The Virginia Slims of Houston is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1995. It was held in Houston, Texas in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts from 1970 to 1984 and on outdoor clay courts from 1985 to 1995.
Virginia Slims of Houston Event name Virginia Slims of Houston (1970–78, 1983–94) (1979–82) (1995) Tour WTA Tour (1970–95) Founded 1970 Abolished 1995 Surface Carpet (1970–84) Clay (1985–95)
The event has the distinction of being the first-ever tournament on the professional women's circuit, which would eventually become the WTA Tour. In 1971, the event served as the series Championships of the inaugural Virginia Slims Tour .
Martina Navratilova was the most successful player at the tournament, winning the singles and doubles competitions six times each, partnering Dutchwomen Betty Stöve and Manon Bollegraf and Americans Janet Newberry , Pam Shriver , Elise Burgin and Kathy Jordan once each for her doubles successes.
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
1970 Rosemary Casals Judy Dalton 5–7, 6–1, 7–5
1971 Billie Jean King Kerry Melville 6–4, 4–6, 6–1
1972
Not Held
1973 Françoise Dürr Rosemary Casals 6–4, 1–6, 6–4
1974 Chris Evert Virginia Wade 6–3, 5–7, 6–1
1975 Chris Evert Margaret Court 6–3, 6–2
1976 Martina Navratilova Chris Evert 6–3, 6–4
1977 Martina Navratilova Sue Barker 7–6(5–3) , 7–5
1978 Martina Navratilova Billie Jean King 1–6, 6–2, 6–2
1979 Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–2
1980
Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–3
1981
Hana Mandlíková Bettina Bunge 6–4, 6–4
1982
Bettina Bunge Pam Shriver 6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1983
Martina Navratilova Sylvia Hanika 6–3, 7–6
1984
Hana Mandlíková Manuela Maleeva 6–4, 6–2
1985
Martina Navratilova Elise Burgin 6–4, 6–1
1986
Chris Evert-Lloyd Kathy Rinaldi 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1987
Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–1, 7–6
1988
Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 6–0, 6–4
1989
Monica Seles Chris Evert 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1990
Katerina Maleeva Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1991
Monica Seles Mary Joe Fernández 6–4, 6–3
1992
Monica Seles Zina Garrison 6–1, 6–1
1993
Conchita Martínez Sabine Hack 6–3, 6–2
1994
Sabine Hack Mary Pierce 7–5, 6–4
1995
Steffi Graf Åsa Carlsson 6–1, 6–1
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
1970
Not Held
1971
Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King Judy Dalton Françoise Dürr 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1972
Not Held
1973
Mona Schallau Pam Teeguarden Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1974
Janet Newberry Wendy Overton Sue Stap Virginia Wade 4–6, 7–5, 6–2
1975
Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve Evonne Goolagong Virginia Wade 2–6, 6–3, 7–6
1976
Françoise Dürr Rosemary Casals Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 6–0, 7–5
1977
Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1978
Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova Greer Stevens Mona Guerrant 7–6(5–4) , 4–6, 7–6(5–4)
1979
Martina Navratilova Janet Newberry Pam Shriver Betty Stöve 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1980
Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1981
Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura Regina Maršíková Mary Lou Piatek 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
1982
Kathy Jordan Pam Shriver Sue Barker Sharon Walsh 7–6, 6–2
1983
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver Jo Durie Barbara Potter 6–4, 6–3
1984
Mima Jaušovec Anne White Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 6–4, 3–6, 7–6
1985
Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova Manuela Maleeva Helena Suková 6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1986
Chris Evert-Lloyd Wendy Turnbull Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell 6–2, 6–4
1987
Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova Zina Garrison Lori McNeil 6–2, 6–4
1988
Katrina Adams Zina Garrison Lori McNeil Martina Navratilova 6–7, 6–2, 6–4
1989
Katrina Adams Zina Garrison Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil 6–3, 6–4
1990
Not Completed
1991
Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi Patty Fendick Mary Joe Fernández 6–1, 2–6, 6–1
1992
Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi 7–5, 6–4
1993
Katrina Adams Manon Bollegraf Eugenia Maniokova Radka Zrubáková 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
1994
Manon Bollegraf Martina Navratilova Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 6–4, 6–2
1995
Nicole Arendt Manon Bollegraf Wiltrud Probst Rene Simpson 6–4, 6–2
