The South Florida Open Championships also known as the South Florida Championships or South Florida Open[1] was an international men's and women's clay court tennis tournament founded in 1922.[2] The tournament was first played in Miami, Florida, United States. From 1946 this tournament also carried the joint denomination of West Palm Beach Open.[3] The tournament was played at other locations until 1977 when it was discontinued as part of the ILTF Independent Tour.[2]
| South Florida Open Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | ILTF World Circuit (1922–72) ILTF Independent Tour (1973–77) |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Abolished | 1977 |
| Location | Fort Lauderdale Miami Miami Beach Punta Gorda Palm Beach West Palm Beach |
| Venue | Various |
| Surface | Clay |
History
editThe South Florida Championships was a combined men's and women's clay court tournament first established in February 1922 and played in Miami, Florida, United States. The inaugural singles winners were Fritz Bastian (men's)[2] and Martha Floyd (women's). The tournament was part regional USLTA Southern Circuit.[2] In 1954 a second edition of the men's event was held in Fort Lauderdale called the South Florida Fall Championships that was won by
The tournament was held in Miami, Miami Beach, Palm Beach Punta Gorda, West Palm Beach.[2] The fall championships were played in Fort Lauderdale.[2]
The championships ran annually until 1977 when they discontinued from the ILTF Independent Tour,[2] a series of worldwide tournaments not part of the men's Grand Prix Circuit or women's the WTA Tour. The final winners of the singles events were the Canadian player Harry Fritz (men's),[2] the American player Bunny Smith (women's)
Finals
editMen's singles (Winter)
edit(incomplete roll)
| Year | Location | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida Championships | ||||
| 1922 | Miami |  Fritz Bastian |
 James Calder |
6-2, 6–3, 6–3.[2] |
| 1924 | Miami | G. Carlton Shafer |
George Bart Pfingst[4] |
8-6, 6–4, 6–1.[2] |
| 1926 | West Palm Beach | Jerome (Jerry) Lang |
John T. Graves jr. |
6-1, 8–6, 6–3.[2] |
| 1927 | West Palm Beach | Bill Tilden II |
 Manuel Alonso Areizaga |
6-3, 7–9, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2.[2] |
| 1928 | Miami Beach | Frank Hunter |
John F. Hennessey |
6-4, 6–4, 6–3.[2] |
| 1929 | Miami | John F. Hennessey |
Frank Hunter |
2-6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–3.[2] |
| 1930 | Miami | George Lott |
John Doeg |
2-6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 8–6.[2] |
| 1931 | Punta Gorda | J. Gilbert Hall |
 Gustavo Vollmer |
7-5, 4–6, 6–3, 7–5.[2] |
| 1932 | Punta Gorda | Julius Seligson |
Gustavo Vollmer |
4-6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1.[2] |
| 1939 | West Palm Beach | Wayne Sabin |
Gene Mako |
7-9, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2.[2] |
| 1940 | West Palm Beach | Bobby Riggs |
Henry Prusoff |
6-1, 7–5, 6–2.[2] |
| 1941 | Palm Beach | Bobby Riggs (2) |
Jack Kramer |
6-3, 6–2, 6–3.[2] |
| 1946 | West Palm Beach | Gardnar Mulloy |
 Pancho Segura |
6–4, 6–3.[2] |
| 1948 | West Palm Beach | Bruce Thomas |
Sidney Schwartz |
6-4, 6–4.[2] |
| 1950 | West Palm Beach | Tony Vincent |
Malcolm Fox |
7-5, 6–3.[2] |
| 1951 | West Palm Beach | Louis Straight Clark |
Tony Vincent |
6-4, 6–1, 5–7, 6–3.[2] |
| 1952 | West Palm Beach | Gardnar Mulloy (2) |
Tony Vincent |
6-4, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3.[2] |
| 1953 | West Palm Beach | Malcolm Fox |
Charles Harris |
1-6, 6–2, 10–8.[2] |
| 1954 | West Palm Beach | Gardnar Mulloy (3) |
 Lorne Main |
6-1, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–2.[2] |
| 1955 | West Palm Beach | Eddie Moylan |
 Jean-Noël Grinda |
9-7, 6–2.[2] |
