Irish Championships Irish Open

Defunct tennis tournament
Event name	Irish Open
Tour	Irish Tennis Circuit (1879–1912) ILTF World Circuit (1913–69) men (1913–72) women ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (1970–74) men ILTF Independent Circuit (1970, 74-83) women WTA Tour (1971–73) women
Founded	1879; 145 years ago (1879)
Abolished	1983; 41 years ago (1983)
Editions	94
Location	Dublin, Ireland
Venue	Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club Fitzwilliam Square
Surface	Hard, Grass, Clay

The Irish Open and originally known as the Irish Championships or Irish Lawn Tennis Championships,^[1] and for sponsorship reasons also known as Carroll's Irish Open Championships was a men's and women's tennis tournament held at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Before the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913, it was considered by players and historians one of the four most important tennis tournaments to win.^[2]^[3]^[4] the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships. The men's event was part of the pre-open era tour from inception until 1967. It was then part of the open era non-aligned independent tour (1968–69). From 1970 to 1974, it was an event on the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The women's event was on the same tours as the men except for when it became part of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour from 1971 to 1973. The men's edition was played until 1979, and the women's ended in 1983 when they both ceased to part of the top level world tennis circuit.

History

The Irish Championships were first held in June 1879, two years after Wimbledon started. It was first staged at Pembroke Place, Dublin ^[5] until 1880 when it transferred to Wilton Place ^[5] where it remained till 1902. In 1903 the tournament moved again this time to Fitzwilliam Square. The championships began 2 June 1879 ^[6] the tournament had the distinction of being the first event to feature men's and women's singles and doubles tournaments as well as a mixed doubles competition. Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 it was considered by players and historians one of the four most important tennis tournaments to win.^[2]^[3]^[4] the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships.

George Whiteside Hillyard writing his book Forty Years of First-class Lawn Tennis emphasising the importance of this tournament:

To win the Irish Championship was looked upon as quite on a par with winning at Wimbledon, and justly so:
— The Irish Championships, Forty Years of First-class Lawn Tennis (1925). Williams and Norgate, Ltd. London. p. 6.

The tournament changed its name to the Irish Open in 1972 and again it moved location to Appian Way, Dublin where it remained for the duration of its run. The tournament has been played on multiple surfaces throughout its history. The first two years, (1879–1880) were competed on hard courts.^[7] It was played on grass courts,^[7] (1881–1939). From 1946 to 1965, it was played on clay courts,^[7] and it returned to being played on grass again from 1966 until the tournament ended.^[7] The Irish Open is currently a tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour, the lowest tier of professional tennis.^[8]

Finals

Results include:^[1]

