The Slazenger Torquay OpenGraebner Beats Mendoza, Advances in Dewar Tennis". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 10 November 1972. p. 28. was an indoor tennis tournament originally founded as the Palace Hotel Covered Courts in 1936 that was sponsored by the Dunlop Company for that year only. From the 1950s it was known as the Palace Hotel Covered Courts Championships, that ran until 1967. In 1968 the Scottish whisky company John Dewar & Sons became sponsors of the event,Hedges and it was rebranded as the Dewar Cup Torquay until 1972 when sponsorship ended causing the 1973 edition not being held. In 1974 the sports company Slazenger took over sponsorship of the event until 1978 when it was abolished. It was at played at the Palace Hotel, Torquay, Devon, England.
History The Palace Hotel Covered Courts tournament was founded in 1936, and was sponsored by the Dunlop Company for the first edition. It continued to be staged as an annual event under that name until 1959. In 1960 the tournament was rebranded as the Palace Hotel Covered Courts Championships through till 1967. In 1968 Dewar's then became sponsors of the Palace Hotel event, and it was rebranded as the Dewar Cup Torquay until 1972 when sponsorship ended causing the 1973 edition not being held. In 1974 Slazenger then took over sponsorship of the tournament and it was rebranced as the Slazenger Torquay Open. It was played on indoor courts at the Palace Hotel, Torquay, Devon, England
From 1968 to 1974 it was part of the fourth leg of Dewar Cup Circuit of indoor tournaments.
Finals Men's singles YearChampionsRunners-upScorePalace Hotel Covered Courts1936 Harry Lee Frank Wilde6–4, 6–01937 Ronald Shayes Frank Wilde6–2, 6–41938 Ronald Shayes (2) Murray Deloford6–3, 8–6 1940–1945 Not held (due to World War II)1948 Howard Walton Donald Butler6–2, 6–31949 Paddy Roberts Czeslaw Spychala6–3, 2–6, 6–21950 Ignacy Tłoczyński George Godsell6–4, 2–6, 6–41951 Jaroslav Drobný Paddy Roberts6–2, 6–41952 Tony Mottram John Horn3–6, 6–1, 6–01953 Gerry Oakley Geoffrey Paish2–6, 7–5, 10–81954 Mike Davies Gerry Oakley6–4, 6–2 1955 Bob Howe Roger Becker6–3, 2–6, 6–4 1956 Jaroslav Drobný (2) Gerry Oakley6–4, 6–2 1957 Bobby Wilson Gerry Oakley6–4, 6–31958 Bobby Wilson (2) Alan Mills6–4, 6–4 1959 Bobby Wilson (3) Mike Sangster6–3, 6–4 Palace Hotel Covered Courts Championships1960 Bobby Wilson (4) Roger Becker6–4, 6–2 1961 Jaroslav Drobný (3) Mike Sangster6–2, 3–6, 6–41962 Bobby Wilson (5) Tony Pickard6–3, 6–2 1963 Keith Diepraam Bobby Wilson6–3, 6–4 1964 Roger Taylor Mike Sangster11–9, 16–141965 Keith Wooldridge Bobby Wilson4–6, 6–3, ret.1966 Keith Wooldridge (2) John Clifton5–7, 6–2, 6–11967 Bobby Wilson (6) Mike Sangster8–6, 6–2 ↓ Open Era ↓Dewar Cup Torquay1968 Bob Hewitt Owen Davidson6–3, 6–41969 Mark Cox John Clifton8-6 6-31970 Vladimir Zednik Paul Raymond Hutchins6–3, 6–31971 Bob Hewitt (2) Gerald Battrick3–6, 6–1, 6–21972 Ray Moore Pat Cramer6–3, 6–3Slazenger Torquay Open1974 David Lloyd Mark Farrell6–7, 6–4, 6–21975 Mark Cox Richard Lewis6–3, 6–31976 David Lloyd (2) Martin Robinson)7–5, 6–31977 Clive Rothwell Theo Gorter6–3, 7–61978 Jonathan Smith John Whiteford2–6, 7–6, 6–3
Women's singles YearChampionsRunners-upScorePalace Hotel Covered Courts1936 Anita Lizana Dorothy Round8–10, 6–1, 6–11937 Freda James Billie Yorke4–6, 6–1, 6–31938 Mary Hardwick Nina Brown6–2, 6–4 1939–1947 Not held (due to World War II)1948 Joan Curry Betty Clements Hilton6–1, 6–31949 Joan Curry (2) Jean Bridger Walker-Smith6–2, 3–6, 6–21950 Joan Curry (3) Jean Bridger Walker-Smithwalkover1951 Susan Partridge Jean Bridger Walker-Smith 6–4, 6–31952 Angela Mortimer Joan Curry6–3, 6–11953 Angela Mortimer (2) Georgie Woodgate 6–1, 6–11954 Angela Mortimer (3) Shirley Bloomer6–2, 6–11955 Angela Mortimer (4) Angela Buxton6–2, 6–21956 Thelma Coyne Long Angela Buxton6–4, 4–6, 7–51957 Joan Curry Rita Bentley6–2, 10–81958 Angela Mortimer (5) Ann Haydon6–1, 6–01959 Angela Mortimer (6) Ann Haydon7-5, 6–3Palace Hotel Covered Courts Championships1960 Ann Haydon Angela Mortimer6–4, 6–21961 Angela Mortimer (7) Deidre Catt6–1, 6–21962 Angela Mortimer (8) Ann Haydon Jones7–5, 6–31963 Deidre Catt Ann Haydon Jones6–3, 8–61964 Ann Haydon Jones (2) Deidre Catt6–3, 7–51965 Ann Haydon Jones (3) Pat McClenaughan Faulkner6–1, 6–11966 Joyce Barclay Williams Ann Haydon Jones6–4, 5–5, retired1967 Virginia Wade Ann Haydon Jones6–2, 12–14, 6–2 ↓ Open Era ↓Dewar Cup Torquay1968 Margaret Smith Court Virginia Wade12–10, 8–61969 Julie Heldman Virginia Wade4–6, 8–6, 6–31970 Ann Haydon Jones (4) Virginia Wade6–4, 7–51971 Evonne Goolagong Françoise Dürr6–1, 6–01972 Margaret Smith Court (2) Virginia Wade2–6, 6–3, 6–1Slazenger Torquay Open1974 Ann Haydon Jones (5) Janet Newberry7–5, 7–61975 Ann Haydon Jones (6) Winnie Shaw Wooldridge4–6, 6–1, 6–31976 Sue Barker Michele Tyler6–4, 6–2
References
Sources Hedges, Martin (1978). The concise dictionary of tennis. New York: Mayflower Books. ISBN 0-86124-012-X. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Wechsler, Bob (2008). Day by Day in Jewish Sports History. New York: KTAV Publishing House, Inc. ISBN 978-0-88125-969-8. WTA, ATP (2005). Official Guide to Professional Tennis 2005. New York: Sport Media Publishing. ISBN 978-1-894963-41-1.