South African Open (tennis)

The South African Open – formerly known as the South African Championships, and for sponsorship reasons the Altech NCR South African Open and the Panasonic South African Open – is a defunct Grand Prix Tennis Tour, World Championship Series, ATP Tour and Virginia Slims Circuit affiliated tennis tournament played from 1891 to 1995 in South Africa. It was part of the pre-open era international seasonal tours from 1891 to 1967 from 1968 to 1971, part of the open era independent events tour from 1972, when it became part the men's Grand Prix Tour until 1989. The women's side of the competition was only briefly part of Virginia Slims tour (1970–74) before it returned to the independent circuit.

South African Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourPre-open era (1877–1967)
Open era Independent tour (1968–1971, 1974–89)
Grand Prix Tour (1972–89)
World Championship Series (1983–87)
ATP Tour (1990–1995)
Founded1891
Abolished1995
Editions89
LocationVarious cities in South Africa
VenueVarious
SurfaceHard (1891–1995)

The men's event joined the ATP Tour in 1990. It was mainly held in Johannesburg in South Africa, but played in other locations such as Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberly and Pretoria. The tournament was played on outdoor hard courts it ran for a period of 105 years until 1995.

History

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The first South African Championships were first played in 1891 until 1967 and took place in Port Elizabeth. The tournament was held at and organized by the Port Elizabeth Lawn Tennis Club. This inaugural edition consisted of a men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles event. The tournament was not played from 1900 to 1902 due to the Boer War. After the formation of the South African Lawn Tennis Union in 1903 the location of the tournament circulated between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberly and Pretoria. In 1905 the women's doubles competition was added. The tournament was not held from 1915 to 1919 due to World War I, and from 1941 to 1945 due to World War II. The first men's singles winner was Lionel Richardson from Bloemfontein. In 1931 Ellis Park in Johannesburg became the permanent venue for the championships.[1] In 1968 the event went open and was from then on known as the South African Open Sets were played on advantage until 1971; Lingering death tiebreaks at six games all were subsequently adopted. Finals were the best-of-five-sets until the tournament's suspension in 1990; upon its return in 1992 finals were reduced to the best-of-three-sets the men's tournament was suspended again from 1996 until 2006. The women's tournament was also stopped in 1982,1985 and 1988 it was played in 1990 but did not continue after that date.

ATP Tour tennis returned to South Africa in 2009 under the banner of the SA Tennis Open. The history of this event, however, is not part of the history of the Open.[2] The SA Tennis Open, which was part of the 250 series of events, was discontinued in 2011.[3]

The most successful male player at the South African Championships – played from 1891 to 1967 during the Amateur Era – was Eric Sturgess, who won eleven titles between 1939 and 1957 and lost a further final in 1947 to Eustace Fannin. He also holds the overall record for the most consecutive titles won – seven between 1948 and 1954. Five players share the record for the most male wins at the tournament in the Open Era – Rod Laver (1969, 1970), Jimmy Connors (1973, 1974), Harold Solomon (1975, 1976), Vitas Gerulaitis (1981, 1982) and Aaron Krickstein (1992, 1993).

The most successful female player at the South African Championships – played from 1891 to 1967 during the Amateur Era – was Mrs H.A. Kirby, who won six titles between 1904 and 1912. She also shares the overall record for the most consecutive titles won with Miss H. Grant. Both players won four consecutive titles – Grant won the first four South African titles from 1891 to 1894 and Mrs Kirby won four titles between 1904 and 1907. Margaret Court and Brigitte Cuypers share the record for the most wins at the tournament in the Open Era. Court won three titles in 1968, 1970 and 1971 and Cuypers won in 1976, 1978 and 1979.

The following comprises the full list of South African Open men's singles champions.[4] and South African Open women's singles champions.

Finals

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NB: The following tables below comprise full lists of champions from 1891 until 1995

