The Silicon Valley Classic was a tennis tournament on the WTA Tour held on the campus of San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Started in 1971, the tournament was the oldest women's-only tournament in the world and was played on outdoor hardcourts.[1] It was the first women's tournament in the annual US Open Series.

Silicon Valley Classic
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF World Circuit (1971–72)
Virginia Slims Circuit (1973–87)
WTA Tour (1988–2022)
Founded1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Editions50 (2022)
LocationSan Jose, California
United States
VenueSan Jose State University
CategoryWTA Tier II
(1990–2008)
WTA Premier tournaments
(2009–2019)
WTA 500
(2021–2022)
SurfaceHardcourt / outdoor
Draw28S / 16SQ / 16D )2022)
Prize moneyUS$ 757,900 (2022)
Websitemubadalasvc.com

The tournament started out as the British Motor Cars Invitation in 1971 on the Virginia Slims circuit. Prior to 1978, the tournament was known as the Virginia Slims of San Francisco. The tournament was sponsored by Bank of the West from 1992 to 2017 (branding it as the Bank of the West Classic), and held on the campus of Stanford University from 1997 to 2017, and run by Dick Gould.[2] The event moved to San Jose State University in 2018 and received a new sponsor, Mubadala Investment Company, branding the tournament as the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic.[3]

Martina Navratilova won the tournament a record five times (1979–1980, 1988, 1991, and 1993).[4]

Bank of the West Classic Tennis Tournament 2015 Finals Match
Bank of the West Classic Tennis Tournament 2015 Finals Match

On June 1, 2023, it was announced that the tournament would merge with the pre-existing Washington Open and move permanently to Washington, D.C. The Washington tournament thereby went from being a WTA 250 event to being a WTA 500 event. The Silicon Valley Classic thus held its final tournament in 2022.[5]

Past finals

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Singles

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Year Champion Runner-up Score
1971   Billie Jean King   Rosemary Casals 6–3, 6–4
1972   Billie Jean King (2)   Kerry Melville 7–6(5–0), 7–6(5–2)
1973   Margaret Court   Kerry Melville 6–3, 6–3
1974   Billie Jean King (3)   Chris Evert 7–6(5–2), 6–2
1975   Chris Evert   Billie Jean King 6–1, 6–1
1976   Chris Evert (2)   Evonne Goolagong Cawley 7–5, 7–6(5–2)
1977   Sue Barker   Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–4
1978 Not held
1979   Martina Navratilova   Chris Evert 7–5, 7–5
1980   Martina Navratilova (2)   Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–1, 7–6(7–4)
1981   Andrea Jaeger   Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–1
1982   Andrea Jaeger (2)   Chris Evert 7–6(7–5), 6–4
1983   Bettina Bunge   Sylvia Hanika 6–3, 6–3
1984   Hana Mandlíková   Martina Navratilova 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–4
1985   Hana Mandlíková (2)   Chris Evert 6–2, 6–4
1986   Chris Evert (3)   Kathy Jordan 6–2, 6–4
1987   Zina Garrison   Sylvia Hanika 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
1988   Martina Navratilova (3)   Larisa Savchenko 6–1, 6–2
1989   Zina Garrison (2)   Larisa Savchenko 6–1, 6–1
↓  Tier II tournament  ↓
1990   Monica Seles   Martina Navratilova 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
1991   Martina Navratilova (4)   Monica Seles 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1992   Monica Seles (2)   Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–4
1993   Martina Navratilova (5)   Zina Garrison 6–2, 7–6(7–1)
1994   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario   Martina Navratilova 1–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–5)
1995   Magdalena Maleeva   Ai Sugiyama 6–3, 6–4
1996   Martina Hingis   Monica Seles 6–2, 6–0
1997   Martina Hingis (2)   Conchita Martínez 6–0, 6–2
1998   Lindsay Davenport   Venus Williams 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1999   Lindsay Davenport (2)   Venus Williams 7–6(7–1), 6–2
2000   Venus Williams   Lindsay Davenport 6–1, 6–4
2001   Kim Clijsters   Lindsay Davenport 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–1
2002   Venus Williams (2)   Kim Clijsters 6–3, 6–3
2003   Kim Clijsters (2)   Jennifer Capriati 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
2004   Lindsay Davenport (3)   Venus Williams 7–6(7–4), 5–7, 7–6(7–4)
2005   Kim Clijsters (3)   Venus Williams 7–5, 6–2
2006   Kim Clijsters (4)   Patty Schnyder 6–4, 6–2
2007   Anna Chakvetadze   Sania Mirza 6–3, 6–2
2008   Aleksandra Wozniak   Marion Bartoli 7–5, 6–3
↓  Premier tournament  ↓
2009   Marion Bartoli   Venus Williams 6–2, 5–7, 6–4
2010   Victoria Azarenka   Maria Sharapova 6–4, 6–1
2011   Serena Williams   Marion Bartoli 7–5, 6–1
2012   Serena Williams (2)   CoCo Vandeweghe 7–5, 6–3
2013   Dominika Cibulková   Agnieszka Radwańska 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
2014   Serena Williams (3)   Angelique Kerber 7–6(7–1), 6–3
2015   Angelique Kerber   Karolína Plíšková 6–3, 5–7, 6–4
2016   Johanna Konta   Venus Williams 7–5, 5–7, 6–2
2017   Madison Keys   Coco Vandeweghe 7–6(7–4), 6–4
2018   Mihaela Buzărnescu   Maria Sakkari 6–1, 6–0
2019   Zheng Saisai   Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
2020 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
↓  WTA 500 tournament  ↓
2021   Danielle Collins   Daria Kasatkina 6–3, 6–7(10–12), 6–1
2022  Daria Kasatkina   Shelby Rogers 6–7(2–7), 6–1, 6–2

Doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1971   Rosemary Casals
  Billie Jean King
  Françoise Dürr
  Ann Haydon-Jones
6–4, 6–7, 6–1
1972   Rosemary Casals (2)
  Virginia Wade
  Françoise Dürr
  Judy Tegart Dalton
6–3, 5–7, 6–2
1973   Margaret Court
  Lesley Hunt
  Wendy Overton
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
6–1, 7–5
1974   Chris Evert
  Billie Jean King (2)
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–2
1975   Chris Evert (2)
  Billie Jean King (3)
  Rosemary Casals
  Virginia Wade
6–2, 7–5
1976   Billie Jean King (4)
  Betty Stöve
  Rosemary Casals
  Françoise Dürr
6–4, 6–1
1977   Kerry Reid
  Greer Stevens
  Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
6–3, 6–1
1978 Not held
1979   Rosemary Casals (3)
  Chris Evert (3)
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1980   Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
  Greer Stevens
  Virginia Wade
6–0, 6–4
1981   Rosemary Casals (4)
  Wendy Turnbull
  Martina Navratilova
  Virginia Wade
6–1, 6–4
1982   Barbara Potter
  Sharon Walsh
  Kathy Jordan
  Pam Shriver
6–1, 3–6, 7–6(7–5)
1983   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Eva Pfaff
  Rosemary Casals
  Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1984   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
  Rosemary Casals
  Alycia Moulton
6–2, 6–3
1985   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
  Rosalyn Fairbank
  Candy Reynolds
4–6, 7–5, 6–1
1986   Hana Mandlíková (2)
  Wendy Turnbull (3)
  Bonnie Gadusek
  Helena Suková
7–6(7–5), 6–1
1987   Hana Mandlíková (3)
  Wendy Turnbull (4)
  Zina Garrison
  Gabriela Sabatini
6–4, 7–6(7–4)
1988   Rosemary Casals (5)
  Martina Navratilova (2)
  Hana Mandlíková
  Jana Novotná
6–4, 6–4
1989   Patty Fendick
  Jill Hetherington
  Larisa Savchenko
  Natalia Zvereva
7–5, 3–6, 6–2
1990   Meredith McGrath
  Anne Smith
  Rosalyn Fairbank
  Robin White
2–6, 6–0, 6–4
1991   Patty Fendick (2)
  Gigi Fernández
  Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–4, 7–5
1992   Gigi Fernández (2)
  Natalia Zvereva
  Rosalyn Fairbank-Nideffer
  Gretchen Rush Magers
3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1993   Patty Fendick (3)
  Meredith McGrath (2)
  Amanda Coetzer
  Inés Gorrochategui
6–2, 6–0
1994   Lindsay Davenport
  Arantxa Sánchez
  Gigi Fernández
  Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–4
1995   Lori McNeil
  Helena Suková
  Katrina Adams
  Zina Garrison Jackson
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1996   Lindsay Davenport (2)
  Mary Joe Fernández
  Irina Spîrlea
  Nathalie Tauziat
6–1, 6–3
1997   Lindsay Davenport (3)
  Martina Hingis
  Conchita Martínez
  Patricia Tarabini
6–1, 6–3
1998   Lindsay Davenport (4)
  Natasha Zvereva (2)
  Larisa Savchenko Neiland
  Elena Tatarkova
6–4, 6–4
1999   Lindsay Davenport (5)
  Corina Morariu
  Anna Kournikova
  Elena Likhovtseva
6–4, 6–4
2000   Chanda Rubin
  Sandrine Testud
  Cara Black
  Amy Frazier
6–4, 6–4
2001   Janet Lee
  Wynne Prakusya
  Nicole Arendt
  Caroline Vis
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2002   Lisa Raymond
  Rennae Stubbs
  Janette Husárová
  Conchita Martínez
6–1, 6–1
2003   Cara Black
  Lisa Raymond (2)
  Cho Yoon-jeong
  Francesca Schiavone
7–6(7–5), 6–1
2004   Eleni Daniilidou
  Nicole Pratt
  Iveta Benešová
  Claudine Schaul
6–2, 6–4
2005   Cara Black (2)
  Rennae Stubbs (2)
  Elena Likhovtseva
  Vera Zvonareva
6–3, 7–5
2006   Anna-Lena Grönefeld
  Shahar Pe'er
  Maria Elena Camerin
  Gisela Dulko
6–1, 6–4
2007   Sania Mirza
  Shahar Pe'er (2)
  Victoria Azarenka
  Anna Chakvetadze
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
2008   Cara Black (3)
  Liezel Huber
  Elena Vesnina
  Vera Zvonareva
6–4, 6–3
↓  Premier tournament  ↓
2009   Serena Williams
  Venus Williams
  Chan Yung-jan
  Monica Niculescu
6–4, 6–1
2010   Lindsay Davenport (6)
  Liezel Huber (2)
  Chan Yung-jan
  Zheng Jie
7–5, 6–7(8–10), 10–8
2011   Victoria Azarenka
  Maria Kirilenko
  Liezel Huber
  Lisa Raymond
6–1, 6–3
2012   Marina Erakovic
  Heather Watson
  Jarmila Gajdošová
  Vania King
7–5, 7–6(9–7)
2013   Raquel Kops-Jones
  Abigail Spears
  Julia Görges
  Darija Jurak
6–2, 7–6(7–4)
2014   Garbiñe Muguruza
  Carla Suárez Navarro
  Paula Kania
  Kateřina Siniaková
6–2, 4–6, [10–5]
2015   Xu Yifan
  Zheng Saisai
  Anabel Medina Garrigues
  Arantxa Parra Santonja
6–1, 6–3
2016   Raquel Atawo (2)
  Abigail Spears (2)
  Darija Jurak
  Anastasia Rodionova
6–3, 6–4
2017   Abigail Spears (3)
  Coco Vandeweghe
  Alizé Cornet
  Alicja Rosolska
6–2, 6–3
2018   Latisha Chan
  Květa Peschke
  Lyudmyla Kichenok
  Nadiia Kichenok
6–4, 6–1
2019   Nicole Melichar
  Květa Peschke (2)
  Shuko Aoyama
  Ena Shibahara
6–4, 6–4
2020 not held due to the coronavirus pandemic
↓  WTA 500 tournament  ↓
2021   Darija Jurak
  Andreja Klepač
  Gabriela Dabrowski
  Luisa Stefani
6–1, 7–5
2022   Xu Yifan (2)
  Yang Zhaoxuan
  Shuko Aoyama
  Chan Hao-ching
7–5, 6–0

