Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale

The Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated women's tennis tournament founded in 1946 as a combined men's and women's event called the Austin Smith Championships that was part of the ILTF Circuit.[1] The tournament played at the Fort Lauderdale Tennis Club[2] from 1946 to 1974. It was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States and played on outdoor clay courts.

Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameAustin Smith Championships (1946–68) (combined)
Austin Smith Championships (1969–70) (men)
WLOD Invitational (1969) (women)
WLOD International (1970)
Fort Lauderdale Invitation (1971)
S&H Green Stamp Classic (1972–73)
Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale (1974)
TourILTF Caribbean Circuit (1946–1970)
WTA Tour (1971–74)
Founded1946
Abolished1974
Editions28
LocationFort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
VenueFort Lauderdale Tennis Club
Pompano Beach Tennis Center
SurfaceClay (1971–74)

History

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The Austin Smith Championships[3] were a combined men's and women's clay court tournament first established in 1946.[1] The event was always played on outdoor clay courts at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. In 1969 the men's tournament continued under its original brand name, whilst the women's event was renamed as the WLOD Invitational.[1] In 1970 the combined event was discontinued as the men's tournament was dropped from the schedule.[1] In 1970 the women's tournament was branded as the WLOD International. In 1971 two versions of the tournament one in January the WLOD Invitational[4] and one in February the Fort Lauderdale Invitation. In 1972 the women's tournament was renamed as the S&H Green Stamp Classic for sponsorship reasons as part of the Virginia Slims Circuit until 1973. In 1974 the last edition the tournament was just branded as the Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale.

Finals

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Men's singles

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(incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1949[1]   Gardnar Mulloy   Gardner Larned 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7
1950[1]   Gardnar Mulloy (2)   Herbert Behrens[5] 4–6, 6–4, 5–7, 6–0, 6-3
1951[6]   Sidney Schwartz   Donald Kaiser[7] 6–2, 6–4, 6–1
1952[1]   Gardnar Mulloy (3)   Sidney Schwartz 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
1953[1]   Gardnar Mulloy (4)   Tony Vincent 6–0, 1–6, 6–1, 6–1
1954[1]   Gardnar Mulloy (5)   Lorne Main 6–4, 6–3, 6–0
1955[1]   Eddie Moylan   Johann Kupferburger 6–2, 6–1, 6–4
1956[1]   Jerry Moss   Allen Quay 15–13, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1957[1]   Reyno Summers[8]   Pete Pressinger 4–6, 5–7, 6–2, 6–2, 6–1
1958[1]   Gardnar Mulloy (6)   John W. Frost 1–6, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4
1959[1]   John Powless   Birger Folke 8–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1
1960[1]   Don Candy   Eduardo Zuleta 8–6, 9–7
1961[1]   Gardnar Mulloy (7)   Miguel Olvera 8–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1962[1]   Gardnar Mulloy(8)   Carlos Fernandes 1–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1963[1]   Ed Rubinoff   Thomaz Koch 4–6, 11–3, 8–6, 7–5, 6–2
1964[1]   Eduardo Zuleta   Gardnar Mulloy 5–7, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–3
1965[1]   Frank Froehling   Billy Higgins 6–4, 6–2, 6–1
1966[1]   Frank Froehling (2)   Mike Belkin 6–4, 6–1
1967[1]   Frank Froehling (3)   Jaime Fillol 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1968[1]   Frank Froehling (4)   Pancho Guzmán 1–6, 9–11, 6–2 ret.
↓  Open era  ↓
1969[1]   Pat Cramer   Jaime Fillol 6–2, 11–9
1970[1]   Cliff Richey   Clark Graebner 6–3, 7–5

Women's singles

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(incomplete roll):Two editions of the tournament was held in 1971 * in January and ** in February.

