The Grand Slam Cup was a tennis tournament held annually at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany from 1990 through 1999. The event was organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which invited the best-performing players in the year's Grand Slam events to compete in the Grand Slam Cup.

Grand Slam Cup
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1990
Abolished1999
Editions10
LocationMunich, Germany
VenueOlympiahalle
CategoryGrand Slam Cup
SurfaceCarpet / indoors (1990–97)
Hard / indoors (1998–99)

History

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The tournament was created in 1990 and was played on indoor carpet courts. From 1990 to 1996, it was held in December but was moved to the middle of autumn from 1997 to 1999. From 1990 to 1997 the tournament was limited to male players. A women's Cup was added in 1998 and was held simultaneously with the men's Cup.

Throughout its existence, the Grand Slam Cup was famous for paying out the highest prize money of any tournament in tennis. The winner for the first three years of the Cup received U.S.$2 million in prize money, which dipped to $1.625 million in 1993, rose to $1.875 million in 1996 and back to $2 million in 1997 before falling to $1.3 million in 1998. If the Cup was won by a player who had also won a Grand Slam event that year they received a bonus of $1 million. Prize money for the winner of the two women's Cups was fixed at $800,000.

The Grand Slam Cup was not recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and participants did not receive points in the ATP computer rankings nor have it credited as an official career title. Following the discontinuation of the Cup in 1999, the ATP decided to give the event retroactive recognition and added it to players' record of official titles. A compromise between the ITF and the ATP was announced on December 9, 1999 which merged the Cup with the ATP Tour World Championship, the ATP's year-end tournament also held annually in Germany, giving birth to the ATP World Tour Finals, an official tour event.

A direct result of the merging of the two competitions can still be seen in the qualification rules for the ATP World Tour Finals, which included one notable difference from those of the prior ATP Tour World Championship. The Tour World Championship was meant to include the top eight players on the ATP computer rankings at the end of a season, even though this could mean the exclusion of a Grand Slam champion who had not been able to earn sufficient ranking points in the rest of the year. Present Finals rules ensure the participation of a Grand Slam champion who is unable to earn a top eight ranking at the end of the season and automatic qualification for the top seven players in the computer rankings. The eighth ranked player, however, qualifies only if all Grand Slam singles champions are among the top eight. Any Grand Slam event champion who is not in the top eight but is still in the top twenty is included to the detriment of the eighth ranked player. This situation occurred at the 2004 Tennis Masters Cup, where Andre Agassi, the No. 8 ranked player in the ATP Champions Race, was excluded from the event in favor of Gastón Gaudio, who had won that year's French Open but was ranked tenth at the end of the year.

Pete Sampras was the most successful player at this event winning two titles out of three final appearances.

Qualification

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Qualification and seeding for the Grand Slam Cup were not related to the ATP computer rankings. Points were allocated to a player based on his Grand Slam performances, and after all four Grand Slam events had concluded the 16 players with the most points – 12 in 1998 and 1999 – qualified for the Cup. Grand Slam champions were not assured of a berth in the event.

Qualification points (Grand Slams tournaments only)
Grand Slam Round W F SF QF R16 R32 R64 R128
Points 600 450 300 150 75 40 20 2

Format of play

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In the men's tournament the first two rounds of the Cup were the best of three sets while the semifinals and final were the best of five sets. There was no tie-break if a match went over the full distance.

In the women's tournament all rounds were best of three sets.

Finals

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Year Champion Runner-up Score
1990   Pete Sampras   Brad Gilbert 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
1991   David Wheaton   Michael Chang 7–5, 6–2, 6–4
1992   Michael Stich   Michael Chang 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
1993   Petr Korda   Michael Stich 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 11–9
1994   Magnus Larsson   Pete Sampras 7–6(8–6), 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–4
1995   Goran Ivanišević   Todd Martin 7–6(7–4), 6–3, 6–4
1996   Boris Becker   Goran Ivanišević 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1997   Pete Sampras (2)   Patrick Rafter 6–2, 6–4, 7–5
1998   Marcelo Ríos   Andre Agassi 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–1), 5–7, 6–3
1999   Greg Rusedski   Tommy Haas 6–3, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5)

Women

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Year Champion Runner-up Score
1998   Venus Williams   Patty Schnyder 6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1999   Serena Williams   Venus Williams 6–1, 3–6, 6–3

Draws

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1990

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Date:[1] December 11 – December 16

