# Kent Championships

The Kent Championships also known as the Kent All-Comers' Championships and later Kent Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts in Foxgrove Road, Beckenham, Kent, England between 1886 and 1996 and was held in the first half of June.

## History

From 1886 until 1910 the tournament was organized as an All-Comers event, the winner of which would play the title holder from previous year in the Challenge Round. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts at Beckenham Cricket Club a multi sport club that was established in 1866 in Foxgrove Road, Beckenham with the lawn tennis section of the club established in 1879. At the inaugural edition "The programme consisted of five events, the principal of which were the Kent All-Comers' Championship singles, and the gentlemen's singles handicap. The former designation was adopted so that the event may not be confused with the Kent County Championship, announced to be held at the Blackheath Club. There was only a mixed doubles event staged that year for women to participate in the Beckenham Cricket Club Tournament.
Herbert Chipp, later a Wimbledon umpire, came through a field of 13 entries to capture the inaugural 1886 men's singles title over Beckenham committee member Edward Avory. The Field informed its readers, "The final was a terribly tedious affair. Both players kept at the back of the court and played an excessively careful game." There were 14 pairs in the gentleman's doubles and seven pairs in the mixed doubles. The first event made a loss of £1. 10s. 9d. Two years later, from a field of 11 entries, May Jacks beat Edith Gurney to win the first women's singles tournament.
Slazenger's provided the tournament tennis balls every year from 1902, while the Challenge Round was abolished in 1911 and an Under 21 event, which became a national championship, started in 1921. When the former Soviet Union joined the International Tennis Federation in 1958, a small delegation was invited to Beckenham ahead of The Championships at Wimbledon.
The Kent Championships were the first UK tournament to have a sponsor, Rothmans, in 1963, after a special dispensation from the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of British tennis. Almost five years later in March 1968 at a Special General Meeting in Paris, Beckenham was awarded the status of an Open event. The club welcomed amateur and professional players to compete in the world's first Open grass-court tournament in June 1968. It was the third Open field in 1968 after the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth and the French Open at Roland Garros.
When a sponsor couldn't be found for the tournament after 1996, the event was consigned to tennis history. In total, 33 'double' winners (those who won the singles title at Beckenham and Wimbledon) had etched their names in Beckenham folklore.

