by Victoria.
This week sees the Aegon International Tennis Tournament returning to Devonshire Park in Eastbourne for another year, so I thought I would take a brief look back through Eastbourne's connection with tennis and the championship's history.
The Devonshire Park lawn tennis courts were first created as part of the 7th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish's, expansion of Eastbourne seafront which introduced theatres and various sporting and entertainment facilities in the 1870s. The courts in Eastbourne have been hosting tennis since this time, with records showing the first major championship was held in 1881; a women only tournament.
In the 1880s, tournaments continued to be held at the Devonshire Park facilities, and became known as the South of England Championships. These were originally held in September, to end the grass court year. In the 1960s the championship was moved to July, as it clashed with another championship, and it became a post-Wimbledon tournament. Finally, in 1969 it was decided to move it to become a Wimbledon warm-up instead - the position it has remained in since.
In 1974 the tournament became known as the Eastbourne International and cemented it's place on the Women's Tennis Association Tour. From 1974 to 2009 it stayed as a competition purely for women. It was then decided to introduce a men's championship in Eastbourne as well, but this only lasted a few years before the decision to take it back to women only in 2015 and 2016. This year, we see the return of men to the championship once again.
The Eastbourne championship has attracted some of the world's best over the years and has seen female winners including Caroline Wozniacki, Lindsay Davenport and Marion Bartoli, as well as Virginia Wade and Martina Navratilova, who holds the Eastbourne record having won 11 titles here during her career. Male winners of recent years have included Andy Roddick, Andreas Seppi and Feliciano Lopez, who's won the tournament twice.
Prior to the modern championships, many famous people from tennis history also played here, and the story goes that the great Fred Perry, aged 14, first decided he wanted to play tennis when he visited Eastbourne on holiday and stumbled across the tournament. He saw the courts and the expensive cars the players were driving and told his Father that this was what he wanted to do. For Perry, the rest, as they say, is history.
Navratilova, one of the most successful tennis player in history, had a similar love for Eastbourne, and said on the building of new seating area to develop the courts that;
'It's always nice to play in a place that is permanent and it is definitely a change for the better. I loved the Eastbourne tournament anyway and would always look forward to coming back the next year.'
Eastbourne's relationship with tennis is long standing, and the championships as they have evolved here have cemented their place in the tennis world. The town has now become known for it's tennis and the tournament is one of the most important on the women's tour. With the return of the men this year even more anticipation has surrounded the championship, so as you're watching and enjoying it this week, don't forget the rich history of Eastbourne tennis and all those who have played on it's courts before.
This week sees the Aegon International Tennis Tournament returning to Devonshire Park in Eastbourne for another year, so I thought I would take a brief look back through Eastbourne's connection with tennis and the championship's history.
The Devonshire Park lawn tennis courts were first created as part of the 7th Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish's, expansion of Eastbourne seafront which introduced theatres and various sporting and entertainment facilities in the 1870s. The courts in Eastbourne have been hosting tennis since this time, with records showing the first major championship was held in 1881; a women only tournament.
 |
| An aerial view of Devonshire Park, showing the tennis courts and surrounding area c. 1930 |
In the 1880s, tournaments continued to be held at the Devonshire Park facilities, and became known as the South of England Championships. These were originally held in September, to end the grass court year. In the 1960s the championship was moved to July, as it clashed with another championship, and it became a post-Wimbledon tournament. Finally, in 1969 it was decided to move it to become a Wimbledon warm-up instead - the position it has remained in since.
 | |
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| And to keep young spectators entertained - a children's corner by the courts, 1955 |
In 1974 the tournament became known as the Eastbourne International and cemented it's place on the Women's Tennis Association Tour. From 1974 to 2009 it stayed as a competition purely for women. It was then decided to introduce a men's championship in Eastbourne as well, but this only lasted a few years before the decision to take it back to women only in 2015 and 2016. This year, we see the return of men to the championship once again.
The Eastbourne championship has attracted some of the world's best over the years and has seen female winners including Caroline Wozniacki, Lindsay Davenport and Marion Bartoli, as well as Virginia Wade and Martina Navratilova, who holds the Eastbourne record having won 11 titles here during her career. Male winners of recent years have included Andy Roddick, Andreas Seppi and Feliciano Lopez, who's won the tournament twice.
Prior to the modern championships, many famous people from tennis history also played here, and the story goes that the great Fred Perry, aged 14, first decided he wanted to play tennis when he visited Eastbourne on holiday and stumbled across the tournament. He saw the courts and the expensive cars the players were driving and told his Father that this was what he wanted to do. For Perry, the rest, as they say, is history.
 | |
|
Navratilova, one of the most successful tennis player in history, had a similar love for Eastbourne, and said on the building of new seating area to develop the courts that;
'It's always nice to play in a place that is permanent and it is definitely a change for the better. I loved the Eastbourne tournament anyway and would always look forward to coming back the next year.'
Eastbourne's relationship with tennis is long standing, and the championships as they have evolved here have cemented their place in the tennis world. The town has now become known for it's tennis and the tournament is one of the most important on the women's tour. With the return of the men this year even more anticipation has surrounded the championship, so as you're watching and enjoying it this week, don't forget the rich history of Eastbourne tennis and all those who have played on it's courts before.
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