The 1974 WTA Tour was composed of the fourth annual Virginia Slims Circuit and Women's International Grand Prix, a tour of tennis tournaments for female tennis players, sponsored by Virginia Slims cigarettes. The WTA signed their first television broadcast contract in 1974, with the broadcasting network CBS with Brent Musburger announcing.
Schedule This is a calendar of all events sponsored by Virginia Slims in the year 1974, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. The table also includes the Grand Slam tournaments, the 1974 Virginia Slims Championships and the 1974 Federation Cup.
Key Grand Slam tournamentsVirginia Slims championshipsVirginia Slims Circuit Women's International CircuitNon-tour eventTeam events
December (1973) WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists24 Dec31 DecAustralian Open Melbourne, AustraliaGrand SlamGrass – 56S/32DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–0 Chris Evert Julie Heldman Kerry Melville Janet Newberry Lesley Hunt Judy Dalton Karen Krantzcke Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel7–5, 6–3 Kerry Harris Kerry Melville
January WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists1 Jan New South Wales Open Sydney, AustraliaWomen's International CircuitClay Karen Krantzcke6–2, 6–3 Evonne Goolagong Ann Kiyomura Kazuko Sawamatsu6–3, 6–3 Janet Fallis Pam Whytcross14 Jan Virginia Slims of San FranciscoSan Francisco, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Billie Jean King 7–6(5–2), 6–2 Chris Evert Kerry Melville Nancy Gunter Laurie Fleming Janet Newberry Rosie Casals Wendy Overton Chris Evert Billie Jean King6–4, 6–2 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve21 Jan Virginia Slims of Mission ViejoMission Viejo, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Chris Evert 6–3, 6–1 Billie Jean King Kerry Melville Nancy Gunter Barbara Downs Françoise Dürr Rosie Casals Kristien Kemmer Kerry Harris Lesley Hunt7–5, 6–4 Chris Evert Billie Jean King28 Jan Virginia Slims of Washington Washington, D.C., United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S / 8D Billie Jean King 6–0, 6–2 Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Helen Gourlay Kathy Kuykendall Françoise Dürr Peaches Bartkowicz Mona Schallau Billie Jean King Betty Stöve6–1, 6–7, 7–5 Françoise Dürr Kerry Harris
February WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists4 Feb S&H Tennis ClassicFort Lauderdale, United States Virginia Slims Clay – $50,000– 32S / 16D Chris Evert Walkover Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Nancy Gunter Betty Stöve Françoise Dürr Isa Fernández Kathy Kuykendall Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve6–3, 6–2 Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh18 Feb Virginia Slims of DetroitDetroit, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $50,000– 32S / 16D Billie Jean King 6–1, 6–1 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr Virginia Wade Lesley Hunt Valerie Ziegenfuss Kristien Kemmer Marcie Louie Rosie Casals Billie Jean King2–6, 6–4, 7–5 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve25 Feb Virginia Slims of ChicagoChicago, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Virginia Wade 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 Rosie Casals Billie Jean King Chris Evert Laura duPont Lesley Hunt Valerie Ziegenfuss Betty Stöve Chris Evert Billie Jean King3–6, 6–4, 6–4 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve
March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists4 Mar Maureen Connolly Brinker InternationalDallas, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Chris Evert 7–5, 6–2 Virginia Wade Françoise Dürr Nancy Gunter Lesley Hunt Rosie Casals Karen Krantzcke Janet Newberry Isa Fernández Martina Navratilova6–3, 3–6, 6–3 Virginia Wade Karen Krantzcke18 Mar Akron Open Akron, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Billie Jean King 6–3, 7–5 Nancy Gunter Olga Morozova Pam Teeguarden Julie Heldman Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova Sharon Walsh Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–2, 6–4 Julie Heldman Olga Morozova25 Mar S&H National Indoor Championship New York City, United StatesVirginia Slims$60,000 Billie Jean King 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 Chris Evert Rosie Casals Betty Stöve Julie Heldman Françoise Dürr Virginia Wade Marcie Louie
