Lee-on-Solent Open

The Lee-on-Solent Open was a clay court then later hard court tennis event founded in 1921.[1] It was held at the Lee-on-Solent Lawn Tennis and Squash Club (f.1911),[2] Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England through until 2000 when it was abolished.

Lee-on-Solent Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameLee-on-Solent Open (1921-68)
Lee-on-Solent Open (1969–70)
Mercedes Benz Lee-on-Solent Open (1971-1973)
Lee-on-Solent Open (1974–82)
Founded1921 (1921)
Abolished1997 (1997)
LocationLee-on-Solent, Hampshire, England
VenueLee-on-Solent Lawn Tennis and Squash Club
SurfaceClay (1921-84)
Hard (1997-2000)

History

The Lee-on-Solent Open tournament was first inaugurated in 1921 and was played continually through to 1938.[3] In 1939 the tournament was cancelled.[4] Following World War II the tournament resumed in 1946. In 1971 the tournament secured sponsorship from the German car maker Mercedes-Benz and for the next three years was known as the Mercedes Benz Lee-on-Solent Open until 1974.

In 1982 the tournament ceased to be part of the senior worldwide tour,[5] and both the men's and women's events were downgraded. The men's event became part of ATP Challenger Tour known as the Lee-On-Solent Challenger (1982-1984, 1998, 2000).[6] The women's tournament became part of the ITF Circuit known as the ITF Lee-On-Solent Tournament (1982–1997).[7]

From 1921 through until 1984 the surface was always clay courts. From 1997 until 2000 it switched to hard courts.

Event names
  • Lee-on-Solent Open (1921–70)
  • Mercedes Benz Lee-on-Solent Open (1971–1973)
  • Lee-on-Solent Open (1974–81)
  • ATP Challenger Lee-on-Solent (1982–1984, 1998, 2000) (men)
  • ITF Circuit Lee-on-Solent Tournament (1982–1997) (women)

References
  1. ". Lee-on-the-Solent: Lawn Tennis Tournament: The fourth annual open tournament was to have commenced yesterday, but owing to the heavy rain play was postponed until to-day". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. 25 August 1925. p. 7.
  2. "About:". LOST Club. Lee on the Solent Tennis, Squash & Fitness Club. 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  3. "The Lee-on-Solent Tennis Club's 17th annual open tournament began yesterday on the club's seven hard courts". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. 24 August 1938. p. 7.
  4. "The Lee-on-Solent Tournament Cancelled: The Lee-on-Solent Tennis Club's annual open tournament, which was to have been held next week has been cancelled". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. 26 August 1939. p. 7.
  5. Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Lee-on-Solent". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives.
  6. "Lee-On-Solent: Overview". atptour.com. ATP Tour. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  7. "$10,000 LEE-ON-SOLENT". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
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