Memphis Open (tennis)

The Memphis Open was a professional tennis tournament that ran from 1975 to 2017. From 1977 onwards, the event was held at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis Open was the only ATP event in the United States which was played on indoor hard courts; it usually took place in February. For part of its history it was a combined men's and women's tournament, but for its final four years it was solely a men's tournament.

Memphis Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1975
Abolished2017
Editions43
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
VenueRacquet Club of Memphis
Category250 series
SurfaceHard / Indoor
Websitememphisopen.com

The event was previously known under various sponsored names including the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, the Kroger St. Jude Championship, the Volvo Championships, the Cellular South Cup, and the Federal Express International and was for a period time part of the now defunct U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships.

The last singles champion of the Memphis Open was Ryan Harrison and the last doubles champions are Brian Baker and Nikola Mektić. The 2017 Memphis Open titles were the first career titles for all three men. As of 2018, the tournament has moved to New York as the new New York Open.

History

Center Court at the 2016 Memphis Open

In 1974, Memphis cotton merchant William B. "Billy" Dunavant Jr. purchased the Memphis Athletic Club and began a $7 M expansion to transform the facility into what is now the Racquet Club of Memphis. What is now known as the Memphis Open was first played in 1975 on indoor carpet as part of the WCT. In 1977, the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships moved to Memphis from Salisbury, Maryland and increased the event's prize money to $220,000.[1] The Memphis Open had the distinction (until 2014) of being the only private indoor racquet club in the world to host a men's and women's professional tennis event.[2] The tournament was played on indoor carpet into the 1980s, but the club eventually changed its surface to hard courts.

In November 2001, the Racquet Club of Memphis purchased the rights to the WTA event in Oklahoma City and moved it to Memphis, where the tournament hosted both men's and women's events for 12 years. In 2008, the event was elevated to ATP 500 Series status. In 2014, the men's and women's events moved to Rio de Janeiro.[3] Memphis then purchased the ATP 250 event in San Jose to keep professional tennis in the city.[4] In late 2014, Tennis Rendezvous LLC, owned by the USTA and Golden Set Holdings LLC, purchased the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships and renamed it the Memphis Open. In 2015, the Memphis Open was sold again, purchased by New York-based financial management company GF Capital.

Over the years, the Memphis Open has counted nine ATP year-end No. 1 players among its winners: Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, and Andy Roddick. In 2016, Kei Nishikori won the event for a fourth consecutive time, tying Connors' record for the most overall Memphis titles.

In April 2017 the ATP announced that the tournament will relocate to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York in 2018 after the event failed to find a title sponsor in Memphis.[5]

Finals

Singles

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1975 Harold Solomon Jiri Hrebec2–6, 6–1, 6–4
1976 Vijay Amritraj Stan Smith6–2, 0–6, 6–0
1977 Björn Borg Brian Gottfried6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5
1978 Jimmy Connors Tim Gullikson7–6, 6–3
1979 Jimmy Connors Arthur Ashe6–4, 5–7, 6–3
1980 John McEnroe Jimmy Connors7–6, 7–6(8–6)
1981 Gene Mayer Roscoe Tanner6–2, 6–4
1982 Johan Kriek John McEnroe6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1983 Jimmy Connors Gene Mayer7–5, 6–0
1984 Jimmy Connors Henri Leconte6–3, 4–6, 7–5
1985 Stefan Edberg Yannick Noah6–1, 6–0
1986 Brad Gilbert Stefan Edberg7–5, 7–6
1987 Stefan Edberg Jimmy Connors6–3, 2–1 (retired)
1988 Andre Agassi Mikael Pernfors6–4, 6–4, 7–5
1989 Brad Gilbert Johan Kriek6–2, 6–2 (retired)
1990 Michael Stich Wally Masur6–7, 6–4, 7–6
1991 Ivan Lendl Michael Stich7–5, 6–3
1992 MaliVai Washington Wayne Ferreira6–3, 6–2
1993 Jim Courier Todd Martin5–7, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–4)
1994 Todd Martin Brad Gilbert6–4, 7–5
1995 Todd Martin Paul Haarhuis7–6(7–2), 6–4
1996 Pete Sampras Todd Martin6–4, 7–6(7–2)
1997 Michael Chang Todd Woodbridge6–3, 6–4
1998 Mark Philippoussis Michael Chang6–3, 6–2
1999 Tommy Haas Jim Courier6–4, 6–1
2000 Magnus Larsson Byron Black6–2, 1–6, 6–3
2001 Mark Philippoussis Davide Sanguinetti6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3
2002 Andy Roddick James Blake6–4, 3–6, 7–5
2003 Taylor Dent Andy Roddick6–1, 6–4
2004 Joachim Johansson Nicolas Kiefer7–6(7–5), 6–3
2005 Kenneth Carlsen Max Mirnyi7–5, 7–5
2006 Tommy Haas Robin Söderling6–3, 6–2
2007 Tommy Haas Andy Roddick6–3, 6–2
2008 Steve Darcis Robin Söderling6–3, 7–6(7–5)
2009 Andy Roddick Radek Štěpánek7–5, 7–5
2010 Sam Querrey John Isner6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3
2011 Andy Roddick Milos Raonic7–6(9–7), 6–7(11–13), 7–5
2012 Jürgen Melzer Milos Raonic7–5, 7–6(7–4)
2013 Kei Nishikori Feliciano López6–2, 6–3
2014 Kei Nishikori Ivo Karlović6–4, 7–6(7–0)
2015 Kei Nishikori Kevin Anderson6–4, 6–4
2016 Kei Nishikori Taylor Fritz6–4, 6–4
2017 Ryan Harrison Nikoloz Basilashvili6–1, 6–4
2018see New York Open

