Sugar Circuit
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF Circuit
Founded1962
Abolished1980
LocationBloemfontein
Cape Town
Durban
East London
Pietermaritzburg
Port Elizabeth
SurfaceVarious

The Sugar Circuit[1] also known as the Sugar Winter Circuit or Sugar Tennis Circuit was a series tour of five South African tennis tournaments sponsored by the South African Sugar Association founded in 1962 and was sub-circuit of the worldwide ILTF Circuit that ran until 1980.[2] In 1980 the South African Sugar Association ceased its sponsorship of the circuit and it was discontinued.[3]

History

In 1962 the Sugar Circuit[4] was established that consisted of five provincial championships at Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Pietermaritzburg and Port Elizabeth.[5] The circuit was sponsored by the South African Sugar Association for its entire duration, individual association members such as Hulett's sponsored individual tournaments.[6] Participation by overseas international players was by of an invitation to compete on the circuit.[7] The scheduling of the circuit usually taking place in the winter, with events being played from December to January. In 1973 local black tennis players were allowed to compete for the first time.[8] In 1980 circuit was discontinued due to the South African Sugar Association not renewing its sponsorship.[9]

Circuit tournaments

#TournamentSurfaceLocation
1.Border ChampionshipsHardEast London
2.Eastern Province ChampionshipsHardPort Elizabeth
3.Natal Sugar Open ChampionshipsHardDurban
4.Orange Free State ChampionshipsClayBloemfontein
5.Western Province ChampionshipsGrass/HardCape Town

References

  1. ↑ Robertson, Max (1974). "South Africa". The encyclopedia of tennis. London: Allen & Unwin. p. 319–. ISBN 0047960426.
  2. ↑ Dewey, Glen (1980). THE LAST SUGAR TENNIS CIRCUIT END OF AN ERA By Glen Dewey (South African Sugar Association). The South African Sugar Journal. Vol 64. Mount Edgecombe, South Africa. p.10.
  3. ↑ "South African Sugar Industry". SASA. The South African Sugar Association. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Flink, Steve (15 July 2020). "Original Nine Spotlight: Kristy Pigeon". www.usopen.org. New York: USTA. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  5. ↑ Robertson (1974)
  6. ↑ Dewey, Glen (1980)
  7. ↑ Robertson (1974)
  8. ↑ "Sports News Briefs: South Africa Eases Tennis Curbs". The New York Times. New York City, NY, United States: New York Times Company. 8 December 1973. p. 44. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  9. ↑ South African Sugar Journal (1980)
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