The Indian Open was a men's tennis tournament founded as the India International Championships[1] in 1923. It was played from 1923 until 1979 and the men's event was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit, 1973 to 1979. From 1947 to 1972 it was known as the Indian National Championships (though open to international competitors). It was held in various cities across India and was played outdoor on multiple surfaces.

Indian Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourGrand Prix circuit
Founded1923
Abolished1979
LocationVarious
India
SurfaceClay, Grass, Hard

History

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Tennis was introduced to India in 1880s by British Army and Civilian Officers.[2] In 1923 the India International Championships[3] were established and played at the Calcutta South Club, Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

In 1973, the Indian championships with international competitors diverged from the national championships. By the late 1970s the national championships was a minor event for indian born players. The international event was renamed as the Indian Open in 1973.

Locations and venues

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The Calcutta South Club was founded in 1920, and also organised the Calcutta Lawn Tennis Championships.That tournament later became known as the East India Lawn Tennis Championships. Its current facilities consist of the six original grass courts, In 1985 the Club built six new clay courts, and in 2004 it added five asphalt-based rubberized hard courts.

After the war until the start of the open era, the India International Championships were predominantly staged in Calcutta, under the tournament name the Indian National Championships. The event was often held over Christmas and new year and on a few occasions two events were held in a single year in January and December (sometimes winners are described as winning in a year in which an event started in late December, other times in the year the event finished in early January). In a few years, the event was also held in other cities such as New Delhi and Allahabad.

