# South of England Championships

The South of England Championships, also known as the South of England Open Championships, was an outdoor tennis event held on grass courts at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne, United Kingdom from 1881 until 1973.

## History

The competition at Eastbourne, even from its early beginnings, was considered one of the most prestigious tournaments that attracted large entries and matches even in those days and it was the world's largest tournament in terms of participants at the turn of the twentieth century.

### Women's tennis

The first tournament to be staged at Devonshire Park was a women's event in 1881, known as the South of England Championships, and usually held every September. Winners of the lady's singles championships included Dorothea Chambers, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, and Charlotte Cooper Sterry, May Langrishe. The first overseas non British Isles winner was the American Elizabeth Ryan in collecting 3 consecutive titles (1919–21); after World War One she was followed by the South African Irene Peacock in 1923 and Anita Lizana from Chile in 1936.
Following World War Two tennis British winners included Ann Haydon and Shirley Bloomer the Brazilian player Maria Bueno the Australian player Fay Toyne was the last foreign ladies champion before the advent of the open era in 1968 the South of England Championships changed schedule to July until 1969 after the Championships at Wimbledon in 1970 its schedule changed again so that it was held before Wimbledon the South of England Championships continued until 1967.
From 1968 until today the tournament has attracted many different sponsors.
In 1968 it was known as the Rothman's Invitational for sponsorship reasons from 1969 to 1972 it was called the Eastbourne Invitational, the event ceased in 1972.

### Men's tennis

The first Men’s events started in 1881 also called the South of England Championships early winners of the men's championship included Wilfred Baddeley, Sydney Howard Smith, Josiah Ritchie, Anthony Wilding, Otto Froitzheim and Ken Rosewall it continued until 1967 before being renamed for sponsorship reasons in 1968 from 1970 to 1973 the men's tournament was known as the Rothmans South of England Open Championships. The men's event also ceased in 1973.

### Tennis after 1973

In 1974 the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis club decided on a completely new format tennis tournament and re-branding of tennis at Eastbourne from the outcome of staging the South of England Championships that became known as the Eastbourne International the tournament is still active today.

## Past finals

Notes: Challenge round: The final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) in some tournaments not all.
Blanche Bingley Hillyard holds the record for the most women's singles titles with 11.

