Irish Open (tennis) explained

Irish Championships Irish Open
Type:	defunct
Event Name:	Irish Open
Tour:	ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (1970–74) men ILTF Independent Circuit (1970, 74-83) women WTA Tour (1971–73) women
Location:	Dublin, Ireland
Editions:	94
Venue:	Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club Fitzwilliam Square
Surface:	Hard, Grass, Clay

The Irish Open and originally known as the Irish Championships or Irish Lawn Tennis Championships,^[1] and for sponsorship reasons also known as Carroll's Irish Open Championships was a men's and women's tennis tournament held at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Before the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913, it was considered by players and historians one of the four most important tennis tournaments to win.^{[2] [3] [4]} the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships. The men's event was part of the pre-open era tour from inception until 1967. It was then part of the open era non-aligned independent tour (1968–69). From 1970 to 1974, it was an event on the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The women's event was on the same tours as the men except for when it became part of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour from 1971 to 1973. The men's edition was played until 1979, and the women's ended in 1983 when they both ceased to part of the top level world tennis circuit.

History

The Irish Championships were first held in June 1879, two years after Wimbledon started. It was first staged at Pembroke Place, Dublin ^[5] until 1880 when it transferred to Wilton Place ^[5] where it remained till 1902. In 1903 the tournament moved again this time to Fitzwilliam Square. The championships began 2 June 1879 ^[6] the tournament had the distinction of being the first event to feature men's and women's singles and doubles tournaments as well as a mixed doubles competition. Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 it was considered by players and historians one of the four most important tennis tournaments to win.^{[2] [3] [4]} the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships.

George Whiteside Hillyard writing his book Forty Years of First-class Lawn Tennis emphasising the importance of this tournament:

The tournament changed its name to the Irish Open in 1972 and again it moved location to Appian Way, Dublin where it remained for the duration of its run. The tournament has been played on multiple surfaces throughout its history. The first two years, (1879–1880) were competed on hard courts.^[7] It was played on grass courts,^[7] (1881–1939). From 1946 to 1965, it was played on clay courts,^[7] and it returned to being played on grass again from 1966 until the tournament ended.^[7] The Irish Open is currently a tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour, the lowest tier of professional tennis.^[8]

Finals

Results include:^[1]

