Eckerd Open

Last updated
Eckerd Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Event name1953–1965 Masters Invitational (1953–65)
St Petersburg Masters (1966–70)
Virginia Slims Masters of St Petersburg (1971–72)
St Petersburg Masters Invitational (1973)
Barnett Bank Masters (1974)
1977–1985 Florida Federal Open (1977–85)
Eckerd Open
Tour WTA Tour (1977–90)
Founded1953;70 years ago (1953)
Abolished1990;33 years ago (1990)
Location Tampa Bay Area, Florida, U.S.
Surface Clay (1971–74)
Hard (1977–86)
Clay (1987–90)

The Eckerd Open is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated women's tennis tournament founded in 1953 as a combined men's and women's clay court tennis tournament called the Masters Invitational tournament in St Augustine, Florida. In 1954 that event moved to Jacksonville, Florida until 1959. In 1960 the event moved to St Petersburg. It remained at the former location until 1974. After the combined event the St. Petersburg Masters Invitational finished in 1970. The womens event continued under various brand names and various locations in the Tampa Bay Area until it was abolished in 1990.

Contents

History

In 1953 Masters Invitational tournament was established at the St Augustine Tennis Club, St Augustine, Florida and played on outdoor clay courts. In 1954 the Masters event was moved to Jacksonville, Florida through till 1959. In 1959 it changed location to St Petersburg, Florida, where it remained under that brand name until 1965. In 1966 the tournament's name was changed to the St. Petersburg Masters Invitational until 1970 when the womens event became known as the Virginia Slims Masters of St Petersburg, the men's tournament continued under the same name until 1971 when it was discontinued. The tournament was part Florida-Caribbean Circuit which was a major feature of the international tennis scene in the 1960s and early 1970s.

The women's event continued under brand name VS Masters of St Petersburg until 1973 when it was rebranded as the St. Petersburg Masters Invitational In 1974 a new sponsor was found and the event became known as the Barnett Bank Masters until 1974 when it was discontinued. In 1977 the tournament was revived as the Florida Federal Open until 1985, and in 1986 becoming the Eckerd Open until it was abolished. The tournament was played on outdoor clay courts from 1953 to 1974 and from 1987 to 1990. It was played on outdoor hard courts from 1977 to 1986.

The holding of men's tournaments in the Tampa Bay Area were not as consistent as the women's event in 1974 the former St Petersburg Masters Invitational was revived as the St. Petersburg WCT from 1974 to 1975 before that was discontinued. In 1981 a Tampa Open men's tournament held in Tampa, Florida through till 1983.

Locations

Played from 1953 to 1990 in various locations in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida in the United States. St Augustine, Florida from 1953 to 1954, then Jacksonville, Florida from 1955 to 1959, then it was held in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1960 to 1974, Palm Harbor, Florida in 1977, in Clearwater, Florida in 1978 and in Tampa, Florida from 1979 to 1990.

Event names

Results

Singles

For previous winners of this event see St. Petersburg Masters Invitational
YearChampionRunner-upScore
Virginia Slims Masters of St Petersburg
1971 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of the United States.svg Julie Heldman 6–1, 6–2
1972 Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Gunter Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert 6–3, 6–4
St Petersburg Masters Invitational
1973 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of Australia (converted).svg Evonne Goolagong 6–2, 0–6, 6–4
Barnett Bank Masters
1974 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kerry Reid 6–0, 6–1
1975/1976Not held
Florida Federal Open
1977 Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Virginia Ruzici Flag of the United States.svg Laura duPont 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1978 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade Flag of the United States.svg Anna-Maria Fernandez 6–4, 7–6(7–1)
1979 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Evonne Goolagong Cawley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade 6–0, 6–3
1980 Flag of the United States.svg Andrea Jaeger Flag of the United States.svg Tracy Austin Walkover
1981 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of Germany.svg Bettina Bunge 5–7, 6–2, 6–0
1982 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert-Lloyd Flag of the United States.svg Andrea Jaeger 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1983 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–2
1984 Flag of the United States.svg Michelle Torres Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carling Bassett 6–1, 7–6
1985 Flag of the United States.svg Stephanie Rehe Flag of Argentina.svg Gabriela Sabatini 6–4, 6–7, 7–5
Eckerd Open
1986 Flag of the United States.svg Lori McNeil Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison 2–6, 7–5, 6–2
1987 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert-Lloyd Flag of the United States.svg Kate Gompert 6–3, 6–2
1988 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of Spain.svg Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6, 6–4
1989 Flag of Spain.svg Conchita Martínez Flag of Argentina.svg Gabriela Sabatini 6–3, 6–2
1990 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Monica Seles Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Katerina Maleeva 6–1, 6–0