## Champions
### Men's singles

Source:Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, Kent Championships
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1886 | Herbert Chipp | Edward J. Avory | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 1887 | Frederick A. Bowlby | Herbert Chipp | 1–6, 8–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1888 | Ernest G. Meers | Frederick A. Bowlby | 5–7, 3–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1889 | Harry S. Barlow | Ernest G. Meers | 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 9–7 |
| 1890 | Ernest G. Meers | Harry S. Barlow | 5–7, 8–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1891 | Ernest G. Meers | Arthur Gore | 6–0, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1892 | Harry S. Barlow | Ernest G. Meers | 4–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1893 | Harry S. Barlow | William Renshaw | 2–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1894 | Horace A. B. Chapman | Harry S. Barlow | 3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1895 | Harry S. Barlow | Horace A. B. Chapman | 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1896 | Manliffe Goodbody | Harry S. Barlow | 6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 6–0 |
| 1897 | George Greville | Manliffe Goodbody | 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1898 | Wilberforce Eaves | George Greville | 6–0, 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1899 | Harold Mahony | Wilberforce Eaves | 6–1, 6–1, 6–8, 3–6, 8–6 |
| 1900 | Arthur Gore | Harold Mahony | 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1901 | Laurence Doherty | Arthur Gore | 6–1, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1902 | Laurence Doherty | George Simond | 6–4, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1903 | Laurence Doherty | Arthur Gore | 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1904 | Harold Mahony | Brame Hillyard | 6–3, 8–6, 7–9, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1905 | Norman Brookes | Arthur Gore | 6–3, 9–7, 6–2 |
| 1906 | Arthur Gore | A.L. Bentley | 6–0, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1907 | Anthony Wilding | Arthur Gore | 9–7, 6–2, 3–6, 0–6, 6–1 |
| 1908 | Herbert Roper Barrett | Charles P. Dixon | 6–0, 9–7, 6–2 |
| 1909 | Herbert Roper Barrett | Major Ritchie | cancelled (rain) |
| 1910 | Beals Wright | Herbert Roper Barrett | 4–6, 7–5, 12–10, 6–4 |
| 1911 | Anthony Wilding | Major Ritchie | 6–0, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1912 | Anthony Wilding | Herbert Roper Barrett | 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 1–6, 6–2 |
| 1913 | Alfred Beamish | George Thomas | 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 |
| 1914 | Algernon Kingscote | Hope Crisp | 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1915 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1916 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1917 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1918 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1919 | Algernon Kingscote | F.M.B. Fisher | 4–6, 6–4, 9–7, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 1920 | Algernon Kingscote | Zenzo Shimidzu | 7–5, 3–2 ret. |
| 1921 | Algernon Kingscote | Sydney M. Jacob | 6–4, 4–6, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1922 | Algernon Kingscote | Randolph Lycett | 6–3, 3–1 ret. |
| 1923 | William M. Johnston | Donald Greig | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1924 | Algernon Kingscote | Jack Hillyard | 8–6, 9–7, 6–2 |
| 1925 | Randolph Lycett | Harry Lewis-Barclay | 6–3, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 1926 | Gordon Crole Rees | Patrick Spence | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1927 | Donald Greig | Charles Kingsley | 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1928 | Charles Kingsley | Patrick Spence | 2–6, 6–4, 8–6 |
| 1929 | Harry Lee | Charles Kingsley | 7–5, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1930 | Bunny Austin | Harry Lee | 6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1931 | Colin Gregory | John Olliff | 3–6, 6–3, 7–9, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1932 | Ted Avory | Buster Andrews | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1933 | Vernon Kirby | Colin Robbins | 8–6, 6–4 |
| 1934 | Bunny Austin | Jiro Yamagishi | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1935 | Jiro Yamagishi | Ian Collins | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1936 | David N. Jones | Frank Wilde | 11–9, 6–3 |
