A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
U.S. Pro Tennis Championships | |
---|---|
Defunct tennis tournament | |
Tour | Pro tours (1927–69) Grand Prix Circuit (1970–89) ATP World Tour (1997–99) |
Founded | 1927 |
Abolished | 1999 |
Location | United States |
Venue | Multiple |
Surface | Grass, Clay, Wood, Hard |
The U.S. Pro Tennis Championships (for a period from 1951 to 1962 billed as the Cleveland International Pro or Cleveland World Pro Tennis Championships[1]) was the oldest professional tennis tournament played until its final year of 1999 and is considered to have been a professional major from 1927–1967 until the advent of Open Era. In 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1960, the Cleveland World Pro had a women's draw, with Pauline Betz winning the first three of these, and defeating the reigning U.S. women's champion Doris Hart in the 1956 final.[2] Althea Gibson defeated Pauline Betz in the 1960 women's final.[3]
History
American's first prominent professional player, Vincent Richards, arranged what became the first U.S. Professionals by negotiating with Doc Kelton to have a tournament played at the Notlek Tennis Club, located at 119th Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan, New York, on September 23–25, 1927.[4][5] Richards, tour pro Howard Kinsey and teaching pros from the eastern U.S. comprised the field, with Richards defeating Kinsey in the final in straight sets, a victory which earned him $1,000 first-prize money.[5]
The tournament was held annually at various locations, including the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York City; the South Shore Tennis Club in Chicago; in Rye, New York; at the Terrace Club in Brooklyn; the Chicago Town and Tennis Club in Chicago; at the L.A. Tennis Club in Los Angeles; at various clubs around Cleveland, Ohio and Cleveland Arena in Cleveland. In 1951, two U.S. Pro events were held, one at Cleveland won by Frank Kovacs and another at Forest Hills won by Pancho Segura. In 1954, the USPLTA authorized Kramer to hold the U.S. Pro Championships at the L.A. Tennis Club in California, Gonzales winning the event, and the Benrus Cup (emblematic of the U.S. Pro) was awarded to Gonzales.[6] There are two U.S. Pro events listed here for both 1951 (Cleveland and Forest Hills) and for 1954 (Cleveland and L.A. Tennis Club). Gonzales won two U.S. Pro titles in 1954. Its final permanent home was the Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where it was held from 1964 to 1999. It became part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour shortly after the advent of open tennis in 1968. From 1970 to 1977, it was a prominent tournament of the Grand Prix Super Series. It then became a tennis event within the ATP Tour with reorganization of the top tier of pro tour tennis.
The tournament was later played on Har-Tru clay courts and was initially an important tune-up event for the US Open. But when this Grand Slam tournament moved to hardcourts in 1978, the U.S. Professionals did not follow suit, electing instead to hold its tournament during the US clay court season in early summer instead of during its hitherto pre-Open Era (late summer) time slot. Remaining a clay event into the 1990s, it was a non-ATP exhibition event from 1990 through 1995. During the last stint of the tournament, from 1997 to 1999, it was again an ATP event and was played on hardcourts.
