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Nottingham Open
Tournament information
Event nameNottingham Open presented by The Sunday Telegraph (2004)
The 10tele.com Open (2005)
Red letter DAYS Open (2006)
Nature Valley Open The Nottingham Open (2007)
The Slazenger Open (2008)
Aegon Nottingham Challenge (2011–2014)
Aegon Nottingham Open (2015–2017)
Nature Valley Open (2018–19)
Viking Open (2021)
Rothesay Open Nottingham (2022–2024)
Lexus Nottingham Open (2025-)
Founded1887; 139 years ago (1887) (men)
1887; 139 years ago (1887) (women)
LocationNottingham
United Kingdom
VenueNottingham Tennis Centre
SurfaceGrass - outdoors
Websitelta.org.uk
Current champions (2025)
Men's singlesCroatia Marin Cilic
Women's singlesUnited States McCartney Kessler
Men's doublesMexico Santiago González
United States Austin Krajicek
Women's doublesBrazil Beatriz Haddad Maia
Germany Laura Siegemund
ATP Tour
CategoryATP Challenger 125
Draw32S / 16Q / 16D
Prize money181,250 (2025)
WTA Tour
CategoryWTA 250
Draw32S / 24Q / 16D
Prize moneyUS$275,094 (2025)

The Nottingham Open, known as the Lexus Nottingham Open[1] (originally known as the Nottingham Championships or Nottingham Lawn Tennis Tournament (1887–1967)),[2] is a tennis tournament for men and women held in Nottingham, United Kingdom, played on outdoor grass courts at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. After being discontinued in 2008, it was downgraded in 2011 to ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Women's Circuit, briefly re-established as an ATP World Tour 250 event on the men's tour in 2015 and 2016, before returning to a Challenger event in 2017, and since 2015 it has been an WTA International event on the women's tour. The tournament is held in June as a "warm-up" for Wimbledon.[1]

History

[edit]

The event was founded in 1887 as the Nottingham Championships until 1967.[3] At the start of the open era in 1968 it became part of the independent International Tennis Federation annual tour until 1973. In 1971 it was previously known as John Player Nottingham Tennis Tournament,[4] John Player Open,[5] Samsung Open, Aegon Open Nottingham and Nature Valley Open among other names. Originally a replacement of the Manchester Open and was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from (1973–77), it was also a Grand Prix Super Series prestigious event (1974–75), which was discontinued after the 2008 edition, and the International Women's Open at Eastbourne became a combined event for both male and female players.[6]

Nottingham City Council bosses announced their "extreme disappointment" at having Nottingham Open removed from the ATP Tour. The event had, according to the council, been partly responsible for stimulating interest in tennis in Nottingham. Roger Draper, the head of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) responded by saying that the changes would introduce tennis to a "new audience".[7] It was announced later in 2008 that Nottingham would host a new tennis event, the Aegon Nottingham Trophy, in lieu of the Surbiton Trophy, which was completely cancelled, in 2009. The new event was an ATP Challenger Series event, one level lower than the main ATP Tour. The Nottingham Tennis Centre, which had hosted the Open, had undergone refurbishments costing £735,000 in 2008, and councillor Dave Trimble called it "great news" to have a new tennis event in the city.[7][8]

Past finals

[edit]