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Stefan Edberg 4 6 5
    Michael Chang 6 4 7     Michael Chang 77 6  
Alt   Henri Leconte 6 6   Alt   Henri Leconte 63 3  
7   Thomas Muster 3 4       Michael Chang 3 4 4    
4   Pete Sampras 5 6 7 4   Pete Sampras 6 6 6    
    Andrei Cherkasov 7 2 5 4   Pete Sampras 77 65 8
Alt   Kevin Curren 63 67   5   Goran Ivanišević 62 77 6
5   Goran Ivanišević 77 79   4   Pete Sampras 6 6 6    
6   Jonas Svensson 6 3 4 Alt   Brad Gilbert 3 4 2    
Alt   Brad Gilbert 2 6 6     Aaron Krickstein 77 4 3
    Aaron Krickstein 6 6   Alt   Brad Gilbert 65 6 6
3   Andrés Gómez 3 4   Alt   Brad Gilbert 6 3 79 2 6
8   David Wheaton 77 65 6 8   David Wheaton 3 6 67 6 4
    Yannick Noah 62 77 3 8   David Wheaton 6 77  
Alt   Christian Bergström 4 0   2   Ivan Lendl 2 64  
2   Ivan Lendl 6 6  

1991

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Date:[2] December 10 – December 15

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Alt   Todd Woodbridge 6 6  
Alt   Aaron Krickstein 3 3   Alt   Todd Woodbridge 4 66  
    Paul Haarhuis 6 2 3 7   David Wheaton 6 78  
7   David Wheaton 1 6 6 7   David Wheaton 78 78 77    
3   Michael Stich 6 6   3   Michael Stich 66 66 63    
    Goran Prpić 4 3   3   Michael Stich 710 6  
    Jaime Yzaga 3 3   5   Guy Forget 68 4  
5   Guy Forget 6 6   7   David Wheaton 7 6 6    
6   Jimmy Connors 6 4 4     Michael Chang 5 2 4    
    Jakob Hlasek 0 6 6     Jakob Hlasek 67 3  
Alt   Cristiano Caratti 4 1   4   Ivan Lendl 79 6  
4   Ivan Lendl 6 6   4   Ivan Lendl 6 6 4 65 7
8   Patrick McEnroe 4 6 6     Michael Chang 2 4 6 77 9
    Thierry Champion 6 1 4 8   Patrick McEnroe 2 4  
    Michael Chang 6 6       Michael Chang 6 6  
2   Jim Courier 4 2  

1992

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Date:[3] December 8 – December 13

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Stefan Edberg 64 77 6
    Michael Stich 77 64 8     Michael Stich 77 7  
Alt   Emilio Sánchez 3 2   8   Richard Krajicek 64 5  
8   Richard Krajicek 6 6       Michael Stich 77 77 3 77  
3   Pete Sampras 6 6   4   Pete Sampras 63 65 6 62  
    Alexander Volkov 3 4   3   Pete Sampras 77 6  
    Henri Leconte 3 6 6     Henri Leconte 63 4  
5   Wayne Ferreira 6 3 0     Michael Stich 6 6 6    
6   John McEnroe 6 6       Michael Chang 2 3 2    
Alt   Nicklas Kulti 1 4   6   John McEnroe 6 4 2
    Guy Forget 5 4   4   Goran Ivanišević 3 6 6
4   Goran Ivanišević 7 6   4   Goran Ivanišević 77 2 4 6 3
7   Petr Korda 2 7 6     Michael Chang 63 6 6 3 6
Alt   Wally Masur 6 5 4 7   Petr Korda 3 4  
    Michael Chang 6 6       Michael Chang 6 6  
2   Andre Agassi 4 2  

1993

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Date:[4] December 7 – December 12

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Pete Sampras 6 6  
    Thomas Muster 3 1   1   Pete Sampras 79 6  
    Michael Chang 6 4 7     Michael Chang 67 3  
8   Wally Masur 2 6 5 1   Pete Sampras 6 63 6 610 11
3   Sergi Bruguera 6 6       Petr Korda 3 77 3 712 13
    Magnus Larsson 3 4   3   Sergi Bruguera 6 0 4
    Petr Korda 6 6       Petr Korda 4 6 6
8   Alexander Volkov 2 3       Petr Korda 2 6 77 2 11
5   Michael Stich 6 6   5   Michael Stich 6 4 65 6 9
Alt   MaliVai Washington 3 1   5   Michael Stich 5 6 6
Alt   Brett Steven 6 79   Alt   Brett Steven 7 4 4
4   Cédric Pioline 4 67   5   Michael Stich 2 3 6 6 6
7   Boris Becker 5 4   2   Stefan Edberg 6 6 3 3 1
    Wayne Ferreira 7 6       Wayne Ferreira 77 1 0
Alt   Todd Martin 3 2       Stefan Edberg 65 6 6
2   Stefan Edberg 6 6  