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1946   Doris Hart   Virginia Kovacs 6–0, 6–1
1948   Magda Rurac   Laura Lou Jahn 6–0, 6–2
1949   Helen Rihbany   Virginia Lee Boyer[9] 6-2 6-1
1950   Laura Lou Jahn   Rhoda Hopkins Root 6–8, 6–3, 6–3
1951   Laura Lou Jahn (2)   Nancy Morrison 6–2, 4–6, 7–5
1952   Magda Rurac (2)   Laura Lou Jahn Kunnen [10] 6–1, 6–3
1953   Doris Hart (2)   Alicia Wright 6–0, 6–2
1954   Laura Lou Jahn Kunnen (3)   Hanna Kozeluhova Sladek 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1955   Karol Fageros   Marilyn Stock 6–2, 6–2
1956   Marilyn Stock   Lois Miller Osten 6–0, 6–3
1957   Maria Bueno   Martha Hernández 6–2, 6–1
1958   Maria Bueno (2)   Janet Hopps 1–6, 6–4, 6–4
1959   Karol Fageros (2)   Marie Martin 6–4, 6–3
1960   Ann Barclay   Margaret Babbitt 6–1, 6–1
1961   Mary Habicht   Kay Hubbell 1–6, 6–4, 6–0
1962   Margaret Hellyer   Stephanie DeFina 6–4, 6–3
1963   Stephanie DeFina   Carol Hanks 6–2, 5–7, 10–8
1964   Stephanie DeFina (2)   Frances Farrar 6–3, 6–0
1965   Trudy Groenman   Ellie Krocke 6–4, 6–3
1966   Stephanie DeFina (3)   Peachy Kellmeyer 5–7, 7–5, 6–2
1967   Stephanie DeFina (4)   Peachy Kellmeyer 6–2, 6–1
1968   Faye Urban   Alice Tym 6–2, 6–1
↓  Open era  ↓
1969   Julie Heldman   Virginia Wade 6–1, 6–4
1970 *   Nancy Richey   Peaches Bartkowicz 6–3, 6–0
1970 **   Chris Evert   Laurie Fleming 6–2, 6–1
1971[11]   Françoise Dürr   Billie Jean King 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1972   Chris Evert (2)   Billie Jean King 6–1, 6–0
1973   Chris Evert (3)   Virginia Wade 6–1, 6–2
1974   Chris Evert (4)   Kerry Reid Walkover

Women's doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1972   Judy Tegart
  Françoise Dürr
  Nancy Richey
  Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–2
1973   Gail Sherriff
  Virginia Wade
  Evonne Goolagong
  Janet Young
4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1974   Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
  Patti Hogan
  Sharon Walsh
6–3, 6–2

Event names

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  • Austin Smith Championships (1946–1968) (Combined men's & women's event)
  • Austin Smith Championships (1969–1970) (men's event)
  • WLOD Invitational (1969–1971) (women's event)
  • Fort Lauderdale Invitation (1971 women's event 2nd meeting)
  • S&H Green Stamp Classic (1972–1973)
  • Virginia Slims of Fort Lauderdale (1974)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Tournaments:Fort Lauderdale – Austin Smith Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Florida LTA 1957 Senior Tournament Schedule". Florida Lawn Tennis Association Guide for 1957 Year (PDF). New York: USTA. 1957. pp. 8, 9.
  3. ^ USTA
  4. ^ "WTA Tour Results 1970 to 2007" (PDF). New York: Wayback Machine. 29 May 2008. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Herbert Behrens: Overview". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Sid Schwartz Tennis Victor At Lauderdale". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida: newspapers.com. 19 Feb 1951. p. 35. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Donald Kaiser: Overview". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Reyno Summers: Overview". ATP Tour. Association of Tennis Professionals. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Virginia Lee Boyer Past Matches". www.stevegtennis.com. Steve G Tennis. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  10. ^ Morgan, Nancy (24 May 2001). "Laura Lou Kunnen, 68, '50s tennis icon". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. ^ WTA Tour Results 1970 to 2007 p.31.
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