The Lee-on-Solent Open was a clay court then later hard court tennis event founded in 1921.[1] It was held at the Lee-on-Solent Lawn Tennis and Squash Club (f.1911),[2] Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England through until 2000 when it was abolished.
| Lee-on-Solent Open | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Event name | Lee-on-Solent Open (1921-70) Mercedes Benz Lee-on-Solent Open (1971-1973) Lee-on-Solent Open (1974–82) ATP Challenger Lee-on-Solent (1982–84, 98, 2000) (men) ITF Lee-on-Solent Tournament (1982–97) (women) |
| Tour | ILTF World Circuit ILTF Independent Circuit ATP Challenger Tour |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Abolished | 1997 |
| Location | Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England |
| Venue | Lee-on-Solent Lawn Tennis and Squash Club |
| Surface | Clay (1921-84) Hard (1997-2000) |
History
editThe Lee-on-Solent Open tournament was first inaugurated in 1921 and was played continually through to 1938.[3] In 1939 the tournament was cancelled.[4] Following World War II the tournament resumed in 1946. In 1971 the tournament secured sponsorship from the German car maker Mercedes-Benz and for the next three years was known as the Mercedes Benz Lee-on-Solent Open until 1974.
In 1982 the tournament ceased to be part of the senior worldwide tour,[5] and both the men's and women's events were downgraded. The men's event became part of ATP Challenger Tour known as the Lee-On-Solent Challenger (1982–1984, 1998, 2000).[6] The women's tournament became part of the ITF Circuit known as the ITF Lee-On-Solent Tournament (1982–1997).[7]
From 1921 through until 1984 the surface was always clay courts. From 1997 until 2000 it switched to hard courts.
Event names
edit- Lee-on-Solent Open (1921–70)
- Mercedes Benz Lee-on-Solent Open (1971–1973)
- Lee-on-Solent Open (1974–81)
- ATP Lee-on-Solent Challenger (1982–1984, 1998, 2000) (men)
- ITF Lee-on-Solent Tournament (1982–1997) (women)
References
edit- ^ ". Lee-on-the-Solent: Lawn Tennis Tournament: The fourth annual open tournament was to have commenced yesterday, but owing to the heavy rain play was postponed until to-day". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. 25 August 1925. p. 7.
- ^ "About". LOST Club. Lee on the Solent Tennis, Squash & Fitness Club. 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "The Lee-on-Solent Tennis Club's 17th annual open tournament began yesterday on the club's seven hard courts". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. 24 August 1938. p. 7.
- ^ "The Lee-on-Solent Tournament Cancelled: The Lee-on-Solent Tennis Club's annual open tournament, which was to have been held next week has been cancelled". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. 26 August 1939. p. 7.
- ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Lee-on-Solent". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives.
- ^ "Lee-On-Solent: Overview". atptour.com. ATP Tour. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "$10,000 LEE-ON-SOLENT". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 6 December 2022.