The Tulsa Invitation[1] also known as the TTC Invitational[2] was a men's and women's clay court tennis tournament was founded in 1958.[3] The tournament was played at the Tulsa Tennis Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.[4] It played annually through till 1975 when it was discontinued.[4]

Tulsa Invitation
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF World Circuit
(1958–69) men
(1958–70) women
ILTF Independent Circuit
(1970–75) men
(1973–75) women
Founded1958; 66 years ago (1958)
Abolished1975; 49 years ago (1975)
LocationTulsa, Oklahoma United States
VenueTulsa Tennis Club
SurfaceClay / outdoor

History

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In 1935 a Tulsa Invitation tournament was held,[5] however that tournament appears to have been discontinued. In 1958 the Tulsa Tennis Club (founded 1926)[6] as a private members club staged the Tulsa Invitation tennis tournament for the first time. The first men's singles winner was Sammy Giammalva who defeated Bernard Bartzen.[7] the event was held annually until 1975 when it was discontinued the final men's singles title went to Zan Guerry for the third time, and the women's singles event was won by Lele Forood.[4] The tournament was part of the ILTF World Circuit from 1958 to 1969 for men and to 1970 for women. It then became part of the ILTF Independent Circuit from 1970 to 1975 for men, and 1973 to 1975 for women that tour included tournaments not part of ILTF Grand Prix or WTA Tour.

Finals

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Men's singles

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Year Winners Runners-up Score
1958[8]   Sam Giammalva   Bernard Bartzen 2–6, 6–4, 9–7, 7–5.[4]
1959   Ham Richardson   Bernard Bartzen 6–3, 6–4.[4]
1960   Bernard Bartzen   Butch Buchholz 8–6, 6–1.[4]
1961   Bernard Bartzen (2)   Chuck McKinley 6–0, 4–6, 8–6.[4]
1962   Ham Richardson (2)   Chuck McKinley 6–3, 1–6, 8–6.[4]
1963   Frank Froehling III   Chuck McKinley 6–4, 6–4.[4]
1964   Chuck McKinley   Ham Richardson 8–6, 6–4.[4]
1965   Ham Richardson (3)   Clark Graebner 6–4, 6–4.[4]
1966   Vic Seixas   John Pickens[9] 6–3, 6–4.[4]
1967   Cliff Richey   Clark Graebner 6–2, 6–1.[4]
1968   Peter van Lingen   Joaquín Loyo-Mayo 7–5, 6–2.[4]
↓  Open era  ↓
1969   Thomaz Koch   Vicente Zarazúa 6–2, 8–6.[4]
1970   Brian Fairlie   Tom Edlefsen 6–2, 4–6, 6–1.[4]
1971   Harold Solomon   Zan Guerry 3–6, 6–3, 6–4.[4]
1972   Dick Stockton   Eddie Dibbs 7–5, 3–6, 6–2.[4]
1973   Zan Guerry   Billy Martin 7–5, 6–3.[4]
1974   Zan Guerry (2)   Scott Martin 4–6, 6–2, 7–5.[4]
1975   Zan Guerry (3)   Dick Stockton 6–1, 6–7, 6–2.[4]

Women's singles

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(incomplete roll)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1961   Karen Hantze   Nancy Richey 9–7, 4–6, 6–3
1962   Patsy Rippy   Donna Holden 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
1963   Yola Ramirez Ochoa   Nancy Richey 4–6, 6–0, 6–1
1964   Yola Ramirez Ochoa (2)   Justina Bricka 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
1965   Carole Graebner   Yola Ramirez Ochoa 5–7, 6–3, 6–1
1966   Billie Jean Moffitt King   Carol Hanks Aucamp 6–0, 6–1
1967   Nancy Richey   Carole Graebner 6–2, 6–3
1968   Betty Ann Grubb   Stephanie Grant[10] 6–3, 6–1
↓  Open era  ↓
1969   Betty Ann Grubb (2)   Victoria Rogers 6–1, 6–1
1970   Stephanie DeFina   Janet Newberry 6–1, 6–4
1971   Chris Evert   Mary Ann Curtis 6–0, 6–3
1972   Laurie Fleming   Kathy Kraft[11] 6–4, 6–2
1973   Jeanne Evert   Janice Metcalf 7–6, 6–1
1974   JoAnne Russell   Mary Hamm 6–4, 6–7, 6–4
1975   Lele Forood   Mary Hamm 6–3, 6–3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Simon, Jay (30 May 1959). "Land Knocks Off Buchholz at Tulsa". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: newspapers.com. p. 33. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  2. ^ Ferguson, John A. (26 May 1960). "Tut, Butch are Top TTC Seeds". Tulsa World. Tulsa, Oklahoma: newspapers.com. p. 44. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Unseeded Sam is Net Winner". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington: newspapers.com. 2 Jun 1958. p. 3. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Tournaments: Tulsa Invitation". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  5. ^ "WACOANS IN TULSA". The Waco Times-Herald. Waco, Texas: newspapers.com. 18 Jun 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Who We Are". thetulsatennisclub.com. Tulsa Tennis Club. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  7. ^ "GIAMMALVA BEATS BARTZEN". Corsicana Daily Sun. Corsicana, Texas: newspapers.com. 2 Jun 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  8. ^ Corsicana Daily Sun
  9. ^ "John Pickens: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Player Profile: Stephanie Grant (USA)". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Kathy Kraft". www.eurosport.de. Euro Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2023.