{{short description|Tennis tournament}} {{redirect|Benson & Hedges Championships|the snooker tournament formerly named as Benson & Hedges Championship|Masters Qualifying Event}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox tennis tournament |name = Wembley Championships |type = defunct |founded = 1934 |ended = 1990 |editions = 40 |location = London, England |venue = Empire Pool |surface = Wood (1934–1967)<br />Carpet (1968–1990) |website = }} The '''Wembley Championships''' was a men's professional tennis tournament held from 1934–1990 with some periods of inactivity in between and is often considered to be one of the three major professional tennis tournaments from 1927–1967 until the advent of the open era. Ken Rosewall's and Rod Laver's six singles titles are the record for this event. The tournament only had a men's draw.
It was first held in 1934 at the Empire Pool at Wembley Park, Wembley, north-west London.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wembley and Paris|url=http://www.tennisserver.com/lines/lines_03_03_01.html|work=Forgotten Victories: The Early Pro Tennis Wars|publisher=The Tennis Server|access-date=10 August 2011|author=Ray Bowers|date=1 March 2003}}</ref> In 1968, it was titled the Jack Kramer Tournament of Champions. In 1970 it was the penultimate event on the Grand Prix Tennis Tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/Archive-Event-Calendar.aspx?t=2&y=1972|title=1970: ATP World Tour|work=Results Archive|publisher=ATP World Tour|access-date=9 March 2012}}</ref>
==Name== It was officially called the '''Wembley Professional Championships''', although it was later named the '''London Indoor Professional Championships'''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Grasso|first1=John|title=Historical Dictionary of Tennis|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810872370|page=25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W39oSS7c2xAC&q=London+Indoor+Professional+Championships&pg=PA25|language=en}}</ref> In 1968 it was titled the '''Jack Kramer Tournament of Champions'''.
==Past finals==
{|class="wikitable" |- !style="width:45px"|Year !style="width:180px"|Champions !style="width:180px"|Runners-up !style="width:180px" class="unsortable"|Score ! style="width:80px;"|Surface |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | '''Professional Era''' |- |1934 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Ellsworth Vines || {{flagicon|Germany|Nazi}} Hans Nüsslein || 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 8–6<sup>r1</sup> <ref name="gsta">{{cite web|title=British Pro Championships, Wembley|url=http://www.tennis.co.nf/britishpro.htm|website=www.tennis.co.nf|access-date=22 September 2017|archive-date=3 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903072407/http://www.tennis.co.nf/britishpro.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> || Wood (i) |- |1935 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Ellsworth Vines || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Tilden || 6–1, 6–3, 5–7, 3–6, 6–3 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1936 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:"| ''Not held'' <sup>a</sup> <ref name="gsta"/> |- |1937 || {{flagicon|Germany|Nazi}} Hans Nüsslein || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Tilden || 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1938 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:"| ''Not held'' <sup>b</sup> <ref name="gsta"/> |- |1939 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Budge || {{flagicon|Germany|Nazi}} Hans Nüsslein || 13–11, 2–6, 6–4<sup>r2</sup> <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- | style="background:|1940–1948 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:" | ''Not held'' |- |1949<ref>{{cite news|title=Indoor Lawn Tennis at Wembley|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hQBFAAAAIBAJ&dq=wembley%20professional%20championships%20tennis&pg=2210%2C7565068|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=19 March 1949}}</ref> || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Kramer || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bobby Riggs || 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1950 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Welby Van Horn || 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1951 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales || {{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||6–2, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1952 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Kramer ||3–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 7–5 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1953 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales ||6–1, 6–2, 6–2 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- | style="background:"|1954–1955 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:" | ''Not held'' |- |1956 