South of France Championships explained

South of France Championships Championnats du Sud de la France
Type:	defunct
Founded:	1895
Ended:	1971
Editions:	76
Location:	Nice, France
Venue:	Nice Lawn Tennis Club
Surface:	Clay / outdoor

The South of France Championships ^[1] its original name or Championnats du Sud de la France also known as the Championships of the South of France and the Championship of Southern France was a tennis event held from 1895 through 1971 it was originally played at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club in Nice, France. It was one of the tournaments of the French Riviera tennis circuit.

History

Lawn tennis was introduced to French Riviera by English, who decided to holiday on the Cote d'Azur after Queen Victoria vacationed there during the late 1800s. The Riviera season was usually December through to March and a number of events would be staged in Nice the South of France Championships was considered the best of these early continental tournaments ^[2] other events founded around this time included the Nice Championships, the Nice Lawn Tennis Club Championships and later the Nice International. Nice Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1890 at Place Mozart. In 1895 the South of France Championships tournament began, the dates the event was held fluctuated between February, March and April annually the club and championships changed location to Parc Imperial Avenue Suzanne Lenglen in 1923. It was one of the earliest events open to international players, the tournament survived for a period of 76 years until 1971.

Finals

Notes: Challenge Round: The final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) in some tournaments not all. * Indicates challenger

Men's singles

Year	Champion	Runner-up	Score
1895	A. F. Thomas		?
1896 ^[3]	Joseph Hamilton De Robiglio	?	?
1897			6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1898		James Robert Hay-Gordon	6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1899	Reginald Doherty (2)		6–0, 6–0, 6–0
1900	Laurence Doherty (2)		walkover
1901	Laurence Doherty (3)		6–2, 6–3, 6–2
1902	Laurence Doherty (4)		walkover
1903 ^[4]	Laurence Doherty (5)		5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1904 ^[5]	Laurence Doherty (6)		6–2, 6–3, 6–3
1905 ^[6]	Laurence Doherty (7)		6–3, 7–5, 7–5
1906	Laurence Doherty (8)		6–3, 8–6, 6–2
1907	Anthony Wilding^[7]		6–0, 6–0, 6–3
1908	Anthony Wilding (2)		6–0, 6–1, 6–2
1909			6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1910 ^[8]			6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 13–11
1911	Anthony Wilding (3)		9–7, 6–0, 6–3
1912			10–8, 4–6, 6–2 retd.
1913	Max Decugis (2)		7–9, 6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1914	Anthony Wilding (4)		6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1915/1918	Not held (due to world war one)
1919	Max Decugis (3)		6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1920 ^[9]			7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–1
1921	Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston (2)	Mino Balbi De Robbeco	6–1, 6–1, 6–0
1922	Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston (3)		6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5
1923			9–7, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1924			6–1, 6–0, 3–6, 7–9, 6–3
1925 ^[10]	René Lacoste (2)		6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1926			1–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
1927	Hermann von Artens^[11]		2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–3, 10–8
1928			7–5, 9–7, 6–1
1929 ^[12]			3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–0
1930 ^[13]			4–6, 8–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–0
1931			4–6, 0–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0
1932	Jacques Brugnon		6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2
1933	George Lyttleton-Rogers (2)	Max Ellmer ^[14]	6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6
1934	George Lyttleton-Rogers (3)	Herman von Artens	2–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2
1935	Wilmer Hines^[15]	Max Ellmer	6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1936	Jean Lesueur^[16]	William W. Robertson	6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1937			13-11, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1938	Kho Sin-Kie (2)		6–1, 2–6, 6–0, 8–6
1939	Constantin Tănăsescu		2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1
1940/1943	Not held (due to world war two)
1944			6–2, 5–7, 6–3
1945	not played
1946	Pierre Pellizza (2)		12-10, 5–7, 6–0, 6–1
1947			6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1948	József Asbóth (2)		8–6, 6–1, 6–3
1949			6–4, 6–8, 4–2 ret.
1950			6–2, 6–4
1951			6–4, 3–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–2
1952		Igor Scherbatoff	6–1, 6–2
1953			6–1, 6–1
1954			6–3, 6–3, 6–1
1955			walkover
1956			6–2, 6–1, 6–0
1957			9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 7–9, 6–4
1958	Not held (due to rain)
1959			0–6, 4–6, 9–7 6–4, 3–3 retd.
1960			6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1961			6–2, 6–4, 2–6, 6–1
1962	Pierre Darmon (2)		6–1, 6–1, 0–6, 6–2
1963	Pierre Darmon (3)		8–10, 6–3, 6–2, 7–5
1964		Jean-Noël Grinda	6–4, 4–0 ret.
1965	István Gulyás (2)		6–1, 6–1, 7–5
1966	István Gulyás (3)	Daniel Contet	6–1, 6–0, 13–11
1967			6–2, 2–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4
1968		Barry Phillips-Moore	9–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
1969			6-3, 6-1, ret.
1970			5–7, 6–1, 6–3