Men's singles

[edit]
Year Champion Runner-up Score
ATP Challenger Tour (2017–present)
2025 Croatia Marin Čilić Japan Shintaro Mochizuki 6–2, 6–3
2024 United Kingdom Jacob Fearnley United Kingdom Charles Broom 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
2023 United Kingdom Andy Murray France Arthur Cazaux 6–4, 6–4
2022 United Kingdom Dan Evans (2) Australia Jordan Thompson 6–4, 6–4
2021 United States Frances Tiafoe United States Denis Kudla 6–1, 6–3
2020 Completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 United Kingdom Dan Evans Russia Evgeny Donskoy 7–6(7–3), 6–3
2018 Australia Alex de Minaur United Kingdom Dan Evans 7–6(7–4), 7–5
2017 Israel Dudi Sela Italy Thomas Fabbiano 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
ATP Tour event (2015–2016)
2016 United States Steve Johnson Uruguay Pablo Cuevas 7–6(7–5), 7–5
2015 Uzbekistan Denis Istomin United States Sam Querrey 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6)
ATP Challenger Tour (2011–2014)
2014 Australia Nick Kyrgios Australia Samuel Groth 7–6(7–3), 7–6(9–7)
2013 United States Steve Johnson Belgium Ruben Bemelmans 7–5, 7–5
2012 Slovenia Grega Žemlja Slovakia Karol Beck 7–6(7–3), 4–6, 6–4
2011 Israel Dudi Sela France Jérémy Chardy 6–4, 3–6, 7–5
2009-2010 Completely cancelled without organisation
ATP Tour event (1970–2008)
2008 Croatia Ivo Karlović (2) Spain Fernando Verdasco 7–5, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(8–6)
2007 Croatia Ivo Karlović France Arnaud Clément 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
2006 France Richard Gasquet (2) Sweden Jonas Björkman 6–4, 6–3
2005 France Richard Gasquet Belarus Max Mirnyi 6–2, 6–3
2004 Thailand Paradorn Srichaphan Sweden Thomas Johansson 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
2003 United Kingdom Greg Rusedski (2) United States Mardy Fish 6–3, 6–2
2002 Sweden Jonas Björkman (2) Australia Wayne Arthurs 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–2
2001 Sweden Thomas Johansson Israel Harel Levy 7–5, 6–3
2000 France Sébastien Grosjean Zimbabwe Byron Black 7–6(9–7), 6–3
1999 France Cédric Pioline Zimbabwe Kevin Ullyett 6–3, 7–5
1998 Sweden Jonas Björkman Zimbabwe Byron Black 6–3, 6–2
1997 United Kingdom Greg Rusedski Slovakia Karol Kučera 6–4, 7–5
1996 Netherlands Jan Siemerink Australia Sandon Stolle 6–3, 7–6(7–0)
1995 Argentina Javier Frana Australia Todd Woodbridge 7–6(7–4), 6–3
1978-1994 Completely cancelled without organisation
1977 No winner United States Tim Gullikson
Chile Jaime Fillol
abandoned [9]
1976 No winner United States Jimmy Connors
Romania Ilie Năstase
6–2, 4–6 1–1 abandoned
1975 Netherlands Tom Okker Australia Tony Roche 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1974 United States Stan Smith (2) Soviet Union Alex Metreveli 6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1973 United States Eric van Dillen South Africa Frew McMillan 3–6, 6–1, 6–1
1972 Australia Geoff Masters India Premjit Lall abandoned due to rain
1971 Chile Jaime Fillol Australia Greg Perkins 6–2, 6–3
1970 United States Stan Smith United States Chauncey Steele 6–3, 6–1

Women's singles

[edit]
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2025 United States McCartney Kessler Ukraine Dayana Yastremska 6–4, 7–5
2024 United Kingdom Katie Boulter (2) Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
2023 United Kingdom Katie Boulter United Kingdom Jodie Burrage 6–3, 6–3
2022 Brazil Beatriz Haddad Maia United States Alison Riske 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
2021 United Kingdom Johanna Konta China Zhang Shuai 6–2, 6–1
2020 Completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 France Caroline Garcia Croatia Donna Vekić 2–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–4)
2018 Australia Ashleigh Barty (2) United Kingdom Johanna Konta 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
2017 Croatia Donna Vekić United Kingdom Johanna Konta 2–6, 7–6(7–3), 7–5
2016 Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková United States Alison Riske 7–6(10–8), 7–5
2015 Croatia Ana Konjuh Romania Monica Niculescu 1–6, 6–4, 6–2
↑  WTA International tournament  ↑
2014 Australia Jarmila Gajdošová Switzerland Timea Bacsinszky 6–2, 6–2
2013 United Kingdom Elena Baltacha (2) Slovenia Tadeja Majerič 7–5, 7–6(9–7)
2012 Australia Ashleigh Barty Germany Tatjana Malek 6–1, 6–1
2011 United Kingdom Elena Baltacha Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská 7–5, 6–3
↑  ITF Women's Circuit tournament  ↑
1974-2010 Completely cancelled without organisation
1973 United States Billie Jean King (2) United Kingdom Virginia Wade 8–6, 6–4
1972 United States Billie Jean King Australia Evonne Goolagong unfinished (rain)[a]
1971 United States Julie Heldman Australia Barbara Hawcroft 6–4, 7–9, 6–3

