Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament

The Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament was an early men's tennis tournament held from 1880 to 1885. It consisted of a spring tournament usually held in April and another held in autumn usually September. It was a forerunner event for the later Sussex Championships formally called the Sussex County Championships that were first staged in 1889 and are still being staged today.[1][2]

Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1880
Abolished1885
Editions6 (2 spring, 4 autumn)
LocationHove Rink Tennis Courts
Brighton
Sussex
Great Britain
Surfaceoutdoor (Grass)
outdoor (Asphalt)
indoor (Wood)

History

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The Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament was a brief pre-open era autumn tennis tournament originally played on outdoor asphalt courts at Brighton and Hove Rink, England with the exception of the 1884 event that was played on grass courts. In 1882 the organisers staged a spring event in June also played on asphalt courts, but for only two editions.[3] There were just four editions of this event but it did feature two future Wimbledon Men's singles champions, the Renshaw twins. It was a forerunner event for the later Sussex Championships also called Sussex County Championships that were first staged in 1889.[4]

Spring tournament

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Men's singles

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Year Winner Runner Up Surface Score
1882   Robert Wallace Glen Lee Braddell   Donald Charles Stewart Wood (i) 6–1, 6–8, 0–6, 6–2, 6–2.[5]
1883   Charles Walder Grinstead   Donald Charles Stewart Grass 6–3, 6–8, 8–10, 6–4, 6–1.[6]

Autumn tournament

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Incomplete list of tournaments included:[7]

Men's singles

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Year Winner Runner Up Surface Score
1880   William Renshaw   Ernest Renshaw Asphalt 6-1 6-8 0-6 6-2 6–2.
1881   Michael Gallwey McNamara   Champion Russell Asphalt 2-6 6-2 6-0 6–1.
1882   Herbert Wilberforce   Michael Gallwey McNamara Asphalt 6-1 6-8 0-6 6-2 6–2.
1883   Herbert Wilberforce   Charles Walder Grinstead Asphalt 6-3 6-8 8-10 6-4 6–1.
1884   Charles Lacy Sweet   Charles Walder Grinstead Grass 0–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1885   Charles Walder Grinstead   William Taylor Asphalt w.o.

Women's singles

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Year Winner Runner Up Surface Score
1880   Ellen Maltby   Mary Ann Maltby Asphalt 6–3, 6–3
1881   Edith Coleridge   Leila Lodwick Asphalt 6–5, 6–2
1885   Miss Hudson   Constance Bryan Asphalt 6–1, 6–4

References

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  1. ^ Garcia, Gabriel (2018). "SUSSEX COUNTY: Tournament Roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SAL. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Sussex County Championships Archives". Tennis Sussex. Sussex LTA. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Sussex County Lawn Tennis Club Spring Tournament 1882". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. ^ Garcia, Gabriel.
  5. ^ A. Nieuwland
  6. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Sussex County Lawn Tennis Club Spring Tournament 1883". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  7. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 10 July 2022.