| Eckerd Open | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Event name | 1953–1965 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) |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Abolished | 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.
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.
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.
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The Sunshine State Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. All of its member institutions are located in the state of Florida, which is popularly known as the Sunshine State.
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Sports teams in Florida include many professional, semi-professional, amateur and college teams. In professional sports, Florida has three National Football League teams, two Major League Baseball teams, two National Basketball Association teams, two National Hockey League teams, two Major League Soccer teams, one Women's Soccer team and many minor league teams in various sports. Additionally, since the late 19th century Florida has been a significant spring training destination for Major League Baseball teams and their affiliates.
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The Virginia Slims of Jacksonville or Jacksonville Invitation its official name is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated women's tennis tournament played from 1972 to 1973. It was held in Jacksonville, Florida in the United States and played on outdoor clay courts.
The St. Petersburg WCT was a men's tennis tournament founded in 1953 as the Masters Invitational 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 1971. After the men's event St Petersburg Masters Invitational finished in 1971 the womens event continued as the Virginia Slims Masters St Petersburg. In 1974 the mens tournament was revived as St. Petersburg WCT until 1975 when it was abolished. the womens tournament comtinued under various brand names and various locations in the Tampa Bay Area until it was discontinued in 1990. The event was part of the WCT Tour and was played on outdoor hard courts.
The 1989 Eckerd Open was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts in Tampa, Florida in the United States that was part of the Category 3 tier of the 1989 WTA Tour. It was the 17th edition of the tournament and was held from April 17 through April 23, 1989. Eighth-seeded Conchita Martínez won the singles title and earned $40,000 first-prize money.
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The 1990 Eckerd Open was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Bardmoor Country Club in Tampa, Florida in the United States that was part of the Tier III category of the 1990 WTA Tour. It was the 18th and last edition of the tournament and was held from April 16 through April 22, 1990. First-seeded Monica Seles won the singles title and earned $45,000 first-prize money.
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The Tropical Championships also called the Tropical Sectional Championships was a mens open tennis tournament founded in 1887 as the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Tournament. It was staged annually at the St. Augustine Lawn Tennis Club, St. Augustine, Florida, United States until 1894.
