Major professional tennis tournaments before the Open Era

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Before the advent of the Open era of tennis competitions in April 1968, only amateurs were allowed to compete in established tournaments, including the four majors. There was no prize money and players were compensated for travel expenses only. However many top tennis players turned professional to play legally for prize money in the years before the open era. They played in separate professional events, mostly on tours involving head-to-head competition, but also in professional tournaments as the biggest events on the pro tour. [1] Professional tournaments, in particular the professional majors, usually only had a men's draw.

Contents

Professional majors

In addition to the head-to-head tours, there were also major pro events, where the world's top professional male players often played. These tournaments held with a certain tradition and longevity. According to Ellsworth Vines, "the Wembley tournament in London..., the U.S. professional championship, and to some extent the tournament in Paris were the major professional tournaments prior to 1968." [2]

The oldest of these three tournaments was the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships, played at a variety of different venues and on a variety of different surfaces, between 1927 and 1999. The Wembley Championship, played between 1934 and 1990 at the Wembley Arena in the United Kingdom, was played on a wood surface through 1967. The third professional major was the French Pro Championship, where between 1930 and 1968 it was played on both clay and wood courts. A player who won all three in a calendar year was considered in retrospect by later tennis writers to achieve a "Professional Grand Slam", or "Pro Slam". [3] [4]

In some years, professional tournaments other than the pro majors had stronger fields and offered more prize money. Jack Kramer designated the four major professional tournaments for the 1958/1959 seasons as follows; Forest Hills, Kooyong, L.A. Masters, Sydney. [5]

U.S. Pro Tennis Championships

The U.S. Pro Tennis Championship, also known as the US Pro, and officially known as the Cleveland International Pro or Cleveland World Pro Tennis Championships between 1951 and 1962, [6] was an annual tournament, later known as MFS Pro Championships. It was first organized by player Vincent Richards when promoter C. C. Pyle withdrew interest in the project. It was first played on the Notlek courts located at 119th Street and Riverside Drive, Manhattan. The tournament was held at various locations in several states until 1964, when it moved to the Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. [1] In both 1951 and 1954 there are two U.S. Pro tournaments listed here for each year.

French Pro Championship

The French Pro Championship was first held in 1930, held by the "Association Française des Professeurs de Tennis (AFPT)", entitled "Championnat International de France Professionnel" (French Pro Championships) on June 18–22, 1930. [7] From 1930 the French Pro Championship was always played at Paris, on outdoor clay at Roland Garros except from 1963 to 1967 where it was held at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on indoor wood.

Wembley Championship

The Wembley Championship, also known as the Wembley Pro, was held at the Wembley Arena, in London. This professional event ran from 1934 to 1967 and was originally played on a wood surface placed over the top of a drained pool. It was officially known as the "London Indoor Professional Championships" from 1951 through 1967. [8]