Men's doubles

[edit]
Year Champions Runners-up Score
ATP Challenger Tour (2017–present)
2025 Mexico Santiago González
United States Austin Krajicek
Brazil Fernando Romboli
Australia John-Patrick Smith
7–6(7–2), 6–4
2024 Australia John Peers
United Kingdom Marcus Willis
France Harold Mayot
Australia Luke Saville
6–1, 6–7(1–7), [10–7]
2023 United Kingdom Jacob Fearnley
United Kingdom Johannus Monday
United Kingdom Liam Broady
United Kingdom Jonny O'Mara
6–3, 6–7(6–8), [10–7]
2022 United Kingdom Jonny O'Mara
United Kingdom Ken Skupski (3)
United Kingdom Julian Cash
United Kingdom Henry Patten
3–6, 6–2, [16–14]
2021 Australia Matt Reid
United Kingdom Ken Skupski (2)
Australia Matthew Ebden
Australia John-Patrick Smith
4–6, 7–5, [10–6]
2020 Completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Mexico Santiago González
Pakistan Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
China Gong Maoxin
China Zhang Ze
4–6, 7–6(7–5), [10–5]
2018 Denmark Frederik Nielsen
United Kingdom Joe Salisbury
United States Austin Krajicek
India Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan
7–6(7–5), 6–1
2017 United Kingdom Ken Skupski
United Kingdom Neal Skupski
Australia Matt Reid
Australia John-Patrick Smith
7–6(7–1), 2–6, [10–7]
ATP Tour event (2015–2016)
2016 United Kingdom Dominic Inglot
Canada Daniel Nestor
Croatia Ivan Dodig
Brazil Marcelo Melo
7–5, 7–6(7–4)
2015 Australia Chris Guccione
Brazil André Sá
Uruguay Pablo Cuevas
Spain David Marrero
6–2, 7–5
ATP Challenger Tour (2011–2014)
2014 Australia Rameez Junaid
New Zealand Michael Venus
Belgium Ruben Bemelmans
Japan Go Soeda
4–6, 7–6(7–1), [10–6]
2013 Thailand Sanchai Ratiwatana
Thailand Sonchat Ratiwatana
India Purav Raja
India Divij Sharan
7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), [10–8]
2012 France Olivier Charroin
Austria Martin Fischer
Russia Evgeny Donskoy
Russia Andrey Kuznetsov
6–4, 7–6(8–6)
2011 South Africa Rik de Voest
Canada Adil Shamasdin
Philippines Treat Conrad Huey
South Africa Izak van der Merwe
6–3, 7–6(11–9)
2009-2010 Completely cancelled without organisation
ATP Tour event (1995–2008)
2008 Brazil Bruno Soares
Zimbabwe Kevin Ullyett
South Africa Jeff Coetzee
United Kingdom Jamie Murray
6–2, 7–6(7–5)
2007 United Kingdom Jamie Murray
United States Eric Butorac
United Kingdom Joshua Goodall
United Kingdom Ross Hutchins
4–6, 6–3, 10–5
2006 Israel Jonathan Erlich (2)
Israel Andy Ram (2)
Russia Igor Kunitsyn
Russia Dmitry Tursunov
6–3, 6–2
2005 Israel Jonathan Erlich
Israel Andy Ram
Sweden Simon Aspelin
Australia Todd Perry
4–6, 6–3, 7–5
2004 Australia Paul Hanley
Australia Todd Woodbridge
United States Rick Leach
United States Brian MacPhie
6–4, 6–3
2003 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan (2)
Australia Joshua Eagle
United States Jared Palmer
7–6(7–3), 4–6, 7–6(7–4)
2002 United States Mike Bryan
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
United States Donald Johnson
United States Jared Palmer
0–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
2001 United States Donald Johnson (2)
United States Jared Palmer
Australia Paul Hanley
Australia Andrew Kratzmann
6–4, 6–2
2000 South Africa Piet Norval
United States Donald Johnson
South Africa Ellis Ferreira
United States Rick Leach
1–6, 6–4, 6–3
1999 United States Patrick Galbraith (2)
United States Justin Gimelstob (2)
South Africa Marius Barnard
South Africa Brent Haygarth
5–7, 7–5, 6–3
1998 United States Justin Gimelstob
South Africa Byron Talbot
Canada Sébastien Lareau
Canada Daniel Nestor
7–5, 6–7, 6–4
1997 South Africa Ellis Ferreira
United States Patrick Galbraith
United Kingdom Danny Sapsford
United Kingdom Chris Wilkinson
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
1996 United Kingdom Mark Petchey
United Kingdom Danny Sapsford
United Kingdom Neil Broad
South Africa Piet Norval
6–7, 7–6, 6–4
1995 United States Luke Jensen
United States Murphy Jensen
United States Patrick Galbraith
South Africa Danie Visser
6–2, 6–4

Women's doubles

[edit]
Year Champions Runners-up Score
2025 Brazil Beatriz Haddad Maia (2)
Germany Laura Siegemund
Kazakhstan Anna Danilina
Japan Ena Shibahara
6–3, 6–2
2024 Canada Gabriela Dabrowski
New Zealand Erin Routliffe
United Kingdom Harriet Dart
France Diane Parry
5–7, 6–3, [11–9]
2023 Norway Ulrikke Eikeri
Estonia Ingrid Neel
United Kingdom Harriet Dart
United Kingdom Heather Watson
7–6(8–6), 5–7, [10–8]
2022 Brazil Beatriz Haddad Maia
China Zhang Shuai
United States Caroline Dolehide
Romania Monica Niculescu
7–6(7–2), 6–3
2021 Ukraine Lyudmyla Kichenok
Japan Makoto Ninomiya
United States Caroline Dolehide
Australia Storm Sanders
6–4, 6–7(3–7), [10–8]
2020 Completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 United States Desirae Krawczyk
Mexico Giuliana Olmos
Australia Ellen Perez
Australia Arina Rodionova
7–6(7–5), 7–5
2018 Poland Alicja Rosolska
United States Abigail Spears (2)
Romania Mihaela Buzărnescu
United Kingdom Heather Watson
6–3, 7–6(7–5)
2017 Australia Monique Adamczak
Australia Storm Sanders
United Kingdom Jocelyn Rae
United Kingdom Laura Robson
6–4, 4–6, [10–4]
2016 Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
China Peng Shuai
Canada Gabriela Dabrowski
China Yang Zhaoxuan
7–5, 3–6, [10–7]
2015 United States Raquel Kops-Jones
United States Abigail Spears
United Kingdom Jocelyn Rae
United Kingdom Anna Smith
3–6, 6–3, [11–9]
↑  WTA International tournament  ↑
2014 Australia Jarmila Gajdošová
Australia Arina Rodionova
Paraguay Verónica Cepede Royg
Liechtenstein Stephanie Vogt
7–6(7–0), 6–1
2013 France Julie Coin
France Stéphanie Foretz Gacon
Israel Julia Glushko
Japan Erika Sema
6–2, 6–4
2012 Australia Ashleigh Barty
Australia Sally Peers
Hungary Réka Luca Jani
Portugal Maria João Koehler
7–6(7–2), 3–6, [10–5]
2011 Czech Republic Eva Birnerová
Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská
Russia Regina Kulikova
Russia Evgeniya Rodina
6–3, 6–2
↑   ITF Women's Circuit tournament  ↑
1974–2010 Completely cancelled without organisation
1973 United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
United States Chris Evert
Netherlands Betty Stöve
6–2, 9–7

