Southern Pro Championships

The Southern Pro Championships [1] also known as the Southern Professional Championships was a men's international professional tennis tournament founded in 1928.[2] It was first played at the Palm Beach Tennis Club, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States.[2] It ran semi-annually until 1967 when it was discontinued.[2]

Southern Pro Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourPro Tennis Tour
(1928-35, 1940-1967)
Founded1928 (1928)
Abolished1967 (1967)
LocationBirmingham
Coral Gables
Jacksonville
Memphis
Sewanee
Tuscaloosa
West Palm Beach
SurfaceClay / outdoor

History

In March 1927 a Palm Beach Professional Tournament was first held at the Palm Beach Tennis Club, that event was won by Paul Heston, this was the first pro event held in the United States.[3] In 1928 that tournament was replaced by first Southern Professional Championships tournament.[4] In 1936 a Palm Beach Professional Championship men's tennis tournament was re-established,[5] and was played on outdoor clay courts at Breakers Tennis Club, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States,[2] this tournament replaced the Southern Pro Championships,[6] which had been held in West Palm Beach from 1928 to 1935. In 1940 the Southern Pro tournament was revived.[7] The event ran semi-annually in different locations until 1967 when it was discontinued.[2]

Finals

Singles

(Incomplete roll)

Year Location Champions Runners-up Score
1928West Palm Beach Vincent Richards Paul Heston6–2, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1.[2]
1929[8]West Palm Beach Brian Norton Vincent Richards8–6, 7–5, 6–1.[2]
1930[9]West Palm Beach Vincent Richards Paul Heston6–0, 7–5, 6–3.[2]
1931West Palm Beach Paul Heston James Kenney6–1, 6–2, 6–3.[2]
1932[10]West Palm Beach Paul Heston James Kenney6–1, 6–1, 6–3.[2]
1933West Palm Beach Robert K Murray Paul Heston8–6, 5–7, 6–3, 7–5.[2]
1934[11]West Palm Beach Karel Koželuh Hans Nüsslein6–2, 6–8, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4.[2]
1935West Palm Beach Karel Koželuh Herman Peterson6–0, 6–1, 6–1.[2]
1942Coral Gables Wayne Sabin Dick Skeen6–3, 4–6, 6–1 6–4.[2]
1946Memphis Don Budge Bobby Riggs6–2, 1–6, 4–6, 6–3 6–4.[2]
1958Tuscaloosa Armando Vieira Jack Rodgers3–6, 6–4, 6–1.[2]
1959Tuscaloosa Sam Giammalva Bobby Riggs6–4, 6–2.[2]
1961Jacksonville Jack Arkinstall Don Budge6–3, 6–0.[2]
1963Birmingham Jason Morton Jerry Evert6–4, 7–5.[2]
1966Sewanee Dell Sylvia Earl Baumgardner3–6, 6–3, 7–5.[2]
1967[1]Sewanee Earl Baumgardner[12] Dell Sylvia1–6, 6–4, 6–3.[2]

References
  1. McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: Short Run Book Company. p. 245. ASIN B001EOVE56.
  2. "Tournaments: Southern Pro Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  3. "PRO BATTLE". Middletown Daily Herald and Times Press. Middletown, NY: Newspaper Archive. 22 March 1927. p. 5. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  4. "Richards in Finals of Pro Net Tourney". Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Newspaper Archive. 14 March 1930. p. 15. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  5. "PLAY STARTS IN THIRD PALM BEACH PRO MEET". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida: newspapers.com. 3 Mar 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. The Palm Beach Post
  7. Cresbaugh Jr., John W. (31 May 1940). "Looking Them Over". The Montclair Times. Montclair, New Jersey: newspapers.com. p. 16. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  8. "Richards Beaten By Norton in Tilt On Florida Court". Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. Cincinnati, Ohio: Newspaper Archive. 17 March 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  9. "Sport: Who Won Mar. 24, 1930". Time. Time Magazine. 24 March 1930. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  10. "Paul Heston Wins Tennis Championship". Aiken Journal and Review. Aiken, South Carolina: Newspaper Archive. 23 March 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  11. "Slovakian is Now Holder Southern Tennis Laurels". Burlington Daily Times. Burlington, North Carolina: Newspaper Archive. 19 March 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  12. "Earl Baumgardner: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
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