### Singles
#### Women

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Name |
| 1881 | Agnes Noon Watts | E. Hudson | (2-1 sets) | South of England Championships |
| 1882 | E. Hudson | Minnie Congreve | 6–2, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1883 | M. Leslie | Minnie Congreve | 10–8, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1884 | Frances Burton | Nellie Burton | 6–2, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1885 | Blanche Bingley | Ada Strapp | 6–1, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1886 | Margaret Bracewell | Blanche Bingley | 6–1, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1887 | Margaret Bracewell (2) | Blanche Bingley | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1888 | Blanche Bingley (2) | Margaret Bracewell | 6–1, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1889 | May Langrishe | May Jacks | 6–2, 5–7, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1890 | May Langrishe (2) | Edith Coleridge Cole | 6–2, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1891 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (3) | May Langrishe | 2–6, 7–5, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1892 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (4) | Bertha Steedman | 6–1, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1893 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (5) | Maud Shackle | 6–1, 4–6, 15–13 | South of England Championships |
| 1894 | Helen Jackson | Charlotte Cooper | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1895 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (6) | Helen Jackson | 6–4, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1896 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (7) | Edith Austin | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1897 | Charlotte Cooper | Blanche Bingley Hillyard | 6–4, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1898 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (8) | Charlotte Cooper | 7–5, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1899 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (9) | Charlotte Cooper | 6–2, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1900 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (10) | Charlotte Cooper | 7–9, 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1901 | Charlotte Cooper (2) | Blanche Bingley Hillyard | 7–5, 5–7, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1902 | Dorothea Douglass | Edith Austin Greville | 6–2, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1903 | Connie Wilson | Dorothea Douglass | 7–5, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1904 | Dorothea Douglass (2) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1905 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard (11) | Agnes Morton | 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1906 | Dorothea Douglass (3) | Agnes Morton | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1907 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers (4) | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1908 | Charlotte Cooper Sterry (3) | Edith Boucher | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1909 | Dora Boothby | Charlotte Cooper Sterry | 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1910 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers (5) | Ethel Thomson Larcombe | 7–5, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1911 | Ethel Thomson Larcombe | Dora Boothby | 7–5, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1912 | Ethel Thomson Larcombe (2) | Agnes Morton | 6–1, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1913 | Ethel Thomson Larcombe (3) | Dorothea Douglass Chambers | 6–2, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1914–1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) | | South of England Championships |
| 1919 | Elizabeth Ryan | Phyllis Satterthwaite | 6–1, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1920 | Elizabeth Ryan (2) | Geraldine Beamish | 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1921 | Elizabeth Ryan (3) | Irene Bowder Peacock | 6–0, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1922 | Irene Bowder Peacock | Kathleen McKane | 6–0, 3–6, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1923 | Phoebe Holcroft | Christine Tyrrell | 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1924 | Ermyntrude Harvey | Phoebe Holcroft | 6–0, 6–8, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1925 | Phoebe Holcroft Watson (2) | Christine Tyrrell | 2–6, 7–5, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1926 | Phoebe Holcroft Watson (3) | Ermyntrude Harvey | 6–4, 6–8, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1927 | Phoebe Holcroft Watson (4) | Phyllis Howkins Covell | 6–2, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1928 | Phoebe Holcroft Watson (5) | Phyllis Howkins Covell | 6–1, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1929 | Elsie Goldsack | Jenny Sandison | 8–6, 2–6, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1930 | Phyllis Mudford | Mary Heeley | 6–2, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1931 | Freda James | Gwen Sterry | divided the title | South of England Championships |
| 1932 | Mary Heeley | Florence Ford | 8–6, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1933 | Phyllis Mudford King (2) | Ermyntrude Harvey | 6–3, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1934 | Dorothy Round | Phyllis Mudford King | 6–4, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1935 | Billie Yorke | Susan Noel | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1936 | Anita Lizana | Dorothy Round | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1937 | Margaret Scriven | Jean Saunders | 6–1, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1938 | Phyllis Mudford King (3) | Valerie Scott | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1939–1945 | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) | | South of England Championships |
| 1946 | Joan Curry | Betty Clements Hilton | divided the title (rain interruption) | South of England Championships |
| 1947 | Joan Curry (2) | Peggy Dawson-Scott | 6–1, 9–7 | South of England Championships |
| 1948 | Jean Walker-Smith | Gem Hoahing | 7–5, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1949 | Gem Hoahing | Mary Terán de Weiss | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1950 | Jean Walker-Smith (2) | Jean Quertier | 6–2, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1951 | Jean Walker-Smith (3) | Angela Mortimer | 6–2, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1952 | Jean Walker-Smith (4) | Jean Quertier Rinkel | 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1953 | Shirley Bloomer | Patricia Harrison | 7–5, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1954 | Shirley Bloomer (2) | Patricia Harrison | 6–8, 7–5, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1955 | Anne Shilcock | Jenny Middleton | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1956 | Anne Shilcock (2) | Penny Burrell | 6–1, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1957 | Ann Haydon | Angela Mortimer | 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1958 | Anne Shilcock (3) | Sheila Waters | 6–0, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1959 | Sheila Armstrong | Jenny Young | 6–0, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1960 | Rita Bentley | Lorna Cornell Cawthorn | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1961 | Lorna Cornell Cawthorn | Inge Overgaard | 3–6, 6–1, 11–9 | South of England Championships |
| 1962 | Carole Rosser | Lorna Cornell Cawthorn | 10–8, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1963 | Vivienne Dennis | Heather Allen | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1964 | Fay Toyne | Lorna Cornell Cawthorn | 6–0, 5–7, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1965 | Rita Bentley (2) | Jill Blackman | divided the title (due to bad weather) | South of England Championships |
| 1966 | Susan Tutt | Anthea Rigby | 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1967 | Lorna Cornell Greville-Collins (2) | Margaret Harris | 6–8, 7–5, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| ↓ Open era ↓ |||||
| 1968 | Maria Bueno | Judy Tegart | 6–2, 6–4 | Rothmans Invitational |
| 1969 | Karen Krantzcke | Betty Ann Grubb | 6–0, 9–7 | Eastbourne Invitational |
| 1970 | Ann Haydon Jones (2) | Virginia Wade | 8–6, 6–1 | Eastbourne Invitational |
| 1971 | Françoise Durr | Judy Tegart-Dalton | divided the title | Eastbourne Invitational |
| 1972 | Françoise Durr (2) | Judy Tegart-Dalton | 8–6, 6–3 | Eastbourne Invitational |
| 1973 | Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International | Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International | Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International | Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International |

