# Bristol Open

The Bristol Open, originally known as the West of England Championships and the West of England Lawn Tennis Championships is a defunct tennis tournament that was originally hosted in Bath, Somerset, England, from 1881 till 1895. It was staged briefly in Bristol, England, in 1896, then from 1920 onwards was hosted again in Bristol annually until the tournament ceased in 1989. The tournament was played on grass courts in the weeks preceding the Wimbledon Championships usually June.

## History

The West of England Championships were originally held in Bath from 1881 until 1895; the tournament then transferred to Bristol in 1896. In 1897 the event ceased for period of 24 years. It was reinstated in 1920 and was played in Bristol for the remainder of its run. At the start of the Open Era the tournament was part of the independent tour circuit. In 1971 the event was renamed the Bristol Open; the men's event became part of the World Championship Tennis tour and the women's was part of the International Grand Prix. The women's event stopped in 1973 and was not held again. Although the men's tournament also stopped in 1973, it was reinstated in 1980 and became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit until 1989.

## 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.

### Men's singles

West of England Championships :
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1881 | Ernest Browne | C. K. Wood | 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1882 | George M. Butterworth | Alexander K. Butterworth | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1883 | Ernest Browne (2) | Wilfred Milne | 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1884 | Pelham Von Donop | John C. Kay | 5–6, 6–5, 6–3 |
| 1885 | Ernest Browne (3) | James Dwight | 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1886 | James Dwight | Harry Grove | 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1887 | Harry Grove | James Dwight | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1888 | Harry S. Barlow | James Baldwin | 6–4, 6–3, 8–10, 3–6, 8–6 |
| 1889 | James Baldwin | Wilfred Milne | 7–5, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1890 | Harry S. Barlow (2) | James Baldwin | 7–5, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1891 | Harry S. Barlow (3) | James Baldwin | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1895 | Roy Allen | George Ball-Greene | 14–12, 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1896 | Harold Mahony | William Larned | 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1897–1919 | Not held (tournament is not staged for 24 years re-emerges after WW1) | Not held (tournament is not staged for 24 years re-emerges after WW1) | Not held (tournament is not staged for 24 years re-emerges after WW1) |
| 1920 | Francis Fisher | Frank Riseley | 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1921 | Sydney Jacob | Francis Fisher | 9–7, 6–2, 4–6, 6–0 |
| 1922 | Brian Norton | Theodore Mavrogordato | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1923 | Patrick Wheatley | F. R. L. Crawford | 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1924 | Jack Condon | Frank Riseley | 7–5, 6–2, 8–6 |
| 1925 | Frank Riseley | J. G. Hogan | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1927 | Sydney Jacob | A. E. Browne | 6–3 6–2 |
| 1928 | Dennis O'Callaghan | Sydney Jacob | 9–7, 5–7, 6–3 |