April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists8 Apr First Federal of Sarasota Classic Sarasota, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Chris Evert 6–4, 6–0 Evonne Goolagong Olga Morozova Kerry Melville Betty Stöve Julie Heldman Ilana Kloss Helen Gourlay Chris Evert Evonne Goolagong6–2, 6–2 Tory Fretz Ceci Martinez15 Apr Barnett Bank Masters St. Petersburg, United StatesVirginia Slims$45,000 Chris Evert 6–0, 6–1 Kerry Melville Helga Masthoff Evonne Goolagong Karen Krantzcke Olga Morozova Helen Gourlay Betty Stöve Olga Morozova Betty Stöve6–4, 6–2 Chris Evert Evonne Goolagong22 Apr Virginia Slims of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, United StatesVirginia Slims$50,000 Singles – Doubles Olga Morozova 7–6(5–2), 6–1 Billie Jean King Virginia Wade Rosie Casals Janet Newberry Glynis Coles Kerry Melville Helen Gourlay Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–3, 7–6 Kerry Harris Lesley Hunt29 Apr Family Circle Cup Hilton Head, United StatesWomen's International CircuitClay Chris Evert6–1, 6–3 Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Evonne Goolagong Betty Stöve Virginia Wade Olga Morozova Karen Krantzcke Olga Morozova Rosie Casals6–2, 6–1 Karen Krantzcke Helen Gourlay
May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists13 MayFederation Cup Naples, ItalyFederation CupClay – 29 teams knockout2–120 MayGerman Open Hamburg, West GermanyWomen's International CircuitClay Helga Masthoff6–4, 5–7, 6–3 Martina Navratilova Mima Jaušovec Kazuko Sawamatsu Marie Neumannová Katja Ebbinghaus Helga Hösl Marijke Schaar Helga Hösl Raquel Giscafré6–3, 6–2 Martina Navratilova Renáta TomanováBritish Hard Court Championships Bournemouth, United KingdomNon-tour eventClay Virginia Wade6–1, 3–6, 6–1 Julie Heldman Jackie Fayter Dianne Fromholtz Winnie Wooldridge Sue Barker Jenny Dimond Carrie Meyer Julie Heldman Virginia Wade6–2, 6–2 Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh27 MayItalian Open Rome, ItalyWomen's International CircuitClay Chris Evert6–3, 6–3 Martina Navratilova Pat Pretorius Olga Morozova Virginia Wade Helga Masthoff Julie Heldman Kazuko Sawamatsu Chris Evert Olga MorozovaWalkover Helga Masthoff Heide Orth
June WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists3 Jun10 JunFrench Open Paris, FranceGrand SlamClay – 64S/64Q/21D/23XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Chris Evert6–1, 6–2 Olga Morozova Raquel Giscafré Helga Masthoff Katja Ebbinghaus Marie Neumannová Martina Navratilova Julie Heldman Chris Evert Olga Morozova6–4, 2–6, 6–1 Gail Chanfreau Katja Ebbinghaus Martina Navratilova Iván Molina6–3, 6–3 Rosy Darmon Marcelo Lara17 JunJohn Player Tournament Eastbourne, United KingdomNon-tour eventGrass Chris Evert7–5, 6–4 Virginia Wade Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke6–2, 6–0 Chris Evert Olga Morozova24 Jun1 JulWimbledon Championships London, Great BritainGrand SlamGrass – 96S/48D/80XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Chris Evert6–0, 6–4 Olga Morozova Virginia Wade Kerry Melville Billie Jean King Linky Boshoff Evonne Goolagong Helga Masthoff Evonne Goolagong Peggy Michel2–6, 6–4, 6–3 Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke Billie Jean King Owen Davidson6–3, 9–7 Lesley Charles Mark Farrell
July WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists8 JulSwiss Open Championships Gstaad, SwitzerlandNon-tour eventClay Helga Schultze4–6, 6–4, 6–3 Lea Pericoli Helga Schultze Lea Pericoli6–2, 6–0 Kayoko Fukuoka Michelle RodríguezSwedish Open Championships Båstad, SwedenNon-tour eventClay Sue Barker 6–1, 7–5 Marijke Schaar Sue Barker Glynis Coles6–2, 6–0 Fiorella Bonicelli Anna-Maria Nasuelli15 JulHead Cup Austrian Championships Kitzbühel, AustriaNon-tour eventClay Mirka Koželuhová6–3, 6–0 Mima Jaušovec Beatrix Klein Éva Szabó6–1, 6–4 Ana María Arias Iris Riedel
August WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 Aug US Clay Court Championships Indianapolis, United StatesWomen's International CircuitClay – $30,000 – 32S/16DSingles Chris Evert6–0, 6–0 Gail Chanfreau Carrie Meyer Dianne Fromholtz Virginia Ruzici Michele Gurdal Jeanne Evert Julie Heldman Gail Chanfreau Julie Heldman 6–3, 6–1 Chris Evert Jeanne Evert12 Aug Rothmans Canadian Open Toronto, CanadaWomen's International Circuit Chris Evert6–0, 6–3 Julie Heldman Jeanne Evert Kazuko Sawamatsu Raquel Giscafré Paulina Peisachov Virginia Ruzici Laurie Tenney Gail Chanfreau Julie Heldman 6–3, 6–4 Chris Evert Jeanne Evert19 Aug Virginia Slims of Newport Newport, United StatesVirginia SlimsGrass – $30,000 Chris Evert 6–4, 6–3 Betsy Nagelsen Julie Heldman Virginia Wade Janet Newberry Lesley Charles Mima Jaušovec Olga Morozova Lesley Charles Sue Mappin6–2, 7–5 Gail Chanfreau Julie HeldmanMedi-Quik Open South Orange, United StatesNon-tour eventClay Pam Teeguarden7–5, 6–3 Dianne Fromholtz Pam Teeguarden Ann Kiyomura6–2, 6–0 Kathleen Harter Marita Redondo26 Aug 2 SeptUS Open New York City, United StatesGrand SlamClay – 64S/32D/32XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Billie Jean King3–6, 6–3, 7–5 Evonne Goolagong Julie Heldman Chris Evert Rosie Casals Nancy Gunter Kerry Melville Lesley Hunt Rosie Casals Billie Jean King7–6, 6–7, 6–4 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve Pam Teeguarden Geoff Masters6–1, 7–6 Chris Evert Jimmy Connors
September WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists16 Sep Barnett Bank Tennis Classic Orlando, United StatesVirginia SlimsClay – $50,000 – 32S/15D Martina Navratilova 7–6(5–4), 6–4 Julie Heldman Billie Jean King Françoise Dürr Marcie Louie Betty Stöve Tine Zwaan Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve6–3, 6–7(2–5), 6–4 Rosie Casals Billie Jean KingVirginia Slims of Denver Denver, United StatesVirginia SlimsHard (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Evonne Goolagong 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 Chris Evert Françoise Dürr Nancy Gunter Valerie Ziegenfuss Julie Heldman Pam Teeguarden Kathy Kuykendall Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve6–2, 7–5 Mona Schallau Pam Teeguarden30 Sep Virginia Slims of Houston Houston, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $50,000 – – 32S/12D Chris Evert 6–3, 5–7, 6–1 Virginia Wade Evonne Goolagong Pam Teeguarden Wendy Overton Helen Gourlay Kate Latham Robin Tenney Janet Newberry Wendy Overton4–6, 7–5, 6–2 Sue Stap Virginia Wade
October WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists7 Oct Virginia Slims of Phoenix Phoenix, United StatesVirginia SlimsHard – $50,000 – 32S Virginia Wade 6–1, 6–2 Helen Gourlay Billie Jean King Betty Stöve Tory Fretz Françoise Dürr Wendy Overton Kathy Kuykendall Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve6–3, 5–7, 6–3 Mona Schallau Pam TeeguardenMelia Trophy Madrid, SpainNon-tour eventClay Helga Masthoff7–5, 6–3 Tine Zwaan Lesley Charles Sue Mappin6–2 ret.Creydt Helga MasthoffJapan Open Tokyo, JapanNon-tour eventHard Maria Bueno3–6, 6–4, 6–3 Katja Ebbinghaus Ann Kiyomura Kazuko Sawamatsu4–6, 6–4, 6–0 Kimiyo Yagawara Janet Young14 Oct Virginia Slims Championships Los Angeles, United StatesYear-end championshipsCarpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/4D Evonne Goolagong 6–3, 6–4 Chris Evert Virginia Wade Billie Jean King Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova Lesley Hunt Helen Gourlay Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–1, 6–7(2–5), 7–5 Françoise Dürr Betty StöveMelia Trophy Barcelona, SpainNon-tour eventClay Nathalie Fuchs7–5, 8–6 Glynis Coles 21 Oct World Invitational Hilton Head, United StatesNon-tour eventClay Chris Evert6–1, 6–3 Virginia Wade Evonne Goolagong Billie Jean King 28 Oct Dewar Cup Cardiff Cardiff, United KingdomNon-tour eventHard Julie Heldman6–4, 6–2 Glynis Coles Lesley Charles Sue Mappin3–6, 6–2, 6–2 Jackie Fayter Joyce Hume
November