Men's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879	Vere St. Leger Goold		8–6, 8–6
1880			6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1881	William Renshaw (2)		1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1882	William Renshaw (3)		w/o
1883			3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6, 6–3
1884			6–1, 6–4, 6–2
1885	Herbert Lawford (2)		4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1886	Herbert Lawford (3)		5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5
1887	Ernest Renshaw (2)		7–5, 6–2, 9–7
1888	Ernest Renshaw (3)		6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1889			12–10, 6–1, 6–3
1890			3–6, 3–6, 9–7, 6–4, 7–5
1891	Ernest Lewis (2)		6–2, 6–3, 8–6
1892	Ernest Renshaw (4)		1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1893 ^[9]			6–1, 6–4, 6–1
1894	Joshua Pim (2)		3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 9–7
1895	Joshua Pim (3)		6–1, 6–1, 6–3
1896			6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3^[10]
1897 ^[11]			1–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3
1898			6–1, 5–7, 9–7, 8–6
1899			6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1900	Reginald Doherty (2)		6–4, 7–5, 7–9, 7–9, 6–3
1901	Reginald Doherty (3)		6–4, 4–6, r
1902			6–1, 6–4, 6–1
1903			6–0, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4^[12]
1904			6–1, 6–2, 6–4
1905	James Cecil Parke (2)		6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1906		S. Douglas	6–2, 6–1, 7–5
1907			0–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
1908	James Cecil Parke (3)		4–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0
1909	James Cecil Parke (4)		6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3
1910	James Cecil Parke (5)		6–1, 6–3, 8–6
1911	James Cecil Parke (6)		6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1912	James Cecil Parke (7)		6–2, 6–1, 6–0
1913	James Cecil Parke (8)		6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1914			7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–8, 6–3
1915–18	Not held
1919			6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1920			2–6, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1921	Cecil J. Campbell (2)
1922	Not held
1923		F. Crosbie	7–5, 6–0, 6–1
1924			6–1, 6–0, 6–2
1925			6–3, 6–3, 6–0
1926			6–2, 6–1, 6–3
1927			6–2, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4
1928			5–7, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4, 6–2
1929			4–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2, 6–4
1930			3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–0
1931			6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1932			3–6, 6–3, 9–11, 6–3, 6–0
1933			6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
1934			6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 1–6, 6–1
1935			7–5, 6–2, 6–1
1936	George Lyttleton-Rogers (2)		6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1937	George Lyttleton-Rogers (3)		6–1, 8–6, 7–5
1938			6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
1939			6–2, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2
1940–45	Not held
1946			6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1947			6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1948			6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1949			3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 6–3
1950			6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1951			6–3, 6–4, 6–0
1952			6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–2
1953	Naresh Kumar (2)		6–1, 3–6, 6–2, 6–0
1954			2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 11–13, 6–4
1955	Hugh Stewart (2)		6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 13–11
1956			3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1957			6–4, 6–2, 6–3
1958			Title shared
1959			8–6, 11–9
1960			6–3, 6–4, 7–5
1961			6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 11–9
1962			w/o
1963			6–3, 6–0, 6–3
1964	Bobby Wilson (2)		6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2
1965			11–9, 13–11
1966			7–9, 6–4, 6–4
1967			6–3, 3–6, 6–0
1968			6–1, 6–2
↓  Open era  ↓
1969			6–3, 6–2
1970	Tony Roche (2)		6–3, 6–1
1971			10–8, 6–3
1972	Bob Hewitt (2)		6–1, 6–2
1973			7–5, 3–6, 11–9
1974			6–3, 9–8
1975			9–7, 6–3
1976–77	Not held
1978			6–3, 6–2
1979			7–6, 6–4