1994

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Date:[5] December 6 – December 11

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Pete Sampras 6 6  
Alt   Jaime Yzaga 2 4   1   Pete Sampras 6 6  
    Alberto Berasategui 1 5   8   Michael Chang 4 3  
8   Michael Chang 6 7   1   Pete Sampras 5 6 6 65 10
3   Boris Becker 5 6 6 6   Goran Ivanišević 7 3 4 77 8
    Wayne Ferreira 7 4 3 3   Boris Becker 4 1  
    Jonas Björkman 4 2   6   Goran Ivanišević 6 6  
6   Goran Ivanišević 6 6   1   Pete Sampras 66 6 65 4  
5   Todd Martin 77 6       Magnus Larsson 78 4 77 6  
    Karel Nováček 65 4   5   Todd Martin 6 77  
Alt   Andriy Medvedev 7 4 0 4   Sergi Bruguera 4 65  
4   Sergi Bruguera 5 6 6 5   Todd Martin 4 1 1    
7   Stefan Edberg 4 79 6     Magnus Larsson 6 6 6    
    Magnus Larsson 6 67 8     Magnus Larsson 6 1 6
    Thomas Muster 3 5   2   Andre Agassi 3 6 0
2   Andre Agassi 6 7  

1995

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Date:[6] December 5 – December 10

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Pete Sampras 6 77  
    Patrick McEnroe 1 61   1   Pete Sampras      
    Petr Korda 63 3   8   Goran Ivanišević w/o    
8   Goran Ivanišević 77 6   8   Goran Ivanišević 79 4 6 6  
4   Michael Chang 610 3   6   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 67 6 3 4  
    Jacco Eltingh 712 6       Jacco Eltingh 6 3 2
    Renzo Furlan 4 1   6   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 3 6 6
6   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6 6   8   Goran Ivanišević 77 6 6    
5   Thomas Muster 63 6 1 9   Todd Martin 64 3 4    
Alt   Byron Black 77 2 6 Alt   Byron Black 61 1  
Alt   Cédric Pioline 1 77 7 3   Boris Becker 77 6  
3   Boris Becker 6 62 9 3   Boris Becker 7 3 4 64  
10   Andriy Medvedev 6 710   9   Todd Martin 5 6 6 77  
    Aaron Krickstein 2 68   10   Andriy Medvedev 3 6 0r
    Sergi Bruguera 62 4   9   Todd Martin 6 3 4
9   Todd Martin 77 6  

1996

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Date:[7] December 3 – December 8

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
11   Michael Stich 3 3  
Alt   Tim Henman 6 6   Alt   Tim Henman 77 6  
    MaliVai Washington 6 6       MaliVai Washington 63 3  
7   Richard Krajicek 1 2   Alt   Tim Henman 62 3 1    
4   Boris Becker 6 6   4   Boris Becker 77 6 6    
    Jason Stoltenberg 3 2   4   Boris Becker 6 6  
Alt   Jakob Hlasek 2 6 6 Alt   Jakob Hlasek 4 1  
10   Cédric Pioline 6 3 4 4   Boris Becker 6 6 6    
9   Marc Rosset 5 2   2   Goran Ivanišević 3 4 4    
    Jim Courier 7 6       Jim Courier 6 4 6
Alt   Àlex Corretja 4 63   3   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 2 6 8
3   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6 77   3   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 78 6 3 2 4
8   Andre Agassi 3 4   2   Goran Ivanišević 66 2 6 6 6
    Mark Woodforde 6 6       Mark Woodforde 4 4  
    Mikael Tillström 4 2   2   Goran Ivanišević 6 6  
2   Goran Ivanišević 6 6  

1997

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Date:[8] September 23 – September 28