Doubles

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1975 Dick Stockton
Erik van Dillen
Mark Cox
Cliff Drysdale
1–6, 7–5, 6–4
1976 Vijay Amritraj
Anand Amritraj
Marty Riessen
Roscoe Tanner
6–3, 6–4
1977 Sherwood Stewart
Fred McNair
Robert Lutz
Stan Smith
4–6, 7–6, 7–6
1978 Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez
Phil Dent
John Newcombe
3–6, 7–6, 6–2
1979 Tom Okker
Wojciech Fibak
Frew McMillan
Dick Stockton
6–4, 6–4
1980 John McEnroe
Brian Gottfried
Rod Frawley
Tomáš Šmíd
6–3, 6–7, 7–6
1981 Gene Mayer
Sandy Mayer
Mike Cahill
Tom Gullikson
7–6, 6–7, 7–6
1982 Kevin Curren
Steve Denton
John McEnroe
Peter Fleming
7–6, 4–6, 6–2
1983 Peter McNamara
Paul McNamee
Tim Gullikson
Tom Gullikson
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1984 Fritz Buehning
Peter Fleming
Heinz Günthardt
Tomáš Šmíd
6–3, 6–0
1985 Pavel Složil
Tomáš Šmíd
Kevin Curren
Steve Denton
1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1986 Ken Flach
Robert Seguso
Guy Forget
Anders Järryd
6–4, 4–6, 7–6
1987 Anders Järryd
Jonas Svensson
Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez
6–4, 6–2
1988 Kevin Curren
David Pate
Peter Lundgren
Mikael Pernfors
6–2, 6–2
1989 Paul Annacone
Christo van Rensburg
Scott Davis
Tim Wilkison
7–6, 6–7, 6–1
1990 Darren Cahill
Mark Kratzmann
Udo Riglewski
Michael Stich
7–5, 6–2
1991 Michael Stich
Udo Riglewski
John Fitzgerald
Laurie Warder
7–5, 6–3
1992 Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
Kevin Curren
Gary Muller
7–6, 6–1
1993 Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
Jacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
7–5, 4–6, 7–6
1994 Byron Black
Jonathan Stark
Jim Grabb
Jared Palmer
7–6, 6–4
1995 Jared Palmer
Richey Reneberg
Tommy Ho
Brett Steven
4–6, 7–6, 6–1
1996 Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor
Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
6–4, 7–5
1997 Ellis Ferreira
Patrick Galbraith
Rick Leach
Jonathan Stark
6–3, 3–6, 6–1
1998 Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
Ellis Ferreira
David Roditi
6–3, 6–4
1999 Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde
Sébastien Lareau
Alex O'Brien
6–3, 6–4
2000 Justin Gimelstob
Sébastien Lareau
Jim Grabb
Richey Reneberg
6–2, 6–4
2001 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
Alex O'Brien
Jonathan Stark
6–3, 7–6
2002 Brian MacPhie
Nenad Zimonjić
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–3, 3–6, [10–4]
2003 Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–2, 7–6
2004 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
Jeff Coetzee
Chris Haggard
6–3, 6–4
2005 Simon Aspelin
Todd Perry
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–4, 6–4
2006 Ivo Karlović
Chris Haggard
James Blake
Mardy Fish
0–6, 7–5, [10–5]
2007 Eric Butorac
Jamie Murray
Julian Knowle
Jürgen Melzer
7–5, 6–3
2008 Mahesh Bhupathi
Mark Knowles
Sanchai Ratiwatana
Sonchat Ratiwatana
7–6(7–5), 6–2
2009 Mardy Fish
Mark Knowles
Travis Parrott
Filip Polášek
7–6(9–7), 6–1
2010 John Isner
Sam Querrey
Ross Hutchins
Jordan Kerr
6–4, 6–4
2011 Max Mirnyi
Daniel Nestor
Eric Butorac
Jean-Julien Rojer
6–2, 6–7(6–8), [10–3]
2012 Max Mirnyi
Daniel Nestor
Ivan Dodig
Marcelo Melo
4–6, 7–5, [10–7]
2013 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
James Blake
Jack Sock
6-1, 6-2
2014 Eric Butorac
Raven Klaasen
Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6-4, 6-4
2015 Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Santiago González
Artem Sitak
Donald Young
5–7, 7–6(7–1), [10–8]
2016 Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Santiago González
Steve Johnson
Sam Querrey
6–4, 6–4
2017 Brian Baker
Nikola Mektić
Ryan Harrison
Steve Johnson
6–3, 6–4

Records

Record Player(s) Count Years
Winner of most
Men's Singles titles
Jimmy Connors
Kei Nishikori
4 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Winner of most consecutive
Men's Singles titles
Kei Nishikori 4 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Most Men's Singles finals Jimmy Connors 6 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987
Winner of most Men's Doubles
titles (individual & team)
Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde 4 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999
Winner of most consecutive Men's Doubles titles
(individual & team)
Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde
Mariusz Fyrstenberg & Santiago Gonzalez
2 1992, 1993 & 1998, 1999
2015, 2016
Most Men's Doubles finals
(individual & team)
Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan
7 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014

See also

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-09-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Big Changes For Tennis in Memphis". Archived from the original on 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  4. Tennis - ATP World Tour - ATP Approves Event In Rio de Janeiro From 2014
  5. "Memphis To Relocate To Long Island For 2018". www.atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). April 10, 2017.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
None
ATP World Series Tournament of the Year
1990
Succeeded by
Gstaad
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