Men's singles

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Year Champion Runner-up Score
1891   Lionel Richardson   Lyndhurst Winslow 6–2, 10–8, 6–2
1892   Lionel Richardson   R. Davis Unavailable
1893   Walter T. Edmonds   Lionel Richardson 6–3, 6–3, 6–4
1894   Lennox L. Giddy   Walter T. Edmonds 6–1, 6–3, 6–0
1895   Lennox L. Giddy   Stanley Bayly 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1896   Lennox L. Giddy   H.R. Eaton Unavailable
1897   Lennox L. Giddy   William C. Stevens 8–10, 12–10, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1898   Lennox L. Giddy   George C. Collins Unavailable
1899   Leonard G. Heard   Lennox L. Giddy 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1
1900–1902 Not held due to Second Boer War
1903   R.W.G. Clarke   H.M Steele 6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1904   Percy Sherwell   R.W.G. Clarke 6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1905   Harold Kitson   A.J. Rowan 6–1, 2–6, 6–3, 8–6
1906   John R. Richardson   Cecil E. Howard Tripp 6–4, 7–5, 6–2
1907   A.J. Rowan   Cecil E. Howard Tripp 7–5, 5–7, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3
1908   Harold Kitson   Victor Gauntlett 6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 7–9, 6–2
1909   Reginald Doherty   Lionel Escombe 6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1910   Anthony Wilding   Harold Kitson 6–0, 6–3, 6–4
1911   Harold Kitson   Father Kelly 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1912   George Dodd   R.F. Le Sueur 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 5–7, 6–0
1913   Harold Kitson   Harold I. Aitken 6–1, 6–4, 6–3
1914   Charles Winslow   George Dodd 4–6, 7–9, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
1915–1919 Not held (WW1)
1920   Brian Norton   Louis Raymond 1–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3
1921   Louis Raymond   Marchant Davies 6–3, 6–0, 6–1
1922   Louis Raymond   George Dodd 6–3, 7–5, 6–2
1923   Louis Raymond   Jack Condon 6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2
1924   Louis Raymond   George Dodd 6–4, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3
1925   Ivie Richardson   Charles Winslow 7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4
1926   Jack Condon   Cecil Blackbeard 6–0, 6–3, 6–2
1927   J.C. Guy Eaglestone   C.H. Robbs 8–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1928   J.C. Guy Eaglestone   George Dodd 6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1929   Colin Robbins   George Dodd 6–1, 6–0, 6–3
1930   Louis Raymond   Colin Robbins 6–2, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1931   Louis Raymond   Robert H. M. Bertram 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1932   Robert H. M. Bertram   Colin Robbins 2–6, 9–7, 9–7, 6–1
1933   Colin Robbins   Vernon Kirby 6–1, 1–6, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4
1934   Norman Farquharson   Roy Malcolm 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 14–12
1935 [5]   Norman Farquharson   Vernon Kirby 6–0, 6–4, 6–1
1936   Norman Farquharson   Robert H. M. Bertram 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1937   Josip Palada   Vernon Kirby 6–2, 0–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1938   Norman Farquharson   Vernon Kirby 4–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–0
1939   Eric Sturgess   Eustace Fannin 6–2, 9–7, 3–6, 6–8, 7–5
1940   Eric Sturgess   Robert H. M. Bertram 6–3, 2–6, 6–0, 6–2
1941–1945 Not held (WW2)
1946   Eric Sturgess   Norman Farquharson 6–0, 6–2, 6–3