Women's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879 ^[13]		D. Meldon	6–2, 0–6, 8–6^[14]
1880	D. Meldon (2)		6–1, 6–1
1881	Not held
1882	Mary Abercrombie	Marian Bradley	6–4, 6–1
1883 ^[15]			6–0, 6–1
1884			6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1885	Maud Watson (2)		6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1886 ^[16]	May Langrishe (2)		6–3, 6–4
1887			6–4, 6–3
1888			7–5, 6–2
1889 ^[17]			7–5, 6–0
1890	Louisa Martin (2)		9–7, 6–4
1891	Louisa Martin (3)		6–2, 5–7, 6–0
1892	Louisa Martin (4)	G. Crofton	6–1, 6–0
1893		Miss Pope	6–2, 6–3
1894	Blanche Bingley Hillyard (2)	Miss Shaw	6–3, 6–2
1895	Charlotte Cooper^[18]	Lottie Paterson	6–4, 6–4
1896	Louisa Martin (5)		6–0, 3–6, 6–2
1897	Blanche Bingley Hillyard (3)		7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1898			6–4, 9–7
1899	Louisa Martin (6)		6–1, 6–2
1900	Louisa Martin (7)		2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1901			9–7, 6–1
1902	Louisa Martin (8)		6–8, 6–4, 7–5
1903	Louisa Martin (9)		6–2, 4–6, 6–1
1904		Ellen Stawell-Brown	6–3, 6–3
1905	Winifred Longhurst (2)	Mrs. A.H.C. Barker	6–1, 6–0
1906	Winifred Longhurst (3)		6–1, 6–1
1907			6–2, 6–2
1908	Maude Garfit (2)		6–4, 6–2
1909	Maude Garfit (3)		9–7, 9–7
1910	Bertha Holder	Miss Hazlett	6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1911	Mrs D.R. Barry	Bertha Holder	6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1912		Mrs. Norton-Barry	6–4, 6–1
1913	Mrs D.R. Norton-Barry (2)	I. Clarke	6–2, 7–5
1914	I. Clarke		9–11, 6–2, 6–4
1915–18	Not held
1919		Janet Jackson	6–0, 6–1
1920	Elizabeth Ryan (2)		6–1, 6–2
1921	Elizabeth Ryan (3)		6–2, 6–4
1922	Not held
1923	Elizabeth Ryan (4)		7–5, 4–6, 12–10
1924		Miss Price	6–3, 6–4
1925			9–7, 6–1
1926	Hilda Wallis (2)	Miss Price	6–4, 6–0
1927			6–2, 6–2
1928			6–1, 1–6, 8–6
1929			3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1930	Hilda Wallis (3)	M. French	6–2, 6–2
	Mrs. Blair White (2)		6–4, 6–3
1932			6–4, 6–2
1933	Hilda Wallis (4		6–4, 6–3
1934			6–3, 6–1
1935			3–6, 6–3, 6–1
1936			6–3, 6–3
1937		Valerie Scott	6–4, 6–1
1938			6–4, 6–2
1939			6–2, 6–4
1940–45	Not held
1946			6–2, 7–5
1947			3–6, 6–4, 6–1
1948			9–7, 6–1
1949			6–1, 4–6, 9–7
1950			6–3, 6–4
1951			6–2, 6–3
1952			6–1, 6–1
1953			6–4, 0–6, 11–9
1954			6–2, 6–1
1955			6–2, 6–2
1956			8–6, 6–2
1957			4–6, 6–4, 6–0
1958			4–6, 7–5, 7–5
1959			6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1960	Dorothy Head Knode (2)		6–4, 6–2
1961			6–0, 6–3
1962			6–0, 6–3
1963			6–4, 6–3
1964			6–0, 6–1
1965	Maria Bueno (2)		10–8, 6–4
1966			6–2, 6–1
1967		Heather Allen	6–3, 6–2
1968	Margaret Court (2)		6–3, 6–1
↓  Open era  ↓
1969			6–2, 6–2
1970			6–3, 6–3
1971	Margaret Court (3)		6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1972			2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1973	Margaret Court (4)		6–2, 6–4
1974			6–4, 6–1
1975			6–8, 6–4, 7–5
1976	Sue Mappin (2)		6–4, 6–0
1977			2–6, 6–3, 6–1
1978	Mary Sawyer (2)		6–4, 6–4
1979			6–2, 6–4
1980	Pam Whytcross (2)		6–1, 6–4
1981			0–6, 6–1, 6–4
1982			6–1, 3–6, 6–2
1983			4–6, 6–2, 6–3

Men's doubles

Results included:^[1]

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879	J. Elliot H. Kellie	Peter Aungier Charles David Barry	?
1880	William Renshaw Ernest Renshaw	Herbert Lawford A. J. Mulholland	5–7, 6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–2.
1881	William Renshaw (2) Ernest Renshaw (2)	Arthur J. de Courcy Wilson Henry Hugh Wilson	def.
1882	Ernest Browne Peter Aungier	William Renshaw (2) Ernest Renshaw	6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 8–6.
1883	William Renshaw (3) Ernest Renshaw (3)		6–3, 6–0, 10–8.
1884	William Renshaw (4) Ernest Renshaw (4)	Ernest Lewis Edward Lake Williams	7–5, 6–4, 6–3.
1885	William Renshaw (5) Ernest Renshaw (5)	Ernest Browne Eyre Chatterton	6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.
1886	Willoughby Hamilton Herbert Knox McKay	Eyre Chatterton James Dwight	4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1.
1887	Willoughby Hamilton (2) Tom S. Campion		6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3.
1888	Willoughby Hamilton (3) Tom S. Campion (2)	Hugh Montgomery Cairnes Cameron Dean-Shute	6–3, 9–7, 7–5.
1889		Maxwell J. Carpendale Harold S. Stone	6–2, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3.
1890		Ernest Lewis George Hillyard	8–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4.
1891	Joshua Pim (2) Frank Stoker (2)	Ernest Lewis Grainger Chaytor	7–5, 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3.
1892		Joshua Pim Frank Stoker	6–1, 8–6, 6–4.
1893	Joshua Pim Frank Stoker (3)		default
1894	Joshua Pim (2) Frank Stoker (4)	Ernest Lewis Charles Henry Martin	6–3, 7–5, 6–4.
1895^[19]	Joshua Pim (3) Frank Stoker (5)		6–4, 6–0, 6–2
1896 ^[20]		Reginald Doherty Harold Nesbitt	6–3, 7–5, 6–0
1897^[21]	Wilfred Baddeley (2) Herbert Baddeley (2)		9–7, 7–5, 6–3
1898			w.o.
1899	Reginald Doherty (2) Laurence Doherty (2)
1900	Reginald Doherty (3) Laurence Doherty (3)
1901	Reginald Doherty (4) Laurence Doherty (4)
1902	Reginald Doherty 5) Laurence Doherty (5)
1907	Herbert Newcombe Craig Thomas Douglas Good	James Cecil Parke John Frederick Stokes	8–6, 6–8, 9–7, 6–4.
1908	Alfred Beamish Charles F. Scroope	Herbert Newcombe Craig Thomas Douglas Good	3–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–3.
1920	John F. O'Connell Miley Valentine W. O'Connell Miley	Edward D'Arcy McCrea John Frederick Stokes	6–0, 6–1, 6–4.
1921–2008	...

