The Sugar Circuit also known as the Sugar Winter Circuit or Sugar Tennis Circuit was a series tour of six South African tennis tournaments sponsored by the South African Sugar Association founded in 1962 and was sub-circuit of the worldwide ILTF Circuit that ran until 1980.Dewey, Glen (1980). THE LAST SUGAR TENNIS CIRCUIT END OF AN ERA By Glen Dewey (South African Sugar Association). The South African Sugar Journal. Vol 64. Mount Edgecombe, South Africa. p.10. In 1980 the South African Sugar Association ceased its sponsorship of the circuit and it was discontinued.
History In 1962 the Sugar Circuit was established that consisted of five provincial championships at Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Pietermaritzburg and Port Elizabeth.Robertson (1974) The circuit was sponsored by the South African Sugar Association for its entire duration, individual association members such as Hulett's sponsored individual tournaments.Dewey, Glen (1980) Participation by overseas international players was by of an invitation to compete on the circuit.Robertson (1974) The scheduling of the circuit usually taking place in the winter, with events being played from December to January. In 1973 local black tennis players were allowed to compete for the first time. In 1980 circuit was discontinued due to the South African Sugar Association not renewing its sponsorship.South African Sugar Journal (1980)
Tournaments # Tournament Surface Location1. Border ChampionshipsHardEast London2. Eastern Province Championships HardPort Elizabeth3. Natal Sugar Circuit Open Championships Hard Durban4. Orange Free State Championships Clay Bloemfontein5. South African Sugar Circuit Masters Hard Durban6. Western Province Championships Grass/Hard Cape Town
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