1947   Eustace Fannin   Eric Sturgess 6–1, 6–2, 1–6, 0–6, 6–4
1948   Eric Sturgess   Tony Mottram 6–3, 6–4, 6–8, 6–1
1949   Eric Sturgess   Geoffrey Brown 4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1950   Eric Sturgess   Arthur Larsen 6–1, 6–1, 3–6, 6–2
1951   Eric Sturgess   Sydney Levy 6–3, 6–2, 7–5
1952   Eric Sturgess   Sydney Levy 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1953   Eric Sturgess   Russell Seymour 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1954   Eric Sturgess   Jaroslav Drobný 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 8–6
1955   Russell Seymour   Gordon Forbes 1–6, 9–7, 6–1, 8–6
1956   Ian Vermaak   Torsten Johansson 6–2, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 8–6
1957   Eric Sturgess   Gaetan Koenig 9–7, 6–3, 6–1
1958   Ulf Schmidt   Torben Ulrich 1–6, 12–10, 6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1959   Gordon Forbes   Ian Vermaak 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1960   Butch Buchholz   Jack Frost 6–1, 7–5, 6–3
1961   Gordon Forbes   Julian Mayers 8–6, 3–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1962   Bob Mark   Gordon Forbes 6–1, 6–1, 2–6, 8–6
1963   Wilhelm Bungert   Gordon Forbes 6–4, 6–4, 8–6
1964   Abe Segal   Gordon Forbes 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3
1965   Cliff Drysdale   Juan Manuel Couder 1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1966   Roy Emerson   Bob Hewitt 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–4, 7–5
1967   Manuel Santana   Jan Leschly 2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1968   Tom Okker   Marty Riessen 12–10, 6–1, 6–4
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969   Rod Laver   Tom Okker 6–3, 10–8, 6–3
1970   Rod Laver   Frew McMillan 4–6, 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1971   Ken Rosewall   Fred Stolle 6–4, 6–0, 6–4
1972   Cliff Richey   Manuel Orantes 6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4
1973   Jimmy Connors   Arthur Ashe 6–4, 7–6, 6–3
1974   Jimmy Connors   Arthur Ashe 7–6, 6–3, 6–1
1975   Harold Solomon   Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–4, 5–7, 6–1
1976   Harold Solomon   Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1977   Guillermo Vilas   Buster Mottram 7–6, 6–3, 6–4
1978   Tim Gullikson   Harold Solomon 2–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
1979   Andrew Pattison   Víctor Pecci 2–6 6–3 6–2 6–3
1980   Kim Warwick   Fritz Buehning 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1981   Vitas Gerulaitis   Jeff Borowiak 6–4, 7–6, 6–1
1982   Vitas Gerulaitis   Guillermo Vilas 7–6, 6–2, 4–6, 7–6
1983   Johan Kriek   Colin Dowdeswell 6–4, 4–6, 1–6, 7–5, 6–3
1984   Eliot Teltscher   Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 6–1, 7–6
1985   Matt Anger   Brad Gilbert 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1986   Amos Mansdorf   Matt Anger 6–3, 3–6, 6–2, 7–5
1987   Pat Cash   Brad Gilbert 7–6, 4–6, 2–6, 6–0, 6–1
1988   Jakob Hlasek   Christo van Rensburg 6–7, 6–4, 6–1, 7–6
1989   Christo van Rensburg   Paul Chamberlin 6–4, 7–6, 6–3
1990   Wayne Ferreira   Mark Kaplan 6–3 7–5 7–6
1991   Todd Witsken   Wayne Ferreira 4–6 6–4 6–4
1992   Aaron Krickstein   Alexander Volkov 6–4, 6–4
1993   Aaron Krickstein   Grant Stafford 6–3, 7–6
1994   Markus Zoecke   Hendrik Dreekmann 6–4, 6–1
1995   Martin Sinner   Guillaume Raoux 6–1, 6–4
1996–2006 Not held
2007 (CH)   Mathieu Montcourt   Rik de Voest 5–7, 6–3, 6–2
2008 (CH)   Ivan Ljubičić   Stefan Koubek 7–6, 6–4

