The inaugural 1877 Men's tennis tour was composed of five tournaments for the second edition pre-open era tour. Before the birth of Open Era (tennis), most tournaments were reserved for amateur athletes. In 1874 British Major Walter Clopton Wingfield patented with the House of London Crafts the invention of a new game, which consisted of a shaped field hourglass, divided in the middle by a suspended net. The game was packaged in a box containing some balls, four paddles, the net components and the signs to mark the field. The game was based on the rules of the old real tennis and, at the suggestion of Arthur Balfour, was called lawn-tennis. The official date of birth of the court would be February 23, 1874. In 1877 all were amateur tournaments, among them was the first 1877 Wimbledon Championship, the inaugural event was held from 9 to 19 July and saw as the inaugural winner Spencer Gore. The tournament would remain for a period of 35 years the sole major tennis tournament in the world until the International Lawn Tennis Federation introduces its three World championship series events in 1913 that continue until 1923, when the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association only agrees to join the ILTF on the basis of two compromises: the title 'World Championships' would be abolished and wording would be 'for ever in the English language'. Wimbledon would still retain its prestigious and historical status, and become one of the four Grand Slam tennis events from 1924.
The 1878 Men's tennis tour was composed of the third annual pre-open era tour. It now incorporated 15 tournaments staged in Great Britain and Ireland the Wimbledon championships was won by challenger Patrick Francis Hadow defeating the defending champion Spencer Gore.
The 1879 Men's tennis tour was composed of the fourth annual pre-open era tour and incorporated 26 tournaments. The 1879 Wimbledon Championships was won by John Hartley defending champion Patrick Francis Hadow, defending champion could not participate in the Challenge Round. This year saw the inaugural Irish Championships that in its early stages of development was considered as important that of the Wimbledon Championships the event was won by Vere St. Leger Goold who defeated in Charles David Barry in the final by Charles David Barry 8–6, 8–6. Important this year was the staging of six hard court tournaments some of which included the Dublin University Championships the East Gloucestershire Championships held in Cheltenham Great Britain, Nice Tennis Tournament in Nice, France and the first tournament to be held outside of Europe in Australia with the Victorian Championships.
The 1880 Men's tennis tour was the fifth amateur tennis tour held that year. It now incorporated 41 tournaments staged in Australia, Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. The 1880 Wimbledon Championships was won by John Hartley against Herbert Lawford, in the Challenge Round.
The 1882 Men's tennis tour was composed of the seventh annual pre-open era tour and now incorporated 67 events. The Wimbledon Championships and Irish Championships was won by William Renshaw, the U.S. National Championships was won by Richard Sears collecting his second title other big winners were Richard Taswell Richardson picking up the Northern Lawn Tennis Championships and Ernest Renshaw winning the Princes Club Championships, The title leader this season was Robert W. Braddell winning 4 tournaments from 6 finals.
Harry Grove was a British tennis player in the early years of tennis.
The 1883 Men's tennis tour was the eighth annual tennis tour, consisting of 63 tournaments. The Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw for the third consecutive year, while Richard Sears continued his dominance at the U.S. National Championships also winning a third successive title. Other big winners this season were Ernest Renshaw, picking up the Irish Championships, Herbert Wilberforce winning the Northern Lawn Tennis Championships in Manchester, and Herbert Lawford collecting his second and final title at the Princes Club Championships. The title leader this season was Charles Walder Grinstead winning 5 tournaments from 6 finals.
The Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament was an early men's tennis tournament held from 1880 to 1885. It consisted of a spring tournament usually held in April and another held in autumn usually September. It was a forerunner event for the later Sussex Championships formally called the Sussex County Championships that were first staged in 1889 and are still being staged today.
The 1884 Men's tennis tour was the ninth annual tennis tour, consisting of 63 tournaments it began in April in Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon and ended in December in Melbourne, Australia.
The Midland Counties Championships was a grass court tennis tournament held at Edgbaston Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club, Edgbaston, Great Britain from 1882 to 1977.
The Fall Open Tournament Far and Near LTC | was a late 19th-century men's grass court tennis tournament held at the Far and Near Lawn Tennis Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, United States. It was part of the Pre-Open era tennis tour from 1883 to 1886.
The 1885 Men's tennis tour was the tenth annual tennis tour, consisting of 101 tournaments it began at the beginning of the year in Jnauary New York City, United States and ended 7 November in Lahore, India.
The Essex County Cricket Club Tournament was an early men's grass court tennis tournament held initially at Knighton, Essex in England in 1879 and finally at Leyton in 1888.
The County Kildare Open Tennis Championship originally known as the County Kildare Tennis Tournament (1879-1880) then County Kildare Championship is grass court tennis tournament held initially at Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland, established on 2 August 1881.
The 1886 Men's tennis tour was composed of the eleventh annual pre-open era tour incorporating 100 tournaments. The tour began in March in Auckland, New Zealand and ended in December in Napier, New Zealand.
The 1887 Men's tennis tour was composed of the eleventh annual pre-open era tour incorporating 126 tournaments.
The Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament was an early men's tennis tournament held from 1880 through 1885.
The Warwickshire Championships also known as the Warwickshire County Championships founded on 1 August 1882 was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament held at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England from 1882 to 1938 as part of the pre-open era tennis tour. The tournament is still being staged to today as a local county championship.
The Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Tournament also called the Victoria Park LTC Tournament was an early Victorian era men's and women's grass court tennis tournament first staged in June 1881 at the Victoria Park Lawn Tennis Club, Exeter, Devon, England. It was staged only four times until 1884.
The Bedford Open also known as the Bedford Lawn Tennis Open Tournament was men's and women's grass court tennis tournament established in 1880 as the Bedfordshire LTC Tournament. It was held at the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club, Bedford, Berkshire, England and ran through until 1974 when it was abolished.
William Renshaw (4)
Richard Taswell Richardson (5)