Men's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879	Vere St. Leger Goold	Charles David Barry	8–6, 8–6
1880	William Renshaw	Vere St. Leger Goold	6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1881	William Renshaw (2)	Herbert Lawford	1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1882	William Renshaw (3)	Ernest Renshaw	w/o
1883	Ernest Renshaw	Herbert Lawford	3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 1–6, 6–3
1884	Herbert Lawford	Ernest Renshaw	6–1, 6–4, 6–2
1885	Herbert Lawford (2)	Ernest Renshaw	4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1886	Herbert Lawford (3)	Willoughby Hamilton	5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5
1887	Ernest Renshaw (2)	Herbert Lawford	7–5, 6–2, 9–7
1888	Ernest Renshaw (3)	Willoughby Hamilton	6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1889	Willoughby Hamilton	Ernest Renshaw	12–10, 6–1, 6–3
1890	Ernest Lewis	Willoughby Hamilton	3–6, 3–6, 9–7, 6–4, 7–5
1891	Ernest Lewis (2)	Joshua Pim	6–2, 6–3, 8–6
1892	Ernest Renshaw (4)	Ernest Lewis	1–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1893 ^[9]	Joshua Pim	Ernest Renshaw	6–1, 6–4, 6–1
1894	Joshua Pim (2)	Thomas Chaytor	3–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 9–7
1895	Joshua Pim (3)	Wilberforce Eaves	6–1, 6–1, 6–3
1896	Wilfred Baddeley	Harold Mahony	6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3^[10]
1897 ^[11]	Wilberforce Eaves	Wilfred Baddeley	1–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3
1898	Harold Mahony	Wilberforce Eaves	6–1, 5–7, 9–7, 8–6
1899	Reginald Doherty	Harold Mahony	6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1900	Reginald Doherty (2)	Arthur Gore	6–4, 7–5, 7–9, 7–9, 6–3
1901	Reginald Doherty (3)	Laurence Doherty	6–4, 4–6, r
1902	Laurence Doherty	Sydney Howard Smith	6–1, 6–4, 6–1^[10]
1903	William Drapes	James Cecil Parke	6–0, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4^[12]
1904	James Cecil Parke	Thomas Douglas Good	6–1, 6–2, 6–4
1905	James Cecil Parke (2)	Alexander H. Porter	6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1906	Frank Riseley	S. Douglas	6–2, 6–1, 7–5
1907	Josiah Ritchie	Thomas Douglas Good	0–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
1908	James Cecil Parke (3)	Wylie Grant	4–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–0
1909	James Cecil Parke (4)	Alfred Beamish	6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3
1910	James Cecil Parke (5)	Alfred Beamish	6–1, 6–3, 8–6
1911	James Cecil Parke (6)	Simon Frederick Scroope	6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1912	James Cecil Parke (7)	George Alan Thomas	6–2, 6–1, 6–0
1913	James Cecil Parke (8)	George Alan Thomas	6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1914	Cecil John Tindell Green	George Alan Thomas	7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–8, 6–3
1915–18	Not held
1919	Cecil J. Campbell	Valentine Miley	6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1920	Valentine Miley	George Alan Thomas	2–6, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1921	Cecil J. Campbell (2)
1922	Not held
1923	George Eric Mackay	F. Crosbie	7–5, 6–0, 6–1
1924	Louis Meldon	Edward McGuire	6–1, 6–0, 6–2
1925	Charles Frederick Scroope	Maurice V. Summerson	6–3, 6–3, 6–0
1926	Pierre Henri Landry	Maurice V. Summerson	6–2, 6–1, 6–3
1927	Gordon Crole-Rees	Pat Hughes	6–2, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4
1928	George Lyttleton-Rogers	Dudley Pitt	5–7, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4, 6–2
1929	John Olliff	George Lyttleton-Rogers	4–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2, 6–4
1930	Harry Lee	Pat Hughes	3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–0
1931	Edward McGuire	Harry F. Cronin	6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1932	Sidney. B. Wood	Gregory Mangin	3–6, 6–3, 9–11, 6–3, 6–0
1933	David Jones	Clayton Burwell	6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
1934	Camille Malfroy	George Lyttleton-Rogers	6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 1–6, 6–1
1935	Alan Stedman	Camille Malfroy	7–5, 6–2, 6–1
1936	George Lyttleton-Rogers (2)	Robert Mulliken	6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1937	George Lyttleton-Rogers (3)	Trevor G. McVeagh	6–1, 8–6, 7–5
1938	Owen Anderson	George Lyttleton-Rogers	6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
1939	Murray Deloford	Ghaus Mohammed Khan	6–2, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2
1940–45	Not held
1946	Dinny Pails	Cyril A. Kemp	6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1947	Tony Mottram	Cyril A. Kemp	6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1948	Eric Sturgess	Sumant Misra	6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1949	Nigel Cockburn	Syd Levy	3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 6–3
1950	Cyril A. Kemp	Bryan Rooke	6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1951	Abe Segal	Guy Jackson	6–3, 6–4, 6–0
1952	Naresh Kumar	Steve Potts	6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–2
1953	Naresh Kumar (2)	Joe D. Hackett	6–1, 3–6, 6–2, 6–0
1954	Hugh Stewart	Mervyn Rose	2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 11–13, 6–4
1955	Hugh Stewart (2)	Bob Howe	6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 13–11
1956	Budge Patty	Hugh Stewart	3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1957	Ashley Cooper	Jaroslav Drobný	6–4, 6–2, 6–3
1958	Neale Fraser / Mike Davies		Title shared
1959	Jack Frost	Jon Douglas	8–6, 11–9
1960	Dennis Ralston	Martin Mulligan	6–3, 6–4, 7–5
1961	William E. Bond	Frank Froehling	6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 11–9
1962	Rod Laver	Bobby Wilson	w/o
1963	Bobby Wilson	Billy Knight	6–3, 6–0, 6–3
1964	Bobby Wilson (2)	Roger Werksman	6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2
1965	Tony Roche	Mike Sangster	11–9, 13–11
1966	Jerry Cromwell	Graham Stilwell	7–9, 6–4, 6–4
1967	Keith Wooldridge	Peter Mockler	6–3, 3–6, 6–0
1968	Tom Okker	Lew Hoad	6–1, 6–2
↓ Open era ↓
1969	Bob Hewitt	Nikola Pilić	6–3, 6–2
1970	Tony Roche (2)	Rod Laver	6–3, 6–1
1971	Cliff Drysdale	Clark Graebner	10–8, 6–3
1972	Bob Hewitt (2)	Frew McMillan	6–1, 6–2
1973	Mark Cox	John Yuill	7–5, 3–6, 11–9
1974	Sherwood Stewart	Colin Dowdeswell	6–3, 9–8
1975	Alvin Gardiner	Anthony Fawcett	9–7, 6–3
1976–77	Not held
1978	Robert Carmichael	Sean Sorensen	6–3, 6–2
1979	Paul Kronk	Sean Sorensen	7–6, 6–4

