The ACT Open formally known as the Australian Capital Territory Open was a combined men's and women's hard court tennis tournament founded in 1929 as the ACT Championships or Australian Capital Territory Championships.The Canberra Times The tournament was organised by the Canberra Lawn Tennis Association and first played at the Manuka Tennis Courts, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia It ran annually until 1968 as part of the ILTF Circuit, then part of the ILTF Independent Tour until 1977 when it was downgraded.
History The Australian Capital Territory Championships the most important tennis championship held in the Australian Capital Territory, was inaugurated in 1929. However, the finals were not played. In 1930 the first open women's singles event was held along with the first men's singles final. The venue for the tournament for many years was the Canberra Lawn Tennis Association courts in the Manuka area of Canberra. The event was originally played on outdoor hard cement tennis courts.
With the onset of open tennis in 1968 this tournaments status began to decline. In 1969 following the start of the open era it became part of the ILTF Independent Tour (tournaments not aligned to the Grand Prix Circuit or WCT Circuit until 1977. In 1970 the tournament was moved from Manuka to the new Canberra Tennis Centre at Lyneham. In 1978 downgraded to a Satellite tournament. The tournament was not held from 1982 to 1984, and 1999 to 2003. It continued until 2006. Today the men's tournament has survived in one form or another and is known as the Canberra Tennis International, and women's event is known as the ACT Clay Court International.
The tournament was sponsored from 1970 until at least 1980 by Ampol, Patra Foods and W.D. and H.O. Wills.
Finals
Men's singles YearChampionRunner-upScore1930 Stanley Gee Roy Ayliffe6-1, 6-1, 7-9, 6-4 1931 Roy Ayliffe Sidney Bell3-6, 6-0, 8-61932 A. Murray Sidney Bell6-4, 7-51933 Stanley Gee James Nish7-9, 7-5, 6-31934 David Chrystal G. Fry6-2, 4-6, 6-21935 David Chrystal Reginald Bennett6-1, 6-21936 David Chrystal Bill Sidwell6-2, 6-11937 Reginald Bennett Sidney Bell7-5, 6-11938 David Thompson Fred Bennett6-1, 6-21939 Reginald Bennett Jim Bennett2-6, 6-1, 11-91940-45 No competition 1946 Aubrey Brogan Kevin Taylor6-2, 6-21947 Reginald Bennett Frank Pryor6-3, 6-31948 Kevin Johnstone Max Anderson6-4, 6-41949 William Wallace Reginald Bennett6-2, 8-61950 William Wallace Roy Felan6-2, 4-6, 8-61951 Bill Sidwell William Wallace6-4, 6-11952 Don Candy John O'Brien6-2, 6-21953 George Worthington Keith Pepper6-2 6-21954 Warren Woodcock Graham Regan6-0, 6-11955 Roy Emerson Warren Woodcock6-0, 6-41956 Barry Phillips-Moore Neil Gibson6-2, 6-01957 Warren Woodcock Ken Binns6-4, 7-51958 Roy Emerson Andres Gimeno6-3, 10-81959 Neale Fraser Bob Hewitt6-2, 6-21960 Neale Fraser Bob Hewitt6-1, 6-41961 Bob Hewitt John Newcombe6-0, 1-6, 6-21962 Geoff Pollard Michael Callaghan1-6, 6-1, 6-11963 John Newcombe Fred Stolle6-3, 6-41964 Geoff Pollard Dick Crealy4-6, 6-1, 6-31965 Bill Bowrey Geoff Pollard6-4, 5-7, 6-41966 Doug Kelso Bruce Larkham6-0, 3-6, 9-71967 Bruce Larkham Warren Jacques6-1, 6-11968 Ray Ruffels Dick Crealy6-2, 6-21969 John Alexander Bruce Larkham6-1, 6-41970 Bruce Larkham Geoff Pollard5-7, 6-3, 7-51971 Bruce Larkham Howard Humphries6-7, 7-5, 6-21972 Bruce Larkham Trevor Allan7-6, 6-21973 Bruce Larkham Michael Kenny6-3, 6-31974 Chris Kachel Michael Kenny7-6, 6-31975 Peter Hawking Phil Martin6-4, 6-21976 Abandoned due to rain1977 Phil Martin Graham Wurtz7-5, 6-31978 Pat Serret Brett Edwards6-3, 2-6, 6-41979 Eddie Myers Phil Martin6-4, 6-21980 Brett Edwards Phil Martin6-2, 6-4 1981 Charlie Fancutt Terry Rocavert6-4, 6-3
References
External links Image of the Manuka Tennis Courts in the early 1930s.