Doubles

YearChampionRunner-upScore
Virginia Slims Masters of St Petersburg
1971 Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ann Haydon-Jones
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Judy Tegart
Flag of the United States.svg Julie Heldman
7–6, 3–6, 6–3
1972 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Karen Krantzcke
Flag of the United States.svg Wendy Overton
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Judy Tegart
Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr
7–5, 6–4
St Petersburg Masters Invitational
1973 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Evert
Flag of the United States.svg Jeanne Evert
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Evonne Goolagong
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Janet Young
6–2, 7–6
Barnett Bank Masters
1974 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Olga Morozova
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Betty Stöve
Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Evonne Goolagong
6–4, 6–2
1975/1976Not held
Florida Federal Open
1977 Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Delina Ann Boshoff
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Ilana Kloss
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Brigitte Cuypers
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Marise Kruger
6–7, 6–2, 6–2
1978 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Anne Smith
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kerry Reid
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wendy Turnbull
7–6(7–4), 6–3
1979 Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Virginia Ruzici
Flag of the United States.svg Anne Smith
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Ilana Kloss
Flag of the United States.svg Betty Ann Grubb Stuart
7–5, 4–6, 7–5
1980 Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals
Flag of the United States.svg Candy Reynolds
Flag of the United States.svg Anne Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Paula Smith
7–6, 7–5
1981 Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wendy Turnbull
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Renáta Tomanová
6–3, 6–4
1982 Flag of the United States.svg Ann Kiyomura
Flag of the United States.svg Paula Smith
Flag of the United States.svg Mary-Lou Piatek
Flag of the United States.svg Wendy White
6–2, 6–4
1983 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver
Flag of the United States.svg Bonnie Gadusek
Flag of the United States.svg Wendy White
6–0, 6–1
1984 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carling Bassett
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Elizabeth Sayers
Flag of the United States.svg Mary-Lou Piatek
Flag of the United States.svg Wendy White
6–4, 6–3
1985 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carling Bassett
Flag of Argentina.svg Gabriela Sabatini
Flag of the United States.svg Lisa Bonder
Flag of Peru.svg Laura Arraya
6–0, 6–0
Eckerd Open
1986 Flag of the United States.svg Elise Burgin
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Rosalyn Fairbank
Flag of the United States.svg Gigi Fernández
Flag of the United States.svg Kim Sands
7–5, 6–2
1987 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert-Lloyd
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wendy Turnbull
Flag of the United States.svg Elise Burgin
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Rosalyn Fairbank
6–4, 6–3
1988 Flag of the United States.svg Terry Phelps
Flag of Italy.svg Raffaella Reggi
Flag of the United States.svg Cammy MacGregor
Flag of the United States.svg Cynthia MacGregor
6–2, 6–4
1989 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Brenda Schultz
Flag of Hungary.svg Andrea Temesvári
Flag of the United States.svg Elise Burgin
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Rosalyn Fairbank
7–6, 6–4
1990 Flag of Argentina.svg Mercedes Paz
Flag of Spain.svg Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Flag of Italy.svg Sandra Cecchini
Flag of Peru.svg Laura Gildemeister
6–2, 6–0

See also

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References