Pancho Gonzales holds the record for most wins with nine, two of those wins in the multiple year of 1954.[5][7]
Past finals
Singles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Surface |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Professional era | |||||
1927 | Vincent Richards | Howard Kinsey | 11–9, 6–4, 6–3 | Notlek Tennis Club, Manhattan | Grass |
1928 | Vinny Richards | Karel Koželuh | 8–6, 6–3, 0–6, 6–2 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1929 | Karel Koželuh | Vinny Richards | 6–4, 6–4, 4–6, 4–6, 7–5 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1930 | Vinny Richards | Karel Koželuh | 2–6, 10–8, 6–3, 6–4 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1931 | Bill Tilden | Vinny Richards | 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1932 | Karel Koželuh | Hans Nüsslein | 6–2, 6–2, 7–5 | South Shore Country Club | Clay |
1933 | Vinny Richards | Frank Hunter | 6–3, 6–0, 6–2 | Westchester Country Club | Grass |
1934 | Hans Nüsslein | Karel Koželuh | 6–4, 6–2, 1–6, 7–5 | South Shore Country Club | Clay |
1935 | Bill Tilden | Karel Koželuh | 0–6, 6–1, 6–4, 0–6, 6–4 | Terrace Club, Brooklyn | Clay |
1936 | Joe Whalen | Charles Wood | 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 | Tudor City Tennis Club, New York | Clay |
1937[a] | Karel Koželuh | Bruce Barnes | 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–1 | Greenbrier | Clay |
1938 | Fred Perry | Bruce Barnes | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 | Chicago Arena | Canvas (i) |
1939 | Ellsworth Vines | Fred Perry | 8–6, 6–8, 6–1, 20–18 | Beverly Hills Tennis Club | Hard |
1940 | Don Budge | Fred Perry | 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 | Chicago Town and Tennis Club | Clay |
1941 | Fred Perry | Dick Skeen | 6–4, 6–8, 6–2, 6–3 | Chicago Town and Tennis Club | Clay |
1942 | Don Budge | Bobby Riggs | 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1943 | Bruce Barnes | John Nogrady | 6–1, 7–9, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 | Fort Knox | Clay |
1944 | not held | ||||
1945 | Welby Van Horn | John Nogrady | 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 | Rips Tennis Courts, Manhattan | Clay |
1946 | Bobby Riggs | Don Budge | 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1947 | Bobby Riggs | Don Budge | 3–6, 6–3, 10–8, 4–6, 6–3 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1948 | Jack Kramer | Bobby Riggs | 14–12, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1949 | Bobby Riggs | Don Budge | 9–7, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1950 | Pancho Segura | Frank Kovacs | 6–1, 1–6, 8–6, 4–4 ret. | Skating Club, Cleveland | Clay (i) |
1951 | Frank Kovacs | Pancho Segura | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 1–6, 9–7 | Lakewood, Cleveland | Cement (i) |
1951[b][c] | Pancho Segura | Pancho Gonzales | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2r[31] | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1952 | Pancho Segura | Pancho Gonzales | 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–0 | Lakewood, Cleveland | Cement (i) |
1953 | Pancho Gonzales | Don Budge | 4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–2 | Lakewood, Cleveland | Cement (i) |
1954 | Pancho Gonzales | Frank Sedgman | 6-3, 9-7, 3-6, 6-2 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland | Hard (i) |
1954[d] | Pancho Gonzales | Pancho Segura | 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4[37] | Los Angeles Tennis Club | Cement |
1955[e] | Pancho Gonzales | Pancho Segura | 21–16, 19–21, 21–8, 20–22, 21–19v | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
1956 | Pancho Gonzales | Pancho Segura | 21–15, 13–21, 21–14, 22–20v | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
*1956 | Pauline Betz | Doris Hart | 21-16, 19-21, 21-12 | Cleveland Arena (Women's event) | Hard (i) |
1957 | Pancho Gonzales | Pancho Segura | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
1958 | Pancho Gonzales | Lew Hoad | 3–6, 4–6, 14–12, 6–1, 6–4 | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
1959 | Pancho Gonzales | Lew Hoad | 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
1960 | Alex Olmedo | Tony Trabert | 7–5, 6–4 | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
*1960 | Althea Gibson | Pauline Betz | 7-5, 2-6, 6-5 | Cleveland Arena (Women's event) | Hard (i) |
1961 | Pancho Gonzales | Frank Sedgman | 6–3, 7–5 | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
1962 | Butch Buchholz | Pancho Segura | 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 | Cleveland Arena | Hard (i) |
1963 | Ken Rosewall | Rod Laver | 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1964 | Rod Laver | Pancho Gonzales | 4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Grass |
1965 | Ken Rosewall | Rod Laver | 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 | Longwood Cricket Club | Grass |
1966 | Rod Laver | Ken Rosewall | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 8–10, 6–3 | Longwood Cricket Club | Grass |
