Cheltenham Covered Court Championships

[3] The Cheltenham Covered Court Championships was an early Victorian era men's and women's indoor wood court tennis tournament staged from the 19th to 23 April 1881 only at the Imperial Winter Gardens, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.

“The Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club have been the first to set the ball rolling this season, and fixed upon Tuesday last for their opening tournament.

It being rather early to be playing the game out of doors, it was determined to bring off the matches under cover, so the beautiful courts in the Imperial Winter Gardens were obtained for the week.

The principal events were the ladies' and gentlemen's matches for the Covered Court Championships, and for these entries of sixteen and fourteen respectively had been obtained, amongst which might be noticed the names of many good players.

“In November 1878 the Winter Garden and Skating Rink opened, designed by J. T. Darby – Cheltenham's own Crystal Palace.