List of professional major champions

Singles

Year U.S. Pro French Pro Wembley Pro
1927 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards (1/4)no competitionno competition
1928 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards (2/4)no competitionno competition
1929 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Koželuh (1/4)no competitionno competition
1930 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards (3/4) Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Koželuh (2/4)no competition
1931 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden (1/3) Flag of France.svg Martin Plaa (1/1)no competition
1932 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Koželuh (3/4) Flag of France.svg Robert Ramillon (1/1)no competition
1933 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards (4/4)no competitionno competition
1934 Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein (1/4) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden (2/3) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines (1/4)
1935 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden (3/3) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines (2/4) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines (3/4)
1936 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Joe Whalen (1/1) Flag of France.svg Henri Cochet (1/1)no competition [a]
1937 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Koželuh (4/4) [b] Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein (2/4) Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein (3/4)
1938 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Perry (1/2) Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein (4/4)no competition [a]
1939 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines (4/4) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge (2/4) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge (1/4)
1940 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge (3/4)no competitionno competition
1941 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Perry (2/2)no competitionno competition
1942 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge (4/4)no competitionno competition
1943 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bruce Barnes (1/1)no competitionno competition
1944no competitionno competitionno competition
1945 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Welby Van Horn (1/1)no competitionno competition
1946 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs (1/3)no competitionno competition
1947 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs (2/3)no competitionno competition
1948 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer (1/2)no competitionno competition
1949 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs (3/3)no competition Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer (2/2)
1950 Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura (1/3)no competition [c] Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (1/13)
1951 [d] Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Kovacs (1/1)
(Cleveland)
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura (2/3)
(Forest Hills)
no competition Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (2/13)
1952 Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura (3/3)no competition [c] Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (3/13)
1953 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (4/13)no competition [c] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman (1/2)
1954 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (5/13)
(Cleveland)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (6/13)
(Los Angeles)
no competitionno competition
1955 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (7/13)no competitionno competition
1956 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (8/13) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert (1/2) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (9/13)
1957 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (10/13)no competition Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (1/15)
1958 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (11/13) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (2/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman (2/2)
1959 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (12/13) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert (2/2) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Anderson (1/1)
1960 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Olmedo (1/1) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (3/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (4/15)
1961 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales (13/13) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (5/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (6/15)
1962 Flag of the United States.svg Butch Buchholz (1/1) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (7/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (8/15)
1963 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (9/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (10/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (11/15)
1964 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (1/8) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (12/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (2/8)
1965 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (13/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (14/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (3/8)
1966 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (4/8) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (15/15) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (5/8)
1967 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (6/8) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (7/8) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (8/8)
  1. 1 2 The Wembley Championships of 1936 and 1938 did not take place. The London Daily Mail of August 24th 1936 contained an article stating that the 1936 Wembley event would not take place due to Tilden and Vines being unavailable. Ray Bowers, in his History of professional tennis, says that 1936 and 1938 Wembley tournaments never occurred and offers substantiating evidence for his assertion. [9] [10]
  2. The 1937 US Pro was the first pro event open to amateur players and is considered as both the U.S. Pro Tennis Championship and first "true" U.S. Open event.
  3. 1 2 3 There were 4 man tournaments held in Paris in 1950, 1952 and 1953. The 1950 and 1953 tournaments were held indoors, whilst the 1952 tournament was held on clay at Roland Garros. [11]
  4. The championship events from 1951–1962, were billed as the International Pro or World Pro Championship. In 1951, a U.S. Pro was held at Forest Hills authorized by the USPLTA, and an International Pro was held at Cleveland. There was no USPLTA U.S. Pro event held in 1952 or 1953, but the International Pro was held at Cleveland in those years and was regarded as the U.S. Pro. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] In 1954, the USPLTA authorized Kramer to hold the U.S. Pro at L.A. Tennis Club in Los Angeles (this was the successor tournament to the 1951 U.S. Pro at Forest Hills and Segura was the defending champion). [17] The International Pro and World Pro events at Cleveland from 1951–62 were not authorized by the USPLTA to be the U.S. Pro, and were not billed as such. [18] The USPLTA were an organisation of teaching professionals and the touring professionals did enter U.S. Pro events in this period. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] In some interviews in the 1950s, Gonzales and Segura referred to the Cleveland World Pro as "the National" or the "U.S. National Professional Championships". [27] There were many newspaper and magazine articles in the 1950s that also referred to Cleveland events as U.S. Pro. [28] [20] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34]

Doubles

Year U.S. Pro Wembley Pro French Pro
1929 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Koželuh
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vinny Richards
no competitionno competition
1930 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howard Kinsey
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards
no competition Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel Koželuh
Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Roman Najuch
1931 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Howard Kinsey
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards
no competition
1932 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bruce Barnes
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden
no competition
1933 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles Wood
no competitionno competition
1934 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bruce Barnes
Flag of France.svg Emmett Paré
1935 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Lott
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lester Stoefen
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines
1936 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harold Blauer
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles Wood
no competition Flag of France.svg Henri Cochet
Flag of Ireland.svg Albert Burke
1937 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Lott
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein
Flag of France.svg Martin Plaa
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lester Stoefen
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden
1938 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Perry
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards
no competition Flag of France.svg Martin Plaa
Flag of France.svg Robert Ramillon
1939 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bruce Barnes
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Keith Gledhill
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines
1940 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Perry
no competitionno competition
1941 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Perry
no competitionno competition
1942 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs
no competitionno competition
1943 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bruce Barnes
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Gene Mako
no competitionno competition
1944no competitionno competitionno competition
1945 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vincent Richards
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden
no competitionno competition
1946 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Kovacs
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Perry
no competitionno competition
1947 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs
no competitionno competition
1948 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
no competitionno competition
1949 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Kovacs
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs
no competition
1950 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Frank Kovacs
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Welby Van Horn
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
no competition
1951 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
(Forest Hills)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
no competition
1952no competition Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
no competition
1953 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Don Budge
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman
no competition
1954 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
(Cleveland)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer
(Los Angeles)
no competitionno competition
1955 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
no competitionno competition
1956 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rex Hartwig
Flag of the United States.svg Tony Trabert
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert
1957 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
no competition
1958 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert
1959no competition Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert
1960 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ashley Cooper
Flag of the United States.svg Alex Olmedo
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Trabert
1961 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Andrés Gimeno
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
1962 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Butch Buchholz
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Barry MacKay (tennis)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
1963 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of the United States.svg Alex Olmedo
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
1964no competition Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
1965no competition Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Butch Buchholz
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Anderson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
1966 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Butch Buchholz
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Butch Buchholz
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
1967 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Dennis Ralston
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fred Stolle
Flag of France.svg Pierre Barthès
Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Andrés Gimeno