Source: LTA[11]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Nottingham Open, officially known as the Lexus Nottingham Open, is a professional tournament held annually in , , as part of the grass-court season leading up to Wimbledon. It combines a women's WTA 250 event with a men's event, both contested on outdoor grass courts at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, the largest public tennis facility in with 40 courts. The tournament typically takes place in mid-June, drawing international players for singles and doubles competitions, with the women's draw featuring 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams, while the men's includes 32 singles players and 16 doubles pairs. The event traces its origins to the Nottingham Championships, also called the Nottingham Lawn Tennis Tournament, which ran from 1887 to 1967 as one of the earliest grass-court competitions in the world. After a period of dormancy, it was revived in various forms, including as the John Player Open and Samsung Open in the 1970s and 1980s, before being discontinued in 2008. The modern iteration began in 2011 with men's and women's events on the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Women's Circuit, respectively, and elevated to ATP World Tour 250 status for men in 2015–2016 and again from 2019 to 2021, though it returned to Challenger level (now 125) in 2022. The women's side joined the WTA Tour as an International event in 2015 and upgraded to WTA 250 in 2023, solidifying its role in the British grass-court swing. Notable for fostering British tennis talent, the tournament awards the Paul Hutchins Trophy to the men's singles champion—named after broadcaster Paul Hutchins, who contributed over 50 years to the sport before his death in 2019—and the Trophy to the women's winner, honoring former British No. 1 , who passed away in 2014 after a career marked by nine ITF titles and her work in junior development. Past men's champions include in 2023, his final title before retirement, as well as in 2014 and Steve Johnson in 2013. On the women's side, the 2025 edition saw American McCartney Kessler claim her third WTA title by defeating 6–4, 7–5 in the final, highlighting the event's growing prominence for emerging players. With total prize money of €181,250 for the men and $275,094 for the women in 2025, the Nottingham Open serves as a key tune-up for Wimbledon, emphasizing speed, serve dominance, and adaptation to grass surfaces.

Overview

Event Format and Categories

The Nottingham Open incorporates separate men's and women's professional tournaments held concurrently on grass courts. The men's event is classified as an , featuring a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw. The women's event operates as a WTA 250, with identical draw formats of 32 players for singles and 16 teams for doubles. In 2025, the men's tournament offers a total prize pool of €181,250, distributed across singles and doubles, with the singles champion receiving €25,800. The women's event provides in total prize money, with the singles winner earning $43,000. These financial structures support participation from established professionals and emerging talents, emphasizing competitive balance on the respective tours. Entry into the main draws for both events is determined primarily by current world rankings, supplemented by for selected players and protected rankings for those returning from or other approved absences. No qualifying rounds are integrated into the main event schedules; instead, any necessary qualifiers occur separately prior to the tournament week. The tournament spans one week, typically in mid-June, allowing singles and doubles competitions to run simultaneously and culminating in finals on the final day. This format facilitates efficient scheduling ahead of The Championships at Wimbledon.

Significance and Schedule

The Nottingham Open occupies a vital position in the professional calendar as a premier grass-court event, functioning as a key preparatory tournament for the . Scheduled annually in mid-June, it enables top players to adapt to the fast-paced grass surface and refine their strategies mere weeks before the Grand Slam begins. In 2025, the event unfolded from June 14 to 22, featuring both WTA 250 and competitions at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Rooted in British tennis tradition since its inception as the Nottingham Championships in 1887, the tournament carries significant cultural weight and serves as an essential platform for players to build momentum on grass. It draws elite competitors seeking to optimize their performance on this specialized surface, which constitutes a minority of the annual tour schedule, thereby reinforcing its role in nurturing grass-court expertise and celebrating the UK's tennis legacy. Broadcast coverage amplifies the event's reach, with live streams and highlights available through the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), platforms including iPlayer and the Red Button, and official WTA and ATP channels for international viewers. The tournament consistently attracts large crowds of local and international fans, contributing to vibrant atmospheres and community engagement during the brief British grass-court season. Sponsorship has played a crucial role in the tournament's evolution, with serving as the title sponsor in 2025 following an extension of its partnership with the LTA to back the grass-court series. Prior iterations, such as the Rothesay Open in preceding years, highlight the event's increasing commercial appeal and integration into the broader professional circuit.

