Virginia Slims of Houston

Last updated
Virginia Slims of Houston
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameVirginia Slims of Houston (1970–78, 1983–94)
Avon Championships of Houston (1979–82)
Gallery Furniture Championships (1995)
Tour WTA Tour (1970–95)
Founded1970
Abolished1995
Surface Carpet (1970–84)
Clay (1985–95)

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.

Contents

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.

Finals

Singles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1970 Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals Flag of Australia (converted).svg Judy Dalton 5–7, 6–1, 7–5
1971 Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kerry Melville 6–4, 4–6, 6–1
1972Not Held
1973 Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals 6–4, 1–6, 6–4
1974 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade 6–3, 5–7, 6–1
1975 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of Australia (converted).svg Margaret Court 6–3, 6–2
1976 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert 6–3, 6–4
1977 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sue Barker 7–6(5–3), 7–5
1978 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King 1–6, 6–2, 6–2
1979 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–2
1980 Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–3
1981 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Hana Mandlíková Flag of Germany.svg Bettina Bunge 6–4, 6–4
1982 Flag of Germany.svg Bettina Bunge Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver 6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1983 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of Germany.svg Sylvia Hanika 6–3, 7–6
1984 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Hana Mandlíková Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Manuela Maleeva 6–4, 6–2
1985 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova Flag of the United States.svg Elise Burgin 6–4, 6–1
1986 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert-Lloyd Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Rinaldi 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1987 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–1, 7–6
1988 Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova 6–0, 6–4
1989 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Monica Seles Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1990 Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Katerina Maleeva Flag of Spain.svg Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1991 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Monica Seles Flag of the United States.svg Mary Joe Fernández 6–4, 6–3
1992 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Monica Seles Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison 6–1, 6–1
1993 Flag of Spain.svg Conchita Martínez Flag of Germany.svg Sabine Hack 6–3, 6–2
1994 Flag of Germany.svg Sabine Hack Flag of France.svg Mary Pierce 7–5, 6–4
1995 Flag of Germany.svg Steffi Graf Flag of Sweden.svg Åsa Carlsson 6–1, 6–1

Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1970Not Held
1971 Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals
Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Judy Dalton
Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr
6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1972Not Held
1973 Flag of the United States.svg Mona Schallau
Flag of the United States.svg Pam Teeguarden
Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Betty Stöve
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1974 Flag of the United States.svg Janet Newberry
Flag of the United States.svg Wendy Overton
Flag of the United States.svg Sue Stap
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
1975 Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Betty Stöve
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Evonne Goolagong
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virginia Wade
2–6, 6–3, 7–6
1976 Flag of France.svg Françoise Dürr
Flag of the United States.svg Rosemary Casals
Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
6–0, 7–5
1977 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Betty Stöve
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sue Barker
Flag of the United States.svg Ann Kiyomura
4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1978 Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Greer Stevens
Flag of the United States.svg Mona Guerrant
7–6(5–4), 4–6, 7–6(5–4)
1979 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Janet Newberry
Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Betty Stöve
4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1980 Flag of the United States.svg Billie Jean King
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Ilana Kloss
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Betty Stöve
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wendy Turnbull
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1981 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sue Barker
Flag of the United States.svg Ann Kiyomura
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Regina Maršíková
Flag of the United States.svg Mary Lou Piatek
5–7, 6–4, 6–3
1982 Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Jordan
Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sue Barker
Flag of the United States.svg Sharon Walsh
7–6, 6–2
1983 Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Pam Shriver
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jo Durie
Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Potter
6–4, 6–3
1984 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Mima Jaušovec
Flag of the United States.svg Anne White
Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Potter
Flag of the United States.svg Sharon Walsh
6–4, 3–6, 7–6
1985 Flag of the United States.svg Elise Burgin
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg Manuela Maleeva
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Helena Suková
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1986 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 the United States.svg JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–4
1987 Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Jordan
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison
Flag of the United States.svg Lori McNeil
6–2, 6–4
1988 Flag of the United States.svg Katrina Adams
Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison
Flag of the United States.svg Lori McNeil
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
6–7, 6–2, 6–4
1989 Flag of the United States.svg Katrina Adams
Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison
Flag of the United States.svg Gigi Fernández
Flag of the United States.svg Lori McNeil
6–3, 6–4
1990Not Completed
1991 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jill Hetherington
Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Rinaldi
Flag of the United States.svg Patty Fendick
Flag of the United States.svg Mary Joe Fernández
6–1, 2–6, 6–1
1992 Flag of the United States.svg Patty Fendick
Flag of the United States.svg Gigi Fernández
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jill Hetherington
Flag of the United States.svg Kathy Rinaldi
7–5, 6–4
1993 Flag of the United States.svg Katrina Adams
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Manon Bollegraf
Flag of Russia (1991-1993).svg Eugenia Maniokova
Flag of Slovakia.svg Radka Zrubáková
6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
1994 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Manon Bollegraf
Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova
Flag of the United States.svg Katrina Adams
Flag of the United States.svg Zina Garrison
6–4, 6–2
1995 Flag of the United States.svg Nicole Arendt
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Manon Bollegraf
Flag of Germany.svg Wiltrud Probst
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rene Simpson
6–4, 6–2

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References