Florida State Open Championships

The Florida State Open Championships also known as the Florida State Championships or Florida Open was an open international men's and women's clay court tennis tournament founded in 1910 as the Winter Championships of Florida. It was first organised by the Palm Beach Tennis Club and first played on clay courts adjacent to the Royal Poinciana Hotel, Palm Beach Florida, United States. The international tournament was played at other locations throughout its run until September 1972 when it was discontinued as part of the ILTF Independent Tour.

History In 1910 the open Winter Championships of Florida organised by the Palm Beach Tennis Club was inaugurated on clay courts adjacent to the Royal Poinciana Hotel, Palm Beach Florida, United States. In 1922 the edition of the tournament was also valid as the Palm Beach Championships.

The championships were held in the following locations throughout its run in Delray Beach, Jacksonville, Palm Beach, Orlando, Sarasota and Winter Park. The ILTF Independent Tour, a series of worldwide tournaments not part of the men's Grand Prix Circuit or women's the WTA Tour. The tournament has continued until the 2020s where it is now a closed tournament (Florida players only) known as the USTA Florida Adult State Championships.

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll) Winter Championships of FloridaYearLocationChampionsRunners-upScore1912 Palm Beach Theodore Pell Percy D. Siverd6–3, 4–6, 6–1 6–1.Florida State Championships1919Palm Beach Fred H. Harris Craig Biddle6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–1.1920Palm Beach Ichiya Kumagae Craig Biddle6–1, 6–3.1921Palm Beach R. Norris Williams Ichiya Kumagae3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–1.1922Palm Beach Fritz Bastian G. Carlton Shafer6–1, 6–2, 6–3.1923Palm Beach Frank Hunter Philip B. Hawk6–2, 6–3, 6–2.1924Palm Beach Vinnie Richards Gustave Feuer6–1, 6–1.1925Palm Beach Bill Tilden II Manuel Alonso Areizaga6–3, 7–9, 6–1, 6–4.1926Palm Beach Vinnie Richards (2) Takeichi Harada4–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–3.1927Palm Beach Bill Tilden II (2) Manuel Alonso Areizaga7–5, 6–8, 3–6, 6–0, 6–4.1928Palm Beach Frank Hunter (2) John F. Hennessey6–4, 15–13 6–2.1929Palm Beach Frank Hunter (3) John F. Hennessey1–6, 6–1, 9–7 7–5.1930Palm Beach J. Gilbert Hall R. Norris Williams6–4, 8–6, 6–4.1931Palm Beach J. Gilbert Hall (2) Phil Neer 6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 6–1.1936Orlando Charles Harris Gardnar Mulloy7–5, 6–4, 4–6 6–0.1937Orlando Wayne Sabin Elwood Cooke6–1, 6–3, 6–4.1938Orlando Elwood Cooke Frank Kovacs8–6, 6–4, 6–0.1939Orlando Wayne Sabin (2) Gene Mako8–6, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–1.1940Orlando Elwood Cooke (2) Henry Prusoff6–4, 6–1, 6–4.1941Orlando Frank Kovacs Don McNeill6–2, 6–4, 6–0.1946Orlando Frank Guernsey Alejo Russell6–3, 11–9, 6–1.1947Orlando Jack Tuero Frank Guernsey6–4, 5–7, 6–4.1948Orlando Pancho Gonzales Enrique Buse6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3.1949Orlando Gardner 'Gardy' Larned Herbert 'Buddy' Behrens6–2, 6–2, 5–7, 6–0.1950Orlando Ricardo Balbiers Tony Vincent8–6, 6–4, 6–4.1951Orlando Tony Vincent Henri Rochon6–0, 6–3, 6–1.1954Orlando Malcolm Fox Tony Vincent6–3, 7–5, 2–6, 6–3.1955Winter Park Eddie Moylan Jean-Noël Grinda6–0, 6–2, 6–1.1956Winter Park Armando Vieira Ben Sobieraj6–0, 6–2, 6–1.1957Sarasota Ben Sobieraj Peter Scholl5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–3.1958Orlando Jack Frost Tony Vincent6–0, 6–4.1959Orlando William Álvarez Birger Folke6–0, 6–4, 6–1.1960Winter Park Mike Davies Don Candy6–2, 6–0, 6–4.1961Orlando Whitney Reed Miguel Olvera7–5, 6–4, 8–10, 5–7, 6–3.1963Winter Park Miguel Olvera Eduardo Zuleta6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.1964Winter Park Thomaz Koch Pancho Guzmán6–2, 6–0, 6–0.1965Orlando Nicky Kalogeropoulos Manuel Gallardo8–10, 8–6, 6–3, 8–6.1966Winter Park Jamie Presslie Eduardo Zuleta6–4, 6–2.1967Orlando Eduardo Zuleta Keith Carpenter6–4, 6–4. 1968Orlando Gene Scott Ron Holmberg6–4, 6–3. ↓  Open era  ↓Florida State Open Championships1969Orlando Eduardo Zuleta (2) Allan McDonald6–4, 6–2. 1970Orlando Miguel Olvera Mike Belkin6–2, 7–5. 1971Orlando Frank Froehling III Mike Belkin6–2, 3–6, 6–4. 1972Orlando Nikola Špear Mike Belkin6–1, 6–4.