Women's singles

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Year Champion Runner-up Score
1891   Mabel Grant   Miss Blackburn 6–2, 6–0
1892   Mabel Grant   Mrs MacLagan Unavailable
1893   Mabel Grant   Mrs MacLagan 6–1, 6–0
1894   Mabel Grant   Miss B. Grant 6–1, 6–0
1895   Miss L. Biddulph   Miss Fry 6–1, 6–4
1896   Mrs H. Green   Miss L. Biddulph Unavailable
1897   Miss N. Hickman   Mrs H. Green 7–9, 12–10, 6–2
1898   Miss N. Hickman   Miss L. Biddulph Unavailable
1899   Miss N. Hickman   Mrs H. Green 6–8, 6–2, 6–3
1900–1902 Not held (Boer War)
1903   Miss F. Kuys   Mrs Mackay 6–0, 6–2
1904   Mrs H.A. Kirby   Mrs M. Nevill (Grant) 6–4, 5–7, 6–4
1905   Mrs H.A. Kirby   Mrs S.B.Syfret 6–2, 6–0
1906   Mrs H.A. Kirby   Mrs Greatwood 7–5, 6–2
1907   Mrs H.A. Kirby   Mrs R.H.Miller 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1908   Miss M. Kelly   Mrs Gillmore 6–2, 6–1
1909   Mrs G. Washington   Miss Edwards 6–2, 7–9, 6–4
1910   Mrs H.A. Kirby   Mrs J Reid 6–1, 6–2
1911   Mrs G. Washington   Miss M. Kelly 6–0, 6–1
1912   Mrs H.A. Kirby   Olive Mathias 6–2, 6–0
1913   Miss M. Coles   Miss M. Kelly 6–3, 9–7
1914   Olive Mathias   Mrs H.A. Kirby 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1915–1919 Not held (WW1)
1920   Olive Winslow (Mathias)   Miss Phillips 6–3, 7–5
1921   Miss N. Edwards   Mrs W.F. du Plessis 6–1, 6–2
1922   Mrs M. McJannett   Miss J. Parker 6–2, 6–2
1923   Mrs C.K. Pitt   Mrs D.R.Moor 6–4, 6–3
1924   Irene Peacock   Mrs L. McArthur 7–5, 6–4
1925   Irene Peacock   Mrs L. McArthur 5–7, 6–1, 6–1
1926   Irene Peacock   Miss A. de Smit 6–2, 6–1
1927   Mrs M. McJannett   Mrs V. Everett 12–10, 6–4
1928   Bobbie Heine   Billie Tapscott 8–6, 6–3
1929   Mrs M. McJannett   Miss W.N. Miller 7–5, 6–2
1930   Billie Tapscott   Mrs V. Everett 7–5, 6–2
1931   Bobbie Heine   Miss W.N. Miller 6–3, 6–3
1932   Bobbie Heine Miller   Mrs W.N. Lowe (Miller) 6–0, 6–3
1933   Billie Tapscott Robbins   Mrs W.N. Lowe 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1934   Billie Tapscott Robbins   Mrs W.N. Lowe 6–0, 6–3
1935   Mrs A. Allister   Billie Tapscott Robbins 6–4, 6–3
1936   Bobbie Heine Miller   Mrs V. Everett 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1937   Bobbie Heine Miller   Alida Neave 6–4, 4–6, 6–0
1938   Billie Tapscott Robbins   Olive Craze 6–4, 6–4
1939   Olive Craze   Sheila Piercey 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1940   Olive Craze   Sheila Piercey 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1941–1945 Not held (WW2)
1946   Mary D. Muller   Mrs O. Plessis 6–4, 6–4
1947   Mary D. Muller   Sheila Piercey Summers 6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1948   Sheila Summers   Kay Menzies 6–1, 6–4
1949   Sheila Summers   Thelma Long 6–1, 6–1
1950   Shirley Fry   Doris Hart 4–6, 7–5, 6–3
1951   Sheila Summers   Hazel Redick-Smith 8–6, 2–6, 7–5
1952   Doris Hart   Julia Wipplinger 6–1, 7–5
1953   Hazel Redick-Smith   Julia Wipplinger 6–2, 6–2
1954   Hazel Redick-Smith   Gwendy Love 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1955   Hazel Redick-Smith   Lucille van der Westhuizen 6–4, 6–3
1956   Dora Kilian   Gwendy Love 4–6, 7–5, 6–4
1957   Heather Brewer   Gwendy Love 8–10, 6–2, 6–3
1958   Bernice Carr   Heather Brewer-Segal 3–6, 7–5, 6–4
1959   Sandra Reynolds   Bernice Vukovich (Carr) 6–0, 8–6
1960   Bernice Vukovich   Sandra Reynolds 6–1, 2–6, 12–10
1961   Sandra Reynolds   Lynette Hutchings 6–4, 7–5
1962   Heather Brewer-Segal   Jean Forbes 6–1, 7–5
1963   Annette Van Zyl   Margaret Hunt 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
1964   Darlene Hard   Ann Haydon-Jones 6–3, 7–5
1965   Christine Truman   Annette Van Zyl 6–2, 6–3
1966   Billie Jean King   Margaret Court 6–3, 6–2
1967   Billie Jean King   Maria Bueno 7–5, 5–7, 6–2
1968   Margaret Court   Virginia Wade 6–4, 6–4
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969   Billie Jean King   Nancy Richey 6–3, 6–4
1970   Margaret Court   Billie Jean King 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1971   Margaret Court   Evonne Goolagong 6–3, 6–1
1972   Evonne Goolagong   Virginia Wade 4–6, 6–3, 6–0
1973   Chris Evert   Evonne Goolagong 6–3, 6–3
1974   Kerry Melville   Dianne Fromholtz 6–3, 7–5
1975   Annette du Plooy (van Zyl)   Brigitte Cuypers 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1976   Brigitte Cuypers   Laura duPont 6–7, 6–4, 6–1
1977   Linky Boshoff   Brigitte Cuypers 6–1, 6–4
1978   Brigitte Cuypers   Linda Siegel 6–1, 6–0
1979   Brigitte Cuypers   Tanya Harford 7–6, 6–2
1980   Lesley Charles   Rene Uys 7–5, 6–4
1981   Kathy Horvath   Kathy Rinaldi 7–6, 6–4
1982–1983 Not held
1984   Chris Evert-Lloyd   Andrea Jaeger 6–3, 6–0
1985 Not held
1986   Dinky van Rensburg   Rene Mentz 6–3, 6–1
1987   Gretchen Magers   Louise Allen 6–7, 7–6, 6–4
1988–1989 Not held
1990   Amanda Coetzer   Dinky van Rensburg 6–4, 6–4