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales || {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman ||4–6, 11–9, 11–9, 9–7 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1957 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1958 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Tony Trabert ||6–4, 6–3, 6–4 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1959 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Mal Anderson || {{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1960 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||5–7, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1961 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad || 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1962 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad || 6–4, 5–7, 15–13, 7–5 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1963 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad || 6–4, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1964 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || 7–5, 4–6, 5–7, 8–6, 8–6 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1965 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|Spain|1945}} Andrés Gimeno || 6–2, 6–3, 6–4 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1966 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall ||6–2, 6–2, 6–3 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- |1967 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || 2–6, 6–1, 1–6, 8–6, 6–2 <ref name="gsta"/> || Wood (i) |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | '''Open Era''' |- |1968 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|AUS}} John Newcombe || 6–4, 4–6, 7–5, 6–4|| Carpet (i) |- |1969 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|AUS}} Tony Roche || 6–4, 6–1, 6–3|| Carpet (i) |- |1970 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|USA}} Cliff Richey || 6–3, 6–4, 7–5|| Carpet (i) |- |1971 || {{flagicon|Romania}} Ilie Năstase || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4|| Carpet (i) |- | style="background:"|1972–1975 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:" | ''Not held'' |- |1976 || {{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Connors || {{flagicon|USA}} Roscoe Tanner || 3–6, 7–6, 6–4|| Carpet (i) |- |1977 || {{flagicon|SWE}} Björn Borg || {{flagicon|UK}} John Lloyd || 6–4, 6–4, 6–3|| Carpet (i) |- |1978 || {{flagicon|USA}} John McEnroe || {{flagicon|USA}} Tim Gullikson || 6–7, 6–4, 7–6, 6–2|| Carpet (i) |- |1979 || {{flagicon|USA}} John McEnroe || {{flagicon|USA}} Harold Solomon || 6–3, 6–4, 7–5|| Carpet (i) |- |1980 || {{flagicon|USA}} John McEnroe || {{flagicon|USA}} Gene Mayer || 6–4, 6–3, 6–3|| Carpet (i) |- |1981 || {{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Connors || {{flagicon|USA}} John McEnroe || 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–2|| Carpet (i) |- |1982 || {{flagicon|USA}} John McEnroe || {{flagicon|USA}} Brian Gottfried || 6–3, 6–2, 6–4|| Carpet (i) |- |1983 || {{flagicon|USA}} John McEnroe || {{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Connors || 7–5, 6–1, 6–4|| Carpet (i) |- |1984|| {{flagicon|TCH}} Ivan Lendl || {{flagicon|ECU}} Andrés Gómez || 7–6, 6–2, 6–1|| Carpet (i) |- |1985 || {{flagicon|TCH}} Ivan Lendl || {{flagicon|FRG}} Boris Becker || 6–7, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4|| Carpet (i) |- |1986 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Yannick Noah || {{flagicon|SWE}} Jonas Svensson || 6–2, 6–3, 6–7, 4–6, 7–5|| Carpet (i) |- |1987|| {{flagicon|TCH}} Ivan Lendl || {{flagicon|SWE}} Anders Järryd || 6–3, 6–2, 7–5|| Carpet (i) |- |1988|| {{flagicon|SUI}} Jakob Hlasek || {{flagicon|SWE}} Jonas Svensson || 6–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–0, 7–5|| Carpet (i) |- |1989 || {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Chang || {{flagicon|FRA}} Guy Forget || 6–2, 6–1, 6–1|| Carpet (i) |- |1990 || {{flagicon|SUI}} Jakob Hlasek || {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Chang || 7–6, 6–3|| Carpet (i) |}
'''Notes:'''
<sup>a</sup>1936 tournament was cancelled due to Tilden and Vines playing in Japan. This was reported in London Daily Mail on 24 August 1936. There are sources that say Ellsworth Vines defeated Hans Nüsslein 6–4, 6–4, 6–2, but this must have been a different event.
<sup>b</sup>No reports of a 1938 tournament in British newspapers (the Wembley event was always reported in major British newspapers). Ray Bowers in an article on The Tennis Server website states there was no event held. There are sources that tell us Hans Nüsslein defeated Bill Tilden 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, but this must have been held elsewhere.
<sup>r1</sup> For 1934, the tournament was played under Round Robin format with Vines 5-0 and Nüsslein 4-1 as final standings.
<sup>r1</sup> For 1939, the tournament was played under Round Robin format with Budge 3-0 and Nüsslein, Tilden and Vines as 1-2 as final standings.