| 1956 | West Palm Beach | Vic Seixas |
Eddie Moylan |
2-6, 6–2, 6–4.[2] |
| 1957 | West Palm Beach |  Don Candy |
 Armando Vieira |
3-6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1.[2] |
| 1958 | West Palm Beach | Jack Frost |
 Kosei Kamo |
6-3, 6–2.[2] |
| 1959 | West Palm Beach | Jack Frost (2) |
John W. Frost |
6-2, 6–2.[2] |
| 1960 | West Palm Beach |  Mike Davies |
Eduardo Zuleta |
6-2, 6–0.[2] |
| 1961 | West Palm Beach | John C. Skogstad[5] |
Eduardo Zuleta |
6-0, 6–0, 2–6, 2–6, 6–3.[2] |
| 1962 | West Palm Beach | Ed Rubinoff |
Thomaz Koch |
8-6, 10–12, 9–7, 7–5.[2] |
| 1963 | West Palm Beach | Miguel Olvera |
Eduardo Zuleta |
6-1, 6–3, 6–1.[2] |
| 1964 | West Palm Beach |  Nicky Kalogeropoulos |
Eduardo Zuleta |
7-5, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3.[2] |
| 1965 | West Palm Beach | Billy Higgins |
Lester M Sack[6] |
6-3, 6–1, 6–0.[2] |
| 1966 | West Palm Beach | Eduardo Zuleta |
Harry Fauquier |
6-3, 6–1.[2] |
| 1967 | West Palm Beach | Eduardo Zuleta (2) |
Keith Carpenter |
10-8, 6–2.[2] |
| 1968 | West Palm Beach | Eduardo Zuleta (3) |
Frank Tutvin |
6-4, 6–3.[2] |
| ↓ Open era ↓ | ||||
| South Florida Open Championships | ||||
| 1969 | West Palm Beach | Eduardo Zuleta (4) |
Jamie Pressly[7] |
8-6, 6–0.[2] |
| South Florida Open | ||||
| 1970 | West Palm Beach | Frank Froehling III |
Pancho Guzmán |
7-5, 5–7, 6–3.[2] |
| 1971 | West Palm Beach | Frank Froehling III (2) |
 Pat Cramer |
6-3, 6–2.[2] |
| 1972 | West Palm Beach | Eddie Dibbs |
Miguel Olvera |
5-7, 6–4, 7–5.[2] |
| 1973 | West Palm Beach | Eddie Dibbs (2) |
Norman Holmes |
6-0, 6–2.[2] |
| 1974 | West Palm Beach | Doug Crawford |
Rick Fisher |
6-3, 7–5.[2] |
| 1976 | West Palm Beach | Greg Halder |
Clive Rothwell[8] |
6-2, 6–3.[2] |
| 1977 | West Palm Beach | Harry Fritz |
Larry Loeb[9] |
6-4, 7–6.[2] |
Men's singles (Fall)
edit| Year | Location | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida Fall Championships/West Palm Beach Fall Open | ||||
| 1954 | Fort Lauderdale | Allen Austin Quay |
James (Jim) Shakespeare[10] |
6-2, 6–2.[2] |
Women's singles
edit(incomplete roll)
| Year | Location | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida Championships | ||||
| 1922 | Miami | Martha Floyd |
Clare Cassell |
6-4, 6-4 |
| 1923 | Miami | Anna Townsend Godfrey |
Clare Cassell |
6-1, 6-1 |
| 1929 | Miami | Eleanor Brooks Cottman |
Gisela Comallonga |
6-,2 6-4 |
| 1939 | West Palm Beach | Pauline Betz |
Marta Barnett[11] |
6-3, 6-2 |
| 1940 | West Palm Beach | Mary Hardwick |
Sarah Palfrey Fabyan |
6-1, 6-3 |
| 1941 | Palm Beach | Pauline Betz (2) |
Dorothy Bundy |
6-4, 6-1 |
| 1946 | West Palm Beach | Shirley Fry |
Eleanor Cushingham[12] |
6-2, 2-6 6-1 |
| 1948 | West Palm Beach |  Magda Berescu Rurac |
Laura Lou Jahn[13] |
6-4, 6-1 |
| 1949 | West Palm Beach | Helen Pedersen Rihbany |
Virginia Lee Boyer |
6-0, 6-1 |
| 1950 | West Palm Beach | Jean Clarke |
Rhoda Hopkins[14] |
7-5, 6–8, 6-1 |
| 1951 | West Palm Beach | Beverly Baker |
Shirley Fry |
6-4, 6-4 |
| 1953 | West Palm Beach | Thelma Coyne Long |
Jean Clarke |
6-4, 6-4 |
| 1954 | West Palm Beach | Laura Lou Kunnen |
 Hana Sládková-Koželuhová |
9-7, 6-1 |
| 1955 | West Palm Beach | Mildred Thornton[15] |
Pat Stewart |
9-7, 6-4 |
| 1956 | West Palm Beach | Shirley Fry (2) |
Nancy Morrison Montgomery |
6–1, 6-1 |
| 1957 | West Palm Beach | Dottie Head Knode |
Karol Fageros |
7–9, 7–5, 6-3 |
| 1958 | West Palm Beach | Janet Hopps |
Maria Bueno |
6–3, 7-5 |
| 1959 | West Palm Beach | Barbara Scofield Davidson |
Marie Martin |
6–4, 2–6, 9-7 |
| 1960 | West Palm Beach | Ann Barclay |
Sandy Warshaw[16] |
7–5, 6-1 |
| 1961 | West Palm Beach | Ann Barclay (2) |
Nancy Morrison Montgomery |
6–1, 6-3 |
| 1962 | West Palm Beach | Stephanie DeFina |
Nancy Morrison Montgomery |
