The Eastern Indoor Championships also known as the Eastern States Indoor Championships was a men's and women's indoor tennis tournament founded in 1944. It was organized by the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association (today known as USTA Eastern). It was originally played on wood courts, then switching later to carpet courts until 1977 when it was discontinued.
History In February 1944, the Eastern Indoor Championships were established. The first two editions were played at the Bassford-Wood Courts, Lexington Avenue, New York City. This tournament is particular notable for allowing the tennis player and black woman Althea Gibson to play in a major United States Lawn Tennis Association tournament.Baltimore Afro-American (1970) Se advanced to the quarter finals in the singles, but was beaten by nationally ranked Betty Rosenquest,Baltimore Afro-American (1970) who won the event that year. The tournament was mainly played in New York City, in particular in Manhattan and the Bronx. It was also held in Bergen, New York, Hackensack, New Jersey, and Waldwick, New Jersey. The tournament was discontinued in 1977 as part of the ILTF Independent Tour, and became a regional USTA circuit event.
Finals Men's singles (incomplete roll) In 1967 two editions of the men's championships were held one in January denoted as (*) and the other in March as (**). YearLocationChampionsRunners-upScore1944NYC Theodore Schein Edward McGrath6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3.1945The New York TimesNYC Bill Talbert Herbert Bowman6–2, 6–1, 6–0.1950NYC Charles Masterson R. Philip Hanna 12–10, 7–5, 6–2. 1964NYC Donald Rubell John Mangan 7–9, 6–4, 8–6, 6–4. 1965Bergen Herb Fitzgibbon Ned Weld3–6, 8–10, 6–4, 7–5, 3–1, ret. 1966Waldwick Eugene Scott Robert Barker6–1, 6–4, 6–1. 1967*Waldwick Eugene Scott (2) Frank Froehling III6–3, 6–3, 6–3. 1967**Waldwick Donald Rubell (2) Tony Vincent6–3, 6–2, 6–4. 1968NYC Mike Callaghan Gabino Palafox6–8, 5–7, 6–3, 9–7. ↓ Open era ↓1969Hackensack Butch Seewagen Jaime Subirats6–2, 13–11, 6–3. 1970Hackensack Herb Fitzgibbon (2) Peter Fishbach 13–11, 7–5, 6–0. 1971NYC Herb Fitzgibbon (3) John Adams 6–3, 6–2, 6–0. 1972NYC Vitas Gerulaitis King Van Nostrand6–2, 6–2, 6–1. 1973NYC Mike Grant King Van Nostrand 6–2, 6–2, 6–1. 1974NYC King Van Nostrand Warren Lucas 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3. 1975NYC Jon Molin Art Carrington4–6, 6–1, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4.
Women's singles (incomplete roll) YearLocationChampionsRunners-upScore 1944NYC Norma Taubele Barber Mary J. M. Donnalley 6–2, 6–2 1945NYC Norma Taubele Barber (2) Helen Germaine 1–6, 6–3, 6–2 1946NYC Norma Taubele Barber (3) Edna Steinbach 6–2, 6–2 1947NYC Nina Irwin Sylvia Knowles 7–5, 4–6, 7–5 1948NYC Barbara Wilkins Nina Irwin 6–4, 4–6, 64 1949NYC Betty Rosenquest Helen Germaine 6–4, 6–0 1950NYC Althea Gibson Millicent Hirsch Lang 6–3, 6–1 1953NYC Thelma Coyne Long Lois Felix 6–0, 6–2 1964NYC Pat Stewart Mimi Kanarek 6–2, 8–6 1966Waldwick Marilyn Aschner Mimi Kanarek6–3, 8–10, 7–5 1968NYC Maria-Cristina Dias Marilyn Aschner 6–4, 4–6, 6–3↓ Open era ↓ 1970Hackensack Marilyn Aschner (2) Louise Gonnerman 6–0, 7–5 1977NYC Barbara Potter Kathy Mueller 6–3, 6–2
See also Eastern Grass Court Championships Eastern Clay Court Championships
References