Los Angeles Pro Championships (tennis)

The Los Angeles Pro Championships was a men's and women's professional tennis tournament first held in 1967.[1] Also known as the NTL Los Angeles Pro Championships it was first played on outdoor hard courts at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, Los Angeles, United States. The tournament ran annually until 1969.[2]

Los Angeles Pro Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourPro Tennis Tour
NTL Pro Tour
Founded1967; 57 years ago (1967)
Abolished1969; 55 years ago (1969)
LocationInglewood
Los Angeles
VenueLA Forum
Los Angeles Tennis Club
SurfaceHard / outdoor
Carpet / indoor
Prize money$20,000 (combined)

History

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The Los Angeles Pro Championships was a men's and women's hard then later carpet court professional tennis tournament founded in 1967.[1] It was played at the Los Angeles Tennis Club for the first edition, then the LA Forum for the final two editions.[2] In 1968 the event became part of the National Tennis League and for that tour was branded as the NTL Los Angeles Pro Championships. In 1969 the event was rebranded as the Los Angeles Invitational Pro Championships, [3] and offered a combined prize fund of $20,000 that year. The final edition of this tournament was held at the LA Forum, Inglewood, California and was played on indoor carpet courts.

Finals

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Men's singles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1967   Ken Rosewall   Rod Laver 6–2, 2–6, 7–5.[2]
1968   Pancho Gonzales   Rod Laver 1–6, 6–3, 6–4.[2]
1969[4]   Rod Laver   Marty Riessen 6–4, 10–8.[2]

Women's singles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1968   Billie Jean King   Ann Haydon Jones 12–10, 6–3
1969[5]   Billie Jean King (2)   Ann Haydon Jones 17–15, 6–3

Event names

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  • Los Angeles Pro Championships (1967)
  • NTL Los Angeles Pro Championships (1968)
  • Los Angeles Invitational Pro Championships (1969)

References

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  1. ^ a b McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: Short Run Book Company. pp. 246, 253. ASIN B001EOVE56.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Tournaments: Los Angeles Pro Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Riessen, Laver Gain LA Pro Net Final". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida: newspapers.com. 8 Mar 1969. p. 49.
  4. ^ "BILLIE JEAN, LAVER WIN LA NET". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California: newspapers.com. 9 Mar 1969. p. 45. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Billie Jean King Wins LA Match". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California: newspapers.com. 9 Mar 1969. p. 85. Retrieved 19 January 2024.