The Eastern Indoor Championships[1] also known as the Eastern States Indoor Championships was a men's and women's indoor tennis tournament founded in 1944.[2] It was organized by the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association (today known as USTA Eastern) and was It was originally played on wood courts, then switching later carpet courts later until 1977 when it was discontinued.[2]
| Eastern Indoor Championships Eastern States Indoor Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | ILTF World Circuit (1944–77) |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Abolished | 1977 |
| Location | Bergen Hackensack New York City Waldwick |
| Venue | Various |
| Surface | Wood (indoors) Carpet (indoors) |
History edit
In February 1944 the Eastern Indoor Championships were established.[2] The first two editions were played at the Bassford-Wood Courts, Lexington Avenue, New York City.[3][2] This tournament is particular notable for allowing Althea Gibson the tennis player and black woman to play in a major United States Lawn Tennis Association tournament,[4] where she advanced to the quarter finals in the singles but was beaten nationally ranked Betty Rosenquest[5] won the event that year. The tournament was mainly played in New York City in particular in Manhattan and the Bronx elsewhere it was also held in Bergen, New York, Hackensack, New Jersey and Waldwick, New Jersey.[2] The tournament was discontinued in 1977 as part of the ILTF Independent Tour and became a regional USTA circuit event.[2]
Finals edit
Men's singles edit
(incomplete roll) In 1967 two editions of the men's championships were held one in January denoted as (*) and the other in March as (**).
| Year | Location | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | NYC |  Theodore Schein |
Edward McGrath[6] |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3.[2] |
| 1945[7] | NYC | Bill Talbert |
Herbert Bowman |
6–2, 6–1, 6–0.[2] |
| 1950 | NYC | Charles Masterson |
R. Philip Hanna[8][9] |
12–10, 7–5, 6–2.[2] |
| 1964 | NYC | Donald Rubell[10] |
John Mangan |
7–9, 6–4, 8–6, 6–4.[2] |
| 1965 | Bergen | Herb Fitzgibbon |
Ned Weld |
3–6, 8–10, 6–4, 7–5, 3–1, ret.[2] |
| 1966 | Waldwick | Eugene Scott |
Robert Barker |
6–1, 6–4, 6–1.[2] |
| 1967* | Waldwick | Eugene Scott (2) |
Frank Froehling III |
6–3, 6–3, 6–3.[2] |
| 1967** | Waldwick | Donald Rubell (2) |
Tony Vincent |
6–3, 6–2, 6–4.[2] |
| 1968 | NYC |  Mike Callaghan |
 Gabino Palafox |
6–8, 5–7, 6–3, 9–7.[2] |
| ↓ Open era ↓ | ||||
| 1969 | Hackensack | Butch Seewagen |
Jaime Subirats |
6–2, 13–11, 6–3.[2] |
| 1970 | Hackensack | Herb Fitzgibbon (2) |
Peter Fishbach |
13–11, 7–5, 6–0.[2] |
| 1971 | NYC | Herb Fitzgibbon (3) |
John Adams |
6–3, 6–2, 6–0.[2] |
| 1972 | NYC | Vitas Gerulaitis |
King Van Nostrand |
6–2, 6–2, 6–1.[2] |
| 1973 | NYC | Mike Grant |
King Van Nostrand |
6–2, 6–2, 6–1.[2] |
| 1974 | NYC | King Van Nostrand |
Warren Lucas |
6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3.[2] |
| 1975 | NYC | Jon Molin |
Art Carrington |
4–6, 6–1, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4.[2] |
Women's singles edit
(incomplete roll)
| Year | Location | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | NYC | Norma Taubele Barber |
Mary J. M. Donnalley[11] |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 1945 | NYC | Norma Taubele Barber (2) |
Helen Germaine |
1–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1946 | NYC | Norma Taubele Barber (3) |
Edna Steinbach |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 1947 | NYC | Nina Irwin |
Sylvia Knowles |
7–5, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 1948 | NYC | Barbara Wilkins |
Nina Irwin |
6–4, 4–6, 64 |
| 1949 | NYC | Betty Rosenquest |
Helen Germaine |
6–4, 6–0 |
| 1950 | NYC | Althea Gibson |
Millicent Hirsch Lang |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 1953 | NYC | Thelma Coyne Long |
Lois Felix |
6–0, 6–2 |
| 1964 | NYC | Pat Stewart |
Mimi Kanarek |
6–2, 8–6 |
| 1966 | Waldwick | Marilyn Aschner |
Mimi Kanarek |
6–3, 8–10, 7–5 |
| 1968 | NYC |  Maria-Cristina Dias |
Marilyn Aschner |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ | ||||
| 1970 | Hackensack | Marilyn Aschner (2) |
Louise Gonnerman |
6–0, 7–5 |
| 1977 | NYC | Barbara Potter |
Kathy Mueller |
6–3, 6–2 |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "The "A" people of tennis". Baltimore Afro-American. Baltimore, Maryland. 21 Apr 1970. p. 15. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Tournaments: Eastern Indoor Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ "TALBERT CONQUERS GOLDSTEIN AT NET; Gains Eastern Final, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1--Bowman Triumphs Over Broida, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2". The New York Times. New York City. 25 February 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Baltimore Afro-American (1970)
- ^ Baltimore Afro-American (1970)
- ^ "Edward McGrath: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ The New York Times
- ^ "Phillip Hanna: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "R. PHILIP HANNA, TENNIS STAR, DIES; 1955 U.S. Senior Champion Collapses After Forest Hills Match--Was a Singer". The New York Times. New York City. 21 July 1957. p. 60. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Donald Rubell : Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "2016 Inductee Biography: Mary Jane Metcalf Donnalley". www.coloradotennis.com. Denver: Colorado Tennis Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 9 October 2023.