Richmond WCT

Last updated
Richmond WCT
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameFidelity Bankers Invitational
United Virginia Bank Tennis Classic
Tour ILTF World Circuit (1966–1971)
WCT Tour (1972–1984)
Grand Prix (1978–1981)
Founded1966
Abolished1984
Editions19
Location Richmond, Virginia
Venue Richmond Arena
Richmond Coliseum
Robins Center
Surface Carpet / indoor

The Richmond WCT, also known by its sponsored names Fidelity Bankers Invitational and United Virginia Bank Tennis Classic, was a men's tennis tournament played in Richmond, Virginia in the United States founded in 1966 as the Richmond Invitational Indoor Championships . [1] The inaugural edition in February 1966 was a two-day event with eight player and without prize money. The first six editions, from 1966 through 1971, were invitational tournaments and were held at the Richmond Arena. The 1970 edition was the first one to offer prize money, namely $12,500. In 1972 the event became part of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) Tour [lower-alpha 1] and moved to the Richmond Coliseum. [2] All subsequent editions were held at the Coliseum except for the 1983 edition which was held at the Robins Center. [3] All editions were held on indoor carpet courts. Lou Einwick was the tournament chairman or director for all editions.

Contents

Finals

Singles

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1966 Flag of the United States.svg Chuck McKinley Flag of the United States.svg Frank Froehling 6–1, 6–2
1967 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe 6–3, 8–6
1968 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe Flag of the United States.svg Chuck McKinley 6–2, 6–1
1969 Flag of the United States.svg Clark Graebner Flag of Brazil.svg Thomaz Koch 6–3, 10–12, 9–7
1970 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe (2) Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith 6–2, 13–11
1971 Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Ilie Năstase Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1972 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
1973 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver (2) Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson 6–4, 6–3
1974 Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Ilie Năstase Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gorman 6–2, 6–3
1975 Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Borg Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1976 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe (3) Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–4
1977 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker Flag of the United States.svg Vitas Gerulaitis 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1978 Flag of the United States.svg Vitas Gerulaitis Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe 6–3, 6–4
1979 Flag of Sweden.svg Björn Borg (2) Flag of Argentina.svg Guillermo Vilas 6–3, 6–1
1980 Flag of the United States.svg John McEnroe Flag of the United States.svg Roscoe Tanner 6–1, 6–2
1981 Flag of France.svg Yannick Noah Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ivan Lendl 6–1, 3–1, RET.
1982 Flag of Argentina.svg José Luis Clerc Flag of the United States.svg Fritz Buehning 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1983 Flag of Argentina.svg Guillermo Vilas Flag of the United States.svg Steve Denton 6–3, 7–5, 6–4
1984 Flag of the United States.svg John McEnroe (2) Flag of the United States.svg Steve Denton 6–3, 7–6(9–7)

Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1966 Flag of the United States.svg Chuck McKinley
Flag of the United States.svg Gene Scott
Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Richey
6–8, 8–6, 7–5
1967 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Cliff Drysdale
Flag of the United States.svg Ron Holmberg
6–1, 6–4
1968 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell
Flag of the United States.svg Ron Holmberg
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Lutz
6–4, 6–4
1969 Flag of the United States.svg Bob McKinley
Flag of the United States.svg Jim McManus
Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Richey
8–6, 3–6, 7–5
1970 Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Pasarell
Flag of the United States.svg Jim McManus
Flag of the United States.svg Stan Smith
9–7, 6–2
1971 [4] Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the United States.svg Dennis Ralston
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Rosewall
7–6, 3–6, 7–6
1972 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of the United States.svg Marty Riessen
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Newcombe
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
7–6, 7–6
1973 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Roy Emerson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rod Laver
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Addison
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Colin Dibley
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1974 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Nikola Pilić
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Allan Stone
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Alexander
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phil Dent
6–3, 3–6, 7–6
1975 Flag of Austria.svg Hans Kary
Flag of the United States.svg Fred McNair
Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Bertolucci
Flag of Italy.svg Adriano Panatta
7–6, 5–7, 7–6
1976 Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of Mexico.svg Raúl Ramírez
Flag of the United States.svg Arthur Ashe
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
6–4, 7–5
1977 Flag of Poland.svg Wojtek Fibak
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tom Okker
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ross Case
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Roche
6–4, 6–4
1978 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Hewitt
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan
Flag of the United States.svg Vitas Gerulaitis
Flag of the United States.svg Sandy Mayer
6–3, 7–5
1979 Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of the United States.svg John McEnroe
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Ion Țiriac
Flag of Argentina.svg Guillermo Vilas
6–4, 6–3
1980 Flag of the United States.svg Fritz Buehning
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Johan Kriek
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Frew McMillan
3–6, 6–3, 7–6
1981 Flag of the United States.svg Tim Gullikson
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bernard Mitton
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Gottfried
Flag of Mexico.svg Raúl Ramírez
3–6, 6–2, 6–3
1982 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Edmondson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kim Warwick
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Syd Ball
Flag of Germany.svg Rolf Gehring
6–4, 6–2
1983 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Pavel Složil
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Tomáš Šmíd
Flag of the United States.svg Fritz Buehning
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Teacher
6–2, 6–4
1984 Flag of the United States.svg John McEnroe
Flag of the United States.svg Patrick McEnroe
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Denton
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Kevin Curren
7–6, 6–2

See also

Notes

  1. From 1978 until 1981 the WCT circuit was incorporated into the Grand Prix circuit.

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The 1975 Richmond WCT – Singles was an event of the 1975 Richmond WCT men's tennis tournament that was played at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia in the United States from January 27 through February 2, 1975. The draw comprised 32 players and 8 of them were seeded. The draw had to be redone after substitute players Jeff Borowiak and Tony Roche had been seeded in violation of WCT rules which stated that substitute players could not be seeded. Ilie Năstase was the defending champion, but did not compete in this edition. First-seeded Björn Borg won the singles title, defeating third-seeded Arthur Ashe in the final, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.

References

  1. "Passarell, Ashe Seeded 1 & 2 at Richmond". The Daily Times . Salisbury, Maryland: newspapers.com. 2 Feb 1968. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. John Packett (January 26, 1975). "Tournament developed in decade" . Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. F-1, F-2, F-4 via Newspapers.com.
  3. John Packett (February 15, 1983). "Einwick pleased with tournament despite problems" . Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. C-2 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Nastase takes upset victory against Ashe". The Daily Times. Salisbury, Maryland. Associated Press. 1971-02-08. Retrieved 2015-10-12.