Florida Pro Championships

The Florida Pro Championships[1] was a professional tennis tournament first held in 1932.[2] The tournament was part of Pro Tennis Tour[3] from inception. It was played in various locations in Florida, United States until 1972.[2]

Florida Pro Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourPro Tennis Tour
National Tennis League
Founded1932; 92 years ago (1932)
Abolished1966; 58 years ago (1966)
LocationDaytona Beach
Ft. Lauderdale
Hollywood
Miami
Miami Beach
Marco Island
SurfaceClay / outdoor

History

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The Florida Professional Championships were first held in February 1932 in Miami Beach, Florida. The inaugural winner of this Round Robin Event was German player Hans Nüsslein who won 3 out 3 matches, American player Bill Tilden was placed second with a 2-1 match record.[2] The tournament was not held on a semi permanent basis, until the early 1960s.[2] The event was held in various locations including Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach.[2] From 1961 it was mainly held in Hollywood, Florida.[2] The 1972 the final edition was held in Marco Island,[2] when it was branded as the Florida Professional Men's Tennis Championship.[4]

Finals

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Year Locations Champions Runners-up Score
1932 Miami Beach   Hans Nüsslein (1st)   Bill Tilden (2nd) Round Robin.[2]
1934 Miami   Hans Nüsslein   Karel Koželuh 6–1, 6–4, 10–8.[2]
1935 Miami   Hans Nüsslein   Karel Koželuh 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–1.[2]
1942 Daytona Beach   Wayne Sabin   Dick Skeen 3–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–0.[2]
1953 Ft. Lauderdale   Bobby Riggs   Frank Kovacs 7–5, 6–4.[2]
1954 Ft. Lauderdale   Frank Kovacs   Bobby Riggs 7–5, 2–6, 6–4.[2]
1961 Hollywood   Allen Quay   Jerry Dewitt's 6–3, 7–5.[2]
1962 Hollywood   Earl Baumgardner   Armando Vieira 8–10, 6–4, 6–4 ret.[2]
1963 Hollywood   Sam Giammalva   Allen Quay 6–3, 4–6, 6–4.[2]
1964 Hollywood   Pancho Gonzales   Bernard Bartzen 6–4, 8–6.[2]
1966 Hollywood   Pancho Gonzales   Warren Woodcock 6–2, 6–0.[2]
1972 Marco Island   William Higgins   Tom Mozur 6–1 6–1.[2]

Event names

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  • Florida Professional Championships (1932)
  • Florida Pro Championships (1934-1935, 1942, 1961–1966)[5]
  • Florida Pro Tennis Championships (1953-1954)[6]
  • Florida Professional Men's Tennis Championship (1972)[7]

References

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  1. ^ McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: Short Run Book Company. pp. 181, 200, 201, 223, 227, 235, 240, 250. ASIN B001EOVE56.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Tournaments: Florida Pro Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Pro Tennis Tour Outlook Promising". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida: newspapers.com. 13 Jun 1967. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ "In Other Tennis News". The Tampa Times. Tampa, Florida: newspapers.com. 27 May 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  5. ^ McCauley, Joe (2003)
  6. ^ Meyer, Dick (3 Jan 1953). "Time Out For Sports". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: newspapers.com. p. 12. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  7. ^ The Tampa Times