1971 Women's Tennis Circuit
The 1971 Women's Tennis Circuit consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players. It was composed of two series of events (circuits or tours); the Virginia Slims Circuit and the ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix as well as non-tour events.[1][2]
 Billie Jean King pictured in 2011 won 17 tour titles | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 22 December 1970 – 20 December 1971 |
| Edition | 1st |
| Tournaments | 69 |
| Categories | Grand Slam (4) Virginia Slims Circuit (19) ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix (17)[lower-alpha 1] Non-Tour Events (30) |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most tournament titles |  |
| Most tournament finals | |
1972 → | |
Virginia Slims Circuit
Prior to the establishment of this circuit there was an inequality between the prize money purses for male and female tennis players which gave rise to complaints from a number of the leading female tennis players of the time. Nine of them, including Billie Jean King, became later known as the "Original 9" after being banned from the then existing multi-gender invitational professional events run by the influential United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) due to their boycotting of the Pacific Southwest Championships. This resulted in the first Virginia Slims-sponsored event being held in September 1970 in Houston, an event which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the annual Virginia Slims Circuit the following year. In 1971 the total prize money available from the Virginia Slims events was $309,100 and Billie Jean King became the first female athlete in history to earn more than $100,000 in one season.[3][4]
Schedule
This is a calendar of all events sponsored by Virginia Slims in the year 1971, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. The table also includes the Grand Slam tournaments and the 1971 Federation Cup.[3]
- Key
| Grand Slam tournaments |
| Virginia Slims Circuit |
| ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix |
| Non-tour events |
| Team events |
December (1970)
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec | Federation Cup Perth, Australia Federation Cup Grass – 14 teams knockout | .svg.png){kind=small} 3–0 |  |  | .svg.png){kind=small}  .svg.png){kind=small}  |
| Western Australia Championships Perth, Australia Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–2 | | | | |
6–4, 7–5 | |
January
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | British Motor Cars Invitational San Francisco, United States Virginia Slims $15,200 – Hard – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles |
6–3, 6–4 | | | |
6–4, 6–7, 6–1 |
| ||||
| New South Wales Open Sydney Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles |
6–2, 6–2 |  |  | | |
6–2, 6–0 |
| ||||
| 11 Jan | Billie Jean King Invitational Long Beach, United States Virginia Slims $14,000 – Hard – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–2 | | | |
7–5, 6–3 |
| ||||
| 18 Jan | Virginia Slims of Milwaukee Milwaukee, United States Virginia Slims $12,500 – Hard (i) – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–2 | | | |
6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
| ||||
| 25 Jan | Virginia Slims of Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, United States Virginia Slims $12,500 – Hard – 16S/4D Singles – Doubles | 1–6, 7–6, 6–4 | | | |
6–7, 6–0, 7–5 |
| ||||
| Victoria Championships Melbourne, Australia Non-Tour Event Singles | 7–6, 7–6 | | | |
February
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb | Virginia Slims of Chattanooga Chattanooga, United States Virginia Slims $12,700 – Hard (i) – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles | 6–4, 6–1 | | | |
6–4, 7–5 |
| ||||
| BP New Zealand Championships Christchurch, New Zealand Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–4 | | | | |
6–4, 4–6, 7–5 | | ||||
| 8 Feb | Philadelphia Indoor Championships Philadelphia, United States Virginia Slims $12,500 – Hard (i) – 16S Singles – Doubles | 6–2, 3–6, 6–2 | | | |
|
|||||
| 15 Feb | Station WLOD Fort Lauderdale, United States Virginia Slims $10,000 – Clay – 16S Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 | | | |
| USSR Championships Moscow, Soviet Union Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 7–5 | | | | |
7–6, 5–7, 7–5 | | ||||
| 22 Feb | Virginia Slims of Boston Boston, United States Virginia Slims $12,500 – Hard (i) – 16S/2D Singles – Doubles | 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 | | | |
6–4, 7–5 |
|
March
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar | Benson & Hedges Open Auckland, New Zealand Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 3–6, 7–6, 7–6 | | | |
7–6, 6–0 | | ||||
| 8 Mar | Dunlop Australian Open Sydney, Australia Grand Slam Grass – 30S/14D Singles – Doubles | 2–6, 7–6, 7–5 | | | |
6–0, 6–0 |
| ||||
| 15 Mar | Virginia Slims US Indoors Detroit, United States Virginia Slims $10,000 – Hard (i) – 8S/2D Singles – Doubles | 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 | | | |
2–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| ||||