Finals

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Men's singles

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Year Location Winner Runner-up Score
India International Championships
1923[4] Calcutta   Sunao Okamoto
1924[5] Calcutta   Sunao Okamoto (2)
1925[6] Calcutta   Syed Anwar Yusoof
1926[7] Calcutta   J. Robson
1927[8] Calcutta   Sunao Okamoto (3)   Pershotam Lal Mehta 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
1928[9] Calcutta   Atri-Madan Mohan   Pershotam Lal Mehta 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1929[10] Calcutta   Edward Vivian Bobb   Mohammed Sleem 3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1930[11] Calcutta   Bunny Austin   Eskell 'Buster' Andrews 6–2, 7–5, 6–1
1931[12] Calcutta   Jiro Fujikura   Ryuki Miki 3–6, 3–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–0
1932[13] Calcutta   Giorgio de Stefani   Dip Narain Kapoor 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
1933[14] Calcutta   Atri-Madan Mohan (2)   Edward Vivian Bobb 10–8, 6–3, 6–3
1934[15] Calcutta   Josip Palada   Franjo Punčec 9–7, 6–4, 6–3
All India Championships
1935[16] Allahabad   Josip Palada (2)   Franjo Punčec 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–2
1936[17] Calcutta   Ladislav Hecht   Roderich Menzel 2–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 5–5 ret.
1937[18] Allahabad   Edward Vivian Bobb (2)   Dip Narain Kapoor 6–4, 7–5, 6–3
1938[19] Allahabad   Dip Narain Kapoor   Islam Ahmad 8–6, 6–4, 6–4
1939[20] Bombay   Ghaus Mohammad   Tenkasi K. Ramanathan 6–1, 6–2
1940[21] Calcutta   Franjo Punčec   Yudishtra Singh 11-9. 6–4, 7–5
1941[22] Baroda   Ghaus Mohammad (2)   Iftikhar Ahmed Khan 6–0, 6–3, 7–5
1942[23] Lahore   Subba L.R. Sawhney   Prem Lal Pandhi 6–1, 6–1, 6–0
1943[24] Indore   Ghaus Mohammad (3)   Iftikhar Ahmed Khan 6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
1944[25] Allahabad   Hal Surface   Ghaus Mohammad 6–2, 6–4, 6–0
1945[26] Madras   Sumant Misra   B.R. Kapinipathy 9–7, 9–7, 5–7, 6–0
1946[27] Calcutta   Ghaus Mohammad (4)   Dilip Bose 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
India National Championships
1947[28] Calcutta   Sumant Misra (2)   Man-Mohan Bhandari 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–0
1948[29] Calcutta   Lennart Bergelin   Sumant Misra 8–6, 6–1, 6–4
1949[30] Calcutta   Dilip Bose   Sumant Misra 3–6, 6–3, 6–3, 8–6
1950[31] Allahabad   Felicisimo Ampon   Pedro Masip 5–7, 8–6, 8–6, 6–1
1951[32] Calcutta   Sven Davidson   Jaroslav Drobný 6–3, 6–3 7–5
1952[33] Calcutta   Sven Davidson (2)   Khan-Iftikhar Ahmed 6–3, 6–4, 8–6
1953[34] Calcutta   Sumant Misra (3)   Naresh Kumar 6–8, 2–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–3
1954[35] Calcutta   Ramanathan Krishnan   Jack Arkinstall 6–2, 6–3, 7–5
1955[36] Calcutta   Jack Arkinstall   Ramanathan Krishnan 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
1956[37] New Delhi   Sven Davidson (3)   Kurt Nielsen 6–4, 6–1, 15–17, 6–4
1957[38] Calcutta   Ramanathan Krishnan (2)   Naresh Kumar 6–4, 6–0, 8–6
1958[39] Calcutta   Ulf Schmidt   Ramanathan Krishnan 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3
1959[40] Calcutta   Ramanathan Krishnan (3)   Naresh Kumar 6–2, 6–2, 6–1
1960[41] New Delhi   Ramanathan Krishnan (4)   Ulf Schmidt 6–3, 6–3 6–1
1961[42] Calcutta   Ramanathan Krishnan (5)   Carlos Fernandes 6–2, 6–2, 3–6, 7–5
India National and Northern India Championships
1962[43] New Delhi   Roy Emerson   Ramanathan Krishnan 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
1963[44] New Delhi   Ramanathan Krishnan (6)   Jaidip Mukerjea 6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1964[45] New Delhi   Ramanathan Krishnan (7)   Alan Mills 6–1, 6–3, 6–4
1965[46] New Delhi   Ramanathan Krishnan (8)   Martin Mulligan w.o.
1966[47] New Delhi   Jaidip Mukerjea   Premjit Lall 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–0
1967[48] New Delhi   Premjit Lall[49]   Ramanathan Krishnan 3–6, 7–5, 5–7, 2–1 rtd.
India International Championships
1968 Calcutta   Ion Țiriac   Jaidip Mukerjea 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 5–7, 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
India National Championships
1969[50] New Delhi   Ilie Năstase   Premjit Lall 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1970[51] Calcutta   Premjit Lall (2)   Alex Metreveli 9–7, 6–0, 5–7 6–3
1971[34] Calcutta   Jaidip Mukerjea (2)   Premjit Lall 7-5, 6-3, 6-3
1972[34] Calcutta   Gaurav Misra   Ramanathan Krishnan 4–6, 6–4, 8–10, 7–5, 6–2
Indian Open
1973[52] New Delhi   Vijay Amritraj   Mal Anderson 6–4, 5–7, 7–9, 6–3, 11-9
1974[53] Bombay   Onny Parun   Tony Roche 6–3, 6–3, 7–6
1975[54] Calcutta   Vijay Amritraj (2)   Manuel Orantes 7–5, 6–3
1976[55] Bangalore   Kim Warwick   Sashi Menon 6–1, 6–2
1977[56] Bombay   Vijay Amritraj (3)   Terry Moor 7–6, 6–4
1978[57] Calcutta   Yannick Noah   Pascal Portes 6–3, 6–2
1979[58] Bombay   Vijay Amritraj (4)   Peter Elter 6–1, 7–5

