The Tropical Championships[1] also called the Tropical Sectional Championships[2] was a men's open tennis tournament founded in 1887 as the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club Tournament.[3] It was staged annually by the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club, St. Augustine, Florida, United States until 1894.
| Tropical Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | USNLTA Circuit (1887–1894) |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Abolished | 1894 |
| Location | St. Augustine, Florida, United States |
| Venue | Villa Zorayda (1887-88) Alcazar Hotel and Casino |
| Surface | Asphalt (outdoors) Wood (indoors) |
History
editIn March 1887 the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Tournament was inaugurated at the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club, St. Augustine, Florida, United States,[4] The first was held at the Villa Zorayda owned by a local business magnet Mr. Franklin W. Smith and was played on indoor wood courts.[3] The first men's champion was Thomas Sterling Beckwith.[5] In 1888 its name was changed to the Tropical Championships.[6][3] In 1889 the tournament was moved to the Alcazar Hotel and Casino in St. Augustine where the tournament was then played on outdoor hard asphalt courts and remained there for its duration.[3]
The championships were part of the USNLTA Circuit from 1887 until 1894. The tournament was mainly won by American players except for 1892 when the English tennis player Charles Walder Grinstead won the event. In 1894 the championships were discontinued the final singles champion was Oliver Campbell.[7]
Finals
edit_Alcazar_Hotel,_St_Augustine,_Florida.jpg)
Men's Singles
edit(Incomplete roll)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1887 |  Thomas Sterling Beckwith |
Albert Empie Wright |
2–1 sets.[3] | |
| 1888 | Henry Graff Trevor |
Thomas Sterling Beckwith |
3–2 sets.[3] | |
| 1889 | Oliver Samuel Campbell |
Henry Graff Trevor |
6–2, 6–3, 6–4.[3] | |
| 1890 | Oliver Samuel Campbell (2) |
Thomas Sterling Beckwith |
6-4 5-7 6-2 6-4 | |
| 1891 | Oliver Samuel Campbell (3) |
Albert Empie Wright |
10–8, 6–1, 7–5.[3] | |
| 1892 |  Charles Walder Grinstead |
Oliver Samuel Campbell |
w.o.[3] | |
| 1893 | Not held | |||
| 1894 | Oliver Samuel Campbell (4) |
Charles Walder Grinstead |
w.o.[3] | |
Men's Doubles
edit(Incomplete roll)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | Albert Empie Wright J.W. Nichols |
? | default.[8] |
References
edit- ^ "Tennis, St. Augustine The Outing Magazine 1890". fcit.usf.edu. University of South Florida. 2005. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ Whittersley, Joseph T. (1895). "Sectional Championships: Tropical Championships". Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide. Boston: Wright & Ditson Publishing. p. 64.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Tournaments: St. Augustine Tournament - Tropical Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- ^ Robertson, Max (1974). "The United States Story by Alison Danzig". The encyclopedia of tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. p. 48. ISBN 0047960426.
- ^ Whittersley, Joseph T. (1895).
- ^ University of South Florida
- ^ University of South Florida
- ^ The New York Clipper Annual. New York: Frank Queen Publishing Company (Limited). 1893. p. 91.