The Irish Open and originally known as the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and for sponsorship reasons also known as Carroll's Irish Open is formally a men's and women's tennis tournament held at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Prior to the creation of the International 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.[1][2][3] the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships. The men's event was part of the pre-open era tour from inception until 1967. It was then part of the open era non-aligned independent tour, (1968–69). From 1970 to 1974 it was an event on the Grand Prix tennis circuit. The women's event was on the same tours as the men except for when it became part of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour from 1971 to 1973. The men's edition was played until 1979 and the women's till 1983.
History
The Irish Championships were first held in June 1879, two years after Wimbledon started. It was first staged at Pembroke Place, Dublin [4] until 1880 when it transferred to Wilton Place [4] where it remained till 1902. In 1903 the tournament moved again this time to Fitzwilliam Square. The championships began 2 June 1879 [5] the tournament 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. Prior to the creation of the International 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.[1][2][3] the others being Wimbledon, the U.S. National championships and the Northern Championships. 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 on hard courts.[6] It was then played on grass courts,[6] (1881–1939). From 1946 to 1965 it was played on clay court's,[6] it returned to being played on grass again from 1966 until the tournament ended.[6]
Present day
The Irish Open is currently a tournament on the ITF world tennis tour, the lowest tier of professional tennis.[7]
^In 1903, the "challenge round" system was abandoned and the modern tournament system has since been used.
^Williams, Jean (2014). A contemporary history of women's sport, part one : sporting women, 1850–1960 (Volume 3 of Routledge Research in Sports History ed.). Routledge, 2014. p. 15. ISBN9781317746669.
^Collins, B. (2010): History of Tennis. 2nd edition. New Chapter Press, New York. ISBN978-0-942257-70-0, p. 696.
^Williams, Jean (2014). A contemporary history of women's sport, part one : sporting women, 1850–1960 (Volume 3 of Routledge Research in Sports History ed.). Routledge, 2014. p. 15. ISBN9781317746669.
^Williams, Jean (2014). A contemporary history of women's sport, part one : sporting women, 1850–1960 (Volume 3 of Routledge Research in Sports History ed.). Routledge, 2014. p. 15. ISBN9781317746669.
^ abcdefghieditors, John Nauright, Charles Parrish (2012). Sports around the world history, culture, and practice. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 199. ISBN9781598843019. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abcSmyth, J. G. (8 November 2013). "Oxford DNB article: Sterry, Charlotte Reinagle". archive.fo. Oxford University Press, 2004–13. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)