8–6, 6-2 |
| 1963 | West Palm Beach | Stephanie DeFina (2) |
Nancy Morrison Orthwein |
6–1, 6-1 |
| 1964 | West Palm Beach | Stephanie DeFina (3) |
Carol Ann Prosen |
1–6, 6–4, 6-2 |
| 1965 | West Palm Beach |  Betty Stöve |
Trudy Groenman |
6–4, 6-4 |
| 1966 | West Palm Beach | Stephanie DeFina (4) |
Alice Tym |
6–4, 6-0 |
| 1967 | West Palm Beach | Stephanie DeFina (5) |
Vera Cleto |
6–3, 6-0 |
| 1968 | West Palm Beach | Kazuko Sawamatsu |
Vera Cleto |
6–1, 6-3 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ | ||||
| South Florida Open Championships | ||||
| 1969 | West Palm Beach | Stephanie DeFina (6) |
 Anna Maria Cavadini[17] |
6–1, 6-2 |
| South Florida Open | ||||
| 1970 | West Palm Beach | Chris Evert |
Stephanie DeFina |
6–3, 6-2 |
| 1971 | West Palm Beach | Christiane Spinoza |
Bunny Smith |
6–1, 6-2 |
| 1972 | West Palm Beach | Pam Austin |
Mary McLean[18] |
6–1, 6-1 |
| 1973 | West Palm Beach | Bunny Smith[19] |
 Sabine Bernegger[20] |
6–4, 7-5 |
Tournament records
editMen's singles
editIncluded:[2]
- Most Titles:
Eduardo Zuleta (4) - Most Finals: Eduardo Zuleta (8)
- Most Consecutive Titles: Eduardo Zuleta (3)
- Most Consecutive Finals: Eduardo Zuleta (3)
Women's singles
edit- Most Titles:
Stephanie DeFina (6) - Most Finals: Stephanie DeFina (7)
- Most Consecutive Titles: Stephanie DeFina (3)
- Most Consecutive Finals: Stephanie DeFina (3)
References
edit- ^ "Chris Evert Rolls At Palm Beach". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale: The Wikipedia Library: Newspapers.Com. 12 Jan 1970. p. 54. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay "Tournaments:South Florida Open". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Obituary for Mildred "Millie" Thornton Johnson". The Highlander. Highlands, NC: Community Newspapers, Inc. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ All Time Penn Men's Tennis Letterwinners: Pfingst, G. Bart 1919". University of Pennsylvania Athletics. University of Pennsylvania. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2023
- ^ "John C. Skogstad, Georgia, 1998". Southern Tennis Foundation. USTA South. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Lester M Sack USA". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Jamie Pressly USA". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Clive Rothwell FRA". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Larry Loeb USA". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "James Shakespeare: Overview". ATP Tour. London, England: ATP. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Marta Barnett of Miami - Rye, New York". Florida Memory. State Library and Archives of Florida. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ Buck, Joan Juliet (17 August 2015). "Palm Springs Eternal". W Magazine. Desert Publications Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ Morgan, Nancy (10 Sep 2005). "Laura Lou Kunnen, 68, '50s tennis icon". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa, Florida. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ Crevier, Nancy (23 June 2006). "Dr Howard Root and Rhoda Joan Hopkins". The Newtown Bee. Newtown, CT: Bee Publishing Company. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ The Highlander
- ^ Johnston, Joey (16 June 2020). "UT History Series: Judy Alvarez Represents UT at Wimbledon". Tampa Spartans. University of Tampa: 16 June 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Ana Cavadini ARG". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Mary McLean USA". www.eurosport.com. Euro Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Bunny Smith USA". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Player Profile: Sabine Bernegger AUT". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 28 September 2023.