Source: [35]

Other important tournaments

The Championships at Wimbledon, the U.S. Championships, the French Championships, and the Australian Championships were typically the top events, where amateur players could compete for the title, albeit without prize money. Since the professional circuit was less organized and somewhat less popular than the amateur circuit, the professional events hierarchy changed each year. In 1934 the U.S. Pro was a high-class tournament with all top ranked pro players whereas in 1936 it was a meeting between pro teachers without any leading pro players. A tournament could even be canceled at any time due to poor attendance.

Consequently, for a given year a pro tournament was important when it attracted the best pro players and then another year this same tournament could be a second-rank tournament because few or no leading players came. Before the open era in addition to numerous small tournaments and head-to-head tours between the leading professionals, there were some major tournaments which stood out at different periods. Some survived sporadically because of financial collapses while others temporarily rose to the highest levels of competition when other tournaments weren't held. These include:

Bristol Cup: 1920–1932

Sometimes labelled "Professional Championships of France" this tournament was held on the French Riviera at Menton, at Cannes. [36]

Professional Championship of the World: 1927–1928

This event was held in October on clay courts, at the Queen's Club in London. In 1928 Myers of the Daily Telegraph wrote that "this was the best pro tournament ever held in England." [36]

List of Queen's Club Pro winners:

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1927 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dan Maskell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charles R Read 6–3, 6–3, 6–4
1928 Flag of France.svg Robert Ramillon Flag of Ireland.svg Edmund Burke6–1, 6–3, 5–7, 6–4

World Pro Championship: 1932–1933

The World Pro Championship were held in 1932 and 1933 in Berlin at the Rot-Weiss club, on clay. It had a very large participation (over 80 players). According to Ray Bowers, the tournament at the time was regarded as the most prestigious professional tournament in the world. [37]

List of World Pro winners:

YearChampionRunner-up
1932 Flag of France.svg Martin Plaa Flag of the United States.svg Bill Tilden
1933 Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein Flag of the United States.svg Bill Tilden

Bonnardel Cup: 1935–1937

This was a team tournament created by Bill Tilden and modeled on the Davis Cup format. In 1935, early rounds in France were hoped to be played at Roland Garros, [38] but the French Tennis Association would not allow the event to be played at the stadium. [39] [40]

YearChampions
1935 Flag of France.svg France
1936 Flag of the United States.svg United States
1937 Flag of France.svg France

International Pro Championship of Britain: 1935–1939

The International Pro Championship of Britain (also known as the Southport Pro, as well as the Southport Dunlop Cup for sponsorship purposes) was a professional tennis tournament held at Victoria Park in Southport between 1935 and 1939. It was open to professional players only, amateurs were not allowed to compete. The tournament was held on outdoor En-tout-cas, "all-weather" artificial clay. [39]

List of International Pro Championship of Britain winners:

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1935 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ellsworth Vines Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden 6–1, 6–8, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 [41]
1936 Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein Flag of France.svg Henri Cochet (Round Robin) [42]
1937 Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein Flag of France.svg Robert Ramillon 6–4, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 [43]
1938 Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden (Round Robin) [44]
1939 Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Hans Nüsslein Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Tilden 6–2, 7–5, 6–4 [45]

U.S. Pro Hard Courts: 1945–1946

In LA; the only significant pro tournament of the last year of World War II, although missing Frank Kovacs and Welby Van Horn.[ citation needed ]

