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 1881 Men's tennis tour was composed of the sixth annual pre-open era tour now incorporated 65 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 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.
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 South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship originally called the South of Ireland Championships first established in 1876 or 1877 and also known as the Limerick Cup is a grass court tennis tournament that features both men's and women's competitions that is currently an official tour event of Tennis Ireland. It is held at the Limerick Lawn Tennis Club in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland. The championships is the world's second oldest surviving tennis tournament after Wimbledon but the only event to have been staged continuously for the last 141 years.
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 January 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 twelfth annual pre-open era tour incorporating 126 tournaments.
The Hampshire Tennis Championships or the Hampshire Championships was a men's and women's grass court tennis event established in 1878 as the Bournemouth CLTC Tournament. In 1906 the Bournemouth tournament was upgraded to a county level event and renamed as Hampshire County Lawn Tennis Championships that ran continuously until 1981.
The Armagh Championship Tournament or Armagh ALTC Championship was a combined men's and women's Hard court tennis tournament staged first staged on 28 September 1878 as the Armagh Lawn Tennis Tournament at the Archery and Lawn Tennis Club, Armagh, Northern Ireland. The championship was staged up to at least 1934.
The Leicestershire County Lawn Tennis Championships or simply called the Leicestershire Championships was a combined men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1900 that ran until 1914 as an open international tennis event. In 1926 the event was reclassified as a closed tournament open only to Leicestershire residents and club players only.
The Leicester Open was a combined men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1878 as the Leicester Lawn Tennis Tournament. It was held at the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Club, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. It ran until 1939 as an open international tennis event.
The Staffordshire Tennis Championships or Staffordshire County Lawn Lennis Championships or simply Staffordshire Championships was combined men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in July 1878 as the Staffordshire County Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament. That event was initially held at Litchfield, Staffordshire. From the mid-1880s to 1890s the tournament was known as the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Tournament. In 1893 the Staffordshire Lawn tennis Association was formed. By the early 1920s it had become a county level event that ran until 1984.
Dave O’Hare (2015)