The Natal Sugar Circuit Open Championships was a men's and women's international tennis tournament founded in 1962 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as the Natal Sugar Circuit Championships. Its sponsorship name was the Hulett Natal Sugar Circuit Open Championships It was the sugar circuit series finales event. The tournament ended in 1981.
History The Natal Championships were founded in 1884 and first staged Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 1962 the Natal Sugar Championships were founded as part of the Sugar Circuit (f. 1962)Robertson (1974)Belfast Telegraph (1962) of tennis tournaments from the 1960s to 1980s.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 1962 and 1972 only men's tournament was also valid as the Natal Championships.
In 1980 the tournament was ended due to the withdraw of sponsorship by South African Sugar Association.South African Sugar Journal (1980) The event was staged at Umhlali during the final four years of the women's event. In later years the tournament had switched to hard courts. The event was usually run between the middle two weeks of July each year.
Finals Men's singles (Incomplete roll)
Natal Sugar Championships 1962 Mike Sangster Gaetan Koenig6-4, 6-3, 6-1 1963 Wilhelm Bungert Abe SegalTitle shared due to rain.Open era Natal Sugar Open Championships 1970 Keith Diepraam Graham Stilwell6-4, 6-4, 6-4 1971 Manuel Santana Jan Leschly6-4, 6-3, 6-1 1972 Jürgen Fassbender Juan Gisbert 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 1974 Raz Reid Deon Joubert 6-2, 6-1
Women's singles (Incomplete roll)
Natal Sugar Championships 1962 Ann Haydon Annette Van Zyl 6-2, 6-0 1963 Margaret Hunt Renée Schuurman 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 1964 Darlene Hard Annette Van Zyl 6-1, 6-2 1965 Ingrid Frohling Heather Segal 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 1966 Annette Van Zyl Ann Haydon Jones4-6, 6-3, 6-4 1967 Pat Walkden Virginia Wade 6-2, 9-7 1968 Annette Van Zyl Carole Caldwell Graebner 6-1, 6-1Open era Natal Sugar Open Championships 1969 Billie Jean Moffitt King Annette Du Plooy 6-4, 6-1 1970 Billie Jean Moffitt King (2) Margaret Smith Court 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 1971 Margaret Smith Court Patti Hogan6-2, 6-1 1972 Brenda Kirk Pat Walkden Pretorius 6-3, 6-3 1973 Sharon Walsh Pat Walkden Pretorius 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 1974 Sharon Walsh (2) Brenda Kirk 6-2, 6-1 1975 Linky Boshoff Greer Stevens 0-6, 6-0, 6-4 1976 Brenda Kirk Dimitriou (2) Alison McMillan 6-1, 6-2 1977 Elizabeth Vlotman Alison McMillan McDade 6-3, 6-2 1978 Alison McMillan McDade Elizabeth Vlotman 7-5, 6-2 1979 Elizabeth Vlotman (2) Alison McMillan McDade7-5, 6-2 1980 Elvyn Barrable Ms Muller 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 1981 Rene Uys Beverly Mould 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
References