#### Men

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Name |
| 1881 | Edgar Lubbock | Robert Braddell | 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1882 | William Taylor | Teddy Williams | 8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1883 | Teddy Williams | Charles Walder Grinstead | 6–1, 8–6, 4–6, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1884 | Teddy Williams (2) | William Taylor | ? | South of England Championships |
| 1885 | Ernest Lewis | William Taylor | 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1886 | Ernest Lewis (2) | Herbert Wilberforce * | 6–3, 6–4, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1887 | Ernest Lewis (3) | Herbert Wilberforce * | 8–6, 7–5, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1888 | Andrew Ziffo | Harry S. Barlow * | 4–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1889 | Andrew Ziffo (2) | Harry Grove * | 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1890 | Andrew Ziffo (3) | James Baldwin * | 7–9, 6–1, 6–2, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1891 | Harry S. Barlow | Andrew Ziffo * | 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1892 | Harry S. Barlow (2) | Wilberforce Eaves * | 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1893 | Wilfred Baddeley | Harry S. Barlow * | 7–5, 6–0, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1894 | Wilfred Baddeley (2) | Harry S. Barlow * | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1895 | Wilfred Baddeley (3) | George Hillyard * | 6–3, 7–9, 7–5, ret. | South of England Championships |
| 1896 | Wilfred Baddeley (4) | Herbert Baddeley * | walkover | South of England Championships |
| 1897 | Joshua Pim | Lawrence Doherty * | 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1898 | Sydney Howard Smith | Lawrence Doherty * | 6–3, 2–6, 8–6, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1899 | Sydney Howard Smith (2) | Harold Mahony * | 6–0, 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1900 | Lawrence Doherty | Sydney Howard Smith (2) * | 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1901 | Sydney Howard Smith (3) | Lawrence Doherty * | 6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0, ret. | South of England Championships |
| 1902 | Sydney Howard Smith (4) | Clement Cazalet * | 6–1, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1903 | Major Ritchie | Sydney Howard Smith * | ? | South of England Championships |
| 1904 | Sydney Howard Smith (5) | Major Ritchie * | 6–0, 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1905 | Norman Brookes | Sydney Howard Smith * | 8–6, 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1906 | Anthony Wilding | Roderick McNair * | 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1907 | George Hillyard | Walter Crawley * | ? | South of England Championships |
| 1908 | Anthony Wilding (2) | George Hillyard * | walkover | South of England Championships |
| 1909 | Otto Froitzheim | Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe | 6–3, 6–8, 6–4, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1910 | Gordon Lowe | Arthur Lowe | walkover | South of England Championships |
| 1911 | Algernon Kingscote | Stanley Doust | 6–8, 4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1912 | Arthur Lowe | Stanley Doust | 6–4, 7–9, 6–0, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1913 | James Cecil Parke | Arthur Lowe | 6–3, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1914–1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) | Not held (due to world war one) | | South of England Championships |
| 1919 | Theodore Mavrogordato | Nicolae Mișu | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1920 | George Dodd | Alfred Beamish | 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1921 | Brian Norton | Mohammed Sleem | 0–6, 6–4, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1922 | Brian Norton (2) | Gordon Lowe | 6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1923 | Cotah Ramaswami | Gordon Lowe | 6–1, 8–6, 10–8 | South of England Championships |
| 1924 | Mohammed Sleem | Gordon Lowe | 6–2, 6–1, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1925 | Charles Kingsley | Gordon Lowe | 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1926 | Charles Kingsley (2) | Bunny Austin | walkover | South of England Championships |