Men's doubles

Results included:^[1]

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879	J. Elliot H. Kellie	Peter Aungier Charles David Barry	?
1880	William Renshaw Ernest Renshaw	Herbert Lawford A. J. Mulholland	5–7, 6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–2.^[1]
1881	William Renshaw (2) Ernest Renshaw (2)	Arthur J. de Courcy Wilson Henry Hugh Wilson	def.^[1]
1882	Ernest Browne Peter Aungier	William Renshaw (2) Ernest Renshaw	6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 8–6.^[1]
1883	William Renshaw (3) Ernest Renshaw (3)	Peter Aungier Ernest Browne	6–3, 6–0, 10–8.^[1]
1884	William Renshaw (4) Ernest Renshaw (4)	Ernest Lewis Edward Lake Williams	7–5, 6–4, 6–3.^[1]
1885	William Renshaw (5) Ernest Renshaw (5)	Ernest Browne Eyre Chatterton	6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.^[1]
1886	Willoughby Hamilton Herbert Knox McKay	Eyre Chatterton James Dwight	4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1.^[1]
1887	Willoughby Hamilton (2) Tom S. Campion	Patrick Bowes-Lyon Herbert Wilberforce	6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3.^[1]
1888	Willoughby Hamilton (3) Tom S. Campion (2)	Hugh Montgomery Cairnes Cameron Dean-Shute	6–3, 9–7, 7–5.^[1]
1889	Ernest Lewis George Hillyard	Maxwell J. Carpendale Harold S. Stone	6–2, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3.^[1]
1890	Joshua Pim Frank Stoker	Ernest Lewis George Hillyard	8–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4.^[1]
1891	Joshua Pim (2) Frank Stoker (2)	Ernest Lewis Grainger Chaytor	7–5, 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3.^[1]
1892	Ernest Lewis (2) Ernest Meers	Joshua Pim Frank Stoker	6–1, 8–6, 6–4.^[1]
1893 ^[9]	Joshua Pim Frank Stoker (3)	Ernest Lewis Ernest Meers	default
1894	Joshua Pim (2) Frank Stoker (4)	Ernest Lewis Charles Henry Martin	6–3, 7–5, 6–4.^[1]
1895^[13]	Joshua Pim (3) Frank Stoker (5)	Charles Allen Roy Allen	6–4, 6–0, 6–2
1896 ^[14]	Wilfred Baddeley Herbert Baddeley	Reginald Doherty Harold Nesbitt	6–3, 7–5, 6–0
1897^[15]	Wilfred Baddeley (2) Herbert Baddeley (2)	Reginald Doherty Sydney Howard Smith	9–7, 7–5, 6–3
1898	Reginald Doherty Laurence Doherty	Herbert Baddeley Wilfred Baddeley	w.o.^[1]
1899	Reginald Doherty (2) Laurence Doherty (2)
1900	Reginald Doherty (3) Laurence Doherty (3)
1901	Reginald Doherty (4) Laurence Doherty (4)
1902	Reginald Doherty 5) Laurence Doherty (5)
1907	Herbert Newcombe Craig Thomas Douglas Good	James Cecil Parke John Frederick Stokes	8–6, 6–8, 9–7, 6–4.^[1]
1908	Alfred Beamish Charles F. Scroope	Herbert Newcombe Craig Thomas Douglas Good	3–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–3.^[1]
1920	John F. O'Connell Miley Valentine W. O'Connell Miley	Edward D'Arcy McCrea John Frederick Stokes	6–0, 6–1, 6–4.^[1]
1921–2008	...

