While the Australian Championships held at Kooyong was the premier event in Australia, the tournament through the 1970’s and 1980’s was losing its way within the global community. Reasons for this was the timing of the event being late December early January which led to many top players deciding to skip from attending.

Apart from the threat of losing grand slam status, unless the tournament changed which it did with the merging of woman’s and men’s events into the one two week event and the move to Rod Laver arena (Flinders Park), this situation presented an opportunity to create a tournament which did attract the best players to Australia.

Enter, astute tennis player, promoter John Newcombe.

John was totally in tune with the tennis public and was the brainchild behind the creation of a new Indoor Tournament which began in 1973, the Custom Credit Indoor Tennis Championships.

Typically, John took the financial risk before the sponsors were signed by underwriting the event and John himself would use his connections to encourage sponsorship and negotiate the television rights. Custom Credit’s support and that of the LTAA enabled the prize money to be maintained at levels attractive to players.  John had been appearing in Custom Credit commercials and had suggested the idea to extend their involvement with tennis by sponsoring the indoor event and a junior development program which they did. Further initial support came from the Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser who with speech writer Alan Jones, broadcaster and handy tennis player himself,  organised for an additional $60,000.

Not short on a few mates,  John played in the first tournament with Rosewall, Roche and Laver as major drawcards.

Undoubtedly, the presence of Laver at this inaugural contest was a delight for the Australian public.  At 35, Rod had not been back to Australia for three years and so his presence became a point of great interest.

From a field of 32 players split into two sections, the groups consisted of many of the top Davis Cup players from a variety of Nations. The tournament comprised Mens Singles and Doubles.

As far as a first tournament went,  even with prize money of US$50,000 up for grabs, public awareness and interest was sporadic.  At one match between Kim Warwick and Jas Singh there were fewer than 100 spectators, yet the grand final was one of the most spectacular games featuring Rod Laver and his (boss/promoter) John Newcombe.

To get to the finals Rod had to beat Ken Rosewall which he did in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 and John beat Phil Dent 6-3, 6-4 in what was an all Australian affair. Despite their ages, these champions also won the Davis Cup in 1973 forming one of the oldest teams ever assembled.  The only conceivable explanation apart from keeping fit, was their exceptional experience in pro tennis events and play over the years which was tennis at the highest level.

The grand final was a top notch thriller with Rod beating Newk in five sets 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Together they went onto to win the doubles and this set the path for Rod Laver to play in his last Davis Cup Final with Newk in the USA where they won 5-0.

After a precarious start, the following year audiences of 3000 flocked to the event and television coverage ensured that it was a commercial success.

When Custom Credit pulled out in 1984, John immediately turned to McDonalds for support of the programme at Junior and tournament levels.

Throughout this period the efforts of Newcombe and sponsor support helped impress upon the need for strong junior programmes and events which would attract the top name players.

1973

Australia Rod Laver defeated Australia John Newcombe 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4

Australia Rod Laver / Australia John Newcombe defeated Australia Mal Anderson / Australia Ken Rosewall 7–6, 6–2

 

1974

Australia John Newcombe defeated United States Cliff Richey 6–4, 6–3, 6–4

Australia Ross Case / Australia Geoff Masters defeated Australia John Newcombe / Australia Tony Roche 6–4, 6–4

 

1975

United States Stan Smith defeated United States Robert Lutz 7–6, 6–2

United States Brian Gottfried / Mexico Raúl Ramírez defeated Australia Ross Case / Australia Geoff Masters [8–6]

 

1976

Australia Geoff Masters defeated United States James Delaney 4–6, 6–3, 7–6, 6–3

Egypt Ismail El Shafei / New Zealand Brian Fairlie defeated Australia Syd Ball / Australia Kim Warwick [9–8]

 

1977

United States Jimmy Connors defeated Australia Ken Rosewall 7–5, 6–4, 6–2

Australia John Newcombe / Australia Tony Roche defeated Australia Ross Case / Australia Geoff Masters 6–7, 6–3, 6–1

 

1978

United States Jimmy Connors defeated Australia Geoff Masters 6–0, 6–0, 6–4

Australia John Newcombe / Australia Tony Roche defeated Australia Mark Edmondson / Australia John Marks 6–4, 6–3

 

1979

United States Vitas Gerulaitis defeated Argentina Guillermo Vilas 4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–6

Australia Rod Frawley / Paraguay Francisco González defeated India Vijay Amritraj / United States Pat Du Pré by Default

 

1980

United States John McEnroe defeated United States Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 6–4

United States Peter Fleming / United States John McEnroe defeated United States Tim Gullikson / South Africa Johan Kriek 4–6, 6–1, 6–2

 

1981

United States John McEnroe defeated United States Roscoe Tanner 6–4, 7–5, 6–2

United States Peter Fleming / United States John McEnroe defeated United States Sherwood Stewart / United States Ferdi Taygan 6–7, 7–6, 6–1

 

1982

United States John McEnroe defeated United States Gene Mayer 6–4, 6–1, 6–4

United States John McEnroe / United States Peter Rennert defeated United States Steve Denton / Australia Mark Edmondson 6–3, 7–6

