The Leamington Open was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament held at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England founded in 1882 it ran annually until 1931 as part of the pre-open era tennis tour. It was founded on 1 August 1882Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882. George Routledge and Son. London. p.116. as the Royal Leamington Lawn Tennis Tournament.
History The Leamington Open Tournament was established on 1 August 1882,Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882. and first staged at Jephson Gardens. At the same meeting held in August 1882, a dual tournament called the Warwickshire Championships (1882–1938) was staged.
At the inaugural event, the first men's all comers singles champion was England's Robert Wallace Braddell (son of Sir Thomas Braddell), who defeated Edward Lake Williams in 3 straight sets.Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.Nieuwland, Alex. Tennis Archives. The all comers mixed doubles title was won by Erskine Gerald Watson and his sister Maud Watson.Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882.
The tournament continued separately to that of the county championship until 1931. Formers men's winners of this event include Charles Walder Grinstead (1883) and Cotah Ramaswami (1920).
Finals Men's Singles Incomplete roll YearChampionsRunners-upScore1882 Robert Wallace Braddell Teddy Williams7-5 6-2 6-3 1883 Charles Walder Grinstead Herbert Wilberforce 8-6 3-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 1884 Teddy Williams Frank Seymour Noon 6-3 6-2 6-2 1885 James Dwight Alfred Henry Betham 6-1 6-3 6-0 1886 Alfred Henry Betham Harry Grove 8-6 8-6 6-4 1889 Charles Gladstone Eames Francis Seymour Noon4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 7–51909 Neville Gard Deed William Caleb Wood Curtis9-7, 6-2 1920 Cotah Ramaswami John Cecil F. Masterman walkover1931 Henry Woolf Standring R.L. Tower6-4, 6-2
Mixed Doubles Incomplete roll YearChampionsRunners-upScore1884 Frank Noon Effie Noon Alfred Betham Miss Exham6-2, 6-4, 6-11886 Charles Ross Mrs Hornby Thomas Mellersh Gertrude Mellersh6-2, 6-3
References
Sources Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Leamington. www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) George Routledge and Son. London. Warwickshire County Tennis Championships. Leamington Lawn Tennis & Squash Club". lltsc.co.uk.