Coral Beach Invitation

The Coral Beach Invitation[1] also known as the Coral Beach Club Invitation was combined tennis tournament played on green clay courts at the Coral Beach Club resort, Warwick, Bermuda. It was founded in 1940 and ran annually until 1978 when it was discontinued.[1] The tournament was part of the ILTF North American Circuit.[1]

Coral Beach Club Invitation
Coral Beach Invitation
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF North American Circuit
Founded1940; 84 years ago (1940)
Abolished1978; 46 years ago (1978)
LocationWarwick, Bermuda.
VenueCoral Beach Club
SurfaceClay – outdoors

History

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In 1939, the first two ‘Bermuda Clay’ courts were laid down (now Har-Tru).[2] A few months later in 1940 the invitation tournament was held.[3] The winner of the men's singles, W. Donald McNeill, the same year, won the United States Lawn Tennis Championship at Forest Hills.[3] The first lady champion, Miss Gracyn Wheeler, defeated Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Cooke who later also at Forest Hills.[3] The tournament was part of the ILTF North American Circuit.

Finals

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Men's Singles

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(incomplete roll)

Year Winner Runner-up Score
1940   Don McNeill   Elwood Thomas Cooke 6–8, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[1]
1952   Vic Seixas   Gustavo Palafox 6–4, 9–7, 6–3.[1]
1953[4]   Don McNeill   Lorne Main 7–5, 6–4, 6–2.
1966   Bill Tym   Ellis Slack 6–4, 6–1.[1]
1979   Stephen Alger   King Van Nostrand 6–2, 6–1.[1]

Women's Singles

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(incomplete roll)

Year Winner Runner-up Score
1940[3]   Gracyn Wheeler   Sarah Palfrey Cooke 10–8, 6–3
1953[5]   Louise Brough   Thelma Coyne Long 6–3, 6–4
1961   Dottie Head Knode   Barbara Scofield Davidson 6–1, 7–5
1970   Sally Fuller   Kay Hubbell 6–2, 6–1

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Tournaments: Coral Beach Invitation". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "About The Club". members.coralbeachclub.com. Warwick, Bermuda: Coral Beach And Tennis Club.
  3. ^ a b c d Coral Beach and Tennis Club
  4. ^ Stern, Andrew (Jun 1953). "The Bermuda Championships". Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis (PDF). New York City: Family Media. p. 26.
  5. ^ Tennis Illustrated: World Tennis