Women's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879 ^[16]	May Langrishe	D. Meldon	6–2, 0–6, 8–6^[17]
1880	D. Meldon (2)	Connie Butler	6–1, 6–1
1881	Not held
1882	Mary Abercrombie	Marian Bradley	6–4, 6–1
1883 ^[18]	May Langrishe	Beatrice Langrishe	6–0, 6–1
1884	Maud Watson	May Langrishe	6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1885	Maud Watson (2)	Louisa Martin	6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1886 ^[19]	May Langrishe (2)	Louisa Martin	6–3, 6–4
1887	Lottie Dod	Maud Watson	6–4, 6–3
1888	Blanche Bingley Hillyard	Bertha Steedman	7–5, 6–2
1889 ^[20]	Louisa Martin	Blanche Bingley Hillyard	7–5, 6–0
1890 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (2)	Lena Rice	9–7, 6–4
1891 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (3)	Florence Stanuell	6–2, 5–7, 6–0
1892 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (4)	G. Crofton	6–1, 6–0
1893 ^[9]	Florence Stanuell	Miss Pope	6–2, 6–3
1894	Blanche Bingley Hillyard (2)	Miss Shaw	6–3, 6–2
1895	Charlotte Cooper^[21]	Lottie Paterson	6–4, 6–4
1896 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (5)	Charlotte Cooper	6–0, 3–6, 6–2
1897	Blanche Bingley Hillyard (3)	Ruth Dyas Durlacher	7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1898	Charlotte Cooper	Louisa Martin	6–4, 9–7
1899 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (6)	Ruth Dyas Durlacher	6–1, 6–2
1900 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (7)	Charlotte Cooper	2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1901	Muriel Robb	Ruth Dyas Durlacher	9–7, 6–1
1902 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (8)	Ruth Dyas Durlacher	6–8, 6–4, 7–5
1903 ^[20]	Louisa Martin (9)	Maude Garfit	6–2, 4–6, 6–1
1904	Winifred Longhurst	Ellen Stawell-Brown	6–3, 6–3
1905	Winifred Longhurst (2)	Mrs. A.H.C. Barker	6–1, 6–0
1906	Winifred Longhurst (3)	Mabel Parton	6–1, 6–1
1907	Maude Garfit	Hilda Lane	6–2, 6–2
1908	Maude Garfit (2)	Edith Boucher	6–4, 6–2
1909	Maude Garfit (3)	Agnes Tuckey	9–7, 9–7
1910	Bertha Holder	Miss Hazlett	6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1911	Mrs D.R. Barry	Bertha Holder	6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1912	Ethel Thomson Larcombe	Mrs. Norton-Barry	6–4, 6–1
1913	Mrs D.R. Norton-Barry (2)	I. Clarke	6–2, 7–5
1914	I. Clarke	Winifred Longhurst	9–11, 6–2, 6–4
1915–18	Not held
1919	Elizabeth Ryan	Janet Jackson	6–0, 6–1
1920	Elizabeth Ryan (2)	Geraldine Beamish	6–1, 6–2
1921	Elizabeth Ryan (3)	Hilda Wallis	6–2, 6–4
1922	Not held
1923	Elizabeth Ryan (4)	Joanna Davidson	7–5, 4–6, 12–10
1924	Hilda Wallis	Miss Price	6–3, 6–4
1925	Esna Boyd Robertson	Daphne Akhurst Cozens	9–7, 6–1
1926	Hilda Wallis (2)	Miss Price	6–4, 6–0
1927	Phoebe Holcroft Watson	Elsie Goldsack	6–2, 6–2
1928	Mrs. Blair White	Hilda Wallis	6–1, 1–6, 8–6
1929	Bobby Heine	Billie Tapscott	3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1930	Hilda Wallis (3)	M. French	6–2, 6–2
1931	Mrs. Blair White (2)	Norma Stoker	6–4, 6–3
1932	Jadwiga Jędrzejowska	Vera Montgomery	6–4, 6–2
1933	Hilda Wallis (4	Norma Stoker	6–4, 6–3
1934	Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling	Joan Hartigan Bathurst	6–3, 6–1
1935	Sheila Chuter	Cristobel Wheatcroft	3–6, 6–3, 6–1
1936	Anita Lizana	Nancy Dickin	6–3, 6–3
1937	Thelma Jarvis	Valerie Scott	6–4, 6–1
1938	Helen Wills Moody	Thelma Jarvis	6–4, 6–2
1939	Alice Marble	Susan Noel Powell	6–2, 6–4
1940–45	Not held
1946	Louise Brough	Doris Hart	6–2, 7–5
1947	Jean Bostock	Betty Lombard	3–6, 6–4, 6–1
1948	Sheila Piercey Summers	Mary D. Muller	9–7, 6–1
1949	Thelma Coyne Long	Shirley Fry	6–1, 4–6, 9–7
1950	Pat Todd	Barbara Scofield	6–3, 6–4
1951	Betty Lombard	Arvilla McGuire	6–2, 6–3
1952	Maureen Connolly	Jean Walker-Smith	6–1, 6–1
1953	Angela Mortimer	Shirley Bloomer Brasher	6–4, 0–6, 11–9
1954	Maureen Connolly	Ginette Bucaille	6–2, 6–1
1955	Beverly Baker Fleitz	Darlene Hard	6–2, 6–2
1956	Shirley Bloomer Brasher	Dorothy Head Knode	8–6, 6–2
1957	Sandra Reynolds	Sheila Armstrong	4–6, 6–4, 6–0
1958	Dorothy Head Knode	Shirley Bloomer Brasher	4–6, 7–5, 7–5
1959	Renée Schuurman	Sandra Reynolds	6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1960	Dorothy Head Knode (2)	Ruia Morrison	6–4, 6–2
1961	Ann Haydon	Kathy Chabot	6–0, 6–3
1962	Madonna Schacht	Judy Alvarez	6–0, 6–3
1963	Billie Jean Moffitt	Carole Caldwell Graebner	6–4, 6–3
1964	Maria Bueno	Věra Pužejová Suková	6–0, 6–1
1965	Maria Bueno (2)	Christine Truman	10–8, 6–4
1966	Margaret Court	Kathleen Harter	6–2, 6–1
1967	Alex Soady	Heather Allen	6–3, 6–2
1968	Margaret Court (2)	Ann Haydon-Jones	6–3, 6–1
↓ Open era ↓
1969	Billie Jean King	Virginia Wade	6–2, 6–2
1970	Virginia Wade	Valerie Ziegenfuss	6–3, 6–3
1971	Margaret Court (3)	Evonne Goolagong	6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1972	Evonne Goolagong	Pat Walkden	2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1973	Margaret Court (4)	Virginia Wade	6–2, 6–4
1974	Gail Sherriff	Raquel Giscafré	6–4, 6–1
1975	Sue Mappin	Lesley Charles	6–8, 6–4, 7–5
1976	Sue Mappin (2)	Tanya Harford	6–4, 6–0
1977	Mary Sawyer	Maria Bueno	2–6, 6–3, 6–1
1978	Mary Sawyer (2)	Pam Whytcross	6–4, 6–4
1979	Pam Whytcross	Cathy Drury	6–2, 6–4
1980	Pam Whytcross (2)	Nerida Gregory	6–1, 6–4
1981	Debbie Jevans	Sue Saliba	0–6, 6–1, 6–4
1982	Diane Desfor	Lea Antonoplis	6–1, 3–6, 6–2
1983	Kate Latham	Debbie Freeman	4–6, 6–2, 6–3

