Victorian Championships

The Victorian Championships tournament began in 1879 it was originally held on hard asphalt courts from 1879 to 1891 before changing to a grass court tournament. The dates the tournament was held was normally in November.^[2] until its move to Kooyong when it was staged during the last week of November and first week of December in 1968 the event schedule changed again to January it survived for a period of 86 years until 1971. The tournament was briefly re-established in 1982 as the Melbourne Outdoor until 1985.

The first championship was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in January 1880. There were 16 entries. A. F. Robinson beat H. M. Strachan in the final by 2 sets to 1, winning the final set 6–5.^[3][4] In November 1880 another championship was held, the "Intercolonial Lawn Tennis Championship". It was held during the horticultural flower show, taking place on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.^[5] The event took an unusual form, in that after two rounds, three players remained. Frank Highett was to play R. P. Arnold, the winner playing Edward Wallington in the final.^[6] On the final day Wallington was ill and so the match between Highett and Arnold determined the winner. Highett won by 3 sets to 1, Arnold winning the second set.^[7] The 1881 championship was played on grass at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Highett reached the final again but lost to Louis Whyte.^[8] The 1882 championship was played on the asphalt courts. Whyte reached the final again and met Arthur Keyser, a member of HMS Nelson. Whyte won the first set, but Keyser took the next three to win the championship.^[9] Whyte reached his third successive final in 1883 where he beat Walter Carre Riddell in three straight sets.^[10] The scoring system was changed in 1884. There were no sets, the winner being the first to reach 25 games. There were two new finalists, with Harry Brind beating Dudley Webb by 25 games to 15.^[11] 1885 saw a repeat of the 1883 final between Riddell and Whyte. Riddell took a 12 games to 1 lead and eventually won by 25 games to 13.^[12] 1885 saw a return to set scoring. Riddell retained the title, beating Webb in the final by three sets to one.^[13] The championship was preceded by an intercolonial match between Victoria and New South Wales. This was the first such match to be played in Victoria, the previous two having been played in Sydney. The match resulted in an easy win for Victoria, the opponents being unused to the asphalt surface.^[14]

Notes: Challenge round: The final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) in some tournaments not all. * Indicates challenger

Men's singles

More information Year, Champions ...

