The Wentworth Invitation also known as the Wentworth Open[1] and for sponsorship reasons the Wright and Ditson Open Tournament (1885–1888), was a men's tennis tournament played at the Outing Lawn Tennis Club, Hotel Wentworth,[2] New Castle, New Hampshire, United States, on grass courts and also clay courts.

Wentworth Open Tournament
Wentworth Invitation
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameWright and Ditson Open Tournament
TourUSLTA Circuit (1884–1922)
ILTF World Circuit (1923–1970)
SponsorWright and Ditson (1884-1888)
Founded1884; 140 years ago (1884)
Abolished1970; 54 years ago (1970)
LocationHotel Wentworth, New Castle, New Hampshire, United States
VenueOuting Lawn Tennis Club
SurfaceGrass (1884-1893)
Clay (1894-1907)

The first tournament ran from 1884 until 1907, then was abolished. The second tournament was revived in 1953 and ran until 1970.[3]

History

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The first edition was played between 30 July and 1 August 1884 on grass courts and continued on this surface until 1893.[3] From 1894 until 1907 the event was played on clay courts.[3] The first tournament attracted notable players including existing and future major champions, and was staged until 1907. The second tournament was revived in 1953, though it did not feature as many prominent players, which ran till 1970.

Finals

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Men's Singles

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Incomplete roll
Wentworth Open
Year Winners Runners-up Score
1884   Howard Augustus Taylor   Wallace Percy Knapp 8–6, 7–5, 6–8, 6-3.[3]
Wentworth Wight & Ditson Open
1885[4]   Walter Van Rensselaer Berry   Howard Augustus Taylor 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–3.[5]
1886[6]   Joseph Sill Clark   ? ?
1887[7]   Henry Warner Slocum   Philip Shelton Sears 6–4, 6–0, 6–3.[3]
1888[8]   Charles Amherst Chase   Oliver Samuel Campbell 6–4, 7–5, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3.[3]
Wentworth Open
1889     Charles Amherst Chase (2)   George Winthrop Lee 4–6, 6–1, 6–3.[3]
1890   George Winthrop Lee   Frederick Hovey 5–7, 6–3, 10–8, 7–5.[3]
1891   Frederick Hovey   Hugh A. Tallant 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 62.[3]
1892   Frederick Hovey (2)   Henry George Bixby[9] 6–3, 6–4, 6–2.[3]
1893   Bob Wrenn   Malcolm Greene Chace 7–5, 6–4, 6–2.[3]
1894   William Gordon Parker   Clarence R. Budlong 7–5, 7–5, 7–5.[3]
1895   Leo Ware   William Gordon Parker 6–4, 1–6, 7–5.[3]
1896   Edwin P. Fischer   Clarence R. Budlong 6–3, 2–6, 6–4.[3]
1897   George Sheldon   Edwin P. Fischer 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.[3]
1898[10]   Edwin P. Fischer (2)   Harold Humphrey Hackett 6–4, 2–6, 8–6.[3]
1899   Beals Wright   Clarence R. Budlong 8–6, 7–5, 6–3.[3]
1900   Harold Hackett  Beals Wright 7–5, 7–5, 6–4.[3]
1901   Clarence Hobart   Jahial Parmly Paret 4–6, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3.[3]
1902   Harold Hackett (2)   Clarence Hobart 6–3, 6–3, 6–4.[3]
1903   Harry F. Allen   Bill Larned 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[3]
1904   Alphonzo Edward Bell   Wylie Grant 10–8, 7–5 .[3]
1905[11]   Alphonzo Edward Bell (2)   M. Sargent 6–1, 6–1, 6–2.[3]
1906   Irving Wright   Karl Behr 6–8, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–3.[3]
1907   Arthur Sweetser   Sydney Lane Beals 6–3, 6–2, 6–4.[3]
Wentworth Invitation
1953   Tony Vincent   Henri Salaun 6–0, 6–3, ret.[3]
1954   Henri Salaun   Marvin Wachman 6–1, 7–5, 12–10.[3]
1956   James Farrin   Henry Van Renssalaer 7–5, 7–5, 6–2.[3]
1958   Michael Green   Tony Vincent 2–6, 6–4, 6–2.[3]
1959   Tom Raleigh[12]   Tony Vincent 6–2, 6–2 .[3]
1960   Ned Weld   William (Billy) P. Power[13] 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3.[3]
1962   Larry Lewis[14]   Ned Weld 6–3, 6–2, 9–7.[3]
1963   Larry Lewis (2)   Ralph Stuart 1–6, 6–1, 6–2.[3]
1964   Ned Weld (2)   Larry Lewis 6–0, 4–6, 6–0, 6–2.[3]
1966   Donald H. Manchester   William (Billy) P. Power 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 .[3]
1967   Bill Tym   Robert Stock 6–1, 6–3 .[3]
↓  Open era  ↓
1970   Ned Weld (3)   Jon Buchman 4–6, 6–4, 6–2.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Wright & Ditson. 1905. p. 140.
  2. ^ Turkel, Stanley. "Nobody Asked Me, But… No. 268: Hotel History: Wentworth by the Sea". Hospitality Net. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "Tournaments: Wentworth Open -". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. ^ Hall, Valentine Gill (1889). Lawn tennis in America. Biographical sketches of all the prominent players ... knotty points, and all the latest rules and directions governing handicaps, umpires, and rules for playing. New York: D. W. Granbery & co. p. 9.
  5. ^ The Tennis Base
  6. ^ Hall, Valentine Gill (1889). Lawn tennis in America. Biographical sketches of all the prominent players ... knotty points, and all the latest rules and directions governing handicaps, umpires, and rules for playing. New York: D. W. Granbery & co. p. 12.
  7. ^ Hall, Valentine Gill (1889). Lawn tennis in America. Biographical sketches of all the prominent players ... knotty points, and all the latest rules and directions governing handicaps, umpires, and rules for playing. New York: D. W. Granbery & co. p. 16.
  8. ^ Hall, Valentine Gill (1889). Lawn tennis in America. Biographical sketches of all the prominent players ... knotty points, and all the latest rules and directions governing handicaps, umpires, and rules for playing. New York: D. W. Granbery & co. pp. 35–37.
  9. ^ "Player Profile: H. Bixby". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Wentworth tennis tournament was concluded today". Chronicling America. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress. 7 August 1898.
  11. ^ Wright & Ditson (1905)
  12. ^ Fowler, Glenn (20 September 1990). "Thomas Raleigh, 63, A Senior Executive At Price Waterhouse". The New York Times. New York City. p. 22. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  13. ^ Staff Writer (27 February 2010). "William P. Power,, 89". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, Massachusetts. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Lewis Tennis School - Tournament Director Larry Lewis". playtennis.usta.com. USTA. Retrieved 10 October 2023.