YearChampion
1945 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs
1946 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Riggs

Philadelphia U.S. Pro Indoor: 1950–1952

YearChampion[ citation needed ]
1950 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales
1951 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jack Kramer
1952 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales

Australian Pro: 1954

The Australian Pro was a men's professional tournament held in 1954 and it was billed as the Australian Professional Championships. [46]

Tournament of Champions: 1957–1959

The Tournament of Champions was a prominent professional tennis tournament series between 1957 and 1959. The tournament was held on the grass-courts of Forest Hills, New York, between 1957 and 1959, and an Australian version of the Tournament of Champions was held on grass at White City, Sydney in 1957 and 1959, and at Kooyong Stadium in Melbourne in 1958. The 1957 and 1958 Forest Hills tournaments had a round robin format, while the 1959 Forest Hills was an elimination tournament with 10 players. The Sydney version was an elimination event, while the 1958 Kooyong event was a round robin format.

The 1957 Forest Hills Tournament of Champions was broadcast live nationally in the U.S.A. on the CBS television network in its entirety, the only known professional tennis tournament in the U.S.A. to achieve this status before the Open Era. (The CBS Dallas pro tennis tournament in 1965 was filmed and broadcast one match at a time in a weekly series.) The 1959 Forest Hills Tournament of Champions offered the largest winners' cheques of the year. The current designation by the West Side Tennis Club of the 1957–59 Forest Hills TOC is "WCT Tournament of Champions". [47] Kramer's contemporary brochures described the Ampol series, of which the 1959 Forest Hills TOC was a part, with the term "World Championship Tennis". [48]

The 1958 Kooyong Tournament of Champions was the richest tournament of the series, with a prize money of 10,000 Australian pounds (US$24,000).

List of Tournament of Champions winners:
Forest Hills (New York)

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1957 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales [49] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman (Round Robin)
1958 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales [50] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall (Round Robin)
1959 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad [51] Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales 6–1, 5–7, 6–2, 6–1

White City (Sydney) and Kooyong (Melbourne)

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1957 Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman 7–5, 6–0, 6–4
1958 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad [52] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman (Round Robin)
1959 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad 11–9, 6–1, 6–1

Masters Pro: 1956–1965

Round Robin in Los Angeles, held from 1956 to 1960, and again in 1964, 1965, and 1967. The Ampol Masters Pro was held at White City in Sydney in 1958.

Masters Pro winners:

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1956 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman (Round Robin)
1957 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman (Round Robin)
1958 Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura
(L.A. Tennis Club)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales (Round Robin)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman
(Sydney White City)
Flag of the United States.svg Tony Trabert 3–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4
1959 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lew Hoad (Round Robin)
1960 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
1964 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Sedgman 6–2, 6–4
1965 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales 3–6, 6–3, 7–5

Kramer Cup: 1961–1963

A team format tournament. [53]

YearChampions
1961 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
1962 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
1963 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia

Madison Square Garden Pro: 1966–1967

Madison Square Garden Pro winners:

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1954 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pancho Gonzales Flag of Ecuador.svg Pancho Segura 7–9, 6–4, 6–4
1966 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver 6–3, 6–3
1967 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall 6–4, 6–4
1968 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Gonzales 6–3, 6–4
1969 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson 6–2, 4–6, 6–1

Forest Hills Pro: 1966

The Forest Hills Pro was held in June 1966 on the grass courts of the West Side Tennis Club using the VASSS Scoring System.[ citation needed ]

Forest Hills Pro winner:

YearChampion
1966 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver

Wimbledon Pro: 1967

The Wimbledon World Professional Championship, also known as the Wimbledon Pro, was held in August 1967. It was first time that professional tennis players played on Centre Court at Wimbledon. [54] The tournament was sponsored and broadcast by the BBC to mark the invention of colour television. [55]

Wimbledon Pro winner:

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1967 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall 6–2, 6–2, 12–10

References

  1. 1 2 Robertson, Max (1974). Encyclopedia of Tennis . New York, Viking Press. pp.  60–71. ISBN   9780670294084.
  2. Tennis Myth and Method (1978), Ellsworth Vines and Gene Vier ( ISBN   9780670696659), page 43
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Bibliography