Bermuda Open Explained

Bermuda Open
Type:defunct
Event Name:Bermuda Open Tennis Championships (1879-?)
Bermuda Championships (1914-1974)
Bermuda Open (1975).
Bermuda Classic (1976)
Tour:Grand Prix circuit (1975–76)
Founded:1879
Ended:1976
Location:Hamilton, Bermuda
Paget, Bermuda
Surface:Hardcourt (1914-1944, 79)
Clay (1947–76)

The Bermuda Open[1] was originally founded as the Bermuda Open Tennis Championships[2] in 1879 the later called the Bermuda Championships in 1914 and was staged in Hamilton, During the 1950s and 1960s it was called the Bermuda International Championships. and was staged under that name until 1974. In 1976 the tournament was known as the Bermuda Classic. From 1914 until at least 1944 it was played on outdoor hard courts. In later years it was held in Paget in Bermuda and played on outdoor clay courts.

History

The first known tennis event to be staged in Bermuda occurred in September 1876 when a Bermuda Tournament for women was held only one time, that was won by Mary G. Gray.[3] The first edition of the Bermuda Open Tennis Championships was staged in 1879 at Hamilton, the men's doubles event was won by Pelham Von Donop and Charles Wood.[4] By 1914 the tournament was known as the Bermuda Championships.[1] In 1950s-1960s the denomination used was the Bermuda International or sometimes the Bermuda Invitation (for the women's events).[1] The tournament was also staged at Paget the last time occurring in 1968. The original surface was hard courts until 1944 when it switched to clay courts. In 1975 the Bermuda Championships was rebranded as the Bermuda Open.[1] In 1976 at the final edition its name was changed again to the Bermuda Classic.[1]

Finals

ILTF World Circuit
ILTF Grand Prix Circuit

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
Bermuda Championships
1914 Arthur Berger Albert J. Ostendorf 6–2, 6–1 ret.
1914/1919No competition (due to WWI)
1922 Lawrence Bridges Rice[5] Vinnie Richards6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 6–2.
1923 Vinnie Richards Lawrence Bridges Rice6–3, 6–3, 6–0.
1924 Herbert Bowman Gerald Emerson4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–2.
1925[6] Fred Anderson F. R. Leighton Crawford5–7, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3.
1926 Herbert Bowman (2) Willard Crocker6–8, 6–4, 6–2, 0–6, 6–3.
1927 George Lott Fritz Mercur4–6, 6–2, 7–5, 12–10.
1928 Herbert Bowman (3) Hare W. Powell Jr.6–4, 6–1, 6–3.
1929 Herbert Bowman (4) J. Gilbert Hall3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 8–6.
1930 Herbert Bowman (5) Bruce Barnes6–4, 6–3, 6–2.
1931 John Doeg Berkeley Bell6–4, 2–6, 6–1, 0–6, 6–3.
1932 Fred Perry Harry Lee4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4.
1933 Cliff Sutter Gregory Mangin6–2, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2.
1934 Lester Stoefen Wilmer Allison6–1, 6–2, 1–6, 6–3.
1935 Bryan Grant J. Gilbert Hall6–0, 6–0, 6–4.
1936 Bryan Grant (2) Bob Murray6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 7–5.
1937 Frank Parker Bob Murray6–1, 6–0, 6–2.
1938 Wayne Sabin Don McNeill4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–4.
1939 Bobby Riggs Elwood Cooke6–3, 1–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–4.
1940 Elwood Cooke Gardnar Mulloy6–1, 6–4, 6–3.
1941 Brownlow Eve William Freisenbruch6–4, 3–6, 6–0.
1942/1943No competition (due to WWII)
Bermuda International Championships
1944 Jack Skelton Brownlow Eve6–1, 6–2.
1947 Earl Cochell Sidney Wood6–4, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3.
1948 Bill Talbert Marcel Bernard6–3, 6–2, 5–7, 7–5.
1949 Earl Cochell (2) Sidney Wood6–2, 11–9, 6–4.
1950 Bill Talbert (2) Tony Trabert6–3, 1–6, 6–1, 6–2.
1951 Vic Seixas Ham Richardson6–4, 9–7, 6–4.
1952 Vic Seixas (2) Bill Talbert5–7, 1–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–0.
1953 Gardnar Mulloy Fred Kovaleski6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 9–7.
1954 Irvin Dorfman Jordan Bentley[7] 6–1, 6–1.
1955 Bill Tully[8] John Riihiluoma[9] 6–8, 6–2, 6–3, 6–4.
1956 Tony Vincent Bob Freedman[10] 6–4, 6–4.
1957 Tony Vincent (2) Don Thompson[11] 6–2, 9–7
1959 Kingman Lambert Don Thompson6–3, 6–0.
1961 Gilmore (Gil) Rothrock Leif Beck6–1, 6–1.
1963 Bill Tully (2) Alan Fleming 6–3, 6–0.
1964 Alan Fleming 2–6, 8–6, 9–7.
1965 Bill Tym John Fleitz[12] 2–6, 8–6, 9–7.
1966 Bill Tym (2) Ellis Slack6–2, 7–5.
1967 Ellis Slack[13] John Galinato6–2, 6–3.
1968 Ellis Slack (2) John Galinato2–6, 7–5, 6–3.
↓  Open era  ↓
1970 Harry Fauquier Keith Carpenter6–2, 6–1.
1972 6–3, 6–4.
1974 Claude Schoenlank[14] 6–3, 6–4.
Bermuda Open
1975[15] 6–1, 6–4
Bermuda Classic
1976[16] 7–6, 6–2
Bermuda Open
1979 Stephen Alger Harry Fauquier6–3, 6–2.