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1879 [15]	A. F. Robinson	H. M. Strachan	(2-1) sets
1880 [16]	Frank Highett	Edward Wallington	w.o.
1881	Louis Whyte	Frank Highett	6–4, 4–6, 6–1, 6–1
1882	Arthur Keyser	Louis Whyte	4–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–5
1883 [17]	Louis Whyte	Walter John Carre Riddell	6–5, 6–4, 6–3
1884	Harry Hanslow Brind	Dudley Webb	(25 games to 17)
1885 [18]	Walter John Carre Riddell [19]	Louis Whyte	(25 games to 13)
1886	Walter John Carre Riddell [20] (2)	Dudley Webb	3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–4
1887 [21]	Arthur Gideon Hugh Colquhoun	Walter Timon Coldham [22]	6–1, 7–5, 6–8, 0–6, 6–4
1888 [23]	Arthur Gideon Hugh Colquhoun (2)	John Thorneycroft Hartley	6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1889 [24]	Richard Ernest Shuter	Charles William Cropper [25]	6–1, 3–6, 6–1, 6–0
1890 [26]	John D. Crammond	Benjamin (Ben) Green [27]	6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 2–6, 6–4
1891	Gus Kearney	Richard Ernest Shuter	6–2, 5–7, 1–6, 6–4, 6–2
1892	Benjamin Green	William George Balfour	9–11, 6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1893	Benjamin Green (2)	Archibald Hulbert Windeyer	8–6, 6–4, 6–2
1894	Benjamin Green (3)	Gus Kearney	6–1, 1–6, 6–2, 6–1
1895	Alfred Dunlop	Horace Rice	3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1
1896	Gus Kearney (2)	Alfred Dunlop	3–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3, 15-13
1897	Gus Kearney (3)	Alfred Dunlop	6–2, 2–6, 6–1, 6–3
1898	Alfred Dunlop (2)	Irving Thomas Carlyle	6–2, 1–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1899	Gus Kearney (4)	Horace Rice	1–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
1900	Irving Thomas Carlyle	Norman Brookes	6–3, 6–1, 6–2
1901	Horace Rice	David Sutherland Edwards	7–5, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1902	Norman Brookes	Alfred Dunlop	1–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1903	Norman Brookes (2)	Alfred Dunlop	6–0, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1904	Norman Brookes (3)	Barney Murphy	6–0, 6–2, 6–0
1905	Not held (due to Australasian Championships)
1906	Norman Brookes (4)	Anthony Wilding	6–0, 6–4, 9–7
1907	Harry Parker	Alfred Dunlop	8–6, 7–5, 7–5
1908	Anthony Wilding	Fred Alexander	4–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–2
1909 [28]	Anthony Wilding (2)	Norman Brookes	2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3, 9–7
1910	Stanley Doust	Alfred Dunlop	6–1, 6–8, 2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1911	Australasian championships held
1912	James Cecil Parke	Gordon Lowe	6–3, 6–0, 6–2
1913	Rodney Heath	Norman Brookes	w.o.
1914/1918	Not held (due to World War I)
1919 [29]	Gerald Patterson	Norman Brookes	6–4, 3–6, 6–0, 6–3
1920 [29]	Gerald Patterson (2)	Pat O'Hara Wood	12–10, 6–3. 6–2
1921 [29]	Gerald Patterson (3)	Pat O'Hara Wood	5–7, 6–0, 6–4, 8–6