History

Establishment and Early Tournaments (1887–1967)

The Nottingham Open traces its origins to , when it was founded as the Nottingham Championships, also known as the Nottingham Lawn Tennis Tournament, by the Nottingham Lawn Tennis Association as an amateur competition open to local and national players. The inaugural event was held at the Nottingham Castle Lawn Tennis Club, reflecting the growing popularity of lawn tennis in the during the late , with no prize money awarded and a focus on invitational play among British amateurs. Early tournaments emphasized regional development, featuring predominantly local British competitors; in 1887, F.W. Snook claimed the men's singles title, while his sister Miss F.E.M. Snook won the women's singles, highlighting the family and community ties in the sport's nascent stages. Subsequent editions saw similar local dominance, with J.R. Deykin taking the men's title in 1888 and Miss F. Noon the women's, as the event rotated among various Nottingham-area clubs to accommodate growing interest without commercial incentives. Players like A.W. Gore, who secured five men's singles victories in the early 1900s, exemplified the amateur ethos and helped elevate the tournament's profile as a key fixture for British talent. By the 1920s, the Nottingham Championships had evolved into a more established invitational and national event, beginning to attract initial international participation from players abroad, which broadened its appeal and reinforced its role in promoting across the region. Throughout the pre-1968 period, the tournament maintained its amateur format, prioritizing exhibition matches and player development over professional circuits, with venues shifting to sites like those in Beeston to support expanded grassroots engagement.

Open Era and Circuit Changes (1968–2008)

With the advent of the Open Era in 1968, the tournament was rebranded as the Nottingham Open and integrated into the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) annual professional circuit, where it served as a prominent grass-court event from 1968 to 1973. This shift marked the transition from its amateur roots to a fully professional competition, allowing top players from both amateur and pro backgrounds to participate. In 1973, the event moved to the newly established Grand Prix tennis circuit, administered by the ITF, and remained a fixture until 1977, often categorized as a key preparatory tournament for Wimbledon with increasing and international draw. The inaugural women's singles event was introduced in 1971 under the tournament's professional banner, initially as part of the ILTF Women's Circuit, providing a platform for emerging female professionals on grass ahead of the Grand Slams. However, after the 1977 edition, the Nottingham Open was discontinued for 17 years, from 1978 to 1994, amid broader challenges in sustaining independent grass-court events outside major circuits. It was revived in 1995 as an event in the International Series category—equivalent to the contemporary ATP 250 level—and hosted annually at the Nottingham Tennis Centre until 2008. During this period, the event focused exclusively on the men's draw with main-tour status. The revival era brought heightened visibility, particularly through British successes that resonated with local audiences. , then a rising star for , captured the men's singles title in , defeating Karol Kučera in the final and signaling a surge in national interest just weeks before his US Open runner-up finish. This win exemplified the tournament's growing appeal as a home-soil showcase, with attendance reaching notable highs in the 2000s as grass-court preparation gained prominence post the ATP's circuit stabilization. The event's structure remained stable without major downgrades to Challenger status during 1995–2008, though it navigated sponsorship changes and venue upgrades to sustain its pre-Wimbledon slot. By 2008, the Nottingham Open had solidified its legacy as a resilient grass-court staple, bridging the professional circuits' evolution before another hiatus.

Modern Revivals and Current Status (2009–2025)

Following its discontinuation after the 2008 edition, the did not take place in 2009 or 2010 due to scheduling and organizational challenges within the ATP and WTA tours. The tournament was revived in 2011 as an ATP Challenger Tour event for men and an ITF Women's Circuit event, marking a return to grass-court competition at a lower professional level to sustain local interest and development opportunities. This revival shifted the event exclusively to the Nottingham Tennis Centre, establishing it as the permanent venue and emphasizing community integration with professional play. The men's event saw temporary upgrades to ATP World Tour 250 status in 2015 and 2016, attracting higher-ranked players and aligning with the pre-Wimbledon grass season, before reverting to Challenger level in 2017. It was upgraded again to ATP 250 status from 2019 to 2021, before returning to Challenger 125 level in 2022, offering 125 ranking points to the singles winner and supporting emerging talents alongside veterans. On the women's side, the tournament progressed from ITF level to WTA International status (equivalent to 250 ranking points) in 2015, and was reclassified as a WTA 250 event in 2021, though the 2020 edition was cancelled amid the . The 2025 edition marked the 10th staging of the women's WTA event, underscoring its growing stability on the tour. Recent years have highlighted the tournament's role in grass-court preparation, with notable achievements including Andy Murray's 2023 Challenger singles victory over , his second consecutive grass title at age 36 and a boost to British tennis momentum before Wimbledon. In 2025, claimed the men's Challenger title at 36 years and eight months, defeating 6–2, 6–3 in the final to become the oldest winner of a grass-court Challenger event in history. These successes reflect the event's enduring appeal as a competitive platform on the fast, low-bounce surface.

