The Virginia Slims of Houston is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1995. It was held in Houston, Texas in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts from 1970 to 1984 and on outdoor clay courts from 1985 to 1995.
The event has the distinction of being the first-ever tournament on the professional women's circuit, which would eventually become the WTA Tour. In 1971, the event served as the series Championships of the inaugural Virginia Slims Tour.
Martina Navratilova was the most successful player at the tournament, winning the singles and doubles competitions six times each, partnering Dutchwomen Betty Stöve and Manon Bollegraf and Americans Janet Newberry, Pam Shriver, Elise Burgin and Kathy Jordan once each for her doubles successes.
Finals
Singles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1970 Rosemary Casals Judy Dalton 5–7, 6–1, 7–51971 Billie Jean King Kerry Melville 6–4, 4–6, 6–11972 Not Held1973 Françoise Dürr Rosemary Casals 6–4, 1–6, 6–41974 Chris Evert Virginia Wade 6–3, 5–7, 6–11975 Chris Evert Margaret Court 6–3, 6–21976 Martina Navratilova Chris Evert 6–3, 6–41977 Martina Navratilova Sue Barker 7–6(5–3), 7–51978 Martina Navratilova Billie Jean King 1–6, 6–2, 6–21979 Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade 6–3, 6–21980 Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–31981 Hana Mandlíková Bettina Bunge 6–4, 6–41982 Bettina Bunge Pam Shriver 6–2, 3–6, 6–21983 Martina Navratilova Sylvia Hanika 6–3, 7–61984 Hana Mandlíková Manuela Maleeva 6–4, 6–21985 Martina Navratilova Elise Burgin 6–4, 6–11986 Chris Evert-Lloyd Kathy Rinaldi 6–4, 2–6, 6–41987 Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–1, 7–61988 Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 6–0, 6–41989 Monica Seles Chris Evert 3–6, 6–1, 6–41990 Katerina Maleeva Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–1, 1–6, 6–41991 Monica Seles Mary Joe Fernández 6–4, 6–31992 Monica Seles Zina Garrison 6–1, 6–11993 Conchita Martínez Sabine Hack 6–3, 6–21994 Sabine Hack Mary Pierce 7–5, 6–41995 Steffi Graf Åsa Carlsson 6–1, 6–1
Doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1970 Not Held1971 Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King Judy Dalton Françoise Dürr 6–3, 1–6, 6–41972 Not Held1973 Mona Schallau Pam Teeguarden Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 6–3, 5–7, 6–41974 Janet Newberry Wendy Overton Sue Stap Virginia Wade 4–6, 7–5, 6–21975 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve Evonne Goolagong Virginia Wade 2–6, 6–3, 7–61976 Françoise Dürr Rosemary Casals Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 6–0, 7–51977 Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 4–6, 6–2, 6–11978 Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova Greer Stevens Mona Guerrant 7–6(5–4), 4–6, 7–6(5–4)1979 Martina Navratilova Janet Newberry Pam Shriver Betty Stöve 4–6, 6–4, 6–21980 Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 3–6, 6–1, 6–41981 Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura Regina Maršíková Mary Lou Piatek 5–7, 6–4, 6–31982 Kathy Jordan Pam Shriver Sue Barker Sharon Walsh 7–6, 6–21983 Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver Jo Durie Barbara Potter 6–4, 6–31984 Mima Jaušovec Anne White Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 6–4, 3–6, 7–61985 Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova Manuela Maleeva Helena Suková 6–1, 3–6, 6–31986 Chris Evert-Lloyd Wendy Turnbull Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell 6–2, 6–41987 Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova Zina Garrison Lori McNeil 6–2, 6–41988 Katrina Adams Zina Garrison Lori McNeil Martina Navratilova 6–7, 6–2, 6–41989 Katrina Adams Zina Garrison Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil 6–3, 6–41990 Not Completed1991 Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi Patty Fendick Mary Joe Fernández 6–1, 2–6, 6–11992 Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi 7–5, 6–41993 Katrina Adams Manon Bollegraf Eugenia Maniokova Radka Zrubáková 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)1994 Manon Bollegraf Martina Navratilova Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 6–4, 6–21995 Nicole Arendt Manon Bollegraf Wiltrud Probst Rene Simpson 6–4, 6–2
References WTA Results Archive
External links