Kenya Open (tennis)

Last updated
Kenya Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Tour ILTF World Circuit
(1934–73)
ILTF Independent Circuit
Founded1934;90 years ago (1934)
Abolished1986;38 years ago (1986)
Location Nairobi, Kenya
Surface Clay (outdoors)

The Kenya Open also known as the Kenya Championships [1] was a men's and women's tennis tournament founded in 1934 as the Kenyan International Championships. [2] later called the Kenyan Closed Championships It was organised by the Kenyan Lawn Tennis Association (f.1922), Nairobi, Kenya and played on clay courts and ran until 1986 as part of the ILTF Independent Circuit. [2]

Contents

History

In 1922 the Kenyan Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA) was founded. [3] In 1934 the KLTA became an associate member of the ILTF. [4] The same year it organised the first Kenyan International Championships an open tournament initially held in August then played annually in the summer. In 1968 the association changed the denomination of that tournament to Kenya Championships and moved the event till late winter usually starting at the end of January and finishing end of February or starting mid February ending early March this was also an open event. From 1974 it was re branded as the Kenya Open until 1982, it later became a closed tournament (for Kenyan players only) from 1983 to the late 1980s. [2] The tournament was played as part of the ILTF African Circuit a regional sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit from 1968 to 1972, the it became part ILTF Independent Circuit until 1986 when it was downgraded from the world circuit. The event however was till being held as late as 2022. [5]

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

Kenyan International Championships
YearWinnersRunners-upScore
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1948 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Piercy Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robert Cooper6–3, 6–0, 6–2. [2]
1949 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg R.J.E. Mayers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Piercy6–2, 2–6, 10–12, 6–1, 6–3. [2]
1950 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg R.J.E. Mayers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg F.D.M. Flowerdew6–1, 6–4, 6–2. [2]
1961 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Yashvin Shretta [6] ??
1965 Flag of India.svg Shyam Minotra [7] Flag of Kenya.svg Yashvin Shretta7-9, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. [2]
1966 Flag of India.svg Ramanathan Krishnan Flag of Kenya.svg Yashvin Shretta6–2, 6–0, 6–4. [2]
Kenya Invitation
1967 Flag of the United States.svg Jim McManus Flag of the United States.svg John Pickens6–2, 2–6, 7–5, 6–8, 6–2. [2]
↓  Open era  ↓
Kenya Championships
1969 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bernard Mignot Flag of Kenya.svg Yashvin Shretta6–0, 6–2. [2]
1970 [8] Flag of Kenya.svg Yashvin Shretta (2) Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg Ahmed Hassanein7–5, 6–4, 6–4. [2]
1971 Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg Aly El Dawoudi Flag of Kenya.svg Yashvin Shretta6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4. [2]
↓  ILTF Independent Circuit  ↓
1973 Flag of Jamaica.svg Richard Russell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Lloyd 8–6, 6–4, 6–4. [2]
Kenya Open
1974 Flag of France.svg Pierre Joly Flag of the United States.svg Lee Tomlinson7–6, 6–3, 6–1. [2]
1976 Flag of the United States.svg Norman Holmes Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Feaver 6–0, 6–2, 7–6. [2]
1977 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Rheinberger Flag of Germany.svg Uli Heyne [9] 6–2, 6–7, 6–2. [2]
1978 Flag of Austria.svg Peter Feigl Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bernard Mignot 6–1, 6–4, 6–2. [2]
1979 Flag of Niger.svg David Imonitie Flag of Sweden.svg Per Larsson6–7, 7–6, 11–9. [2]
1980 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Pascoe Flag of Sweden.svg Ola Hellgren6–4, 2–6, 6–1. [2]
Kenyan Closed Championships
1983 Flag of Kenya.svg Selim Rana [10] Flag of Kenya.svg Steven Kasigwa [11] 6–3, 6–2

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Kenyan International Championships
YearWinnersRunners-upScore
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1948 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Sheila Paterson Dowdeswell Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Mrs J.F. Mark6–0, 6–2
1949 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Mrs J.F. Mark Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg M. Muir6–2, 6–1
1950 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Margot Lumb Gordon Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Mrs M.C. Swan6–2, 6–1
1951 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Doris Unwin Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Grizel Swynnerton2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1952 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Grizel Swynnerton Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Mrs E. Boswell6–1, 6–0
1953 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Julia Wipplinger Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Thea S. Hale7–5, 6–2
1954 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Margot Lumb Gordon Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Frances Hook Marshall6–2, 7-5
1955 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Frances Hook Marshall Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Mrs W. Michell6–4, 6–4
1956 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Frances Hook Marshall (2) Flag of Pakistan.svg Khanum Haji Singh 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1957 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Grizel M. Swynnerton (2) Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg J. Sheridan4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1958 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Margot Lumb Gordon (2) Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Miss Morgan6–3, 6–3
1960 Flag of Rhodesia (1968-1979).svg Eve Sladden Flag of Rhodesia (1968-1979).svg Loise Surgey6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1961 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Debbie Adams Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Grizel M. Swynnerton6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1962 Flag of Kenya.svg Doris Unwin Flag of Kenya.svg F. Spring5–7, 6–3, 6–1
1963 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Grizel M. Swynnerton Flag of Kenya.svg Elizabeth Haggie5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Kenyan Championships
1968 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade Flag of Germany.svg Kerstin Seelbach4–6, 6–1 6–2
1969 Flag of Kenya.svg Elizabeth Haggie Flag of Kenya.svg Mrs Wendy Hall4–6, 6–1 6–2
1970 Flag of the United States.svg Alice Tym Flag of Rhodesia (1968-1979).svg Daphne Paterson6–1, 6–3
1971 Flag of India.svg Nirupama Mankad Flag of Kenya.svg Jenny Patterson6–2, 6–1
1972 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Winnie Shaw Flag of France.svg Gail Chanfreau2–6, 6–2, 6–4
↓  ILTF Independent Circuit  ↓
1973 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Brenda Kirk Flag of Kenya.svg Jenny Patterson7–5, 6–1
Kenya Open
1974 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Annette Coe Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Corinne Molesworth 7–5, 6–1
1976 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Annette Coe Flag of Austria.svg Uschi Ulrich6–2, 6–4
1980 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lesley Charles Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Debbie Stewart3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Kenyan Closed Championships
1983 Flag of Kenya.svg Carol Hughes Flag of Kenya.svg S. Trempenau6–3, 6–2
1984 Flag of Kenya.svg Susan Wakhungu Flag of Kenya.svg Jane Ndunda7–5, 6–3
1985 Flag of Kenya.svg Carol Hughes Flag of Kenya.svg Jane Ndunda4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1986 Flag of Kenya.svg Judi Wakhungu Flag of Kenya.svg R. Wilson?

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Tournaments: Kenya National Championships - Kenya Open" . The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. Robertson, Max (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. London: George Allen and Unwin. p. 277. ISBN   9780047960420.
  4. Robertson
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