Open Era is 40 years old today

[Moose Malloy]

read this on the atp site. I thought Bournemouth was a clay event? urban?

It was 40 years ago today on April 22, 1968 that “Open” tennis began as the British Hard Court Championships – the first tournament open to professionals and amateurs – started in Bournemouth, England at the West Hants Lawn Tennis Club.

Writer, historian and Tennis Hall of Fame member Bud Collins, in his new book The Bud Collins History of Tennis ($35.95, New Chapter Press) documented the historic first day. Collins is also recipient of the ATP's 2007 Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award. “Staged at the coastal resort of Bournemouth, it was the historic first chapter, and it began damply, coolly on a drizzly, raw Monday, April 22,” wrote Collins. “The “Open era” lurched into being with a minor young Briton, John Clifton, winning the first point but losing his match, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6 against Australian pro Owen Davidson—then the British national coach—on the red shale courts of the West Hants Lawn Tennis Club.”

Thirty-nine-year-old Pancho Gonzalez was the first pro to eventually lose to an amateur in the tournament as he was defeated by 24-year-old Brit Mark Cox 0-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round. Cox also beat two-time Wimbledon champ Roy Emerson, 6-0, 6-1, 7-5, to reach the semifinals, before losing to Rod Laver. In the final, Ken Rosewall defeated Laver, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 and collected the initial “Open” paycheck of $2,400 while Laver pocketed $1,200. Brit Virginia Wade won the women’s title, but due to the uncertainty of the times and not wanting to immediately forgo her amateur status in case Open tennis failed, declined the female first prize of $720 in beating Winnie Shaw, 6-4, 6-1 in the women’s final.

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/budcollins_book.asp

 

[jeffreyneave]

Bounemouth was a clay court event. The british and Australians often called clay court events hard court championships.

jeffrey

 

[urban]

The ATP should count the first ever open event in their stats. As it is now, they don't count it. The British Hard Court then in the 60s was the equivalent of the Monte Carlo event now, the first big clay event of the year. It was often rainy and cold. The final between Rosewall and Laver was suspended and ended a day later, due to rainy conditions, which made the court quite slow.

 

[Wuornos]

Just being awkward here, but surely every pro tournament held prior to this date was open to both pros and amateurs.

Tim

 

[urban]

No, amateurs would have been suspended immediatly by their federations, when playing pros events. Amateur-pro-matches were extremely rare, and then exhibitions or training matches. Von Cramm played and beat pro Nuesslein once in 1934 at Berlin. In the Second WW Budge and Kramer played unoffially for militair funds.

 

[Wuornos]

No, amateurs would have been suspended immediatly by their federations, when playing pros events. Amateur-pro-matches were extremely rare, and then exhibitions or training matches. Von Cramm played and beat pro Nuesslein once in 1934 at Berlin. In the Second WW Budge and Kramer played unoffially for militair funds.

Makes Virgina Wades decision to turn down the money all the more bizarre.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Makes Virgina Wades decision to turn down the money all the more bizarre

Not really, I think she thought she may be suspended from Wimbledon in the future if she accepted that prize money, since she thought there was a chance that the Open Era would fail.

 

[Wuornos]

Not really, I think she thought she may be suspended from Wimbledon in the future if she accepted that prize money, since she thought there was a chance that the Open Era would fail.

Yes agreed, but based on urban's comment she would have been suspended immediately for playing the tournament irrespective of whther she accepted the money. If this isn't the case the the previous pro events were open to amateurs irrespective of whether there were any entries or not, which was my original albeit tongue in cheek comment.

Tim

 

[James]

So is it about time for the Open Era to have a mid-life crisis?

 

[CEvertFan]

So is it about time for the Open Era to have a mid-life crisis?

LOL! I think the current women's tour is having one.

 

[Q&M son]

The ATP should count the first ever open event in their stats. As it is now, they don't count it. The British Hard Court then in the 60s was the equivalent of the Monte Carlo event now, the first big clay event of the year. It was often rainy and cold. The final between Rosewall and Laver was suspended and ended a day later, due to rainy conditions, which made the court quite slow.

On Monday, enter ATP website, the event would be appears according to what they say to me...

 

[urban]

Q&M, thanks, and if You have good contact with the ATP, please tell them, to include also the US Pro and French Pro and London Kramer Tournament of Champions of 68, the South African Open of 1969 and the Philadephia Open, the US Pro and Wembley British Covered Courts of 69. Those were some of the most important events of the early open era, which are not covered yet by the ATP.

 

[Q&M son]

Q&M, thanks, and if You have good contact with the ATP, please tell them, to include also the US Pro and French Pro and London Kramer Tournament of Champions of 68, the South African Open of 1969 and the Philadephia Open, the US Pro and Wembley British Covered Courts of 69. Those were some of the most important events of the early open era, which are not covered yet by the ATP.

urban, of course I will. If the draws were in ITF website ok, but I don't have other source (by now, i'm looking everywhere Sutter's book) to give they the draws.

the last events I sent to they were Roanoke 72, Salisbury 70, Manchester 74, Wembley 68/69/70, Dunlop Open Sidney 70 & South African Open 69.

Greetings (I sign Q&M cause love to my parents, my name is Lucio).

 

[Tomaz Bellucci]

ATP includes Bournemouth in Player's records, but it don't shows this in its "Vault" yet.
Great job!

 

[Tennisfan!]

ATP includes Bournemouth in Player's records, but it don't shows this in its "Vault" yet.
Great job!

Maybe they can hire you Q&M, ha!

 

[Q&M son]

The last events I sent to they (ATP) were Roanoke 72, Salisbury 70, Manchester 74, Wembley 68/69/70, Dunlop Open Sidney 70 & South African Open 69.

Hope soon will be registered on their website, still waiting (they only include Manchester recently). Same for TOC Dorado Beach 79 won by Connors and WCT Pto Rico 75 won by Laver