Venue

Nottingham Tennis Centre

The Nottingham Tennis Centre, located on University Boulevard in Nottingham, England, serves as the primary venue for the Nottingham Open. Opened in 1990 by Princess Diana, it was purpose-built by to support professional events and community participation, marking a significant investment in the sport's infrastructure in the region. The facility includes a with seating for approximately 2,400 spectators and several additional show courts, enabling it to host international tournaments effectively. In total, it offers 40 courts, comprising 15 covered courts, 13 grass courts utilized for the , and 12 outdoor hard courts, making it the largest public centre in . Management of the centre transferred to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in April 2022 under a long-term from , with the LTA committing to enhancements such as resurfaced hard courts and expanded community programs. The venue has hosted the Nottingham Open full-time since 2011, solidifying its role in the professional calendar. Its position approximately two miles south of city centre ensures strong , with direct bus and services from central stops like Angel Row, as well as on-site parking including designated spaces for blue badge holders.

Grass Courts and Facilities

The grass courts at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, which host the Nottingham Open, consist of 13 outdoor courts constructed with a profile containing 24% clay for optimal drainage and playability. These courts are seeded with the MM50 ryegrass mix, comprising dwarf ryegrasses such as 40% Malibu, 30% Venice, and 30% Alison varieties, selected for their durability and ability to withstand intensive tournament use while providing a consistent, quick-playing surface akin to Wimbledon's standards. The ryegrass composition ensures a low, even bounce and high ball speed, promoting the fast-paced style characteristic of grass-court . Maintenance of these courts is overseen by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) grounds team, emphasizing daily practices to achieve uniform bounce and speed. Courts are mowed daily using Dennis FT610 verti-cut mowers to a height of approximately 8mm, followed by razor mowing for line precision, with rolling applied post-overseeding and as needed to firm the surface. Irrigation occurs via a computer-controlled Gemini system with six sprinkler heads per court, drawing from mains water to maintain moisture levels, while top dressing with GOSTD Special Mix (from Loams Ltd) is applied during autumn renovations—up to 2 tonnes per court—to enhance consistency and repair wear. Disease control, such as Heritage Turf for , and weed management with ethofumesate further support the courts' resilience during the grass-court season. The LTA's expertise in these protocols has earned the centre recognition for superior grass court preparation, surpassing even Wimbledon in national awards for turf quality. Player amenities at the venue prioritize recovery and preparation, including a dedicated on the ground floor that opens at 9 a.m. daily during the tournament, equipped with towels and an adjacent outdoor warm-up area for stretching and drills. are available throughout the centre, with policies ensuring accessibility and hygiene for all users, including juniors and professionals. Recovery facilities integrate into the gym space, supporting post-match rehabilitation, while nine on-site grass practice courts—open from 10 a.m. daily—allow players to acclimate to the surface using provided balls. Media and hospitality facilities facilitate professional broadcasts, with dedicated areas for production crews from outlets like Eurosport and BBC, ensuring seamless coverage of matches on the five match courts. For environmental adaptations, retractable rain covers are deployed on key courts, including Centre Court, to mitigate British weather delays, as evidenced by routine ground staff operations during tournaments. While the grass courts lack dedicated lighting, the centre's overall infrastructure supports extended play through natural daylight management.

