Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale
The Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated women's tennis tournament founded in 1946 as a combined men's and women's event called the Austin Smith Championships that was part of the ILTF Circuit.[1] The tournament played at the Fort Lauderdale Tennis Club[2] from 1946 to 1974. It was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States and played on outdoor clay courts.
| Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Event name | Austin Smith Championships (1946–68) (combined) Austin Smith Championships (1969–70) (men) WLOD Invitational (1969) (women) WLOD International (1970) Fort Lauderdale Invitation (1971) S&H Green Stamp Classic (1972–73) Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale (1974) |
| Tour | ILTF Caribbean Circuit (1946–1970) WTA Tour (1971–74) |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Abolished | 1974 |
| Editions | 28 |
| Location | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Venue | Fort Lauderdale Tennis Club Pompano Beach Tennis Center |
| Surface | Clay (1971–74) |
History
The Austin Smith Championships[3] were a combined men's and women's clay court tournament first established in 1946.[1] The event was always played on outdoor clay courts at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. In 1969 the men's tournament continued under its original brand name, whilst the women's event was renamed as the WLOD Invitational.[1] In 1970 the combined event was discontinued as the men's tournament was dropped from the schedule.[1] In 1970 the women's tournament was branded as the WLOD International. In 1971 two versions of the tournament one in January the WLOD Invitational[4] and one in February the Fort Lauderdale Invitation. In 1972 the women's tournament was renamed as the S&H Green Stamp Classic for sponsorship reasons as part of the Virginia Slims Circuit until 1973. In 1974 the last edition the tournament was just branded as the Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale.
Finals
Men's singles
(incomplete roll)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949[1] |  Gardnar Mulloy | Gardner Larned | 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7 |
| 1950[1] | Gardnar Mulloy (2) | Herbert Behrens[5] | 4–6, 6–4, 5–7, 6–0, 6-3 |
| 1951[1] | Sidney Schwartz | Donald Kaiser[6] | 6–2, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1952[1] | Gardnar Mulloy (3) | Sidney Schwartz | 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1953[1] | Gardnar Mulloy (4) | Tony Vincent | 6–0, 1–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1954[1] | Gardnar Mulloy (5) | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Lorne Main | 6–4, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1955[1] | Eddie Moylan | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Johann Kupferburger | 6–2, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1956[1] | Jerry Moss | Allen Quay | 15–13, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1957[1] | Reyno Summers[7] | Pete Pressinger | 4–6, 5–7, 6–2, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1958[1] | Gardnar Mulloy (6) | John W. Frost | 1–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1959[1] | John Powless |  Birger Folke | 8–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1960[1] | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Don Candy |  Eduardo Zuleta | 8–6, 9–7 |
| 1961[1] | Gardnar Mulloy (7) | Miguel Olvera | 8–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1962[1] | Gardnar Mulloy(8) |  Carlos Fernandes | 1–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1963[1] | Ed Rubinoff | Thomaz Koch | 4–6, 11–3, 8–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1964[1] | Eduardo Zuleta | Gardnar Mulloy | 5–7, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1965[1] | Frank Froehling | Billy Higgins | 6–4, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1966[1] | Frank Froehling (2) | Mike Belkin | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1967[1] | Frank Froehling (3) |  Jaime Fillol | 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1968[1] | Frank Froehling (4) | Pancho Guzmán | 1–6, 9–11, 6–2 ret. |
| ↓ Open era ↓ | |||
| 1969[1] | Pat Cramer | Jaime Fillol | 6–2, 11–9 |
| 1970[1] | Cliff Richey | Clark Graebner | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Mens event discontinued | |||
Women's singles
(incomplete roll):Two editions of the tournament was held in 1971 * in January and ** in February.
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Doris Hart | Virginia Kovacs | 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1948 |  Magda Rurac | Laura Lou Jahn | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1949 | Helen Rihbany | Virginia Lee Boyer[8] | 6-2 6-1 |
| 1950 | Laura Lou Jahn | Rhoda Hopkins Root | 6–8, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1951 | Laura Lou Jahn (2) | Nancy Morrison | 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 |
| 1952 | Magda Rurac (2) | Laura Lou Jahn Kunnen [9] | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1953 | Doris Hart (2) | Alicia Wright | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 1954 | Laura Lou Jahn Kunnen (3) | Hanna Kozeluhova Sladek | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1955 | Karol Fageros | Marilyn Stock | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1956 | Marilyn Stock | Lois Miller Osten | 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1957 | Maria Bueno |  Martha Hernández | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1958 | Maria Bueno (2) | Janet Hopps | 1–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1959 | Karol Fageros (2) | Marie Martin | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1960 | Ann Barclay | Margaret Babbitt | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1961 | Mary Habicht | Kay Hubbell | 1–6, 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1962 | Margaret Hellyer | Stephanie DeFina | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1963 | Stephanie DeFina | Carol Hanks | 6–2, 5–7, 10–8 |
| 1964 | Stephanie DeFina (2) | Frances Farrar | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1965 |  Trudy Groenman | Ellie Krocke | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1966 | Stephanie DeFina (3) | Peachy Kellmeyer | 5–7, 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1967 | Stephanie DeFina (4) | Peachy Kellmeyer | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1968 | Faye Urban | Alice Tym | 6–2, 6–1 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ | |||
| 1969 | Julie Heldman |  Virginia Wade | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1970 * | Nancy Richey | Peaches Bartkowicz | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1970 ** | Chris Evert | Laurie Fleming | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1971[10] |  Françoise Dürr | Billie Jean King | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1972 | Chris Evert (2) | Billie Jean King | 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1973 | Chris Evert (3) | Virginia Wade | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1974 | Chris Evert (4) | Kerry Reid | Walkover |
Women's doubles
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Judy Tegart Françoise Dürr | Nancy Richey Virginia Wade | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1973 | Gail Sherriff Virginia Wade | Evonne Goolagong Janet Young | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1974 | Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve | Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh | 6–3, 6–2 |
Event names
- Austin Smith Championships (1946–1968) (Combined mens & women's event)
- Austin Smith Championships (1969–1970) (mens event)
- WLOD Invitational (1969–1971) (women's event)
- Fort Lauderdale Invitation (1971 women's event 2nd meeting)
- S&H Green Stamp Classic (1972–1973)
- Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale (1974)
References
- "Tournaments:Fort Lauderdale – Austin Smith Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- "Florida LTA 1957 Senior Tournament Schedule". Florida Lawn Tennis Association Guide for 1957 Year (PDF). New York: USTA. 1957. pp. 8, 9.
- USTA
- "WTA Tour Results 1970 to 2007" (PDF). New York: Wayback Machine. 29 May 2008. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- "Herbert Behrens: Overview". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- "Donald Kaiser: Overview". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- "Reyno Summers: Overview". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- "Virginia Lee Boyer Past Matches". www.stevegtennis.com. Steve G Tennis. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- Morgan, Nancy (24 May 2001). "Laura Lou Kunnen, 68, '50s tennis icon". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- WTA Tour Results 1970 to 2007 p.31.