Women's doubles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1884	Adela Langrishe May Langrishe	Lilian Watson Maud Watson	11–9, 6–2
1885	Lilian Watson Maud Watson
1886	Connie Butler Louisa Martin
1887	Louisa Martin (2) Florence Stanuell
1888	} Mary Steedman Bertha Steedman
1889	Louisa Martin (3) Florence Stanuell (2)
1890	Louisa Martin (4) Florence Stanuell (3)
1891	Louisa Martin (5) Florence Stanuell (4)
1892	Lottie Dod Bertha Steedman (2)
1893	Jane Corder Winifred Shaw		Won
1894	Blanche Bingley Miss Snook		Won
1895	Miss Cooper Charlotte Cooper^[21]
1896	Alice Pickering Ruth Durlacher
1897	Blanche Bingley Charlotte Cooper (2)
1898	Louisa Martin (6) Ruth Durlacher
1899	Ruth Durlacher (3) Louisa Martin (7)
1900	Charlotte Cooper Ms. E. Cooper
1901	Ruth Durlacher (2) Louisa Martin (8)
1902	Ruth Durlacher (3) Miss Hazlett
1925	Esna Boyd Floris E. S. St. George	Sylvia Lance Harper Daphne Akhurst	8–6, 6–4
1903–70	...
↓ Open era ↓
1971	Lesley Turner Bowrey Betty Stöve	Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong	7–5, 6–1
1972	Brenda Kirk Pat Walkden-Pretorius	Evonne Goolagong Karen Krantzcke	6–3, 8–10, 6–2
1973	Margaret Court Virginia Wade	Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke	8–6, 3–6, 6–4

Mixed doubles