| 1937 | Jiro Yamagishi | Raymond Tuckey | 8–6, 1–6, 7–5 |
| 1938 | John Olliff | Nigel Sharpe | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1939 | Murray Deloford | Donald MacPhail | 3–6, 6–2, 9–7 |
| 1940 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1941 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1942 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1943 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1944 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1945 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1946 | Geoffrey Browne | Hans van Swol | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1947 | Bill Sidwell | Torsten Johansson | 6–2, 10–8 |
| 1948 | Frank Sedgman | Jack Harper | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1949 | Gardnar Mulloy | Earl Cochell | 2–3 ret. |
| 1950 | Geoffrey Browne | Bill Sidwell | 8–6, 7–9, 17–15 |
| 1951 | Don Candy | Gardnar Mulloy | 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1952 | Ham Richardson | Don Candy | 6–2, 6–8, 6–2 |
| 1953 | Ham Richardson | Gardnar Mulloy | 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1954 | Competition cancelled at quarterfinal stage | Competition cancelled at quarterfinal stage | Competition cancelled at quarterfinal stage |
| 1955 | Tony Trabert | Herb Flam | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1956 | Mal Anderson | Sammy Giammalva | cancelled |
| 1957 | Mal Anderson | Herb Flam | 6–2, 4–6, 8–6 |
| 1958 | Neale Fraser | Kurt Nielsen | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1959 | Alex Olmedo | Kurt Nielsen | 8–6, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1960 | Robert Mark | Butch Buchholz | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1961 | Jon Douglas | Lew Gerrard | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1962 | Barry Phillips-Moore | Owen Davidson | 6–4, 8–6 |
| 1963 | Ken Fletcher | Marty Mulligan | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1964 | John Newcombe | Fred Stolle | 6–2, 5–7, 12–10 |
| 1965 | John Newcombe | Lew Gerrard | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1966 | John Newcombe | Premjit Lall | 6–4, 15–13 |
| 1967 | Owen Davidson | Ken Fletcher | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Open era ||||
| 1968 | Fred Stolle | Roy Emerson | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1969 | Ove Bengtson | Tom Gorman | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1970 | Clark Graebner | Robert Maud | 6–4, 10–8 |
| 1971 | Stan Smith | Premjit Lall | 7–9, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1972 | Alex Metreveli | Vijay Amritraj | 6–2, 7–5 |
| 1973 | Alex Metreveli | Björn Borg | 6–3, 9–8 |
| 1974 | Vijay Amritraj | Tom Gorman | 6–7, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1975 | Arthur Ashe | Roscoe Tanner | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1976 | Roscoe Tanner | Jimmy Connors | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1977 | Mark Edmondson | Tim Gullikson | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1978 | Jimmy Connors | Stan Smith | 9–8, 6–3 |
| 1979 | Peter Fleming | Roscoe Tanner | 3–6, 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1980 | Onny Parun | Sandy Mayer | 6–4, 4–6, 9–7 |
| 1981 | Kevin Curren | Chris Lewis | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1982 | Kevin Curren | Buster Mottram | 7–6, 6–4 |
| 1983 | Steve Denton | Pat Cash | 7–6, 7–6 |
| 1984 | Pat Cash | Paul McNamee | 3–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1985 | Tim Mayotte | Danie Visser | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 1986 | Ramesh Krishnan | Danie Visser | 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
| 1987 | Scott Davis | Leif Shiras | 7–6, 6–3 |
| 1988 | Christian Saceanu | Paul McNamee | 3–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1989 | John McEnroe | Broderick Dyke | 6–4, 7–6 |
| 1990 | Ivan Lendl | Darren Cahill | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1991 | Ivan Lendl | Pat Cash | 3–6, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| 1992 | David Wheaton | Christo van Rensburg | 6–3, 1–6, 6–1 |
| 1993 | David Wheaton | Chris Bailey | 6–4, 3–6, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$ |
| 1994 | Guy Forget | Jeremy Bates | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1995 | Andrew Richardson / Petr Korda | Andrew Richardson / Petr Korda | divided (rain) |
| 1996 | Mark Petchey | Petr Korda | 6–2, 6–4 |