Date, name and venue history

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Dates, Names and Venues[6]
Year Dates Name Venue
1971 6–9 Jan British Motor Cars Invitation San Francisco Civic Auditorium
1972 12–15 Jan
1973 week of 15 Jan
1974 week of 14 Jan Virginia Slims of San Francisco
1975 week of 6 Jan
1976 week of 1 Mar
1977 week of 28 Feb
1978 Not held
1979 8–14 Jan Avon Championships of California Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
1980 week of 11 Feb
1981 9–15 Feb
1982 22–28 Feb
1983 21–27 Feb Virginia Slims of California
1984 9–15 Jan
1985 18–25 Feb
1986 week of 24 Feb
1987 week of 9 Feb
1988 15–21 Feb
1989 20–26 Feb
1990 29 Oct–4 Nov
1991 4–10 Nov
1992 2–8 Nov Bank of the West Classic
1993 1–7 Nov
1994 week of 31 Oct
1995 30 Oct–5 Nov
1996 week of 4 Nov Henry J Kaiser Arena
1997 21–27 Jul Taube Tennis Center (Stanford)
1998 27 Jul–2 Aug
1999 26 Jul–1 Aug
2000 24–30 Jul
2001 23–29 Jul
2002 22–28 Jul
2003 21–27 Jul
2004 week of 12 Jul
2005 week of 25 Jul
2006 24–30 Jul
2007 week of 23 Jul
2008 12–20 Jul
2009 25 Jul–2 Aug
2010 24 Jul–1 Aug
2011 23–31 Jul
2012 9–15 Jul
2013 21–28 Jul
2014 26 Jul–3 Aug
2015 1–9 Aug
2016 18-24 Jul
2017 31 Jul–6 Aug
2018 30 Jul–5 Aug Silicon Valley Classic San Jose State University

References

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  1. ^ Bank of the West Classic history Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "WTA | Off-Court News | Off-Court News | on This Day: First Virginia Slims Series Begins". Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  3. ^ "Stanford moves to San Jose for 2018". 31 January 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Bank of West Classic reaches 40 years". CNN. July 27, 2010.
  5. ^ Wallace, Ava (2023-06-01). "D.C.'s Citi Open merges with Silicon Valley Classic to boost women's event". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  6. ^ "Bank of the West Classic: Previous Winners". WTA Tour. 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
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