1967 | Rod Laver | Andrés Gimeno | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–5 | Longwood Cricket Club | Grass |
Open Era | |||||
1968 | Rod Laver | John Newcombe | 6–4, 6–4, 9–7 | Longwood Cricket Club | Grass |
1969 | Rod Laver | John Newcombe | 7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1970 | Tony Roche | Rod Laver | 3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1971 | Ken Rosewall | Cliff Drysdale | 6–4, 6–3, 6–0 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1972 | Bob Lutz | Tom Okker | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1973[38] | Jimmy Connors | Arthur Ashe | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1974 | Björn Borg | Tom Okker | 7–6, 6–1, 6–1 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1975 | Björn Borg | Guillermo Vilas | 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1976 | Björn Borg | Harold Solomon | 6–7, 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1977 | Manuel Orantes | Eddie Dibbs | 7–6, 7–5, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1978 | Manuel Orantes | Harold Solomon | 6–4, 6–3 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1979 | José Higueras | Hans Gildemeister | 6–3, 6–1 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1980 | Eddie Dibbs | José Luis Clerc | 6–2, 6–1 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1981 | José Luis Clerc | Hans Gildemeister | 0–6, 6–2, 6–2 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1982 | Guillermo Vilas | Mel Purcell | 6–4, 6–0 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1983 | José Luis Clerc | Jimmy Arias | 6–3, 3–6, 6–0 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1984 | Aaron Krickstein | José Luis Clerc | 7–6, 3–6, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1985 | Mats Wilander | Martín Jaite | 6–2, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1986 | Andrés Gómez | Martín Jaite | 7–5, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1987 | Mats Wilander | Kent Carlsson | 7–6, 6–1 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1988 | Thomas Muster | Lawson Duncan | 6–2, 6–2 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1989 | Andrés Gómez | Mats Wilander | 6–1, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1990[f] | Martín Jaite | Libor Němeček | 7–5, 6–3 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1991 | Andrés Gómez | Andrei Cherkasov | 7–5, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Clay |
1992 | Ivan Lendl | Richey Reneberg | 6–3, 6–3 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1993 | Ivan Lendl | Todd Martin | 5–7, 6–3, 7–6 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1994 | Ivan Lendl | MaliVai Washington | 7–5, 7–6 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1995 | not completed due to rain | ||||
1996 | not held | ||||
1997 | Sjeng Schalken | Marcelo Ríos | 7–5, 6–3 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1998 | Michael Chang | Paul Haarhuis | 6–3, 6–4 | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
1999 | Marat Safin | Greg Rusedski | 6–4, 7–6(13–11) | Longwood Cricket Club | Hard |
Notes:
- ^ This tournament, the first pro event open to amateur players, is considered by some as both the U.S. Pro Tennis Championship and first "U.S. Open" event (then the U.S. Open was again held from 1938 to 1941 at Greenbrier but as a separate event from the U.S. Pro held in Chicago or in L.A).
- ^ These tournaments from 1951–1962, were billed as the Cleveland International Pro or Cleveland World Pro Championship. In 1951, a U.S. Pro was held at Forest Hills authorized by the USPLTA, and an International Pro was held at Cleveland, which was designated as the U.S. Pro by the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association). The Cleveland event in 1951 awarded the Benrus Cup, emblematic of the U.S. Pro. There was no USPLTA U.S. Pro event held in 1952 or 1953, but the Cleveland International Pro was held in those years and was regarded as the U.S. Pro by the PTPA.[8][9][10][11][12] In 1954, the USPLTA authorized Kramer to hold the U.S. Pro at L.A. Tennis Club in Los Angeles (this was the successor tournament to the 1951 U.S. Pro at Forest Hills and Segura was the defending champion).[13] The International Pro and World Pro events at Cleveland from 1951-62 were not authorized by the USPLTA to be the U.S. Pro, and were not billed as the U.S. Pro.[14] The USPLTA were an organisation of teaching professionals but some of the touring professionals did enter the Cleveland World Pro (or U.S. Pro) events in this period.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] In some interviews in the 1950s, Gonzales and Segura referred to the Cleveland World Pro as "the National" or the "U.S. National Professional Championships".[23] There were many newspaper and magazine articles in the 1950s that also referred to the Cleveland World Pro as the U.S. Pro.[24][16][25][26][27][28][29][30]
- ^ For 1951, the tournament was played under Round Robin format with Segura 4–0 and Gonzalez 3–1 as final standings.
