Virginia Slims of Washington

The Virginia Slims of Washington, now defunct, was a Grand Prix and WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1972 to 1991. It was held in Washington, D.C. in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1978 to 1990. From 1976 to 1977, it was played on indoor hard courts and in the final year it was played on outdoor hard courts.

Virginia Slims of Washington
Tournament information
Event nameVirginia Slims of Washington (1972–78, 1983–91)
Avon Championships of Washington (1979, 1982)
TourWTA Tour
Founded1972
Abolished1991
Editions18
LocationWashington, D.C., United States
SurfaceCarpet (i) (1972–75, 1978–90)
Hard (i) (1976–77)
Hard (1991)

The event was known by several different names. For most of its run, the tournament was called the Virginia Slims of Washington due to sponsorship by Virginia Slims. It was also known as the Colgate Championships of Washington and the Avon Championships of Washington.

Martina Navratilova was the most successful player, winning nine titles overall.

The tournament was abolished after the 1991 edition when its owners, Pro-Serv, sold it abroad.[1]

Finals edit

Singles edit

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1972   Nancy Richey   Chris Evert 7–6(5–1), 6–2
1973   Margaret Court   Kerry Melville 6–1, 6–2
1974   Billie Jean King   Kerry Melville 6–0, 6–2
1975   Martina Navratilova   Kerry Melville 6–3, 6–1
1976   Chris Evert   Virginia Wade 6–2, 6–1
1977   Martina Navratilova   Chris Evert 6–2, 6–3
1978   Martina Navratilova   Betty Stöve 7–5, 6–4
1979   Tracy Austin   Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–2
1980 Not held [a]
1981
1982   Martina Navratilova   Anne Smith 6–2, 6–3
1983   Martina Navratilova   Sylvia Hanika 6–1, 6–1
1984   Hana Mandlíková   Zina Garrison 6–1, 6–1
1985   Martina Navratilova   Manuela Maleeva 6–3, 6–2
1986   Martina Navratilova   Pam Shriver 6–1, 6–4
1987   Hana Mandlíková   Barbara Potter 6–4, 6–2
1988   Martina Navratilova   Pam Shriver 6–0, 6–2
1989   Steffi Graf   Zina Garrison 6–1, 7–5
1990   Martina Navratilova   Zina Garrison 6–1, 6–0
1991   Arantxa Sánchez   Katerina Maleeva 6–2, 7–5

Doubles edit

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1972   Wendy Overton
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
  Judy Tegart
  Françoise Dürr
7–5, 6–2
1973   Rosie Casals
  Julie Heldman
  Kerry Harris
  Kerry Melville
6–3, 6–3
1974   Billie Jean King
  Betty Stöve
  Françoise Dürr
  Kerry Harris
6–3, 6–4
1975   Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
  Helen Gourlay
  Kerry Melville
6–3, 6–4
1976   Olga Morozova
  Virginia Wade
  Wendy Overton
  Mona Guerrant
7–6, 6–2
1977   Martina Navratilova
  Betty Stöve
  Kristien Kemmer
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
7–5, 6–2
1978   Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 7–5
1979   Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
  Sharon Walsh
  Renée Richards
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1980 Not held [a]
1981
1982   Kathy Jordan
  Anne Smith
  Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–2, 3–6, 6–1
1983   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
  Kathy Jordan
  Anne Smith
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
1984   Barbara Potter
  Sharon Walsh
  Leslie Allen
  Anne White
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1985   Martina Navratilova
  Gigi Fernández
  Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1986   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
  Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
  Helena Suková
6–3, 6–4
1987   Elise Burgin
  Pam Shriver
  Zina Garrison
  Lori McNeil
6–1, 3–6, 6–4
1988   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
  Gabriela Sabatini
  Helena Suková
6–3, 6–4
1989   Betsy Nagelsen
  Pam Shriver
  Natasha Zvereva
  Larisa Neiland
6–2, 6–3
1990   Zina Garrison
  Martina Navratilova
  Ann Henricksson
  Dinky Van Rensburg
6–0, 6–3
1991   Jana Novotná
  Larisa Neiland
  Gigi Fernández
  Natasha Zvereva
5–7, 6–1, 7–6

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b In January 1980 and 1981 the season-ending Colgate Series Championships were held in Landover, Maryland.

References edit

  1. ^ "Ginny of Washington". Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. Philip Morris. June 1992 – via University of California San Francisco.

External links edit