| 1929 | George Lyttleton-Rogers | E. B. N. Taylor | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1930 | George Lyttleton-Rogers (2) | George Godsell | 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1931 | George Lyttleton-Rogers (3 | Nigel Sharpe | 6–2, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1933 | Daniel Prenn | Hendrik Timmer | 6–2, 7–9, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1934 | George Godsell | Brian J. Sturgeon | 6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1935 | Donald Butler | George Lyttleton-Rogers | 8-,6 11–9, 9–7 |
| 1936 | Cam Malfroy | Robert Tinkler | 4–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1937 | Alan Stedman | Kho Sin-Kie | 6–1, 1–6, 6–4 |
| 1938 | Jimmy Mehta | Cam Malfroy | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1939 | Donald Butler | Gottfried von Cramm | 6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 5–7, 8–6 |
| 1940–1945 | Not held (partly due to World War II) | Not held (partly due to World War II) | Not held (partly due to World War II) |
| 1946 | Kho Sin-Kie | Ignacy Tłoczyński | 6–4; 6–4 |
| 1947 | Sumant Misra | Madan Atri Mohan | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 1948 | Eric Sturgess | Sumant Misra | 6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1949 | Felicisimo Ampon | Syd Levy | 6–1, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1950 | Jaroslav Drobný | Vladimír Černík | 6–3, 10–8 |
| 1951 | Straight Clark | Harold Burrows | 9–7, 3–6, 5–7, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1952 | Jaroslav Drobný (2) | Armando Vieira | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 1953 | Vic Seixas | Enrique Morea | 6–3, 6–1, 8–6 |
| 1954 | Jaroslav Drobný (3) | Jack Arkinstall | walkover |
| 1955 | Enrique Morea | Sidney Schwartz | 2–6, 10–8, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1956 | Luis Ayala | Gordon Forbes | 6–2, 8–10, 6–4 |
| 1957 | Lew Hoad | Roger Becker | 6–2, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1958 | Mike Davies | Ramanathan Krishnan | 6–1, 6–4, 7–9, 6–4 |
| 1959 | Ramanathan Krishnan | Jaroslav Drobný | 11–9, 6–0 |
| 1960 | Ronald Holmberg | Antonio Palafox | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1961 | Chuck McKinley | Bob Mark | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1962 | Fred Stolle | Antonio Palafox | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1963 | Fred Stolle (2) | Chuck McKinley | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1964 | Chuck McKinley | Frew McMillan | 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1965 | Dennis Ralston | Clark Graebner | 6–2 6–2 |
| 1966 | Cliff Richey | Mike Belkin | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1967 | Tom Okker | Cliff Drysdale | 6–2, 5–7, 8–6 |
| 1968 | Arthur Ashe | Clark Graebner | 6–4, 6–3 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ ||||
| West of England Open Championships ||||
| 1969 | Ken Rosewall | Pierre Barthès | 8–10, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1970 | Nikola Pilić | Rod Laver | 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 |
| 1971 | Rod Laver | Cliff Drysdale | w.o. |
| Bristol Open ||||
| 1972 | Bob Hewitt | Alex Olmedo | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1973–80 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1981 | Mark Edmondson | Roscoe Tanner | 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 1982 | John Alexander | Tim Mayotte | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1983 | Johan Kriek | Tom Gullikson | 7–6, 7–5 |
| 1984 | Johan Kriek (2) | Brian Teacher | 6–7, 7–6, 6–4 |
| 1985 | Martin Davis | Glenn Layendecker | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1986 | Vijay Amritraj | Henri Leconte | 7–6, 1–6, 8–6 |
| 1987 | Kelly Evernden | Tim Wilkison | 6–4, 7–6 |
| 1988 | Christian Saceanu | Ramesh Krishnan | 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 |
| 1989 | Eric Jelen | Nick Brown | 6–4, 3–6, 7–5 |