Women's doubles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1884		Lilian Watson Maud Watson	11–9, 6–2
1885
1886
1887	Louisa Martin (2) Florence Stanuell
1888

Mary Steedman
Bertha Steedman || |||-|1889 || Louisa Martin (3)
Florence Stanuell (2)|| |||-|1890 || Louisa Martin (4)
Florence Stanuell (3)|| |||-|1891 || Louisa Martin (5)
Florence Stanuell (4)|| |||-|1892 || Lottie Dod
Bertha Steedman (2)|| |||-|1893 || Jane Corder
Winifred Shaw || ||Won|-|1894 || Blanche Bingley
Miss Snook || ||Won|-|1895 || Miss Cooper
Charlotte Cooper^[18] || |||-|1896 || Alice Pickering
Ruth Durlacher || |||-|1897 || Blanche Bingley
Charlotte Cooper (2)|| |||-|1898 || Louisa Martin (6)
Ruth Durlacher || |||-|1899 || Ruth Durlacher (3)
Louisa Martin (7)|| |||-|1900 || Charlotte Cooper
Ms. E. Cooper || |||-|1901 || Ruth Durlacher (2)
Louisa Martin (8)|| |||-|1902 || Ruth Durlacher (3)
Miss Hazlett|| |||-|1925 || Esna Boyd
Floris E. S. St. George|| Sylvia Lance Harper
Daphne Akhurst || 8–6, 6–4|-|1903–70 || ... || |||-| colspan="4" align="center" | ↓  Open era  ↓|- |1971 || Lesley Turner Bowrey
Betty Stöve || Margaret Court
Evonne Goolagong || 7–5, 6–1|-|1972 || Brenda Kirk
Pat Walkden-Pretorius || Evonne Goolagong
Karen Krantzcke || 6–3, 8–10, 6–2|-|1973 || Margaret Court
Virginia Wade || Helen Gourlay
Karen Krantzcke || 8–6, 3–6, 6–4|}

Mixed doubles

Results included:^[1]

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879	J. Elliot Miss Costello	Adela Langrishe Charles David Barry	6–4, 6–4.
1880	Spencer Duncan Maul Miss Costello (2)	D. Meldon Robert Hassard	6–4, 7–5.
1881	William Renshaw Mary Abercrombie	Miss Costello Spencer D. Maul	6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3.
1882	Ernest Browne Miss Perry		6–1, 6–0, 4–6, 1–6, 6–3.
1883		Peter Aungier Lena Rice	6–3, 6–2, 6–0.
1884	William Renshaw Maud Watson	Connie Butler John Galbraith Horn	6–0, 8–6, 6–3.
1885	William Renshaw (2) Maud Watson (2)	Ernest Browne Miss Ramsay	6–4, 6–1, 6–4.
1886	Eyre Chatterton May Langrishe (2)	Toler Garvey Adela Langrishe	6–0, 6–2, 6–1.
1887		Harry Grove Maud Watson	8–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3.
1888		Bertha Steedman Hugh Cairns	6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7.
1889		Blanche Hillyard Harold S. Stone	6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4.
1890	Grainger Chaytor Louisa Martin	Helen Jackson Arthur J. de C. Wilson	6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1891	Grainger Chaytor (2) Louisa Martin (2)
1892	Grainger Chaytor (3) Louisa Martin (3)
1893	Manliffe Goodbody Miss E. C. Pinckney
1894
1895	Harold Mahony Charlotte Cooper
1896	Harold Mahony (2) Charlotte Cooper (2)
1897
1898
1899	Reginald Doherty Charlotte Cooper (3)
1900	Reginald Doherty (2) Charlotte Cooper (4)
1901
1902	Laurence Doherty (2) Ruth Durlacher (2)
↓  Open era  ↓