| 1927 | Bunny Austin | William Powell | 6–4, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1928 | Yoshiro Ota | Charles Kingsley | 3–6, 6–1, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1929 | Eskel Andrews | Keats Lester | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1930 | Ryuki Miki | Charles Kingsley | 7–5, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1931 | Jiro Sato | Vernon Kirby | 6–4, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1932 | George Lyttleton-Rogers | Atri Madan Mohan | 6–8, 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1933 | Vernon Kirby | George Lyttleton-Rogers | 8–6, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1934 | Nigel Sharpe | Eskel Andrews | 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1935 | Robert Tinkler | Clarence Medlycott Jones | 8–6, 10–8 | South of England Championships |
| 1936 | Pat Hughes | Charles Hare | 2–6, 9–7, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1937 | Donald Butler | Henry Billington | 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1938 | Donald Butler (2) | Clarence Medlycott Jones | 6–4, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1939–1945 | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) | Not held (due to world war two) | | South of England Championships |
| 1946 | Donald Butler (3) | Choy Wai-Chuen | 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1947 | Ignacy Tłoczyński | Jeff Robson | 6–2, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1948 | Czesław Spychała | Ignacy Tłoczyński | 5–7, 6–4, 8–6 | South of England Championships |
| 1949 | Heraldo Weiss | Donald Butler | 6–3, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1950 | Ivo Rinkel | Geoffrey Paish | 5–7, 7–5, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1951 | Geoffrey Paish | Tony Mottram | 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1952 | Geoffrey Paish (2) | Anthony Starte | 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1953 | Geoffrey Paish (3) | Robert Lee | 7–5, 6–0 | South of England Championships |
| 1954 | Geoffrey Paish (4) | Bobby Wilson | 6–2, 2–6, 7–5 | South of England Championships |
| 1955 | Geoffrey Paish (5) | Mike Davies | 6–4, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1956 | Roger Becker | Gerald Oakley | 6–3, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1957 | Reginald Bennett | Geoffrey Owen | 6–3, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1958 | Roger Becker (2) | Reginald Bennett | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 | South of England Championships |
| 1959 | Alan Mills | Mike Hann | 8–6, 4–6, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1960 | Mark Otway | John R. McDonald | 6–4, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1961 | Mark Otway (2) | Roger Becker | 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1962 | Roger Becker (3) | Mark Cox | 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| 1963 | Mark Cox | Warren Jacques | 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1964 | Geoff Bluett | Clay Iles | 6–3, 6–3 | South of England Championships |
| 1965 | Tournament not completed (rain) | Tournament not completed (rain) | Tournament not completed (rain) | | South of England Championships |
| 1966 | Bob Maud | Brian Fairlie | 6–4, 6–2 | South of England Championships |
| 1967 | Frew McMillan | Mark Cox | 6–3, 6–4 | South of England Championships |
| ↓ Open era ↓ |||||
| 1968 | Mark Cox (2) | Owen Davidson | 6–4, 6–4 | Rothmans Invitational |
| 1969 | Christian Kuhnke | Manuel Orantes | 6–4, 2–6, 9–7 | Eastbourne Invitational |
| 1970 | Ken Rosewall | Bob Hewitt | 6–2, 6–1 | Rothmans South of England Open Championship |
| 1971 | Tournament not played (rain) | Tournament not played (rain) | Tournament not played (rain) | | Rothmans South of England Open Championship |
| 1972 | Andrés Gimeno | Pierre Barthès | 7–5, 6–3 | Rothmans South of England Open Championship |
| 1973 | Mark Cox (3) | Patrice Dominguez | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 | Rothmans South of England Open Championship |
| 1974 | Tournament ended | Tournament ended | Tournament ended | Tournament ended |

## Statistics
### Singles champions by country
#### Women

| Country | Winner | First title | Last title |
| Great Britain (GBR) | 70 | 1881 | 1970 |
| United States (USA) | 3 | 1919 | 1921 |
| Australia (AUS) | 2 | 1964 | 1969 |
| South Africa (RSA) | 1 | 1922 | 1922 |
| Chile (CHI) | 1 | 1936 | 1936 |
| Brazil (BRA) | 1 | 1968 | 1968 |
| France (FRA) | 2 | 1971 | 1972 |

#### Men

| Country | Winner | First title | Last title |
| Great Britain (GBR) | 49 | 1881 | 1973 |
| South Africa (RSA) | 6 | 1920 | 1967 |
| New Zealand (NZ) | 4 | 1905 | 1929 |
| Ireland (IRE) | 3 | 1897 | 1932 |
| Japan (JPN) | 3 | 1928 | 1931 |
| Spain (ESP) | 3 | 1972 | 2014 |
| Germany (GER) | 2 | 1909 | 1969 |
| India (IND) | 2 | 1923 | 1924 |
| Poland (POL) | 2 | 1947 | 1948 |
| Argentina (ARG) | 1 | 1949 | 1949 |
| Netherlands (NED) | 1 | 1950 | 1950 |