Tropical Championships

The Tropical Championships[1] also called the Tropical Sectional Championships[2] was a mens open tennis tournament founded in 1887 as the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club Tournament.[3] It was staged annually by the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club, St. Augustine, Florida, United States until 1894.

Tropical Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourUSNLTA Circuit (1887–1894)
Founded1887 (1887)
Abolished1894 (1894)
LocationSt. Augustine, Florida, United States
VenueVilla Zorayda (1887-88)
Alcazar Hotel and Casino
SurfaceAsphalt (outdoors)
Wood (indoors)

History

In March 1887 the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Tournament was inaugurated at the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club, St. Augustine, Florida, United States,[4] The first was held at the Villa Zorayda owned by a local business magnet Mr. Franklin W. Smith and was played on indoor wood courts.[3] The first men's champion was Thomas Sterling Beckwith.[5] In 1888 its name was changed to the Tropical Championships.[6][3] In 1889 the tournament was moved to the Alcazar Hotel and Casino in St. Augustine where the tournament was then played on outdoor hard asphalt courts and remained there for its duration.[3]

The championships were part of the USNLTA Circuit from 1887 until 1894. The tournament was mainly won by American players except for 1892 when the English tennis player Charles Walder Grinstead won the event. In 1894 the championships were discontinued the final singles champion was Oliver Campbell.[7]

Finals
The historic Alcazar Hotel and Casino, St. Augustine, Florida (built 1887). The image taken c. 1897-1924 was the location of this event (1889-94).

Men's Singles

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1887United States Thomas Sterling BeckwithUnited States Albert Empie Wright2–1 sets.[3]
1888United States Henry Graff TrevorUnited States Thomas Sterling Beckwith3–2 sets.[3]
1889United States Oliver Samuel CampbellUnited States Henry Graff Trevor6–2, 6–3, 6–4.[3]
1890United States Oliver Samuel Campbell (2)United States Thomas Sterling Beckwith6-4 5-7 6-2 6-4
1891United States Oliver Samuel Campbell (3)United States Albert Empie Wright10–8, 6–1, 7–5.[3]
1892United Kingdom Charles Walder GrinsteadUnited States Oliver Samuel Campbellw.o.[3]
1893Not held
1894United States Oliver Samuel Campbell (4)United Kingdom Charles Walder Grinsteadw.o.[3]

Men's Doubles

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1892United States Albert Empie Wright
United States J.W. Nichols		?default.[8]

References
  1. "Tennis, St. Augustine The Outing Magazine 1890". fcit.usf.edu. University of South Florida. 2005. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  2. Whittersley, Joseph T. (1895). "Sectional Championships: Tropical Championships". Wright & Ditson Officially Adopted Lawn Tennis Guide. Boston: Wright & Ditson Publishing. p. 64.
  3. "Tournaments: St. Augustine Tournament - Tropical Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. Robertson, Max (1974). "The United States Story by Alison Danzig". The encyclopedia of tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. p. 48. ISBN 0047960426.
  5. Whittersley, Joseph T. (1895).
  6. University of South Florida
  7. University of South Florida
  8. The New York Clipper Annual. New York: Frank Queen Publishing Company (Limited). 1893. p. 91.
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