| 22 Mar | Virginia Slims of New York New York, United States Virginia Slims $15,600 – Hard (i) – 20S Singles – Doubles | 6–4, 6–4 | | 3rd: 4th: | |
| 29 Mar | Caribe Hilton Invitational San Juan, Puerto Rico Virginia Slims $10,000 – 24S/11D Singles – Doubles | 6–4, 6–4 | | | |
7–6, 6–3 |
| ||||
| Natal Open Championships Durban, South Africa Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–2, 6–1 | |  | | |
3–6, 6–3, 6–3 | |
April
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr | Virginia Slims Masters St. Petersburg, United States Virginia Slims $10,000 – Clay – 16S/15Q/11D Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–2 | | | |
7–6, 3–6, 6–3 |
| ||||
| Monte Carlo Open Championships Monte Carlo, Monaco Non-Tour Event 16S/4D Singles – Doubles | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 | |  |    | |
6–4, 6–3 | | ||||
| South Africa Open Johannesburg, South Africa Non-Tour Event 26S/8D Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 6–1 | | | | |
6–3, 6–2 | | ||||
| 12 Apr | Caesar's Palace World Pro Championships Las Vegas, United States Virginia Slims $29,200 – Hard – 16S/13Q/10D Singles – Doubles | 7–5, 6–4 | | | |
0–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| ||||
| USA National Bank Open Charlotte, North Carolina, USA Non-Tour Event 6S/2D Singles – Doubles | 6–2, 6–0 | | | | |
6–3, 1–6, 6–3 | | ||||
| 19 Apr | Virginia Slims of San Diego San Diego, United States Virginia Slims $12,500 – Hard – 16S/4D Singles – Doubles | 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 | | | |
6–7, 6–2, 6–3 |
| ||||
| Catania Open Grand Prix Catania, Italy Non-Tour Event 15S/8D Singles – Doubles | 6–0, 6–3 | | | | |
6–4, 6–4 | | ||||
| 26 Apr | Rothmans Sutton Sutton, United Kingdom Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 7–5, 2–6, 6–3 | | |  |
6–4, 6–3 | | ||||
| River Plate Championships Buenos Aires, Argentina Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–0, 6–3 | |  | | |
7–5, 6–1 | |
May
June
July
Evonne Goolagong at the 1971 Dutch Open Championships
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul | Swedish Open Bastad, Sweden Grand Prix Circuit (B) Clay – 32S/32D | 4–6, 6–1, 6–3 | | |  |
6–2, 6–1 | | ||||
| Open Welsh Championships Newport, Wales Grand Prix Circuit (C) Grass – S32/D16 | 6–3, 6–4 | | | | |
6–3, 8–6 | | ||||
| Swiss Open Gstaad, Switzerland Grand Prix Circuit (B) Clay – S32/D16 | 6–3, 6–3 | | |  | |
8–6, 6–3 | | ||||
| Carroll's Irish Open Dublin, Ireland Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 2–6, 6–3 | | | | |
6–4, 4–6, 7–5 | | ||||
| 12 Jul | North of England Championships Hoylake, England Grand Prix Circuit (C) Grass – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 6–3 | | | |
walkover | | ||||
| 19 Jul | Green Shield Midland Championships Leicester, England Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–2, 6–4 | | | |
8–6, 6–4 | | ||||
| Austrian Open Kitzbühel, Austria Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 | | | | |
6–2, 6–4 | | ||||
| 26 Jul | Dutch Open Championships Hilversum, Netherlands[5] Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 8–6, 6–3 | | | |
6–1, 6–2 | |
August
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Virginia Slims International Houston, United States Virginia Slims $40,000 Singles – Doubles |
6–4, 4–6, 6–1 | | 3rd: 4th: | |
6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
| ||||
| Cincinnati Open Cincinnati, United States Grand Prix Circuit (C) Hard – 32S/16D | 6–3, 6–3 | | | | |
6–4, 6–4 | | ||||
| 9 Aug | Women's Clay Court Championships Indianapolis, USA Grand Prix Circuit (D) Clay – 32S/16D | 6–4, 7–5 | | | |
6–1, 6–2 | | ||||
| 16 Aug | Virginia Slims of Chicago Lake Bluff, IL, United States Virginia Slims $20,000 – Clay Singles – Doubles | 6–4, 6–2 | | | |
6–4, 7–6 |
| ||||
| Wightman Cup Cleveland, United States Hard (i) Team event | 4–3 | | |||
| 23 Aug | Eastern Grass Court Championships South Orange NJ, United States Grand Prix Circuit (C) Grass – 64S/32D | 6–4, 6–0 | |  | |
| Cancelled | |||||
| 30 Aug | Virginia Slims of Newport Newport, United States Virginia Slims $20,000 – Grass Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 6–7(3–5), 7–6(5–4) | | | |
6–2, 6–1 |
| ||||
| 30 Aug 6 Sep | US Open New York, United States Grand Slam (A) Grass – 64S/32D/47X Singles – Doubles – Mixed | 6–4, 7–6(5–2) | | | |
6–3, 6–3 | | ||||
6–3, 7–5 | | ||||
September
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep | Virginia Slims of Louisville Louisville, United States Virginia Slims $20,000 Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 | | | |
2–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| ||||
| 20 Sep | Pacific Southwest Championships Los Angeles, United States Grand Prix Circuit (B) Carpet (i)– 32S/16D | 6–6 double default | | | |
6–3, 6–2 | | ||||
| 27 Sep | Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic Phoenix, United States Virginia Slims $20,000 – Hard – 32S/4D Singles – Doubles | 7–5, 6–1 | | | |
6–3, 6–2 |
| ||||
October
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct | Dewar Cup Edinburgh Edinburgh, United Kingdom Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–0, 6–3 | | | |
6–3, 6–0 | | ||||