 

1983

United States John McEnroe defeated France Henri Leconte 6–1, 6–4, 7–5

Australia Mark Edmondson / United States Sherwood Stewart defeated United States John McEnroe / United States Peter Rennert 6–2, 6–4

 

1984

Sweden Anders Järryd defeated Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 6–3, 6–2, 6–4

Sweden Anders Järryd / Sweden Hans Simonsson defeated Australia Mark Edmondson / United States Sherwood Stewart 6–4, 6–4

 

1985

Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl defeated France Henri Leconte 6–4, 6–4, 7–6

Australia John Fitzgerald / Sweden Anders Järryd defeated Australia Mark Edmondson / Australia Kim Warwick 6–3, 6–2

 

1986

West Germany Boris Becker defeated Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 3–6, 7–6, 6–2, 6–0

West Germany Boris Becker / Australia John Fitzgerald defeated Australia Peter McNamara / Australia Paul McNamee 6–4, 7–6

 

1987

Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl defeated Australia Pat Cash 6–4, 6–2, 6–4

Australia Darren Cahill / Australia Mark Kratzmann defeated West Germany Boris Becker / United States Robert Seguso 6–3, 6–2

 

1988

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Živojinović defeated United States Richard Matuszewski 7–6, 6–3, 6–4

Australia Darren Cahill / Australia John Fitzgerald defeated United States Martin Davis / Australia Brad Drewett 6–3, 6-2

 

1989

Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl defeated Sweden Lars-Anders Wahlgren 6–2, 6–2, 6–1

United States David Pate / United States Scott Warner defeated Australia Darren Cahill / Australia Mark Kratzmann 6–3, 6–7, 7–5

 

1990

West Germany Boris Becker defeated Sweden Stefan Edberg 7–6, 6–4, 6–4

Australia Broderick Dyke / Sweden Peter Lundgren defeated Sweden Stefan Edberg / Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 6–2, 7–6

 

1991

Sweden Stefan Edberg defeated United States Brad Gilbert 6–2, 6–2, 6–2

United States Jim Grabb / United States Richey Reneberg defeated United States Luke Jensen / Australia Laurie Warder 6–2, 6–3

 

1992

Croatia Goran Ivanišević defeated Sweden Stefan Edberg 6–4, 6–2, 6–4

United States Patrick McEnroe / United States Jonathan Stark defeated United States Jim Grabb / United States Richey Reneberg 7–6, 6–3

 

1993

Peru Jaime Yzaga defeated Czech Republic Petr Korda 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 (7–4), 7–6 (9–7)

United States Patrick McEnroe / United States Richey Reneberg defeated Germany Alexander Mronz / Germany Lars Rehmann 6–3, 7–5

 

1994

Netherlands Richard Krajicek defeated Germany Boris Becker 7–6 (7–5), 7–6 (9–7), 2–6, 6–3

Netherlands Jacco Eltingh / Netherlands Paul Haarhuis defeated Zimbabwe Byron Black / United States Jonathan Stark 6–4, 7–6

 

 

 

 

The arrival of the new game of tennis saw the formation of clubs and from late 1876 onwards inter-club and other competitions soon followed.

In Victoria, the MCC was already managing cricket and numerous other club activities for Melbourne’s wealthier families and with the benefit of cash resources and management expertise became one of Tennis’ key driving forces in that state. In mid July 1879, they laid their first asphalt court within the grounds of the current MCG and by early 1880 had conducted their first 16 man competition which carried with it Victoria’s first Championship winner being Mr A.F. Robinson over H.M.Strachan 2 sets to one. (this was noted as the 1879 championship although held in 1880)

Given the high level of interest in that event, the MCC quickly decided to organise the first Intercolonial competition to be held on lawn courts set up on the cricket ground. Event timing coincided with the Horticultural Show in November 1880, at which many potential intercolonial visitors might be in attendance and the rules simply stated that any doubles combination must be from the same colony or country.  To the singles winner, F.J.Highett, came a trophy with a hefty value of 10 pound 10 shillings and the runner up R.P. Arnold a mounted silver racquet. The doubles was won by A.F. Robinson and C.Trench. The doubles draw included two Englishmen H.Callender and H.Allison making the tournament one of the earliest “internationally” represented tennis events. Also, consider that all the states were in effect different colonies (countries), at least until federation in 1901, so you could also argue that even by being Intercolonial, tennis between Victoria and New South Wales was equivalent to tennis being conducted between France and Germany.

By way of comparison, the first Wimbledon was conducted in England in July 1877 and the first USA National Championships were conducted in 1881, so the pathway of competitive tennis was commencing on a fairly even footing across the key tennis playing Nations. It was not until 1905 that Australia truly adopted a National Championship.

In Victoria, again through efforts of the MCC, pennant tennis began in 1884 and by 1887 the growth in the number of clubs and participation in competition tennis necessitated the creation of numerous grades or levels. Woman’s pennant began in 1894.  Other Victorian Intercolonial tournaments were conducted from 1880 to 1884 with a definition that players from any state could participate.