1922 [29]	Gerald Patterson (4)	John Hawkes	6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 7–5
1923 [29]	Gerald Patterson (5)	Pat O'Hara Wood	w.o.
1924 [29]	Gerald Patterson (6)	Jack Cummings	6–3, 10–8, 9–7
1925	Richard Schlesinger	Timothy Fitchett	6–3, 9–7, 6–1
1926 [29]	Gerald Patterson (7)	Jack Crawford	4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1927 [29]	Gerald Patterson (8)	Jack Crawford	7–5, 6–1, 5–7, 1–6, 7–5
1928	Jack Crawford	Harry Hopman	5–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–4
1929	Jack Crawford (2)	Harry Hopman	6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1930	Jack Crawford (3)	Harry Hopman	6–1, 8–10, 6–0, 6–2
1931	Jack Crawford (4)	Harry Hopman	7–5, 0–6, 6–3, 6–4
1932	Jack Crawford(5)	Ellsworth Vines	1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1933	Fred Perry	Jack Crawford	6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3
1934	Jack Crawford (6)	Adrian Quist	6–2, 8–6, 6–3
1935	Adrian Quist	Jack Crawford	6–2, 8–6, 4–6, 6–2
1936	Adrian Quist (2)	Donald Turnbull	6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1937 [30]	Don Budge	John Bromwich	8–6, 6–3, 9–7
1938	Adrian Quist (3)	John Bromwich	6–2, 6–3, 6–3
1939	John Bromwich	Adrian Quist	6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
1940	John Bromwich (2)	Adrian Quist	6–0, 6–2, 6–4
1941	Jack Crawford (7)	John Bromwich	6–3, 0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1942/1944	Not held (due to World War II)
1945	John Bromwich (3)	Dinny Pails	6–3, 6–4, 6–2
1946	John Bromwich (4)	Ted Schroeder	8–6, 6–4, 6–4
1947	Bill Sidwell	Adrian Quist	6–4, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2
1948 [31]	Bill Sidwell	Geoff Brown	6–4, 7–5, 8–6
1949	Jaroslav Drobný	Bill Sidwell	6–4, 6–3, 11–9
1950	Frank Sedgman	Art Larsen	5–7, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
1951	Frank Sedgman (2)	Dick Savitt	8–6, 6–0, 6–4
1952	Vic Seixas[32]	Frank Sedgman[33]	8–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1953 [34]	Lew Hoad	Ken Rosewall	9–7, 8–6, 3–6, 6–3
1954 [35]	Ken Rosewall	Vic Seixas	6–1, 4–6, 6–1, 7–5
1955	Lew Hoad (2)	Ashley Cooper	1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1956	Ken Rosewall (2)	Lew Hoad	4–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1957	Mal Anderson	Ashley Cooper	6–4, 10–8, 1–6, 7–5
1958	Mal Anderson (2)	Ashley Cooper	7–5, 6–4, 6–3
1959	Neale Fraser	Roy Emerson	6–0, 25–23, 5–7, 6–4
1960	Barry MacKay	Butch Buchholz	8–6, 5–7, 8–6, 6–3
1961	Rod Laver	Roy Emerson	4–6, 8–6, 9–7, 6–3
1962	Rod Laver (2)	Neale Fraser	3–6, 9–7, 6–1, 6–8, 6–0
1963	Dennis Ralston	Fred Stolle	8–6, 6–4, 6–3
1964	Roy Emerson	Fred Stolle	6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1965	Clark Graebner	Roy Emerson	8–6, 7–5, 2–6, 1–6, 6–1
1966	Roy Emerson (2)	Fred Stolle	6–2, 9–7, 6–3
1967	Tony Roche	Bill Bowrey	7–5, 6–3, 6–4
↓ Open Era ↓
1969	Stan Smith	Arthur Ashe	14–12, 6–8, 6–3, 8–6
1970	John Newcombe	Tony Roche	6–4, 6–4, 4–6, ret.
1971 [36]	Alex Metreveli	Phil Dent	6–4, 6–2