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Pete Sampras 6 3 6
    Félix Mantilla 4 6 2 1   Pete Sampras 78 6  
WC   Boris Becker 3 2   8   Jonas Björkman 66 4  
8   Jonas Björkman 6 6   1   Pete Sampras 3 77 77 6  
4   Greg Rusedski 4 6 7 4   Greg Rusedski 6 61 64 2  
    Todd Woodbridge 6 1 5 4   Greg Rusedski 65 6 6
    Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6 6       Yevgeny Kafelnikov 77 3 1
5   Sergi Bruguera 4 3   1   Pete Sampras 6 6 7    
6   Cédric Pioline 77 2   2   Patrick Rafter 2 4 5    
    Filip Dewulf 64 2r 6   Cédric Pioline 5 3  
    Petr Korda 6 5       Petr Korda 7 6  
3   Gustavo Kuerten 3 3r     Petr Korda 5 6 77 64 7
7   Marcelo Ríos 62 6 6 2   Patrick Rafter 7 3 64 77 9
Alt   Mark Woodforde 77 3 1 7   Marcelo Ríos 1 60  
    Thomas Muster 2 3   2   Patrick Rafter 6 77  
2   Patrick Rafter 6 6  

1998

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Date:[9][10] September 29 – October 3

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Petr Korda 6 0 1
    Cédric Pioline 0 0   WC   Andre Agassi 4 6 6
WC   Andre Agassi 6 6   WC   Andre Agassi 77 65 2 7 6
    Karol Kučera 61 77 6 5 0
4   Goran Ivanišević 7 4 6
    Karol Kučera 6 6       Karol Kučera 5 6 8
Alt   Hicham Arazi 4 4   WC   Andre Agassi 4 6 61 7 3
    Tim Henman 5 3   2   Marcelo Ríos 6 2 77 5 6
Alt   Jonas Björkman 7 6   Alt   Jonas Björkman 6 61 1
3   Mark Philippoussis 4 77 6
3   Mark Philippoussis 64 3 4    
Alt   Nicolas Escudé 3 3   2   Marcelo Ríos 77 6 6    
Alt   Félix Mantilla 6 6   Alt   Félix Mantilla 62 5  
2   Marcelo Ríos 77 7  

Women

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
               
1   Martina Hingis 6 7  
    Conchita Martínez 2 5  
1   Martina Hingis 7 5 5r
Alt   Patty Schnyder 5 7 5
Alt   Patty Schnyder 2 7 7
3   Jana Novotná 6 5 5
Alt   Patty Schnyder 2 6 2
    Venus Williams 6 3 6
4   Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 3 2  
    Venus Williams 6 6  
    Venus Williams 6 6  
    Nathalie Tauziat 4 0  
    Nathalie Tauziat 4 6 7
2   Lindsay Davenport 6 1 5

1999

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Date:[11][12] September 27 – October 4

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1   Andre Agassi 0 77 4
Alt   Dominik Hrbatý 3 2       Tommy Haas 6 62 6
    Tommy Haas 6 6       Tommy Haas 6 6 64 6  
4   Thomas Enqvist 3 4 77 4  
4   Thomas Enqvist 6 6  
Alt   Fernando Meligeni 2 6 14     Nicolás Lapentti 3 2  
    Nicolás Lapentti 6 4 16     Tommy Haas 3 4 77 65  
Alt   Vince Spadea 2 5   Alt   Greg Rusedski 6 6 65 77  
Alt   Richard Krajicek 6 7   Alt   Richard Krajicek 65 4  
3   Andriy Medvedev 77 6  
3   Andriy Medvedev 3 6 61 5  
    Gustavo Kuerten 3 6 3 Alt   Greg Rusedski 6 3 77 7  
Alt   Greg Rusedski 6 3 6 Alt   Greg Rusedski 7 78  
2   Yevgeny Kafelnikov 5 66  

Women

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
               
1   Martina Hingis 77 6  
    Amélie Mauresmo 61 2  
1   Martina Hingis 2 78 7
4   Venus Williams 6 66 9
4   Venus Williams 6 6  
Alt   Barbara Schett 3 4  
4   Venus Williams 1 6 3
3   Serena Williams 6 3 6
    Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 3 1  
3   Serena Williams 6 6  
3   Serena Williams 6 6  
2   Lindsay Davenport 3 4  
Alt   Mary Pierce 6 2 4
2   Lindsay Davenport 3 6 6

References

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  1. ^ "1990 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  2. ^ "1991 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  3. ^ "1992 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  4. ^ "1993 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  5. ^ "1994 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  6. ^ "1995 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  7. ^ "1996 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  8. ^ "1997 Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  9. ^ "1998 Men's Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  10. ^ "1998 Women's Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  11. ^ "1999 Men's Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
  12. ^ "1999 Women's Grand Slam Cup". www.itftennis.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
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