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"Benson & Hedges Championships" redirects here. For the snooker tournament formerly named as Benson & Hedges Championship, see Masters Qualifying Event.
Wembley Championship
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1934
Abolished1990
Editions40
LocationLondon, England
VenueEmpire Pool
SurfaceWood (1934–1967)
Carpet (1968–1990)

The Wembley Championships was a men's professional tennis tournament held from 1934–1990 with some periods of inactivity in between and is often considered to be one of the three Major professional tennis tournaments before the Open Era from 1927–1967 until the advent of the open era. Ken Rosewall's and Rod Laver's six singles titles are the record for this event. The tournament only had a men's draw.

It was first held in 1934 at the Empire Pool at Wembley Park, Wembley, north-west London.[1] In 1968, it was titled the Jack Kramer Tournament of Champions. In 1970 it was the penultimate event on the Grand Prix Tennis Tour.[2]

Name[edit]

It was officially called the Wembley Professional Championships, although it was later named the London Indoor Professional Championships.[3] In 1968 it was titled the Jack Kramer Tournament of Champions.

Past finals[edit]

YearChampionsRunners-upScoreSurface
Professional Era
1934United States Ellsworth VinesGermany Hans Nüsslein4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 8–6r1 [4]Wood (i)
1935United States Ellsworth VinesUnited States Bill Tilden6–1, 6–3, 5–7, 3–6, 6–3 [4]Wood (i)
1936Not held a [4]
1937Germany Hans NüssleinUnited States Bill Tilden6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2 [4]Wood (i)
1938Not held b [4]
1939United States Don BudgeGermany Hans Nüsslein13–11, 2–6, 6–4r2 [4]Wood (i)
1940–1948Not Held
1949 [5] Jack Kramer Bobby Riggs2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 [4]Wood (i)
1950 Pancho Gonzales Welby Van Horn6–3, 6–3, 6–2 [4]Wood (i)
1951 Pancho Gonzales Pancho Segura6–2, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 [4]Wood (i)
1952 Pancho Gonzales Jack Kramer3–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 7–5 [4]Wood (i)
1953 Frank Sedgman Pancho Gonzales6–1, 6–2, 6–2 [4]Wood (i)
1954–1955Not Held
1956 Pancho Gonzales Frank Sedgman4–6, 11–9, 11–9, 9–7 [4]Wood (i)
1957 Ken Rosewall Pancho Segura1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 [4]Wood (i)
1958 Frank Sedgman Tony Trabert6–4, 6–3, 6–4 [4]Wood (i)
1959 Mal Anderson Pancho Segura4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6 [4]Wood (i)
1960 Ken Rosewall Pancho Segura5–7, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3 [4]Wood (i)
1961 Ken Rosewall Lew Hoad6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 [4]Wood (i)
1962 Ken Rosewall Lew Hoad6–4, 5–7, 15–13, 7–5 [4]Wood (i)
1963 Ken Rosewall Lew Hoad6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 [4]Wood (i)
1964 Rod Laver Ken Rosewall7–5, 4–6, 5–7, 8–6, 8–6 [4]Wood (i)
1965 Rod Laver Andrés Gimeno6–2, 6–3, 6–4 [4]Wood (i)
1966 Rod Laver Ken Rosewall6–2, 6–2, 6–3 [4]Wood (i)
1967 Rod Laver Ken Rosewall2–6, 6–1, 1–6, 8–6, 6–2 [4]Wood (i)
Open Era
1968 Ken Rosewall John Newcombe6–4, 4–6, 7–5, 6–4Carpet (i)
1969 Rod Laver Tony Roche6–4, 6–1, 6–3Carpet (i)
1970 Rod Laver Cliff Richey6–3, 6–4, 7–5Carpet (i)
1971 Ilie Năstase Rod Laver3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4Carpet (i)
1972–1975Not Held
1976 Jimmy Connors Roscoe Tanner3–6, 7–6, 6–4Carpet (i)
1977 Björn Borg John Lloyd6–4, 6–4, 6–3Carpet (i)
1978 John McEnroe Tim Gullikson6–7, 6–4, 7–6, 6–2Carpet (i)
1979 John McEnroe Harold Solomon6–3, 6–4, 7–5Carpet (i)
1980 John McEnroe Gene Mayer6–4, 6–3, 6–3Carpet (i)
1981 Jimmy Connors John McEnroe3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–2Carpet (i)
1982 John McEnroe Brian Gottfried6–3, 6–2, 6–4Carpet (i)
1983 John McEnroe Jimmy Connors7–5, 6–1, 6–4Carpet (i)
1984 Ivan Lendl Andrés Gómez7–6, 6–2, 6–1Carpet (i)
1985 Ivan Lendl Boris Becker6–7, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4Carpet (i)
1986 Yannick Noah Jonas Svensson6–2, 6–3, 6–7, 4–6, 7–5Carpet (i)
1987 Ivan Lendl Anders Järryd6–3, 6–2, 7–5Carpet (i)
1988 Jakob Hlasek Jonas Svensson6–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–0, 7–5Carpet (i)
1989 Michael Chang Guy Forget6–2, 6–1, 6–1Carpet (i)
1990 Jakob Hlasek Michael Chang7–6, 6–3Carpet (i)

Notes:

a1936 tournament was cancelled due to Tilden and Vines playing in Japan. This was reported in London Daily Mail on August 24, 1936. There are sources that say Ellsworth Vines defeated Hans Nüsslein 6–4, 6–4, 6–2, but this must have been a different event.

bNo reports of a 1938 tournament in British newspapers (the Wembley event was always reported in major British newspapers). Ray Bowers in an article on The Tennis Server website states there was no event held. There are sources that tell us Hans Nüsslein defeated Bill Tilden 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, but this must have been held elsewhere.

r1 For 1934, the tournament was played under Round Robin format with Vines 5-0 and Nüsslein 4-1 as final standings.

r1 For 1939, the tournament was played under Round Robin format with Budge 3-0 and Nüsslein, Tilden and Vines as 1-2 as final standings.

See also[edit]

  • Wembley Professional Championships Draws - Professional Era (1934–1967)
  • Major professional tennis tournaments before the Open Era

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ray Bowers (1 March 2003). "Wembley and Paris". Forgotten Victories: The Early Pro Tennis Wars. The Tennis Server. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  2. ^ "1970: ATP World Tour". Results Archive. ATP World Tour. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  3. ^ Grasso, John (2011). Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Scarecrow Press. p. 25. ISBN 9780810872370.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "British Pro Championships, Wembley". www.tennis.co.nf.
  5. ^ "Indoor Lawn Tennis at Wembley". The Indian Express. Mar 19, 1949.