| Irish Championships Irish Open | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Event name | Irish Open |
| Tour | ILTF World Circuit (1913–1969, 1974–1983) combined ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (1970–1974) men WTA Tour (1971–1973) women |
| Founded | 1879; 146 years ago (1879) |
| Abolished | 1983; 42 years ago (1983) |
| Editions | 94 |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Venue | Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club Fitzwilliam Square |
| Surface | Hard (1879–1880) Grass (1881–1939, 1966–1983) Clay (1946–1965) |
TheIrish Open was a hard court tennis tournament founded in 1879 as theIrish Championships, a major tennis tournament of the late 19th to early 20th centuries.[1] It was played at theFitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Also known as theIrish Lawn Tennis Championships[2] it remained a major tennis tournament alongside Wimbledon and theNorthern Championships until the early 20th century.[3] It was the first tennis tournament to feature a Ladies' singles event.[3] The tournament continued to be played under its original brand name until 1972, when it was rebranded as the Irish Open or the Carroll's Irish Open Championships (for sponsorship reasons).
Before the creation of theInternational 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 major tennis tournaments to win,[4][5][6] the others being Wimbledon, theU.S. National championships and theNorthern Championships. The combined event was part of theILTF World Circuit from 1913 until 1969. From 1970 to 1974 the men's event was an affiliated event on theITF Grand Prix Circuit. The women's event continued as part of the ILTF World Circuit till 1972. In 1973 became part of theWomen's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour for one season only before reverting back to the former tour. 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.
The Irish Championships were first held in June 1879, two years afterWimbledon started. It was first staged at Pembroke Place, Dublin[7] until 1880 when it transferred to Wilton Place[7] where it remained until 1902. In 1903 the tournament moved again this time to Fitzwilliam Square. The championships began 2 June 1879[8] and 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.[3] Prior to the creation of theInternational 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,[4][5][6] the others being Wimbledon, theU.S. National championships and theNorthern Championships.
George Whiteside Hillyard writing his bookForty 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 onhard courts.[9] It was played ongrass courts,[9] (1881–1939). From 1946 to 1965, it was played onclay courts,[9] and it returned to being played on grass again from 1966 until the tournament ended.[9] The Irish Open is currently a tournament on theITF World Tennis Tour, the lowest tier of professional tennis.[10]
Results include:[2]
Results included:[2]
Results included:[2]
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