The Phoenix Thunderbird Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament founded in 1952 as Phoenix Thunderbird Championships Invitational. Also known as the Phoenix Thunderbird Invitational it continued as a joint event until 1970 when the men's event was discontinued. In 1971 the women's tournament was re branded as the Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic that event continued until 1980.
The tournament was part of the ILTF North America Circuit a regional sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit from 1952 to 1969. In 1970 it became Grand Prix Circuit for that year only.
History The tournament was founded in 1952, as the Phoenix Thunderbird Championships a joint men's and women's tennis tournament played at the Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. In 1953 the word 'championships' was dropped from the tournaments title becoming the Phoenix Thunderbird Invitational. In 1969 the tournament went open under the brand name the Thunderbird Invitational. In 1970 the tournament was rebranded as the Phoenix Thunderbird Open,World of Tennis 1971 and was the final year as a combined event when the men's tournament was discontinued. In 1971 women's event became part of the Virginia Slims Circuit and was known as the Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic, that event carried on till 1980 when it was last known as the Thunderbird Classic before it too was abolished. The tournament was originally played on indoor hard courts from 1953 to 1965, then outdoor hard courts from 1966 to 1970. The event was originally played at the end February annually, then moved to mid to late March. It was only in 1970 that its scheduling was moved to October that year, however the women's event carried on with the new dates.
Finals
Singles Included:
YearChampionsRunners-upScorePhoenix Thunderbird Championships1952 Tony Trabert Bob Perry 6–1, 6–2, 8–6Phoenix Thunderbird Invitational1953 Tony Trabert Bob Perry 6–1, 6–2, 8–61954 Arthur Larsen Tom Brown 6–2, 6–4, 6–21955 Arthur Larsen (2) Herbert Flam 6–4, 6–11956 Tom Brown Gardnar Mulloy 6–4, 8–61957 Alex Olmedo Noel Brown 6–3, 6–21958 Gilbert Shea Myron Franks 7–5, 11–91959 Hugh Stewart Tom Brown 3–6, 6–4, 6–41960 Tom Brown (2) Whitney Reed 4–6, 6–4, 6–21961 Whitney Reed Jon Douglas 6–4, 6–3Phoenix Thunderbird Invitation1962 Tut Bartzen Allen Fox 6–4,6–41963 Charlie Pasarell Allen Fox 2–6, 6–3, 6–21964 Charlie Pasarell (2) Dennis Ralston 6–3, 3–6, 6–41965 Chuck McKinley Arthur Ashe 8–10, 6–4, 10–81966 Arthur Ashe Jim Osborne 3–6, 6–3, 6–21967 Stan Smith Allen Fox 7–5, 6–31968 Stan Smith (2) Bob Lutz 4–6, 6–2, 6–1↓ Open Era ↓1969 The Arizona Republic (1969) Cliff Richey Manuel Santana 6–4, 6–4Phoenix Thunderbird Open1970 Stan Smith (3) Jim Osborne 6–3, 6–7, 6–1
Doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1970 Dick Crealy Ray Ruffels Jan Kodeš Charlie Pasarell 7–6, 6–3
See also Arizona Tennis Classic (successor men's event) Thunderbird Classic (the women's event) Virginia Slims of Arizona (another women's event in Arizona)
References
Sources ATP Results Archive