U.S. Pro Tennis Championships

The U.S. Pro Tennis Championships (for a period from 1951 to 1962 billed as the Cleveland International Pro or Cleveland World Pro Tennis ChampionshipsSports Illustrated, 22 April 1957, "...officially known as the World Pro Tennis Championships." https://vault.si.com/vault/1957/04/22/a-class-reunion) 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. Althea Gibson defeated Pauline Betz in the 1960 women's final.McCauley, p. 100

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. 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.

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.The Los Angeles Times, 14 June 1954 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.

Past finals

Singles YearChampionsRunners-upScoreVenueSurface Professional era1927 Vincent Richards Howard Kinsey 11–9, 6–4, 6–3 Notlek Tennis Club, Manhattan Grass1928 Vinny Richards Karel Koželuh 8–6, 6–3, 0–6, 6–2 West Side Tennis Club Grass1929 Karel Koželuh Vinny Richards 6–4, 6–4, 4–6, 4–6, 7–5 West Side Tennis Club Grass1930 Vinny Richards Karel Koželuh 2–6, 10–8, 6–3, 6–4 West Side Tennis Club Grass1931 Bill Tilden Vinny Richards 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 West Side Tennis Club Grass1932 Karel Koželuh Hans Nüsslein 6–2, 6–2, 7–5 South Shore Country Club Clay1933 Vinny Richards Frank Hunter 6–3, 6–0, 6–2 Westchester Country Club Grass1934 Hans Nüsslein Karel Koželuh 6–4, 6–2, 1–6, 7–5 South Shore Country Club Clay1935 Bill Tilden Karel Koželuh 0–6, 6–1, 6–4, 0–6, 6–4 Terrace Club, Brooklyn Clay1936 Joe Whalen Charles Wood 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–2, 6–3 Tudor City Tennis Club, New York Clay1937 Karel Koželuh Bruce Barnes 6–2, 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–1 Greenbrier Clay1938 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 Clay1941 Fred Perry Dick Skeen 6–4, 6–8, 6–2, 6–3 Chicago Town and Tennis Club Clay1942 Don Budge Bobby Riggs 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 West Side Tennis Club Grass1943 Bruce Barnes John Nogrady 6–1, 7–9, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 Fort Knox Clay1944 not held1945 Welby Van Horn John Nogrady 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 Rips Tennis Courts, Manhattan Clay1946 Bobby Riggs Don Budge 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 West Side Tennis Club Grass1947 Bobby Riggs Don Budge 3–6, 6–3, 10–8, 4–6, 6–3 West Side Tennis Club Grass1948 Jack Kramer Bobby Riggs 14–12, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 West Side Tennis Club Grass1949 Bobby Riggs Don Budge 9–7, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5 West Side Tennis Club Grass1950 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 Pancho Segura Pancho Gonzales 6–3, 6–4, 6–2r West Side Tennis Club Grass1952 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 Pancho Gonzales Pancho Segura 6–4, 4–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 Los Angeles Tennis Club Cement 1955 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 Grass1964 Rod Laver Pancho Gonzales 4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Grass1965 Ken Rosewall Rod Laver 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 Longwood Cricket Club Grass1966 Rod Laver Ken Rosewall 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 8–10, 6–3 Longwood Cricket Club Grass1967 Rod Laver Andrés Gimeno 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–5 Longwood Cricket Club Grass Open Era1968 Rod Laver John Newcombe 6–4, 6–4, 9–7 Longwood Cricket Club Grass1969 Rod Laver John Newcombe 7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1970 Tony Roche Rod Laver 3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1971 Ken Rosewall Cliff Drysdale 6–4, 6–3, 6–0 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1972 Bob Lutz Tom Okker 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1973 Jimmy Connors Arthur Ashe 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1974 Björn Borg Tom Okker 7–6, 6–1, 6–1 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1975 Björn Borg Guillermo Vilas 6–3, 6–4, 6–2 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1976 Björn Borg Harold Solomon 6–7, 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1977 Manuel Orantes Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 7–5, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1978 Manuel Orantes Harold Solomon 6–4, 6–3 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1979 José Higueras Hans Gildemeister 6–3, 6–1 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1980 Eddie Dibbs José Luis Clerc 6–2, 6–1 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1981 José Luis Clerc Hans Gildemeister 0–6, 6–2, 6–2 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1982 Guillermo Vilas Mel Purcell 6–4, 6–0 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1983 José Luis Clerc Jimmy Arias 6–3, 3–6, 6–0 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1984 Aaron Krickstein José Luis Clerc 7–6, 3–6, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1985 Mats Wilander Martín Jaite 6–2, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1986 Andrés Gómez Martín Jaite 7–5, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1987 Mats Wilander Kent Carlsson 7–6, 6–1 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1988 Thomas Muster Lawson Duncan 6–2, 6–2 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1989 Andrés Gómez Mats Wilander 6–1, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1990 Martín Jaite Libor Němeček 7–5, 6–3 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1991 Andrés Gómez Andrei Cherkasov 7–5, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Clay1992 Ivan Lendl Richey Reneberg 6–3, 6–3 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1993 Ivan Lendl Todd Martin 5–7, 6–3, 7–6 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1994 Ivan Lendl MaliVai Washington 7–5, 7–6 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1995 not completed due to rain1996 not held1997 Sjeng Schalken Marcelo Ríos 7–5, 6–3 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1998 Michael Chang Paul Haarhuis 6–3, 6–4 Longwood Cricket Club Hard1999 Marat Safin Greg Rusedski 6–4, 7–6(13–11) Longwood Cricket Club Hard