Women' singles

(incomplete roll) Winter Championships of FloridaYearLocationChampionsRunners-upScore 1912Palm Beach Alice Cunningham Adelaide Chatfield-Taylor 6–4, 6–3 1913Palm Beach Adelaide Browning Mrs Haight 6–0, 6–1 1914Palm Beach Teresa Schwab Wood Hilda Holmes 6–2, 1–6, 8–6 1915Palm Beach Maud Barger-Wallach Mary Snyder 6–4, 6–3 1916Palm Beach Mary Bigelow Bremer Teresa Schwab Wood 6–3, 6–4 1917Palm Beach Martha Guthrie Margaret Taylor 6–0, 6–3Florida State Championships 1919Palm Beach Molla Bjurstedt Teresa Schwab Wood 6–1, 6–2 1920Palm Beach Phyllis Walsh Teresa Schwab Wood 6–1, 6–2 1921Palm Beach Phyllis Walsh (2) Teresa Schwab Wood 6–1, 6–1 1922Palm Beach Clare Cassell Phyllis Walsh 4–6, 7–5, 6–4 1923Palm Beach Clare Cassell (2) Anna Townsend Godfrey 9–7, 6–2 1924Palm Beach Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (2) Leslie Bancroft 9–7, 9–7 1925Palm Beach Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (3) Julie Makin Stenz 6–4, 7–5 1926Palm Beach Elizabeth Ryan Mary Browne 6–4, 6–0 1927Palm Beach Clare Cassell (3) Julie Makin Stenz 6–1, 6–4 1928Palm Beach Eleanor Goss Clare Cassell6–1, 4–6, 6–1 1929Palm Beach Eleanor Goss (2) Eleanor Cottman6–3, 6–0 1930Palm Beach Julie Makin Stenz Virginia Hilleary 6–0, 6–3 1931Palm Beach Eleanor Goss (3) Marjorie Gladman Van Ryn 6–1, 7–5 1934Orlando Catherine Sample Virginia Hilleary6–4, 6–4 1935Orlando Beth Lancaster Catherine Sample 8–6, 6–4 1937Orlando Catherine Sample (2) Eunice Evers 6–2, 2–6, 8–6 1938Orlando Marta Barnett Lila Porter 4–6, 6–0, 6–4 1939Orlando Pauline Betz Marta Barnett 12–10, 6–1 1940Orlando Pauline Betz (2) Mary Hardwick6–2, 7–9, 6–4 1941Orlando Sarah Palfrey Cooke Doris Hart 6–3, 6–3 1942Orlando Pauline Betz (3) Dorothy Bundy 6–1, 6–4 1946Orlando Shirley Fry Eleanor P. Cushingham 6–0, 2–6, 6–3 1947Orlando Shirley Fry (2) Doris Hart 6–4, 6–3 1948Orlando Shirley Fry (3) Magda Rurac 6–3, 6–3 1949Orlando Shirley Fry (4) Jean Clarke 6–1, 8–6 1950Orlando Doris Jensen Laura Lou Jahn 7–5, 7–9, 7–5 1952Orlando Karol Fageros Pat Stewart 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 1954Orlando Laura Lou Kunnen Connie Clifton Ball 6–3, 4–6, 6–3 1955Winter Park Karol Fageros (2) Connie Clifton Ball 6–3, 9–7 1956Winter Park Ann Bagge Nancy Corse 6–2, 6–2 1958Orlando Maria Bueno Janet Hopps 6–4, 6–3 1959Orlando Marie Martin Laura Lou Kunnen 6–2, 6–2 1960Winter Park Carol Ann Prosen Owen McHaney 6–2, 6–3 1961Orlando Carol Ann Prosen (2) Belmar Gunderson 6–2, 6–3 1962Orlando Judy Alvarez Stephanie DeFina 5–7, 6–1, 7–5 1963Winter Park Stephanie DeFina Connie Clifton Ball 6–3, 6–3 1964Winter Park Elena Subirats Connie Clifton Ball 6–3, 6–3 1965Orlando Trudy Groenman Nancy Corse Reed 6–3, 6–0 1966Orlando Alice Tym Nancy Corse Reed 6–8, 7–5, 6–3 1967Orlando Vera Cleto Betty Rosenquest Pratt 4–6, 7–5, 6–4↓  Open era  ↓Florida State Open Championships 1968Orlando Kazuko Sawamatsu Vera Cleto6–1, 6–2 1970Orlando Stephanie DeFina (3) Mona Schallau6–2, 6–1.Cumberland Evening Times

Tournament records Men's singles Included: Most Titles: Frank Hunter (3) Most Finals: Tony Vincent (4) Most Consecutive Titles: Frank Hunter & J. Gilbert Hall (2) Most Consecutive Finals: Tony Vincent (3)

Women's singles Most Titles: Shirley Fry (4) Most Finals: Teresa Schwab Wood (5) Most Consecutive Titles: Shirley Fry (4) Most Consecutive Finals: Shirley Fry (4)

References