Women's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1899		Marguerite Chalier	6–3, 6–0
1900
1901			6–4, 6–3
1902	Clara von der Schulenburg (2)		6–3, 6–3
1903			1–6, 6–1, 6–2
1904	Clara von der Schulenburg (3)	de Robiglio	8–6, 7–5
1905	Connie Wilson		6–1, 2–6, 6–4
1906	Toupie Lowther (2)		6–4, 5–7, 6–3
1907		Margit Madarász	10–8, 6–1
1908			6–1, 6–1
1909	Clara von der Schulenburg (4)	Jessie Tripp	6–1, 6–8, 6–0
1910			6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1911	Dagmar von Krohn	Hedwig Neresheimer	6–2, 2–6, 6–3
1912	Jessie Tripp	Margaret Tripp	default
1913	Dagmar von Krohn (2)	Blanche Colston	6–3, 6–1
1914	Dorothea Lambert Chambers (2)	M Stuart	6–2, 6–0
1915/1918	Not held (due to world war one)
1919			6–0, 6–0
1920			default
1921	Suzanne Lenglen (2)	M. Septier	6–1, 6–1
1922			3–6, 6–3, 6–1
1923	Suzanne Lenglen (3)		6–1, 6–0
1924 ^[17]	Suzanne Lenglen (4)		6–2, 6–1
1925 ^[18]	Suzanne Lenglen (5)		walkover
1926 ^[19]		Isabella Mumford	6–0, 6–1
1927			6–3, 6–3
1928			6–3, 6–2
1929	Paula von Reznicek (2)		6–8, 6–2, 6–4
1930		Carolyn Hirsch	6–0, 6–2
1931		Paulette Marjollet	6–1, 6–3
1932	Elizabeth Ryan (2)		6–3, 1–6, 6–2
1933	Sheila Hewitt		6–4, 6–3
1934	Muriel Thomas		6–1, 6–0
1935		Edith Belliard	10–12, 7–5, 6–3
1936	Simonne Mathieu (2)		6–1, 6–0
1937	Simonne Mathieu (3)		6–3, 2–6, 7–5
1938			6–4, 6–2
1939	Simonne Mathieu (4)		6–0, 6–2
1940/1945	Not held (due to world war two)
1946	Event not held
1947		?	?
1948		?	?
1949	Myriam De Borman	?	?
1950		Josette Amouretti	6–0, 6–0
1951	Doris Hart		4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1952		?	?
1953			6–4, 6–1
1954	Joan Curry (2)		7–5, 6-8, 12–10
1955			6–1, 6–4
1956			6–0, 7–5
1957	Christiane Mercelis (2)		4–6, 6–1, 6–1
1958	Not held (due to rain)
1959		Paule Courteix	6–2, 6–4
1960			4–6, 6–3, 8–6
1961			9–7, 6–4
1962			6–4, 6–4
1963			7–5, 6–2
1964			0–6, 6–2, 6–4
1965			7–5, 6–2
1966			6–4, 6–4
1967			6–4, 6–2
1968			9–7, 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
1969			6–3, 6–4
1970			6–1, 6–1
1971			6–1, 6–1