External links

• Doherty, R.F. et al. (1903): R. F. & H. L. Doherty on Lawn Tennis. Baker and Taylor Co., New York. p. 169–173. (online)
• Irish Championships retrieved from tennisarchives.com on 2012/09/24

Notes and References

1. Web site: Garcia . Gabriel . Tournament – Irish Championships – Irish Open. The Tennis Base . Tennismem SL . 5 August 2023 . Madrid. subscription.
2. Book: Robertson, Max. The Encyclopedia of Tennis. 1974. Allen & Unwin. London. 9780047960420. 266, 267.
3. Book: Myers. A. Wallis. Lawn Tennis at Home and Abroad. 1903. Charles Scribner and Sons. New York. 55.
4. Book: Lake. Robert J.. A Social History of Tennis in Britain. 2014. Routledge. 9781134445578. 49.
5. Web site: History: Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. www.fltc.ie. Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, 2017. 19 October 2017.
6. Web site: IRISH CH. Tournament Draw 1879. thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base. 19 October 2017.
7. Web site: IRISH CH. Tournament Roll of honour-surface. thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. 19 October 2017.
8. Web site: M25 Dublin . International Tennis Federation (ITF) . 31 January 2020.
9. News: Talk of the Tennis Players. The New York Times. June 18, 1893.
10. All-Comers final, last year's champion didn't defend his title
11. Web site: Wilberforce Eaves: Biography . sports-reference.com . Sports Reference . 6 October 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161203034203/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ea/wilberforce-eaves-1.html . 3 December 2016 .
12. In 1903, the "challenge round" system was abandoned and the modern tournament system has since been used.
13. Book: Williams. Jean. A contemporary history of women's sport, part one : sporting women, 1850–1960. 2014. Routledge, 2014. 9781317746669. 15. Volume 3 of Routledge Research in Sports History.
14. Collins, B. (2010): History of Tennis. 2nd edition. New Chapter Press, New York., p. 696.
15. Book: Williams. Jean. A contemporary history of women's sport, part one : sporting women, 1850–1960. 2014. Routledge, 2014. 9781317746669. 15. Volume 3 of Routledge Research in Sports History.
16. Book: Williams. Jean. A contemporary history of women's sport, part one : sporting women, 1850–1960. 2014. Routledge, 2014. 9781317746669. 15. Volume 3 of Routledge Research in Sports History.
17. Book: John Nauright. Charles Parrish. Sports around the world history, culture, and practice. 2012. ABC-CLIO. Santa Barbara, California. 9781598843019. 199.
18. Web site: Smyth. J. G.. Oxford DNB article: Sterry, Charlotte Reinagle. archive.fo. Oxford University Press, 2004–13. 20 October 2017. 8 November 2013. bot: unknown. https://archive.today/20131108154214/http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/36284. 8 November 2013.
19. News: LAWN TENNIS: The Irish Championships . 15 January 2024 . . . 4 Jun 1895 . London, England . 9 . en.
20. News: Irish Lawn Tennis Championships . 15 January 2024 . . newspapers.com . 1 Jun 1896 . Plymouth, Devon, England . 3 . en.
21. News: LAWN TENNIS: The Irish Championships . 15 January 2024 . . newspapers.com . 31 May 1897 . Newcastle upon Tyne, England . 5 . en.