| 18 Oct | Dewar Cup Billingham Billingham, United Kingdom Non-Tour Event 15S/4D Singles – Doubles | 4–6, 7–5, 6–3 | | | |
6–3, 4–6, 6–2 | | ||||
| 25 Oct | Embassy British Indoor Championships London, England Grand Prix Circuit (B) Carpet– 32S/16D | 6–1, 5–7, 7–5 | | | |
3–6, 7–5, 6–3 | |
November
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Dewar Cup Aberavon Aberavon, United Kingdom Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 7–6, 6–3 | | | |
7–5, 6–4 | | ||||
| 8 Nov | Dewar Cup Torquay Torquay, United Kingdom Non-Tour Event 16S/4D Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–0 | | | |
7–6, 6–4 | | ||||
| 15 Nov | Dewar Cup Championships London, United Kingdom Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–1, 6–3 | | | |
7–5, 6–4 | | ||||
| 29 Nov | Clean Air Classic New York City, United States Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 6–3 | |
December
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | Benson & Hedges International Christchurch, New Zealand Non-Tour Event Singles – Doubles | 6–3, 6–0 | | | |
6–3, 9–8(8–6) | |
Grand Prix Circuit
Points system
The Grand Prix tournaments were divided into four groups. Group A consisted of the three Grand Slam events – French Open, Wimbledon Championships and US Open – while the other tournaments were divided into Groups B, C and D by prize money and draw size. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament. The points allocation is listed below:
|
|
|
|
Standings and bonus pool earnings
A bonus pool of $50,000 was available for the top 13 points ranked players. To qualify for a share of the bonus pool the players had to participate in a minimum of nine tournaments.[6]
| Rk | Name | Tour. | Points | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | 9 | 181 | $10,000 |
| 2 | | 9 | 119 | $7,500 |
| 3 | | 6 | 116 | – |
| 4 | | 6 | 106 | – |
| 5 | | 12 | 83 | $6,500 |
| 6 | | 8 | 71 | – |
| 7 | | 9 | 70 | $5,250 |
| 8 | | 10 | 69 | $4,000 |
| 9 | | 7 | 60 | – |
| 10 | | 7 | 55 | – |
Rankings
The 1971 singles rankings as per Lance Tingay.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prize money leaders
| No. | Player Name | Prize money |
| 1 | |
$117,000 |
| 2 | |
$65,000 |
| 3 | |
$62,000 |
| 4 | |
$33,876 |
| 5 | |
$29,767 |
| 6 | |
$26,148 |
| 7 | |
$26,000 |
| 8 | |
$25,000 |
| 9 | |
$24,000 |
| 10 | |
$15,300 |
Statistical information
These tables present the number of singles (S), doubles (D), and mixed doubles (X) titles won by each player and each nation during the 1971 Virginia Slims Circuit. They also include data for the Grand Slam tournaments.
1) total number of titles (a doubles title won by two players representing the same nation counts as only one win for the nation);
2) highest amount of highest category tournaments (for example, having a single Grand Slam gives preference over any kind of combination without a Grand Slam title);
3) a singles > doubles > mixed doubles hierarchy;
4) alphabetical order (by family names for players).
Key
| Grand Slam tournaments |
| Virginia Slims events |
Titles won by player
| Total | Player | S | D | X | S | D | S | D | X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | | ● | ● | ● ● | ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● | ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● | 12 | 11 | 2 |
| 14 | | ● ● | ● ● | ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● | 2 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 10 | | ● | ● | ● ● | ● ● ● ● ● ● | 2 | 7 | 1 | |
| 5 | | ● ● | ● ● ● | 2 | 3 | 0 | |||
| 4 | | ● | ● ● ● | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 3 | | ● ● | ● | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2 | | ● | ● | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 1 | | ● | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 1 | | ● | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1 | | ● | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1 | | ● | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 1 | | ● | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Titles won by nation
| Total | Nation | S | D | X | S | D | S | D | X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 2 |
| 10 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 9 | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Notes
- Including three Grand Slam events.
- Player did not participate in the required minimum of nine tournaments and therefore did not share in the bonus pool.
References
- "Distaff Netters In Grand Prix For First Time". Bangor Daily News. AP. 7 April 1971. p. 28 – via Google News Archive.
- "WTA Tour history" (PDF). Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
- "WTA Tour Finals" (PDF). www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- "About The WTA". www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- "Tennisbegroting voor Hilversum iets lager". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 21 July 1971. p. 4 – via Delpher.
- John Dolan (2011). Women's Tennis 1968–84: the Ultimate Guide. Remous. p. 507.
External links
- Women's Tennis Association (WTA) official website
- International Tennis Federation (ITF) official website
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.