Records

Men's singles

Source: The Tennisbase included ^[20]

• Most titles: Laurence Doherty, (8)
• Most consecutive titles: Laurence Doherty, (7)
• Most finals: Laurence Doherty, (8)
• Most consecutive finals: Laurence Doherty, (7)
• Most matches played: Pierre Darmon, (39)
• Most matches won: Pierre Darmon, (33)
• Most consecutive match wins: Anthony Wilding, and Laurence Doherty, (19)
• Most editions played: Georges Goven, (12)
• Best match winning %: Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty (100%)
• Longest final: Jacques Brichant v Bobby Wilson, result: 9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 7–9, 6–4 (63 games), (1957)
• Shortest final: Armando Vieira v József Asbóth, result: 6–1, 6–1 (14 games) (1953)
• Shortest final: Sergio Tacchini v Jean-Noël Grinda, result: 6–4, 4–0 retired (14 games) (1964)
• Title won with the fewest games lost, Anthony Wilding, (12), (1908)
• Oldest champion: Gordon Lowe, 38y 8m and 23d, (1923)
• Youngest champion: René Lacoste, 19y 8m and 9d, (1924)

See also

• Monte-Carlo Masters
• Open de Nice Côte d'Azur

Sources

• Book: Little, Allan . The Golden Days of Tennis on the French Riviera, 1874-1939 . 2014 . Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum . London . 978-0906741542 .
• Ayre's Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, A. Wallis Myers. UK.
• Dunlop Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, G.P. Hughes, 1939 to 1958, Published by Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd, UK.
• Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annuals and Compendia, Lowe, Sir F. Gordon, Eyre & Spottiswoode.

External links

• Nice Lawn Tennis Club
• Tennisbase The South of France Championships-Roll of Honor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Suzanne Lenglen Rounding Into Form. Google News Archive. Ottawa Citizen. 17 March 1924.
2. News: Wilding F.. Anthony. Modern Lawn Tennis. The Press. 3 January 1912. 3. Papers Past.
3. Web site: South of France Championships 1896. Tennis Archives. 31 August 2016.
4. News: Doherty Won Tennis Championships. New York Times. 16 March 1903. 2.
5. Web site: South of France Championships 1904. Tennis Archives. 31 August 2016.
6. News: Lawn Tennis. Star. 24 May 1905. 4. Volley. Papers Past.
7. News: Wilding Wins at Nice. New Zealand Herald. 21 March 1907. 5. Papers Past.
8. News: Wilding's Victories. New Zealand Herald. 7 March 1911. 5. Papers Past.
9. Web site: Count Mikhail Sumarokov-Elston. RusArtNet. 13 August 2022.
10. News: Lawn Tennis. Evening Post. Huka. 23 May 1925. 19. Papers Past.
11. Web site: Player Profile: Herman Von Artens. atpworldtour.com. ATP. 31 August 2016.
12. Web site: Lawn Tennis by Huka, Tildens Victories. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Evening Post Volume CX, ISSUE 11, 12 July 1930. 2 September 2016.
13. Web site: Lawn Tennis:Irish Championships. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Dunstan Times, 30 July 1934.
14. Web site: Player Profile – Max Ellmer. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
15. Web site: Player Profile: Wilmer Hines. atpworldtour.com. ATP. 31 August 2016.
16. Web site: Player Profile: Jean Le Sueur. atpworldtour.com. ATP. 31 August 2016.
17. Web site: Suzanne Lenglen Rounding Into Form. news.google.com. Ottawa Citizen - Mar 17, 1924. 1 September 2016.
18. Web site: Tennis Champions. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 43, 19 February 1926. 2 September 2016.
19. Web site: Miss Wills Wins Again. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 63, 15 March 1926. 2 September 2016.
20. Web site: South of France Championships Tournament Records. thetennisbase.com. Tennismem SL. 25 November 2017.