Moscow International Championships

The Moscow International Championships was a men's and women's open international outdoor tennis tournament founded in 1956.[1] The tournament was organised by the Tennis Federation of the USSR was played on clay courts in Moscow, Soviet Union until 1975.

Moscow International Championships
USSR International Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF World Circuit
(1956–72)
ILTF Independent Tour
(1973–75)
Founded1956; 68 years ago (1956)
Abolished1975; 49 years ago (1975)
LocationMoscow, Soviet Union
SurfaceClay (outdoors)

The event also carried the joint denomination of USSR International Championships.[1] The championships were part ILTF European Circuit a sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit until 1972 then became part of the ILTF Independent Tour from 1973 until it was discontinued.[1]

History edit

In the mid-1950s confrontational relations between the Western Bloc and Soviet Union eased in part the Khrushchev Thaw a policy of de-Stalinization by then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev,[2] meant that Soviet players were free to travel to overseas international tournaments, while foreign players could take part in a limited number of tournaments within the USSR, mainly in the capital Moscow.

The two prominent international tournaments for foreign players to participate in were the Moscow International Indoor Championships or (USSR International Indoor Championships) usually late winter in February to early spring in March.[1] The second international tennis event was Moscow International Championships usually staged in the summer at the end of July, beginning of August and was played on clay courts.[1] Additionally two closed tournaments were also held in Moscow for Soviet players only the Moscow Indoor Championships and the Moscow Outdoor Championships.[1]

Finals edit

Men's singles edit

(incomplete roll) (incomplete roll) summers

Year Champions Runners-up Score
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1959   Istvan Gulyas   Wladyslaw Skonecki 10–8, 9–7, 6–1.[1]
1960   Istvan Gulyas (2)   Zoltán Katona[3] 6–1, 6–3, 6–1.[1]
1961[4]   Patricio Rodriguez   Toomas Lejus 0–6, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4.[1]
1962[5]   Frank Froehling III   John Newcombe 3–6, 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5.[1]
1963   Toomas Lejus   Alexander Metreveli 8–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2.[1]
1964[6]   Niki Pilic   Boro Jovanovic 5–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4, 6–0.[1]
1965   Alexander Metreveli   Toomas Lejus 2–6, 6–3, 6–0, 11–9.[1]
1966   Alexander Metreveli (2)   Vyacheslav Egorov[7] 2–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–1.[1]
1967   Alexander Metreveli (3)   Vyacheslav Egorov 6–1, 6–1, 6–2.[1]
1968   Toomas Lejus (2)   Sergei Likhachev 6–8, 7–5, 6–2, 8–6.[1]
↓  Open era  ↓
1969   Toomas Lejus (3)   Anatoli Volkov 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–2.[1]
1970   Alexander Metreveli (4)   Wieslaw Gasiorek 6–3, 6–2, 6–2.[1]
1971   Alexander Metreveli (5)   Istvan Gulyas 6–4, 6–1, 6–4.[1]
1972   Teimuraz Kakuliya   Anatoli Volkov 6–3, 6–4
↓  ILTF Independent Tour  ↓
1973   Alexander Metreveli (6)   Jan Bedan[8] 6–3, 7–5, 6–4.[1]

Women's singles edit

(incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1957   Suzy Kormoczy   Vera Puzejova 2–1 sets
1959   Anna Dmitrieva   Valeria Kuzmenko 6–3, 6–1
1960   Anna Dmitrieva (2)   Jirina Elgrova 6–3, 6–4
1961[9]   Vera Sukova   Anna Dmitrieva 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1962[10]   Jan Lehane   Anna Dmitrieva 6–3, 6–3
1964[11]   Anna Dmitrieva (3)   Valeria Kuzmenko Titova 6–2, 6–2
1965   Margaret Smith   Galina Baksheeva 6–2, 6–4
1966   Ann Haydon Jones   Anna Dmitrieva 6–1, 6–3
1968   Olga Morozova   Marina Chuvirina 6–1, 6–3
↓  Open era  ↓
1969   Julie Heldman   Peaches Bartkowicz 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1970   Olga Morozova (2)   Tiiu Kivi Parmas 6–4, 6–4
1971   A. Yeremeyeva   Maria Kull[12] 6–0, 6–3
1972   Olga Morozova (3)   Marina Kroschina 8–6, 6–2
↓  ILTF Independent Tour  ↓
1975   Olga Morozova (4)   Marina Kroshina 2–6, 7–6, 6–0

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Tournaments: Moscow International Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  2. ^ Osipova, Zinaida (September 2019). "When the Soviets Domesticated the West". Origins. Ohio State University. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Player Profile: Zoltan Katona HUN". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Czech Wins Moscow Net Tournament". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida: The Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive.Com. 28 Aug 1961. p. 20. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Froehling Wins Men's Singles In Moscow Play". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont: The Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive.Com. 20 Aug 1962. p. 13. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Yugoslavian Captures Moscow Title". Hartford Courant. Hartford, CT: The Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive.Com. 17 Aug 1964. p. 19. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Vyacheslav Egorov: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Sports News: Daja Bedanova drops father Jan Bedan as coach". Radio Prague Int. Radio Prague International. 3 October 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  9. ^ The Tampa Tribune
  10. ^ The Burlington Free Press
  11. ^ Hartford Courant
  12. ^ "Profile: Maria Kull URS". www.stevegtennis.com. Steve G Tennis.