### Women's singles

West of England Championships :
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1881 | Gertrude Gibbs | Annie Layard | 6–0, 7–5 |
| 1882 | Fanny Morris | Gertrude Gibbs | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1883 | Maud Watson | N. Pope | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1884 | Edith Davies | Lilian Cole | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1885 | Gertrude Gibbs (2) | Edith Davies | 2–6, 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1886 | Lottie Dod | Maud Watson | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1887 | Lottie Dod (2) | Maud Watson | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1888 | Lottie Dod (3) | N. Pope | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1889 | Louisa Martin | Florence Stanuell | 4–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1890 | Louisa Martin (2) | N. Pope | 6–3, 8–6 |
| 1891 | N. Pope | Mary Agg | 6–0, 7–5 |
| 1892–94 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1895 | Helen Jackson | Madeline Fisher O'Neill | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1896 | Charlotte Cooper | Ruth Dyas | 4–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
| 1899–1919 | Not held (then due to World War I) | Not held (then due to World War I) | Not held (then due to World War I) |
| 1920 | Mabel Parton | Doris Covell Craddock | 9–7, 6–8, 6–4 |
| 1921 | Phyllis Howkins | Doris Covell Craddock | 10–8, 6–2 |
| 1922 | Doris Covell Craddock | Edith Boucher Hannam | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1923 | Elizabeth Ryan | Doris Covell Craddock | 8–6, 6–3 |
| 1924 | Phyllis Howkins Covell (2) | Joan Austin | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1925 | Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge | Doris Covell Craddock | 6–4, 1–6, 6–3 |
| 1926 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1927 | Mary McIlquham | Margaret McKane Stocks | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1928 | Phyllis Howkins Covell (3) | Betty Dix | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 1929 | Gethyn Harry | Mrs Helen Boucher | 4–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1930 | Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge | Freda Scott | 6–1, 8–6 |
| 1931 | Doris Eastley | Vera Montgomery | 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
| 1932 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1933 | Kay Stammers | Andrée Lucas | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1934 | Andrée Lucas | Gethyn Harry | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1935 | Gethyn Harry (2) | Mona Riddell | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1936 | Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling | Daphne White Birch | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1937 | Anita Lizana | Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling | ? |
| 1938 | Mona Riddell | Gem Hoahing | 1–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1939 | Diana Wood | Joan Curry | 6–2, 8–10, 6–2 |
| 1940 | Kay Stammers Menzies | Peggy Scriven | 8–10, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1941–45 | Not held (partly due to World War II) | Not held (partly due to World War II) | Not held (partly due to World War II) |
| 1946 | Joy Marriott Hibbert | Miss Moss | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1947 | Joan Curry | Pam Seaton Bocquet | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1948 | Joan Curry (2) | Pam Seaton Bocquet | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1949 | Joan Curry (3) | Peggy McCorkindale | 3–6, 6–3, 9–7 |
| 1950 | Dorothy Head | Helena Straubeová | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1951 | Beverly Baker | Beryl Bartlett | 6–3; 6–3 |
| 1952 | Patricia Canning Todd | Beryl Bartlett | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1953 | Doris Hart | Angela Mortimer | 7–5, 6–3 |
| 1954 | Pat Ward | Heather Nicholls-Brewer | divided title |
| 1955 | Doris Hart (2) | Dorothy Head Knode | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1956 | Althea Gibson | Daphne Seeney | 6–2 10–8 |
| 1957 | Angela Mortimer | Edda Buding | 7–5, 6–0 |
| 1958 | Maria Bueno | Angela Mortimer | 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1959 | Maria Bueno (2) | Sandra Reynolds | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1960 | Deidre Catt | Renée Schuurman | 7–5, 7–5 |
| 1961 | Sandra Reynolds | Deidre Catt | 7–5, 10–8 |
| 1962 | Margaret Smith | Maria Bueno | 6–1, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 1963 | Edda Buding | Elizabeth Starkie | 9–7, 6–3 |
| 1964 | Karen Hantze Susman | Françoise Dürr | 6–8, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1965 | Nancy Richey | Elizabeth Starkie | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1966 | Betty Stöve | Norma Baylon | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1967 | Pat Walkden | Edda Buding | 0–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1968 | Kerry Melville | Karen Krantzcke | 6–0, 6–1 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ ||||
| West of England Open Championships ||||
| 1969 | Margaret Smith Court (2) | Billie Jean Moffitt King | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1970 | Margaret Smith Court (3) | Françoise Dürr | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1971 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| Bristol Open ||||
| 1972 | Billie Jean Moffitt King | Kerry Melville | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1973–80 | Not held (women's tournament ends) | Not held (women's tournament ends) | Not held (women's tournament ends) |

### Men's doubles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1972 | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | Clark Graebner Lew Hoad | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1973–80 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1981 | Billy Martin Russell Simpson | John Austin Johan Kriek | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 1982 | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson | Mark Edmondson Kim Warwick | 6–4, 7–6 |
| 1983 | John Alexander John Fitzgerald | Tom Gullikson Johan Kriek | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1984 | Larry Stefanki Robert Van't Hof | John Alexander John Fitzgerald | 6–4, 5–7, 9–7 |
| 1985 | Eddie Edwards Danie Visser | John Alexander Russell Simpson | 6–4, 7–6 |
| 1986 | Christo Steyn Danie Visser | Mark Edmondson Wally Masur | 6–7, 7–6, 12–10 |
| 1987 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 1988 | Peter Doohan Laurie Warder | Marty Davis Tim Pawsat | 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1989 | Paul Chamberlin Tim Wilkison | Mike De Palmer Gary Donnelly | 7–6, 6–4 |