=== Doubles === {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="width:45px" |Year ! style="width:180px" |Champions ! style="width:180px" |Runners-up ! style="width:180px" class="unsortable" |Score ! style="width:80px;" |Surface |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | '''Professional Era''' |- |1934 || | | |Wood (i) |- |1935 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Tilden<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Ellsworth Vines || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} George Lott<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Lester Stoefen || 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 || Wood (i) |- |1936 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:"| ''Not held'' |- |1937 || {{flagicon|Germany|Nazi}} Hans Nüsslein<br />{{flagicon|France}} Martin Plaa || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Lester Stoefen<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bill Tilden || || Wood (i) |- |1938 | colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:"|''Not held'' |- |1939 | | | |Wood (i) |- | style="background:" |1938–1948 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:" | ''Not held'' |- |1949 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Kramer<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bobby Riggs || {{flagicon|AUS}} Dinny Pails<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura || 3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–1 || Wood (i) |- |1950 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Budge<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bobby Riggs<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Welby Van Horn || 8–6, 9–7, 4–6, 6–4 || Wood (i) |- |1951 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Bobby Riggs<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Welby Van Horn ||6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 || Wood (i) |- |1952 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Budge<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Kramer ||6–3, 6–1 || Wood (i) |- |1953 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Don Budge<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||6–3, 6–3, 6–2 || Wood (i) |- | style="background:" |1954–1955 || colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:" | ''Not held'' |- |1956 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales<br />{{flagicon|USA|1912}} Tony Trabert || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rex Hartwig<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman ||6–3, 6–4, 6–4 || Wood (i) |- |1957 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall|| {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Kramer<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||3–6, 6–8, 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 || Wood (i) |- |1958 || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Pancho Gonzales<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|USA|1912}} Jack Kramer<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||6–3, 6–2, 6–3 || Wood (i) |- |1959 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|USA|1959}} Tony Trabert || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura ||11–9, 9–7, 6–2 || Wood (i) |- |1960 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Trabert ||4–6, 6–3, 7–9, 6–4, 6–2 || Wood (i) |- |1961 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|PER}} Alex Olmedo<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura || 3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 8–6 || Wood (i) |- |1962 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|PER}} Alex Olmedo<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura || 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 || Wood (i) |- |1963 || {{flagicon|PER}} Alex Olmedo<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman || {{flagicon|USA}} Butch Buchholz<br />{{flagicon|USA}} Barry MacKay || 3–6, 6–3, 6–2, 10–8 || Wood (i) |- |1964 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|USA}} Butch Buchholz<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1 || Wood (i) |- |1965 || {{flagicon|USA}} Butch Buchholz<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver || {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Sedgman<br />{{flagicon|ECU}} Pancho Segura || 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 || Wood (i) |- |1966 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Rosewall || {{flagicon|USA}} Butch Buchholz<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver ||6–4, 8–6, 3–6, 6–2 || Wood (i) |- |1967 || {{flagicon|AUS}} Rod Laver<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Fred Stolle || {{flagicon|USA}} Butch Buchholz<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Lew Hoad || 7–5, 6–3, 6–4 || Wood (i) |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | '''Open Era''' |- |1968 || {{flagicon|AUS}} John Newcombe<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} Tony Roche || {{flagicon|Spain|1945}} Andrés Gimeno<br />{{flagicon|USA}} Pancho Gonzales || 6–3, 9–7|| Carpet (i) |} Source:{{sfnp|McCauley|2000|pages=256-257}}
==See also== * Wembley Professional Championships draws - ''Professional Era (1934–1967)'' * U.S. Pro Tennis Championships * French Pro Championship * Major professional tennis tournaments before the Open Era
==References== {{reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=McCauley |first=Joe |title=The History of Professional Tennis |publisher=The Short Run Book Company Limited |year=2000 |location=Windsor}} {{Wembley Championships tournaments}} {{Grand Slam Tournaments}} {{ATP World Series tournaments}} {{Grand Prix Super Series tournaments}}
Category:Wembley Championships Category:Major tennis tournaments Category:Carpet court tennis tournaments Category:Defunct tennis tournaments in the United Kingdom Category:Grand Prix tennis circuit Category:Sport in the London Borough of Brent Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1934 Category:Recurring events disestablished in 1990 Category:Professional tennis tournaments before the Open Era Category:Tennis tournaments in London Category:1934 establishments in England Category:1990 disestablishments in England Category:Events at Wembley Arena