Tennisarchives.com

General Date1889-01-08 - 1889-01-15
Tournament typeAmateur
SurfaceHardcourt
Rounds4
CityMadras
CountryIndia

Source Pastime

Info Draw: 11

Report From "Pastime", February 13, 1889: "This tournament was eminently successful, and out and away the best ever held in India. Entries were numerous, and quality was well represented. Among the competitors were two well-known English cracks, Harry Grove and Claude Farrer, three players of more than average merit, Charles de Fonblanque, F. Hadden and Dobree, from Ceylon; and all the best Madras players.

"The ladies, although few in number, showed some good play, Miss Nicholas doing well in the singles, and Miss Martin making a capital partner in the mixed. The latter is a cousin of the Irish lady player of that name [Louisa Martin], and it was thought that had she entered for the singles she would have won.

"The courts are of dried mud, very hard and smooth, but very different from play to either the grass or ordinary hard courts in England. The hours of play are from 6.30 to 8.30 in the morning, and from 4 until 6 in the afternoon – no one plays between those hours.

"The balls – although Ayre's – were very indifferent, the climate affecting them so greatly that, to use the words of a player, they became 'soft and flabby, and stuck to the racket like a ball of wool.' Even the new ones, dated 1889, were as bad, and it is evident that if the balls to be used in India are to be of the same consistency as in England, they must be made specially for the hot climate."

Media


Winner Player Henry (Harry) Grove


Players

Rounds
Round 1
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final

Tournament