Western Championships
The Western Championships[1] also known as the Western States Championships or Western Sectional Championships[2] was a men's and women's open tennis tournament staged annually at various locations from 1887 until 1978.
| Western Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | USTA Circuit (1887–1912) ILTF Circuit (1913–1969) ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (1970–78) |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Abolished | 1978 |
| Location | Various |
| Surface | Clay/Grass |
History
On July 4, 1887, the first Championships of the Western States were inaugurated at the Scarlett Ribbon Club in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[3] and the first men's champion was Charles Amherst Chase. In 1895 a women's championship event was added to the schedule which was won by Marion Capwell
In 1973 the final ladies championship was held that was won by the Australian player Evonne Goolagong. The mens tournament continued to play until 1978 which was won by the American player Eddie Dibbs.
The championships were part of the USLTA Circuit from 1887 until 1924. It became of part of the ILTF Circuit following the United States joining the International Lawn Tennis Federation in 1925 until 1969 In 1970 the tournament became part of the ILTF Grand Prix Circuit. In 1952 and from 1969 until 1973 the women's event was also valid as the Tri-State Championships.
Locations
The championships have been played in the following cities; Chicago, Cincinnati, Harbor Springs, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Lake Forest, Minnetonka, Neenah, River Forest and Sharonville.
References
- "Western Tennis Matches To Be Played Here Again". Oak Park Oak Leaves. Oak Park, Illinois.: Newspaper Archives. February 8, 1934. p. 34. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Whittersley, Joseph T. (1895). "Sectional Championships: Southern Championships". Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide. Boston: Wright & Ditson Publishing. p. 65.
- Robertson, Max (1974). "The United States Story by Alison Danzig". The encyclopedia of tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. p. 48. ISBN 0047960426.