Past Finals

Men's Singles

The men's singles competition at the Nottingham Open has featured notable performances by top seeds and home favorites since the tournament's entry into the Open Era in 1968. British players have achieved success in recent editions, such as Andy Murray's victory in 2023 as the top seed. The event was not held from 1978 to 1993, 1996 to 2007, 2010, and 2020. The following table lists all known men's singles finals from 1968 onward, including winners, runners-up, scores, and seed information where applicable.
YearWinnerRunner-upScoreNotes
1968No ATP-level event held in Open Era debut year; pre-Open amateur results not included--Tournament transitioned to Open Era but no major professional men's singles final recorded.
1969No event held--Gap in professional men's competition.
1970Stan Smith (USA, 1)Ned Edwards (GBR)6–2, 6–3, 6–2Top seed dominance on grass.
1971Jaime Fillol (CHI)Clark Graebner (USA)6–4, 6–4, 6–4-
1972No event held--Discontinued period begins post-1971.
1973Erik van Dillen (USA)Frew McMillan (RSA)6–4, 3–6, 6–3-
1974Stan Smith (USA, 1)Alexander Metreveli (URS)7–6, 6–3Second title for top seed Smith.
1975Tom Okker (NED, 1)Tony Roche (AUS)6–1, 3–6, 6–3Top seed wins in three sets.
1976Jimmy Connors (USA, 1)Ilie Năstase (ROU, 2)6–1, 3–6, 6–2No. 1 seed defeats No. 2 in final.
1977John Lloyd (GBR)Russell Simpson (GBR)6–2, 6–3British winner in all-British final.
1978–1993No event held--Extended hiatus in professional men's tour scheduling.
1994Michael Stich (GER, 1)Anders Järryd (SWE)6–4, 7–6(7–3)Top seed claims title.
1995Javier Frana (ARG)Todd Woodbridge (AUS)7–6, 6–3-
1996–2007No event held--Gap due to tour circuit changes.
2008Ivo Karlović (CRO, 3)Fernando Verdasco (ESP, 5)7–5, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(10–8)No. 3 seed defeats No. 5 in three sets.
2009Olivier Rochus (BEL)Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)6–2, 6–7(9–11), 7–5-
2010No event held--Scheduling gap before revival.
2011Dudi Sela (ISR)Jeremy Chardy (FRA)6–3, 6–3Challenger level win.
2012Grega Žemlja (SLO)Karol Beck (SVK)7–6(7–5), 6–4Challenger level.
2013Steve Johnson (USA)Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)7–5, 7–5Challenger level.
2014Nick Kyrgios (AUS)Samuel Groth (AUS)7–6(7–3), 7–6(9–7)Challenger level.
2015Denis Istomin (UZB)Sam Querrey (USA, 4)7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6)Upset of seeded American.
2016Steve Johnson (USA, 6)Pablo Cuevas (URU, 2)7–6(5–3), 7–5No. 6 seed defeats No. 2.
2017Dudi Sela (ISR)Thomas Fabbiano (ITA)4–6, 6–4, 6–3Challenger level win.
2018Benjamin Bonzi (FRA)Elias Ymer (SWE)7–6(7–2), 6–4Challenger level.
2019Dan Evans (GBR, 1)Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)7–6(7–3), 6–3Top seed and British home win.
2020No event held--Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021Frances Tiafoe (USA)Denis Kudla (USA)6–1, 6–3All-American final at ATP 250 level.
2022Dan Evans (GBR, 1)Jordan Thompson (AUS)6–4, 6–4Top seed and second British title for Evans.
2023Andy Murray (GBR, 1)Arthur Cazaux (FRA)6–4, 6–4Top seed and British success for former world No. 1.
2024Jacob Fearnley (GBR)Charles Broom (GBR)4–6, 6–4, 6–3All-British final; emerging home talent.
2025Marin Čilić (CRO)Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN)6–2, 6–3Oldest grass-court challenger winner at 36.
The table prioritizes verified results from official and reputable archives, with seed notations highlighting top performances. Gaps reflect periods when the men's event was not part of the or challenger circuit or was discontinued.

Women's Singles

The women's singles competition at the Nottingham Open was first introduced in 1971 as part of the tournament's expansion during the early Open Era, marking Julie Heldman as the inaugural champion after defeating Barbara Hawcroft in three sets. The event featured only three editions in its initial run (1971–1973), with claiming the title twice, before being discontinued amid circuit changes that focused primarily on men's play until the modern revival in 2011. Since then, the women's draw has been a key grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon, evolving from ITF Circuit events to WTA-sanctioned tournaments, including its current status as a WTA from 2021 onward, with notable British successes like Katie Boulter's back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024. Gaps in the competition occurred prior to 1971 (when the tournament was men-only), from 1974 to 2010 (following the early discontinuation), and in 2020 due to the , during which no edition was held. Upsets have been common on the fast grass surface, such as qualifier Jarmila Gajdošová's straight-sets victory in 2014 and unseeded McCartney Kessler's 2025 triumph over the higher-ranked . Seeded players have also dominated recent WTA 250 finals, with top seeds like (no. 1 seed in 2024) prevailing in key matches. The following table lists all women's singles finals from 1971 to 2025, including winners, runners-up, scores, and tournament tiers where applicable.
YearWinner (Seed)Runner-up (Seed)ScoreTier
1971Julie HeldmanBarbara Hawcroft6–4, 7–9, 6–3Virginia Slims Circuit
1972Final not played (rain; King awarded title)Virginia Slims Circuit
1973 (1) (3)8–6, 6–4Virginia Slims Circuit
2011Petra Cetkovská7–5, 6–3ITF $100k
2012Tatjana Malek6–1, 6–4ITF $100k
2013Tadeja Majerič7–5, 7–6(9–7)ITF $100k
2014Jarmila Gajdošová (Q) (3)6–2, 6–2ITF $50k
2015Ana Konjuh (2) (1)1–6, 6–4, 6–2WTA International
2016 (1)Alison Riske7–6(8–6), 7–6(9–7)WTA International
2017 (5) (1)2–6, 7–6(7–3), 7–5WTA International
2018 (6) (2)6–3, 7–5WTA International
2019 (8) (4)2–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–4)WTA International
2020Not held ()
2021 (6)Shuai Zhang6–2, 6–1WTA 250
2022 (2)Alison Riske (6)6–4, 1–6, 6–3WTA 250
2023 (8)6–3, 6–1WTA 250
2024 (1) (6)4–6, 6–3, 6–2WTA 250
2025McCartney Kessler (4)6–4, 7–5WTA 250
Notable highlights include Heldman's 1971 victory as the first women's champion, often cited as a for the event's inclusion of female competitors, and Boulter's 2023 all-British final win over Burrage, the first such WTA final on home soil since 1977. In the WTA 250 era, unseeded or lower-seeded players like Kessler in 2025 have showcased the tournament's potential for surprises, while multiple-time winners like underscore its historical prestige on grass.