- ^ In 1954, the USPLTA authorized Kramer to hold the U.S. Pro Championship at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, Gonzales winning the final over Segura in five sets.[13] The Benrus Cup was awarded to Gonzales. This tournament was the successor event to the 1951 Forest Hills U.S. Pro, and Segura was deemed to be defending champion of this version of the U.S. Pro,[13] but there were U.S. Pro events held at Cleveland in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954.[32][33][34][35][36]
- ^ For 1955–56, the matches were played under Van Alen scoring system.
- ^ From 1990 to 1995, the U.S. Pro was an exhibition event and not part of the ATP tour.
Doubles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Surface |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Professional era | |||||
1927 | no doubles event | Notlek Tennis Club, Manhattan | Grass | ||
1928 | no doubles event | West Side Tennis Club | Grass | ||
1929 | Karel Koželuh Vincent Richards |
Wallace Johnson Howard Kinsey |
5–7, 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1930 | Howard Kinsey Vincent Richards |
Karel Koželuh Roman Najuch |
6–2, 15–13, 7–5 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1931 | Howard Kinsey Vincent Richards |
Frank Hunter Bill Tilden |
7–9, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1932 | Bruce Barnes Bill Tilden |
Albert Burke Karel Koželuh |
6–2, 6–1, 6–3 | South Shore Country Club | Clay |
1933 | Vincent Richards Charles Wood |
Frank Hunter Theodore Rericha |
6–4, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3 | Westchester Country Club | Grass |
1934 | Bruce Barnes Emmett Paré |
Paul Heston Ellsworth Vines |
6–1, 6–4, 7–5 | South Shore Country Club | Clay |
1935 | George Lott Lester Stoefen |
Morty Bernstein Alfred Chapin |
6–2, 6–3, 6–3 | Terrace Club, Brooklyn | Clay |
1936 | Harold Blauer Charles Wood |
William Ellis William Kenney |
6–4, 4–1, 6–2[39] | Tudor City Tennis Club, New York | Clay |
1937 | George Lott Vincent Richards |
Bruce Barnes Karel Koželuh |
1–6, 6–8, 6–3, 7–5, 9–7 | Greenbrier | Clay |
1938 | Fred Perry Vincent Richards |
Bruce Barnes Berkeley Bell |
6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 13–11 | Chicago Arena | Canvas (i) |
1939 | Bruce Barnes Keith Gledhill |
Fred Perry Ellsworth Vines |
6–2, 7–5, 11–9 | Beverly Hills Tennis Club | Hard |
1940 | Don Budge Fred Perry |
Vincent Richards Bill Tilden |
7–5, 6–3, 9–7[40] | Chicago Town and Tennis Club | Clay |
1941 | Don Budge Fred Perry |
Keith Gledhill Lester Stoefen |
6–4, 6–4, 6–3 | Chicago Town and Tennis Club | Clay |
1942 | Don Budge Bobby Riggs |
Bruce Barnes Frank Kovacs |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |
1943 | Bruce Barnes Gene Mako |
Berkeley Bell John Nogrady |
6–4, 6–0, 6–0 | Fort Knox | Clay |
1944 | not held | ||||
1945 | Vincent Richards Bill Tilden |
Dick Skeen Welby Van Horn |
7–5, 6–4, 6–2 | Rips Tennis Courts, Manhattan | Clay |
1946 | Frank Kovacs Fred Perry |
Bobby Riggs Welby Van Horn |
1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4[41] | West Side Tennis Club | Grass |