Notes:

Doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScoreVenueSurface Professional era1927no doubles eventNotlek Tennis Club, ManhattanGrass1928no doubles eventWest Side Tennis ClubGrass1929 Karel Koželuh Vincent Richards Wallace Johnson Howard Kinsey 5–7, 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 West Side Tennis Club Grass1930 Howard Kinsey Vincent Richards Karel Koželuh Roman Najuch 6–2, 15–13, 7–5 West Side Tennis Club Grass1931 Howard Kinsey Vincent Richards Frank Hunter Bill Tilden 7–9, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 West Side Tennis Club Grass1932 Bruce Barnes Bill Tilden Albert Burke Karel Koželuh 6–2, 6–1, 6–3 South Shore Country Club Clay1933 Vincent Richards Charles Wood Frank Hunter Theodore Rericha 6–4, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3 Westchester Country Club Grass1934 Bruce Barnes Emmett Paré Paul Heston Ellsworth Vines 6–1, 6–4, 7–5 South Shore Country Club Clay1935 George Lott Lester Stoefen Morty Bernstein Alfred Chapin 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 Terrace Club, Brooklyn Clay1936 Harold Blauer Charles Wood William Ellis William Kenney 6–4, 4–1, 6–2 Tudor City Tennis Club, New York Clay1937 George Lott Vincent Richards Bruce Barnes Karel Koželuh 1–6, 6–8, 6–3, 7–5, 9–7 Greenbrier Clay1938 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 Chicago Town and Tennis Club Clay1941 Don Budge Fred Perry Keith Gledhill Lester Stoefen 6–4, 6–4, 6–3 Chicago Town and Tennis Club Clay1942 Don Budge Bobby Riggs Bruce Barnes Frank Kovacs 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 West Side Tennis Club Grass1943 Bruce Barnes Gene Mako Berkeley Bell John Nogrady6–4, 6–0, 6–0 Fort Knox Clay1944 not held1945 Vincent Richards Bill Tilden Dick Skeen Welby Van Horn 7–5, 6–4, 6–2 Rips Tennis Courts, Manhattan Clay1946 Frank Kovacs Fred Perry Bobby Riggs Welby Van Horn 1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 West Side Tennis Club Grass1947 Don Budge Bobby Riggs Frank Kovacs Fred Perry7–5, 9–7, 4–6, 11–9 West Side Tennis Club Grass1948 Jack Kramer Pancho Segura Don Budge Bobby Riggs4–6, 5–7, 6–2, 7–5, 8–6 West Side Tennis Club Grass1949 Don Budge Frank Kovacs Carl Earn John Faunce 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 West Side Tennis Club Grass1950 Frank Kovacs Welby Van Horn Frank Parker Pancho Segura 1–6, 6–4, 6–4 Skating Club, Cleveland Clay (i)1951 no doubles event Lakewood, Cleveland Cement (i)1951 Pancho Gonzales Pancho Segura Frank Parker Bobby Riggs West Side Tennis Club Grass1952 no doubles event Lakewood, Cleveland Cement (i)1953 Don Budge Pancho Gonzales Carl Earn Bob Rogers6–1, 6–4 Lakewood, Cleveland Cement (i)1954 Pancho Gonzales Pancho Segura Don Budge Frank Sedgman 11-9, 3-6, 6-3 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland Hard (i)1954 Frank Sedgman Jack Kramer Pancho Gonzales Pancho Segura 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 Los Angeles Tennis Club