Coral Beach Invitation Explained

Coral Beach Club Invitation
Coral Beach Invitation
Type:defunct
Location:Warwick, Bermuda.
Venue:Coral Beach Club
Tour:ILTF North American Circuit
Surface:Clay – outdoors

The Coral Beach Invitation[1] also known as the Coral Beach Club Invitation was combined tennis tournament played on green clay courts at the Coral Beach Club resort, Warwick, Bermuda. It was founded in 1940 and ran annually until 1978 when it was discontinued.[1] The tournament was part of the ILTF North American Circuit.[1]

History

In 1939, the first two ‘Bermuda Clay’ courts were laid down (now Har-Tru).[2] A few months later in 1940 the invitation tournament was held.[3] The winner of the men's singles, W. Donald McNeill, the same year, won the United States Lawn Tennis Championship at Forest Hills.[3] The first lady champion, Miss Gracyn Wheeler, defeated Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Cooke who later also at Forest Hills.[3] The tournament was part of the ILTF North American Circuit.

Finals

Men's Singles

(incomplete roll)

YearWinnerRunner-upScore
1940 Don McNeill Elwood Thomas Cooke6–8, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.
1952 Vic Seixas Gustavo Palafox6–4, 9–7, 6–3.
1953[4] Don McNeill Lorne Main7–5, 6–4, 6–2.
1966 Bill Tym Ellis Slack6–4, 6–1.
1979 Stephen Alger King Van Nostrand6–2, 6–1.

Women's Singles

(incomplete roll)

YearWinnerRunner-upScore
1940 Gracyn Wheeler Sarah Palfrey Cooke10–8, 6–3
1953[5] Louise Brough Thelma Coyne Long6–3, 6–4
1961 Dottie Head Knode Barbara Scofield Davidson6–1, 7–5
1970 Sally Fuller Kay Hubbell6–2, 6–1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tournaments: Coral Beach Invitation. The Tennis Base . Tennismem SL . September 25, 2023. subscription.
  2. Web site: About The Club . members.coralbeachclub.com . Coral Beach And Tennis Club . Warwick, Bermuda.
  3. Coral Beach and Tennis Club
  4. Book: Stern . Andrew . Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis . Jun 1953 . Family Media. New York City . 26 . The Bermuda Championships.
  5. Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis