The Kent Championships were a tennis tournament held annually in Beckenham , Kent , from June 1886 to 1996 . For a long time, it was considered a preparatory tournament for Wimbledon , as it was played on grass the week before. Only in 1974 and 1980 a double competition was played.
From 1887 to 1910 all players who came could play. The winner of all then competed against the winner of the previous year in the final. The tournament took place outdoors on grass on the grounds of Beckenham Cricket Club . The multisport club was founded on Foxgrove Road, Beckenham in 1866 and the tennis division was added in 1879. From 1911 onwards, the tournament was changed to an event for the under-21s, who from 1921 also played the national championships there.
In 1963 the Kent Championships became the first British tournament with a sponsor, Rothmans . In 1968 the tournament was granted Open status, after which it became the third tournament to be played with this status. In 1974 the tournament was part of the Grand Prix , in 1980 it was held once as part of the ATP Challenger Tour . After no sponsor could be found in 1996, the tournament was discontinued.
A total of 33 players could win both the Kent Championships and Wimbledon in the history of the tournament.
Kent Championships
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John Austin Van Winitsky
Chris Johnstone Greg Whitecross