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| Southern California Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Abolished | 1977 (men) 1979 (women) |
| Editions | 93 (men) 95 (women) |
| Location | Riverside (1887) combined Santa Monica (1888–1903) combined South Pasadena (1904) combined Long Beach (1905–1915) combined Los Angeles II (1919–1979) |
| Surface | Asphalt / outdoor Hard / outdoor |
The Southern California Championships and was a men's and women's hard court tennis tournament founded in 1887 as a joint men's & women's event.[1]
The men's event ran until 1977, whilst the women's event continued till 1979.
It was held at various locations including Riverside (1887), then Santa Monica (1888–1903), then South Pasadena (1904), then Long Beach (1905–1920) and finally Los Angeles (1920–1979).
This event carried the tour designation Los Angeles II, whilst Los Angeles I referred to the Pacific Southwest Championships/Los Angeles Open
On 19 March 1887, the Southern California Lawn Tennis Association was formed with the Hon. James Bettner as its first president.[2] The Southern California Championships were founded in March 1887 and first staged on asphalt courts at the Casa Blanca Club, Riverside, California.[3][4][5] In August 1887 a second tournament was organized that was won by William Henry Young after which the event would be played in the last week of August.[6] In 1888 the tournament moved to the Santa Monica Casino courts, where it remained until 1903.[7] The tournament alternated between different locations throughout its run.
In 1968, at the start of the Open era, it became an open event. The men's event remained known as the Southern California Championships until 1977 and was part of the Grand Prix Tennis circuit tour. The women's event continued as the Southern California Championships officially until 1979.
The inaugural men's tournament was won by Canadian born later American citizen William Henry Young who defeated Mr C. Trevelia in the All Comer's Final.[8][9] In 1968 the event became part of the International Tennis Federation independent tour. In 1970 the event became part of the Grand Prix Tennis Circuit tour until 1977. The final tournament was won by the Mexican player Raúl Ramírez who defeated the American player Brian Gottfried.[10]
The inaugural women's tournament was won by the American player Miss Fannie Shoemaker who defeated a Miss Dexter in the All Comer's Final.[11]
In 1979 the final women's event was held that was won by Kelly Henry who defeated Lea Antonoplis.
The tournament was staged in different cities for the duration of its run they included:
| Venue | City | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Blanca Club.[12][13] | Riverside | 1887 |
| Santa Monica Casino Courts.[14] | Santa Monica[15] | 1888 – 1903 |
| South Pasadena | 1904 | |
| Hotel Virginia. | Long Beach | 1905 – 1915 |
| Los Angeles Tennis Club | Los Angeles | 1919 – 1977 |
Included:[16]
| Year | Location | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1887 | Riverside | [17] | ||
| 1887 | Santa Monica | [18] | ||
| 1888 | w.o.[19] | |||
| 1889 | 6–3, 6–3, 6–3.[20] | |||
| 1890 | [21] | |||
| 1891 | w.o.[22] | |||
| 1892 | w.o.[23] | |||
| 1893 | 6–0, 6–2, 7–5.[24] | |||
| 1894 | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 | |||
| 1895 | w.o. | |||
| 1896 | 6–3, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 | |||
| 1897 | 6–1, 6–1, 6–3 | |||
| 1898 | 6–1, 3–6, 6–1, 6–1 | |||
| 1899 | w.o. | |||
| 1900 | ? | ? | ||
| 1901 | 6–2, 6–1, 6–0 | |||
| 1902 | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 | |||
| 1903 | w.o. | |||
| 1904 | Pasadena | w.o. | ||
| 1905 | Los Angeles | 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 | ||
| 1906 | 7–5, 0–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |||
| 1907 | ||||
| 1908 | Long Beach | w.o. | ||
| 1909 | w.o. | |||
| 1910 | 10–8, 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 | |||
| 1911 | 6–0, 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 | |||
| 1912 | 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 | |||
| 1913 | 6–1, 4–6, 12–10, 6–4 | |||
| 1914 | 6–0, 6–2 | |||
| 1915 | 3–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 | |||
| 1919 | Los Angeles | ? | ? | |
| 1920 | 6–4, 6–1, 6–4 | |||
| 1921 | ? | ? | ||
| 1922 | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 | |||
| 1923 | 7–5, 6–4 | |||
| 1924 | ? | |||
| 1925 | 6–3, 6–2, 6–2 | |||
| 1926 | ? | ? | ||
| 1927 | ? | ? | ||
| 1928 | 6–2, 6–3 [25] | |||
| 1929 | 7–9, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 | |||
| 1930 | 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 | |||
| 1931 | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1 | |||
| 1932 | 6–4, 6–3, 18–16 [26] | |||
| 1933 | 0–6, 6–1, 6–3, 5–7, 6–0 | |||
| 1934 | 3–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4 | |||
| 1935 | 6–4, 6–1, 6–0 | |||
| 1936 | 6–4, 6–1, 7–5 | |||
| 1937 | 6–1, 7–5, 6–2 | |||
| 1938 | 2–6, 6–2, 6–1, 7–5 | |||
| 1939 | w.o. | |||
| 1940 | 2–6, 6–2, 7–5, 7–5 | |||
| 1941 | 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 | |||
| 1942 | 6–2, 6–2, 11–9 | |||
| 1943 | 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2 [27] | |||
| 1944 | 8–6, 8–6, 6–3 | |||
| 1945 | 6–2, 3–6, 6–0 [28] | |||
| 1946 | 8–6, 6–1, 9–7 | |||
| 1947 | 4–6, 2–6, 11–9, 6–2, 7–5 | |||
| 1948 | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 12–10 | |||
| 1949 | 6–1, 6–0, 6–2 | |||
| 1950 | 5–7, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |||
| 1951 | 6–8, 7–5, 7–5, 6–3 | |||
| 1952 | 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 | |||
| 1953 | 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 | |||
| 1954 | 6–1, 4–6, 6–1, 9–7 | |||
| 1955 | 6–1, 6–1, 7–5 | |||
| 1956 | 6–1, 8–6, 2–6, 6–2 | |||
| 1957 | 6–1, 6–3 | |||
| 1958 | 8–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 | |||
| 1959 | 6–4, 3–6, 0–6, 12–10, 7–5 | |||
| 1960 | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | |||
| 1961 | 9–7, 3–6, 3–6, 7–5, 8–6 | |||
| 1962 | 6–2, 5–7, 8–6, 6–2 | |||
| 1963 | 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 | |||
| 1964 | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 | |||
| 1965 | 8–6, 6–2 | |||
| 1966 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||
| 1967 | 7–5, 13-11 | |||
| 1968 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||
| 1969 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||
| 1970 | 6–2, 6–1 | |||
| 1971 | 3–6, 6–3, 6–3.[29] | |||
| 1972 | 6–3, 6–2 | |||
| 1973 | 7–6, 1–6, 7–6 | |||
| 1974 | 7–6, 6–3 | |||
| 1975 | 6–2, 6–4 | |||
| 1976 | 6–0, 7–6 | |||
| 1977 | 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 |