In 1885, the Lawn Tennis Club of Sydney invited the MCC/Melbourne Clubs to an Intercolonial team events match to be played on the Sydney Cricket Ground. The letter above t is the original sent by C.Cropper(NSW) to W. Riddell (VIC) and makes mention that Riddell raised this with Cropper on an earlier Cricket tour.  Amazingly, Cropper also suggests conducting an Open Championship of Australia alternating between the two cities. This did not eventuate until 1905.  The 1885 event was an outstanding success and Victoria issued a return invitation in October that year, but NSW declined due to the hosts choice of asphalt courts using uncovered balls, whereas New South Wales were playing on grass courts with covered balls, hence the advantage was always with the home team.

Also above is a photo of the actual 1885 programme of events.

Intercolonial tennis involved matches between neighbouring states NSW v  (VIC,QLD)  Vic v (NSW,SA) and became the breeding ground for our first champions and up and coming players like Norman Brookes, Horace Rice, Rodney Heath and Alf Dunlop.

These contests became the premiere events with some thousands attending the matches which were conducted over several days of continuous play.

The first Intercolonial tennis teams Victoria v NSW played at Sydney Cricket Ground  May 1885

Victoria: D Webb, F Highett, L White, W Coldham Colville, W Riddell, R Martin

NSW  Back R Fitzgerald (Standing) H Merewether, C Cropper, W Salmon. J King Front- C Smith

The newspapers of the day provided a couple of wonderful illustrations depicting the events held on the NSW Association (Sydney Oval) Grounds. The wealthy were the prime source of both players and spectators.
Dress codes were immaculate and the tournaments were conducted in May and November, alternating between Melbourne and Sydney.  Queensland was added to the NSW fixture and South Australia to Victoria’s.

Below are some very rare original photos. They were copied from original glass plate positives
taken of the 1890 NSW v VICTORIA Intercolonial challenge played on the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Gentleman (by himself)  is Dudley Webb who won many NSW Championships from 1888, 1892, 1893 & 1894.  He competed firstly for Victoria’s intercolonial teams and them upon moving to NSW played for them from 1887-1898. The glass plates belonged to Dudley Webb’s family.

As you can see, the crowds were highly supportive and please also note the fashions on and off the court.

 

 

 

Dudley Webb NSW Champion and Intercolonial Representative

In addition to the 1885 letter above we also found a collection of other Inter-colonial memorabilia
located in the State Library of Victoria.

 

The Intercolonial Tournament programme and some of the results 1886

 

The Intercolonial Tournament Programme & daily events offical programme 1887

Apart from the Intercolonial tournaments, the state tournaments were also very popular as were some prestigious club events.

This table shows the first recorded years by state and event as indicated in the book “Lawn Tennis in Australasia” By Austral (R.F.Kidston Journalist and Intercolonial player for NSW)

Location	Men’s Singles	Men’s Doubles	Ladies Singles	Ladies Doubles	Mixed Doubles
Victoria	1880*	1880	1884	1884	1884
New South Wales	1885	1885	1885	1886	1885
South Aust.	1890	1890	1892	1893	1894
Queensland	1889	1892	1892	1898	1892
West Australia	1895	1896	1897	1900	1902
Tasmania	1893	1893	1893	1901
New Zealand	1886	1886	1886	1886	1899
Buckley Tournament Autumn Champs.	1888	1888
MAJOR CLUB TOURNAMENTS
South Yarra	1897
Grace Park		1902
Strathfield NSW Metropolitan	1892	1892		1892	1911
Geelong (VIC)	1891

* two events played in the one year.

In 1880, interclub events featuring the MCC teams (Melbourne) took place.  The Geelong Recreation Club held its inaugural bi annual Lawn Tennis Challenge Cup in Geelong around April and this was won by MCC player, W Officer. In October,  MCC player F Highett won from the locals followed by an impressive win in the widely promoted Victorian Championships.  Highett won the Geelong tournament again in 1881 and this trophy, below, is owned by the Highett family who we thank for sharing this remarkably early piece of Australian Tennis History. On a close inspection of the  tournament sheets, above, you will find Francis Highett listed as part of the first 1885 Victorian team to challenge NSW.

 

Retruning to Dudley Webb, apart from winning the NSW Championships numerous times, he won this amazing trophy in 1893 and 1894 at the Strathfield Metropolitan Championships. Edward Dewhurst won this in 1895 before heading to the USA where he won some very prestigious tennis events.

What an amazingly beautiful trophy, created by Elkington & Co. 1892.  We have left the picture as large as we can to help define the ornate work within the 3D design, approx. 300mm in diameter.  It has been acquired by Tennis Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information about the Australian Open will be added soon.

For detailed results of past Australian Open Championships please view the following.

1.  Under Results menu you can view the winners and runners up for all of the major tennis tournaments from the very early days of the late 1880’s onwards by event, player or year.

2 Under “OTHER” there is a terrific links page.

Here is a direct link Australian Opens online record page click here

One of these Grand Slam History is exceptional and every result round by round for all Grand Slam events including the Australian Open is presented.