Richard Dudley Sears was an American tennis player, who won the US National Championships singles in its first seven years, from 1881 to 1887, and the doubles for six years from 1882 to 1887, after which he retired from tennis.
The Indian Open originally called the All India Championships or formally the All India Lawn Tennis Championships and also known as The National Lawn Tennis Championships of India and later the Indian International Championships is a defunct combined tennis tournament. It was played from 1910 until 1982 and the men's event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit, 1970 to 1979. It was held in various cities in, India and was played outdoor on multiple surfaces. Jenny Sandison won most titles during the pre-Open era with seven titles, while Nirupama Mankad won the most titles during the open era with five titles.
The Eastern Grass Court Championships was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament held in the eastern United States from 1927 to 1969.
National Tennis Leagues (NTL) was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1967 by George MacCall. In 1970 it was sold to the World Championship Tennis (WCT), a competing professional tennis league run by Lamar Hunt.
The Queensland Open originally called the Queensland Championships and also known as the Queensland Lawn Tennis Championships and the Queensland State Championships was a tennis tournament played in Brisbane, Australia, from 1888 to 1994. The event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit and WTA Tour and was played originally on outdoor grass courts then outdoor and indoor hard courts.
This article covers the period from 1877 to present. Before the beginning of the Open Era in April 1968, only amateurs were allowed to compete in established tennis tournaments, including the four Grand Slam tournaments. Wimbledon, the oldest of the majors, was founded in 1877, followed by the US Open in 1881, the French Open in 1891 and the Australian Open in 1905. Beginning in 1905 and continuing to the present day, all four majors have been played yearly, with the exception of during the two World Wars, 1986 for the Australian Open, and 2020 for Wimbledon. The Australian Open is the first major of the year (January), followed by the French Open (May–June), Wimbledon (June–July) and the US Open (August–September). There was no prize money and players were compensated for travel expenses only. A player who wins all four majors, in singles or as part of a doubles team, in the same calendar year is said to have achieved a "Grand Slam". If the player wins all four consecutively, but not in the same calendar year, it is called a "Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam". Winning all four at some point in a career, even if not consecutively, is referred to as a "Career Grand Slam". Winning the four majors and a gold medal in tennis at the Summer Olympics in the same calendar year has been called a "Golden Slam" since 1988. Winning all four majors plus an Olympic gold at some point in a career, even if not consecutively, is referred to as a "Career Golden Slam". Winning the year-end championship while also having won a Golden Slam is referred to as a "Super Slam". Winning all four majors, an Olympic gold, and the year-end championships at some point in a career, even if not consecutively, is referred to as a "Career Super Slam". Winning the four majors in all three disciplines a player is eligible for–singles, doubles and mixed doubles–is considered winning a "boxed set" of Grand Slam titles.
The 1878 Men's tennis tour was composed of the second annual pre-open era tour. It now incorporated 12 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 third 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 4th 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 1881 Men's tennis tour was composed of the fifth annual pre-open era tour now incorporated 42 tournaments staged in Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States. The 1881 Wimbledon Championships was won by William Renshaw. This year also saw the inaugural and important 1881 U.S. National Championships held at Newport Casino which Richard Sears won. This was also the year that the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, which is the world's first national tennis association, was founded. Renshaw then won two other big tournaments of the year, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and Princes Club Championships, whilst Richard Taswell Richardson won the prestigious Northern Championships.
The 1882 Men's tennis tour was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour and now incorporated 53 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.
This was a tennis rivalry played between British player Laurence Doherty and the Irish player Harold Mahony, which in their respective careers met 18 times from 1896 until 1904.
The 1968 Men's National Tennis League (NTL) was the inaugural series of professional tennis tournaments founded by George McCall, among others: Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Andrés Gimeno, Pancho Gonzales and Fred Stolle.
The 1883 Men's tennis tour was the seventh annual tennis tour, consisting of 52 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 1968 World Championship Tennis circuit was the inaugural tour of the (WCT) one of the two rival professional male tennis tours of 1968 the other being the National Tennis League. The tour began on 22 January in Sydney, Australia and ended on 13 October in Durban, South Africa.
The 1969 World Championship Tennis circuit was the second edition of the (WCT) one of the two rival professional male tennis tours of 1969 the other being the 1969 Men's National Tennis League. The tour began on 3 February in Philadelphia, United States and ended on 29 April in Midland, Texas, United States.
The South Australian Championships (1889–1989), also known as the South Australian State Championships and later known as the South Australian Open was a professional men's tennis tournament played originally on outdoor grass courts up to 1987 when it switched to hard courts in its final two years. The tournament was staged at Memorial Drive Park tennis complex in Adelaide, South Australia and was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1972 until 1989.
The Caribe Hilton Championships also known as the Caribe Hilton International Championships was a men's tennis tournament played outdoors on hard courts from 1954 to 1968.
The 1884 Men's tennis tour was the eighth annual tennis tour, consisting of 61 tournaments it began in April in Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon and ended in December in Melbourne, Australia.
The 1969 Men's Tour includes International Tennis Federation tournaments that were not affiliated to either World Championship Tennis circuit or the National Tennis League. The tour began on 3 December 1968 in Madras, India and finished on 29 December in New Orleans, United States.
Rod Laver (6)