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Women's singles

More information Year, Champions ...

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1884	E. MacKenzie	A. Bayles	10–4
1886	C. Greene	Ellen Mayne	6–1, 6–1
1887	Mabel Shaw	Eliza Fitzgerald	6–2, 6–3
1888	Mabel Shaw (2)	Anne Chenery	1–6, 6–2, 6–4
1889	Nellie A. Beckett	Constance Raleigh	6–3, 6–4
1890	Mabel Shaw (3)	E. Mackenzie	4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1891	Ellen Mayne	Mabel Shaw	6–5, 6–4
1892	Edith Raleigh	Ellen Mayne	1–6, 6–3, 6–2
1893	C. Peach	Edith Raleigh	6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1894	Constance Raleigh	Maisie Parr	6–5, 6–1
1895	Phoebe Howitt	Mabel Shaw	6–2, 6–5
1896	Phoebe Howitt (2)	Constance Raleigh	6–2, 6–2
1897	Phoebe Howitt (3)	Florence Waters	6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1898	Phoebe Howitt (4)	Florence Waters	6–0, 6–4
1899	Phoebe Howitt (5)	Florence Waters	6–2, 7–5
1900	Phoebe Howitt-Cater (6)	Mrs Barrington	6–3, 6–4
1901	Lorna Gyton	Lillian Payne	7–5, 6–3
1902	Lorna Gyton (2)	Gertrude Wilmoth	6–0, 8–6
1903	Lorna Gyton (3)	Lily Addison	6–1, 6–1
1904	E. Collis	C. Robertson	6–3, 6–2
1905	Lorna Gyton (4)	Gertrude Wilmoth	6–4, 6–1
1906	Lily Addison	Lorna Gyton	8–6, 6–2
1907	Lorna Gyton (5)	Lily Addison	2–6, 6–4, 8–6
1908 [37]	Lily Addison (2)	Lorna Gyton	11–9, 6–4
1909	Lily Addison (3)	Lorna Gyton	6–4, 6–2
1910[38]	Lily Addison (4)	Pearl Stewart	4–6, 7–5, 6–0
1911	Lily Addison (5)	A. Wilmoth	6–3, 6–2
1912	Phillis Stewart	Lorna Gyton	6–1, 6–1
1913	Meryl Waxman	Lorna Gyton	4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1914	Phillis Stewart (2)	Dorothy Schlesinger	6–0, 6–4
1915/1918	Not held (due to World War I)
1919	Annie Ford	Irene Forbes-Smith	7–5, 7–5
1920	Margaret Molesworth	Esna Boyd	7–5, 8–6
1921 [39]	Lily Addison	Esna Boyd	8–6, 3–6, 6–3
1922	Esna Boyd	Meryl Lister	6–2, 6–3
1923	Esna Boyd (2)	Kath Le Mesurier	6–2, 6–3
1924	Daphne Akhurst	Miss Harper	6–1, 0–6, 7–5
1925	Esna Boyd (3)	Sylvia Harper	3–6, 6–3 retired
1926	Esna Boyd (4)	Marjorie Cox	6–3, 6–2
1927	Esna Boyd (5)	Daphne Akhurst	6–1, 6–1
1928	Marjorie Cox	Sylvia Harper	6–8, 6–1, 7–5
1929	Marjorie Cox (2)	Kath Le Mesurier	6–2, 6–4
1930	Marjorie Crawford (3)	Frances Hoddle-Wrigley	6–1, 6–1
1931	Esna Robertson (6)	Kath Le Mesurier	6–2, 6–4
1932	Joan Hartigan	Coral Buttsworth	6–4, 6–8, 6–4
1933	Joan Hartigan (2)	Nancy Chitty	4–6, 7–5, 6–4
1934	Dorothy Round	Joan Hartigan	9–7, 6–0
1935	Thelma Coyne	Joan Hartigan	6–1, 3–6, 6–4
1936	Joan Hartigan (3)	Emily Westacott	8–6, 6–2
1937	Dodo Bundy	Nancye Wynne	6–4, 1–6, 6–4
1938	Nell Hopman	Joan Hartigan	6–8, 6–1, 6–2
1939	Nancye Wynne	Thelma Coyne	6–2, 6–2
1940	Nancye Wynne (2)	Thelma Coyne	7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1941	Nell Hopman (2)	Alison Burton	6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1942/1945	Not held (due to World War II)
1946	Nancye Bolton (3)	Thelma Long	6–1, 9–7
1947	Nancye Bolton (4)	Thelma Long	6–1, 6–4
1948 [40]	Doris Hart	Nancye Bolton	6–1, 9–7
1949 [41]	Nancye Bolton (3)	Thelma Long	6–8 6–2 8–6
1950	Joyce Fitch	Nancye Bolton	6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1951	Thelma Long (2)	Mary Hawton	6–2, 6–1
1952 [42]	Maureen Connolly	Julia Sampson[43]	?
1953	Thelma Long (3)	Jennifer Staley	6–4, 6–1
1954	Thelma Long (4)	Jennifer Staley	4–6, 7–5, 6–2
1955	Mary Hawton	Mary Carter	6–2, 6–2
1956	Shirley Fry	Althea Gibson	4–6, 9–7, 8–6
1957	Lorraine Coghlan	Angela Mortimer	7–5 7–5
1958	Sandra Reynolds	Lorraine Coghlan	6–4, 8–6
1959 [44]	Maria Bueno	Christine Truman	6–0, 5–7, 6–4
1960	Lesley Turner	Mary Reitano	4–6, 9–7, 6–3
1961 [45]	Margaret Smith	Darlene Hard	6–3, 6–2
1962 [46]	Margaret Smith (2)	Lesley Turner	6–4, 8–6
1963 [47]	Margaret Smith (3)	Lesley Turner	6–4, 6–4
1964 [48]	Margaret Smith (4)	Jill Blackman	6–1, 6–3
1965 [49]	Margaret Smith (5)	Nancy Richey	5–7, 6–3, 6–2
1966	Rosie Casals	Kerry Melville	1–6, 6–1, 7–5
1967	Billie Jean King	Lesley Turner	6–3, 3–6, 7–5
↓ Open Era ↓
1969 [50]	Margaret Court (6)	Kerry Harris	6–1, 6–4
1970 [51]	Margaret Court (7)	Kerry Melville	6–1, 6–1
1971 [52]	Evonne Goolagong	Margaret Court	7–6(5-3), 7–6(5-2)

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