Farrell6–3, 6–4 Bio-Strath Exmouth Open1971 Premjit Lall Stephen Warboys3–6, 12–10, 6–4 Exmouth Open1973 Mark Joseph Farrell Mike Collins6–2, 6–4 1974 Alvin R. Gardiner Graeme Thomson6–4, 7–5 1975 Jonathan Smith Peter Fisher7–6, 1–6, 6–3

Men's doubles Incomplete roll YearChampionsRunners-upScoreExmouth LTC Tournament1881 William John Down T. P. Hogg Spencer Cox G. M. Minchindef. 1882 Charles Lacy Sweet Pelham Von Donop ? 1888 Ernest Wool Lewis George Hillyard Ernest Renshaw Charles Lacy Sweet6–2, 6–4.

Women's singles Incomplete roll YearWinnersRunners-upScoreExmouth LTC Tournament1881 Lilian Cole Eveline Belfield6–0, 6–0 1882 Lilian Cole (2) Charlotte Taylor6–4, 6–2 1883 Maud Watson Lilian Cole6–4, 6–2 1884 Maud Watson (2) Agnes Watts6–1, 7–5, 6–3 1886 Maud Watson (3) Blanche Bingley7–5, 0–6, 6–3 1887 Blanche Bingley Hillyard Maud Watson6–4, 6–4 1888 Blanche Bingley Hillyard (4) Constance Bryan6–3, 6–11889 Katharine Hole Lilian Pine-Coffin2–6, 7–5, 6–4Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament1890 Lilian Pine-Coffin (3) Katharine Hole6–1, 5–7, 6–41891 Edith Austin Lilian Pine-Coffin6–3, 9–71892 Lilian Pine-Coffin (4) Constance Bryan8–6, 4–6, 6–21893 Lilian Pine-Coffin (5) Constance Bryan6–4, 6–21894 Lilian Pine-Coffin (6) Helen Jackson6–2, 6–31895 Helen Jackson Jane Corder6–0 3–6 6–31897 Violet Pinckney Elsie Pinckneyw.o.1898 Ellen Thynne Edith Riseley9–11, 6–3, 8–61899 Edith Riseley Winifred Longhurst6–3, 2–6, 6–31901 Mrs Thompson Amy Mooijaart6–1, 6–1 1903 D. Compton-Lundie Miss Brown6–3, 6–4 1907 Aurea Farrington Miss McDonald6–0, 6–0 1909 Joan Retallack Margaret Compton-Lundie6–1, 5–5 ret. 1910 M. Fergus Lois Putman Hawker6–3, 2–6, 6–41911 Winifred Longhurst Phyllis Carr6–3, 6–31912 Joan Retallack (2) M. Leacroft5–1, ret. 1913 Phyllis Satterthwaite Madeline Fisher O'Neill 6–4, 6–4 1913 Phyllis Satterthwaite (2) E. White6–0, 6–0 1915/1919Not held (due to World War I)1920 Phyllis Satterthwaite (3) M. Aplin6–3, 6–01921 Elizabeth Ryan Mrs Hall6–1, 6–21967 Corinne Molesworth (2) Margaret Harris2–6, 7–5, 9–71968 Corinne Molesworth (2) Marianne Brummer2–6, 7–5, 9–7↓  Open Era  ↓Exmouth Open1969 Jill Cooper Rita Bentley6–4, 3–6, 6–1Robertson Viota Exmouth Open1970 Rita Bentley Nuala Dwyer6–2, 6–3Bio-Strath Exmouth Open1971 Susan Alexander Vicki Lancaster6–2, 6–3Exmouth Open1973 Sue Barker Annette Coe6–3, 6–11974 Sue Barker (2) Annette Coe6–2, 6–21975 Jana Simonova Jo Durie7–5, 7–6

Mixed doubles Incomplete roll YearChampionsRunners-upScoreExmouth LTC Tournament1881 Georgiana Kindersley Henry Kindersley Lilian Cole Thomas Arembery Tombe 2–6, 7–5, 7–5 1882 Charlotte Taylor Charles Pine-Coffin Miss Percy Pelham von Donop 6–2, 6–3 1884 Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin Alice Bagnall-Wild Harry Grove6–2, 6–0 1886 Blanche Bingley William Renshaw Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin5–7, 7–5, 8–6 1887 Effie Noon James Baldwin Blanche Bingley Hillyard George Hillyard5–7, 7–5, 8–6 1888 Lottie Dod Ernest Renshaw Blanche Bingley Hillyard George Hillyard6–1, 4–6, 6–4 Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament1891 Edith Austin Ernest Renshaw Elsie Constance Pinckney Francis Haskett-Smith6–4, 8–10, 6–4 1894 Helen Jackson Harry Sibthorpe Barlow Lilian Pine-Coffin William Renshaw6–1, 6–1

References

Sources Club History. Exmouth, Devon, England: Phear Park Bowling Club. Dwight, James (1886).Lawn Tennis. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Wright & Ditson. Fletcher, Kelly (23 September 2020). "Book Review: Tennis for the people". New Frame. Heathcote, John Moyer (1891). Tennis. London: Longmans, Green. Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-44557-8. National Army Museum, Brigadier General Ernest Maconchy: Soldiers' Stories". ww1.nam.ac.uk. Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Exmouth". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives. Routledge's sporting annual (1883). London: George Routledge & Sons. The Boy's Own Annual. London: Leisure Hour Office. 1880.