Women' singles

(incomplete roll)

Championship of Bermuda
YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1889 Mabel Grant Grace Roosevelt4–6, 6–3, 6–3
Bermuda Championships
1913 Bessie Gosling Harvey[17] Mary Gray6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1914 Bessie Gosling Harvey (2) Marion Cresswell walkover
1915-19Not held (due to World War I)
1922 Miss Yuillo 6–0, 3–6, 6–1
1923 Mayme McDonald Gladys Hutchings 6–4, 6–4
1924 Mollie Thayer Gladys Hutchings 8–6, 6–4
1925 Mary Hart McIlquham Joan Reid-Thomas6–2, 6–0
1926 Martha Bayard Gladys Hutchings 6–2, 6–2
1927 Martha Bayard (2) Penelope Anderson 6–2, 2–6, 6–1
1928 Gladys Hutchings 6–3, 6–1
1929 Penelope Anderson Mary Harland7–9, 6–4, 6–2
1930 Edith Sigourney Penelope Anderson 2–6, 6–3, 8–6
19316–3, 6–2
1932 Sarah Palfrey (2)6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1933 Virginia Rice Virginia Hilleary 10–8, 6–3
1934 Marjorie Sachs Penelope Anderson McBride 5–7, 6–4, 6–2
1935 Sylvie Jung Henrotinwalkover
1936 Sylvie Jung Henrotin (2) Norma Taubele 6–2, 8–6
1937 Penelope Anderson McBride 6–1, 6–2
1938 Sylvie Jung Henrotin (3)3–6, 6–4, 6–2
19396–3, 7–5
1940 Sarah Palfrey Fabyan (3) Pauline Betz 6–2, 6–4
1941 Gladys Hutchings Barbara Robinson Freisenbruch 5–7, 6–3, 7–5
1942-43Not held (due to World War II)
Bermuda International Championships
1944 Barbara Robinson Freisenbruch Gladys Hutchings 6–1, 6–3
19476–2, 9–7
1948 Doris Hart (2)4–6, 6–1, 6–2
1949 Dorothy Head6–2, 6–1
19505–7, 6–3, 6–4
Bermuda Invitation
1951 Beverly Baker9–7, 7–5
Bermuda International Championships
19526–4, 6–0
Bermuda Invitation
1953[18] 9–7, 4–6, 6–1
19546–2, 6–3
1955 Sheila West Gosling[19] J. Pollitt 2–6, 6–3, 6–1
Bermuda International Championships
1956 Sheila West Gosling (2) Mrs J. Jones 6–2, 6–3
1957 Sheila West Gosling (3) Mrs J. Jones 6–2, 6–1
1957 Florence Blanchard Ann Alger 6–4, 6–3
Bermuda Invitation
1959 Elizabeth Coleman 6–2, 6–4
1961 Dottie Head Knode (2)6–0, 6–3
1964 Barbara Scofield Davidson Jean French 6–1, 6–1
19656–4, 7–5
1966 Alice Tym (2) Kay Hubbell 6–1, 6–2
↓  Open era  ↓
1970 Ann Alger Grace Rathbun Findlay 7–5, 7–5

Men's Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
Bermuda Open Tennis Championships
1879 Pelham Von Donop
Charles Wood
?
?
?
Bermuda Open
1975 Not held
Bermuda Classic
1976 6–4, 4–6, 7–6

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tournaments:Bermuda Championships – Bermuda Open . The Tennis Base . Tennismem SL . Madrid, Spain . 16 November 2023. subscription.
  2. Book: Bancroft . James W. . The Early Years of the FA Cup: How the British Army Helped Establish the World's First Football Tournament . 8 December 2021 . Frontline Books . Barnsley, England . 978-1-3990-9994-3 . 69 . en.
  3. Book: Fein . Paul . Tennis Confidential II: More of Today's Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies . 30 April 2009 . Potomac Books . Sterling, VA . 978-1-61234-395-2 . 95 . en.
  4. Bankcroft
  5. News: Lawrence B. Rice, 94 Was architect, tennis champion - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA) HighBeam Research . 16 November 2023 . Boston Globe . Wayback Machine . 10 January 1992. https://web.archive.org/web/20160324234523/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8724970.html . 24 March 2016 .
  6. News: Fred Anderson Takes Final, Wins Bermuda Tennis Title . 16 November 2023 . . 28 February 1925 . New York City . 10.
  7. Web site: Jordan Bentley: Player Activity . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  8. Web site: Player Profile: William Tully (USA) . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 16 November 2023.
  9. News: Former No.1 Riihiluoma remembered . 16 November 2023 . Royal Gazette . 4 May 2012.
  10. Web site: Robert Freedman: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  11. Web site: Donald Thompson: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  12. Web site: John Fleitz: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  13. Web site: Ellis Slack: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  14. Web site: Player Profile: Claude Schoenlank (USA) . ITF . 16 November 2023.
  15. Web site: Results Archive: 1975 Bermuda . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  16. Web site: Results Archive: 1976 Bermuda . ATP Tour . ATP . 16 November 2023.
  17. Web site: Bessie Gosling Harvey in 1903 . National Museum of Bermuda . 15 November 2023.
  18. Book: Stern . Andrew . Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis . Jun 1953 . Family Media. New York City . 26 . The Bermuda Championships.
  19. News: Lou Lyons . Nancy . Sheila West Gosling . 15 November 2023 . The Bermudian Magazine. 7 October 2018 . Hamilton, Bermuda.