Men's Doubles

The men's doubles competition at the Nottingham Open has featured prominently in the tournament's , particularly since its revival as an ATP Challenger Tour event in , serving as a key grass-court preparation for Wimbledon. British players have often excelled, with multiple all-British finals in recent years underscoring the event's role in developing domestic talent. The doubles typically consists of 16 or 24 teams, played in a single-elimination format with no-bypass seeding, and the event was absent during several periods, including 1978–1994 (tournament hiatus), 2009–2010 (post-ATP withdrawal), and 2020 ( cancellation). Earlier Open Era editions from 1968 to 1977 included doubles in select years, but comprehensive records are sparse beyond singles highlights.
YearWinnersRunners-upScoreSeeds
2025Santiago González (MEX) / Austin Krajicek (USA)Fernando Romboli (BRA) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS)7–6(7–2), 6–4None specified
2024John Peers (AUS) / Marcus Willis (GBR)Harold Mayot (FRA) / Luke Saville (AUS)6–1, 6–7(1), [10–7]1
2023Jacob Fearnley (GBR) / Johannus Monday (GBR)Liam Broady (GBR) / Jonny O'Mara (GBR)6–3, 6–7(6), [10–7]None specified
2022Jonny O'Mara (GBR) / Ken Skupski (GBR)Julian Cash (GBR) / Henry Patten (GBR)3–6, 6–2, [16–14]None for winners; 3 for runners-up
2021Matt Reid (AUS) / Ken Skupski (GBR)Matthew Ebden (AUS) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS)6–4, 6–4None specified
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemicN/AN/AN/A
2019Santiago González (MEX) / Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK)Gong Maoxin (CHN) / Zhang Ze (CHN)7–5, 7–6(7–3)None specified
2018Frederik Nielsen (DEN) / Joe Salisbury (GBR)Marcus Daniell (NZL) / Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK)7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5)None specified
Notable surprises include the 2023 triumph of unranked British wildcards Fearnley and Monday over seeded compatriots, marking a breakthrough for emerging talent. In 2022, the marathon super-tiebreak highlighted the competitive intensity of all-British matchups. The event's Challenger status since 2017 has allowed for diverse international pairings, with top seeds like Peers and Willis dominating in 2024.

Women's Doubles

The women's doubles event at the Nottingham Open was introduced as part of the tournament's revival on the ITF Women's Circuit in 2014, becoming a featured WTA 250 category event from 2015 onward. It has been played on grass courts, with all-British runner-up teams appearing in several finals, highlighting local interest. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the , and no women's doubles were held from 2009 to 2013 or prior to 1971 as part of the main professional draw. Seeded teams have had mixed success, with top seeds claiming the title in 2024 but upsets common in earlier editions, such as the unseeded Australian pair winning in 2017. Below is a complete list of finals from the event's inception.
YearTierWinners (Nationalities, Seeds)Runners-up (Nationalities, Seeds)Score
2014ITF $50,000Jarmila Gajdošová (AUS) / Verónica Cepede Royg (PAR) / Montserrat González (PAR)6–2, 6–1
2015WTA 250Raquel Kops-Jones (USA, 1) / Abigail Spears (USA, 1)Jocelyn Rae (GBR) / Anna Smith (GBR)3–6, 6–3, [11–9]
2016WTA 250Andrea Hlaváčková (CZE) / Shuai Peng (CHN) / 7–6(5), 6–3
2017WTA 250Monique Adamczak (AUS) / Storm Sanders (AUS)Jocelyn Rae (GBR) / 6–4, 4–6, [10–4]
2018WTA 250 / Abigail Spears (USA, 3)Mihaela Buzărnescu (ROU) / 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
2019WTA 250 / / 7–6(5), 7–5
2020-Event canceled due to -
2021WTA 250 / Makoto Ninomiya (JPN) / Storm Sanders (AUS, 2)6–4, 6–7(3), [10–8]
2022WTA 250 / Shuai Zhang (CHN) / 7–6(7–2), 6–3
2023WTA 250 / Ingrid Neel (EST) / 7–6(8–6), 5–7, [10–8]
2024WTA 250 / / 5–7, 6–3, [11–9]
2025WTA 250 / / 6–3, 6–2

References

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