Men's doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1973   Jim McManus
  Raúl Ramírez
  Anand Amritraj
  Vijay Amritraj
6–2, 6–4
1974   Anand Amritraj
  Vijay Amritraj
  Dick Crealy
  Onny Parun
6–4, 7–6
1975   Juan Gisbert
  Manuel Orantes
  Anand Amritraj
  Vijay Amritraj
1–6, 6–4, 6–3
1976   Bob Carmichael
  Ray Ruffels
  Chiradip Mukerjea
  Bhanu Nunna
6–2, 7–6
1977   Mike Cahill
  Terry Moor
  Marcello Lara
  Jasjit Singh
6–7, 6–4, 6–4
1978   Sashi Menon
  Sherwood Stewart
  Gilles Moretton
  Yannick Noah
7–6, 6–4
1979   Chris Delaney
  James Delaney
  Thomas Fürst
  Wolfgang Popp
7–6, 6–2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TENNIS IN INDIA: INDIA INTERNATIONAL: British Players Beaten, Local Pairs Success". Perth Daily News. Newspaper Archives. 29 December 1930. p. 2.
  2. ^ "History". aitatennis. New Delhi, India: All India Tennis Association. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. ^ Béla Kehrling, ed. (January 28, 1931). "Külföldi hírek" [International news] (PDF). Tennisz és Golf (in Hungarian). Vol. III, no. 2. Budapest, Hungary. p. 41.
  4. ^ "India International Championships 1923". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. ^ "India International Championships 1924". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  6. ^ "India International Championships 1925". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ "India International Championships 1926". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ "India International Championships 1927". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  9. ^ "India International Championships 1928". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  10. ^ "India International Championships 1929". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Austin Beats Andrews". The Star (Christchurch). 30 December 1930. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Japan Shines in Indian Tennis". The Herald (Melbourne). 31 December 1931. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  13. ^ "World Sport Topics". Referee (Sydney). 15 March 1933. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Lawn Tennis". The West Australian (Perth). 18 January 1934. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  15. ^ "India International Championships 1934". Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  16. ^ Archives, Tennis. "All India Championships 1935". Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via www.tennisarchives.com.
  17. ^ "LAWN TENNIS ABROAD". Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 1936. p. 17. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  18. ^ Archives, Tennis. "All India Championships 1937". Lawn tennis and badminton 1937. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via www.tennisarchives.com.
  19. ^ Archives, Tennis. "All India Championships 1938". American Lawn Tennis 1938. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via www.tennisarchives.com.
  20. ^ Archives, Tennis. "All India Championships 1939". American Lawn Tennis 1939. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via www.tennisarchives.com.
  21. ^ "TENNIS". Cairns Post. Qld. 19 February 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Ghaus Mohamed Beats Iftikhar Ahmed". The Indian Express. 12 January 1941. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Mrs. Massey Beats Leeia Row". The Indian Express. 9 March 1942. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Ghaus to Meet Iftikhar In Indore Tennis Final". The Indian Express. 17 January 1943. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Hal Surface Beats Ghaus Mohammad". The Indian Express. 8 February 1944. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  26. ^ "25 Years Ago". World Tennis. May 1970. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Gaus Mohamed Regains Title". The Indian Express. 2 January 1946. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  28. ^ "Indian tennis champion". The Age. 3 January 1947. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Bergelin beats Sumant Misra in singles final". The Indian Express. 2 January 1948. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Dilip Bose becomes national tennis champion of India". The Indian Express. 3 January 1949. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Ampon annexes singles and doubles". The Indian Express. 10 January 1950. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Beat Drobny". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 January 1951. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Davidsson retains singles title". The Indian Express. 30 December 1951. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  34. ^ a b c Robertson, Max (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis. New York: Viking Press. p. 264.
  35. ^ "Krishnan Wins National Title in Straight Sets". The Indian Express. 5 January 1954. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Aussie Tops Indian". The Spokesman Review. 3 January 1955. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Indian Tennis Titles". The Glasgow Herald. 19 December 1955. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  38. ^ "Krishan Beats Kumar In Straight Sets". The Indian Express. 2 January 1957. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  39. ^ "From Here And There". The Calgary Herald. 2 January 1958. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  40. ^ "Wins Indian Title". Reading Eagle. 2 January 1959. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  41. ^ "Ulf Schmidt Beaten". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 11 January 1960. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  42. ^ "Krishnan Keeps National Title". The Indian Express. 3 January 1961. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  43. ^ "Tennis". Youngstown Vindicator. 19 February 1962. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  44. ^ "Krishnan Scores Another Facile Title Victory Over Mukherjea". The Indian Express. 25 February 1963. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  45. ^ "Krishnan crushes Mills in 65 minutes". The Indian Express. 23 February 1964. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  46. ^ "Around the world". World Tennis. April 1965. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  47. ^ "Results". World Tennis. March 1966. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  48. ^ "Injuries halt final". The Leader Post. 9 January 1967. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  49. ^ "Results". World Tennis. March 1967. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  50. ^ "Results". World Tennis. March 1969. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  51. ^ "Results". World Tennis. March 1970. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  52. ^ "New Delhi Results 1973". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  53. ^ "Bombay Results 1974". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  54. ^ "Calcutta Results 1975". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  55. ^ "Bangalore Results 1976". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  56. ^ "Bombay Results 1977". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  57. ^ "Calcutta Results 1978". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  58. ^ "Bombay Results 1979". ATP World Tour. ATP. Retrieved 17 October 2017.

Sources

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