### Women's singles

Source:Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, Kent Championships
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1888 | May Jacks | Edith Gurney | 1–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1889 | Maud Shackle | May Jacks | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1890 | May Jacks | Maud Shackle | 4–6, 6–0, 6–4 |
| 1891 | Maud Shackle | May Jacks | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1892 | Maud Shackle | May Jacks | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1893 | Maud Shackle | Ruth Legh | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1894 | Edith Austin | Amy Wilson | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1895 | Edith Austin | Amy Wilson | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1896 | Edith Austin | Ruth Legh | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1897 | Edith Austin | Miss E. R. Morgan | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 1898 | Charlotte Cooper | Edith Austin | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 1899 | Edith Austin | Charlotte Cooper | 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1900 | Edith Greville | Muriel Robb | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1901 | Dorothea Douglass | Edith Greville | 6–1, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 1902 | Dorothea Douglass | Hilda Lane | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1903 | Connie Wilson | Dorothea Douglass | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1904 | Dorothea Douglass | Connie Wilson | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1905 | Connie Wilson | Alice Greene | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1906 | Dorothea Douglass | Connie Wilson | 6–3, 2–2 ret. |
| 1907 | May Sutton | Dorothea Douglass | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1908 | Agnes Morton | Dora Boothby | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1909 | Dora Boothby | Agnes Morton | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1910 | Dorothea Douglass | Dora Boothby | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1911 | Dorothea Douglass | Mildred Coles | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1912 | Winifred McNair | Dora Boothby | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1913 | Dorothea Douglass | Phyllis Satterthwaite | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1914 | Edith Hannam | Agnes Morton | 0–6, 11–9 ret. |
| 1915 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1916 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1917 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1918 | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) | No competition (due to World War I) |
| 1919 | Elizabeth Ryan | Dorothea Douglass | 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1920 | Elizabeth Ryan | Winifred McNair | 7–9, 3–2 divided |
| 1921 | Elizabeth Ryan | Geraldine Beamish | 9–7, 6–4 |
| 1922 | Kitty McKane | Elizabeth Ryan | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1923 | Elizabeth Ryan | Phyllis Satterthwaite | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1924 | Elizabeth Ryan | Kitty McKane | 6–8, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1925 | Elizabeth Ryan | Geraldine Beamish | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1926 | Lilí Álvarez | Molla Mallory | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1927 | Helen Wills | Kitty McKane Godfree | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1928 | Elizabeth Ryan | Violet Chamberlain | 6–2, 10–8 |
| 1929 | Phyllis Howkins Covell | Peggy Saunders Mitchell | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1930 | Jenny Sandison | Ann Owen | 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 1931 | Phyllis Mudford | Dorothy Round | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1932 | Mary Heeley | Freda James | 1–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1933 | Dorothy Round | Peggy Saunders Mitchell | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1934 | Phyllis Mudford King | Joan Hartigan | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1935 | Dorothy Round | Kay Stammers | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 1936 | Anita Lizana | Betty Nuthall | 3–6, 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1937 | Jadwiga Jędrzejowska | Alice Marble | 6–1, 9–11, 6–1 |
| 1938 | Jadwiga Jędrzejowska | Bobbie Heine Miller | 7–5, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 1939 | Alice Marble | Kay Stammers | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1940 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1941 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1942 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1943 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1944 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1945 | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) | No competition (due to World War II) |
| 1946 | Vera Dace | Betty Nuthall | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1947 | Kay Menzies | Sheila Piercey Summers | 6–2, 11–9 |
| 1948 | Mary Terán de Weiss | Patsy Rodgers | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 1949 | Patricia Todd | Sheila Piercey Summers | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1950 | Gussie Moran | Nancy Morrison | 4–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1951 | Betty Rosenquest | Barbara Scofield | 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
| 1952 | Hazel Redick-Smith | Vera Thomas | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1953 | Maureen Connolly | Julia Sampson Hayward | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1954 | Abandoned | | |
| 1955 | Louise Brough | Mary Carter | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1956 | Darlene Hard | Betty Rosenquest Pratt | Abandoned (rain) |
| 1957 | Althea Gibson | Darlene Hard | 6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1958 | Sandra Reynolds | Jean Forbes | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1959 | Darlene Hard | Sally Moore | 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1960 | Christiane Mercelis | Vera Roberts | 7–5, 4–6, 6–4 |
| 1961 | Margaret Smith | Christine Truman | 6–3, 4–6, 8–6 |
| 1962 | Jan Lehane | Lesley Turner | 7–5, 6–3 |
| 1963 | Margaret Smith | Jan Lehane | 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1964 | Maria Bueno | Margaret Smith | 3–5 divided (rain) |
| 1965 | Margaret Smith | Maria Bueno | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1966 | Karen Krantzcke | Maria Bueno | w.o. |
| 1967 | Ann Haydon-Jones | Virginia Wade | 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 |
| Open era ||||
| 1968 | Margaret Court | Ann Jones | 11–9, 6–2 |
| 1969 | Denise Carter-Triolo | Kerry Melville | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1970 | Patti Hogan | Olga Morozova | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1971 | Kerry Melville | Kristy Pigeon | 6–0, 3–6, 9–7 |
| 1972 | Olga Morozova | Jill Cooper | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1973 | Dianne Fromholtz | Janet Newberry | 7–5, 0–6, 6–1 |
| 1974 | Paulina Peisachov | Kate Latham | 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1975 | Greer Stevens | Patti Hogan | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1976 | Olga Morozova | Marise Kruger | 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 1977 | Yvonne Vermaak | Michelle Tyler | 6–4, 5–7, 6–1 |
| 1978 | Evonne Cawley | Laura DuPont | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1979 | Evonne Cawley | Pam Shriver | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1980 | Andrea Jaeger | Jo Durie | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1981 | Pam Shriver | Elizabeth Little | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1982 | Pam Shriver | Elizabeth Sayers | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1983 | Billie Jean King | Barbara Potter | 6–4, 6–3 |