Kenya Open (tennis)

The Kenya Open also known as the Kenya Championships[1] was a men's and women's tennis tournament founded in 1934 as the Kenyan International Championships.[2] later called the Kenyan Closed Championships It was organised by the Kenyan Lawn Tennis Association (f.1922), Nairobi, Kenya and played on clay courts and ran until 1986 as part of the ILTF Independent Circuit.[2]

Kenya Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF World Circuit
(1934–73)
ILTF Independent Circuit
Founded1934 (1934)
Abolished1986 (1986)
LocationNairobi, Kenya
SurfaceClay (outdoors)

History

In 1922 the Kenyan Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA) was founded.[3] In 1934 the KLTA became an associate member of the ILTF.[4] The same year it organised the first Kenyan International Championships an open tournament initially held in August then played annually in the summer. In 1968 the association changed the denomination of that tournament to Kenya Championships and moved the event till late winter usually starting at the end of January and finishing end of February or starting mid February ending early March this was also an open event. From 1974 it was re branded as the Kenya Open until 1982, it later became a closed tournament (for Kenyan players only) from 1983 to the late 1980s.[2] The tournament was played as part of the ILTF African Circuit a regional sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit from 1968 to 1972, the it became part ILTF Independent Circuit until 1986 when it was downgraded from the world circuit. The event however was till being held as late as 2022.[5]

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

Kenyan International Championships
Year Winners Runners-up Score
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1948United Kingdom Jack PiercyUnited Kingdom Robert Cooper6–3, 6–0, 6–2.[2]
1949Kenya R.J.E. MayersUnited Kingdom Jack Piercy6–2, 2–6, 10–12, 6–1, 6–3.[2]
1950Kenya R.J.E. MayersUnited Kingdom F.D.M. Flowerdew6–1, 6–4, 6–2.[2]
1961Kenya Yashvin Shretta [6]??
1965India Shyam Minotra[7]Kenya Yashvin Shretta7-9, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.[2]
1966India Ramanathan KrishnanKenya Yashvin Shretta6–2, 6–0, 6–4.[2]
Kenya Invitation
1967United States Jim McManusUnited States John Pickens6–2, 2–6, 7–5, 6–8, 6–2.[2]
↓  Open era  ↓
Kenya Championships
1969Belgium Bernard MignotKenya Yashvin Shretta6–0, 6–2.[2]
1970[8]Kenya Yashvin Shretta (2)Egypt Ahmed Hassanein7–5, 6–4, 6–4.[2]
1971Egypt Aly El DawoudiKenya Yashvin Shretta6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4.[2]
↓  ILTF Independent Circuit  ↓
1973Jamaica Richard Russell United Kingdom David Lloyd8–6, 6–4, 6–4.[2]
Kenya Open
1974France Pierre JolyUnited States Lee Tomlinson7–6, 6–3, 6–1.[2]
1976United States Norman HolmesUnited Kingdom John Feaver6–0, 6–2, 7–6.[2]
1977Australia Bob RheinbergerWest Germany Uli Heyne[9]6–2, 6–7, 6–2.[2]
1978Austria Peter FeiglBelgium Bernard Mignot6–1, 6–4, 6–2.[2]
1979Niger David ImonitieSweden Per Larsson6–7, 7–6, 11–9.[2]
1980Australia Wayne PascoeSweden Ola Hellgren6–4, 2–6, 6–1.[2]
Kenyan Closed Championships
1983Kenya Selim Rana[10]Kenya Steven Kasigwa[11]6–3, 6–2

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Kenyan International Championships
Year Winners Runners-up Score
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1948Kenya Sheila Paterson DowdeswellKenya Mrs J.F. Mark6–0, 6–2
1949Kenya Mrs J.F. MarkKenya M. Muir6–2, 6–1
1950Kenya Margot Lumb GordonKenya Mrs M.C. Swan6–2, 6–1
1951Kenya Doris UnwinKenya Grizel Swynnerton2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1952Kenya Grizel SwynnertonKenya Mrs E. Boswell6–1, 6–0
1953South Africa Julia WipplingerSouth Africa Thea S. Hale7–5, 6–2
1954Kenya Margot Lumb GordonKenya Frances Hook Marshall6–2, 7-5
1955Kenya Frances Hook MarshallKenya Mrs W. Michell6–4, 6–4
1956Kenya Frances Hook Marshall (2)Pakistan Khanum Haji Singh4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1957United Kingdom Grizel M. Swynnerton (2)Kenya J. Sheridan4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1958Kenya Margot Lumb Gordon (2)Kenya Miss Morgan6–3, 6–3
1960Rhodesia Eve SladdenRhodesia Loise Surgey6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1961Kenya Debbie AdamsUnited Kingdom Grizel M. Swynnerton6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1962Kenya Doris UnwinKenya F. Spring5–7, 6–3, 6–1
1963United Kingdom Grizel M. SwynnertonKenya Elizabeth Haggie5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Kenyan Championships
1968United Kingdom Virginia WadeWest Germany Kerstin Seelbach4–6, 6–1 6–2
1969Kenya Elizabeth HaggieKenya Mrs Wendy Hall4–6, 6–1 6–2
1970United States Alice TymRhodesia Daphne Paterson6–1, 6–3
1971India Nirupama MankadKenya Jenny Patterson6–2, 6–1
1972United Kingdom Winnie ShawFrance Gail Chanfreau2–6, 6–2, 6–4
↓  ILTF Independent Circuit  ↓
1973South Africa Brenda KirkKenya Jenny Patterson7–5, 6–1
Kenya Open
1974United Kingdom Annette CoeUnited Kingdom Corinne Molesworth7–5, 6–1
1976United Kingdom Annette CoeAustria Uschi Ulrich6–2, 6–4
1980United Kingdom Lesley CharlesUnited Kingdom Debbie Stewart3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Kenyan Closed Championships
1983Kenya Carol HughesKenya S. Trempenau6–3, 6–2
1984Kenya Susan WakhunguKenya Jane Ndunda7–5, 6–3
1985Kenya Carol HughesKenya Jane Ndunda4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1986Kenya J. WakhunguKenya R. Wilson?

References
  1. Barrett, John; Tingay, Lance; West, Peter (1971). World of Tennis 1971 : a BP yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-362-00091-7.
  2. "Tournaments: Kenya National Championships - Kenya Open". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. Robertson, Max (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. London: George Allen and Unwin. p. 277. ISBN 9780047960420.
  4. Robertson
  5. "Kenya Nationals Tournament". www.sportyhq.com. Tennis Kenya. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  6. "Biography: Yashvin Shretta". Olympics. IOC. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  7. "Shyam Minotra: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  8. "Biography: Yashvin Shretta". Olympics. IOC.
  9. "Uli Heyne: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. "Saleem Rana: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. "Steven Kasigwa: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
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