Men's doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1969   Pancho Gonzales
  Ray Moore
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
6–3, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1970   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Cliff Drysdale
  Roger Taylor
6–3, 6–3, 6–2 [6]
1971   Ken Rosewall
  Fred Stolle
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
5–7, 6–2, 6–1, 6–2 [7]
1972   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Ray Moore
  Georges Goven
6–3, 6–3, 6–4 [8]
1973   Arthur Ashe
  Tom Okker
  Lew Hoad
  Robert Maud
6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1974   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen
7–6, 6–4, 6–3
1975   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Karl Meiler
  Charlie Pasarell
7–5, 6–4
1976   Brian Gottfried
  Sherwood Stewart
  Juan Gisbert
  Stan Smith
1–6, 6–1, 6–2, 7–6
1977   Robert Lutz
  Stan Smith
  Peter Fleming
  Raymond Moore
6–3, 7–5, 6–7, 7–6
1978   Peter Fleming
  Raymond Moore
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
6–3, 7–6
1979   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Mike Cahill
  Christopher Mottram
1–6, 6–1, 6–4
1980   Robert Lutz
  Stan Smith
  Heinz Günthardt
  Paul McNamee
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1981   Terry Moor
  John Yuill
  Fritz Buehning
  Russell Simpson
6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–7, 12–10
1982   Brian Gottfried
  Frew McMillan
  Shlomo Glickstein
  Andrew Pattison
6–2, 6–2
1983   Steve Meister
  Brian Teacher
  Andrés Gómez
  Sherwood Stewart
6–7, 7–6, 6–2
1984   Tracy Delatte
  Francisco González
  Steve Meister
  Eliot Teltscher
7–6, 6–1
1985   Colin Dowdeswell
  Christo van Rensburg
  Amos Mansdorf
  Shahar Perkiss
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
1986   Mike De Palmer
  Christo van Rensburg
  Andrés Gómez
  Sherwood Stewart
3–6, 6–2, 7–6
1987   Kevin Curren
  David Pate
  Eric Korita
  Brad Pearce
6–4, 6–4
1988   Kevin Curren
  David Pate
  Gary Muller
  Tim Wilkison
7–6, 6–4
1989   Luke Jensen
  Richey Reneberg
  Kelly Jones
  Joey Rive
6–0, 6–4
1990–1991 Not Held
1992   Pieter Aldrich
  Danie Visser
  Wayne Ferreira
  Piet Norval
6–4, 6–4
1993   Lan Bale
  Byron Black
  Johan de Beer
  Marcos Ondruska
7–6, 6–2
1994   Marius Barnard
  Brent Haygarth
  Ellis Ferreira
  Grant Stafford
6–3, 7–5
1995   Rodolphe Gilbert
  Guillaume Raoux
  Martin Sinner
  Joost Winnink
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1996–2006 Not held
2007 (CH)   Rik de Voest
  Dominik Meffert
  Stéphane Bohli
  Noam Okun
6–4, 6–2
2008 (CH)   Jonas Björkman
  Dominik Meffert
  Thomas Johansson
  Stefan Koubek
6–2, 6–2

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Russell Eldridge, ed. (1977). Tennis : The South African Story. Owen Williams. pp. 14, 15. OCLC 86066820.
  2. ^ 2009 Official Guide to Professional Tennis, page 48, compiled by the ATP World Tour.
  3. ^ "Door shut on 2012 ATP-sanctioned SA Open". SuperSport. 4 May 2011.
  4. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1989). The International Tennis Federation World of Tennis 1989. London: Collins Willow. pp. 408, 409. ISBN 978-0002183116.
  5. ^ "SOUTH AFRICAN TITLE". The West Australian. Perth. 18 March 1935. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Margaret Court Wins Net Title". The Indianapolis Star. Associated Press. 5 April 1970. p. 89.
  7. ^ "Margaret Court Wins Two Titles". The Indianapolis Star. United Press. 19 April 1971. p. 75.
  8. ^ "Evonne Goolagong Wins Title". The Logansport Press. Logansport, Indiana. United Press. 9 April 1972. p. 21.