The St. Petersburg Masters Invitational was an ILTF Circuit affiliated combined men's and women's clay court tennis tournament founded in 1953 as the Masters Invitational in St Augustine, Florida. In 1954 that event moved to Jacksonville, Florida until 1959. In 1960 the event moved to St Petersburg. It remained at the former location until 1971. After the men's event St Petersburg Masters Invitational was discontinued in 1971 the women's event continued as the Virginia Slims Masters St Petersburg. In 1974 the men's tournament was revived as St. Petersburg WCT until 1975 when it was abolished. the women's tournament continued under various brand names and at various locations in the Tampa Bay Area until it was discontinued in 1990.

History In 1953 Masters Invitational tournament was established at the St Augustine Tennis Club, St Augustine, Florida and played on outdoor clay courts. In 1954 the Masters event was moved to Jacksonville, Florida through till 1959. In 1959 it changed location to St Petersburg, Florida, where it remained under that brand name until 1965. In 1966 the tournaments name was changed to the St Petersburg Masters Invitational until 1970 when the women's event became known as the Virginia Slims Masters of St Petersburg, the men's tournament continued under the same name until 1971 when it was discontinued. The tournament was part Florida–Caribbean Circuit which was a major feature of the international tennis scene in from the 1950s to early 1970s.

The women's event continued under brand name VS Masters of St Petersburg until 1973 when it was rebranded as the St Petersburg Masters Invitational in 1974 a new sponsor was found and the event became known as the Barnett Bank Masters until 1974 when it was discontinued. In 1977 the tournament was revived as the Florida Federal Open until 1985, and in 1986 becoming the Eckerd Open until it was abolished. The tournament was played on outdoor clay courts from 1953 to 1974 and from 1987 to 1990. It was played on outdoor hard courts from 1977 to 1986.

The holding of men's tournaments in the Tampa Bay Area were not as consistent as the women's event in 1974 the former St Petersburg Masters Invitational was revived and rebranded as the St. Petersburg WCT from 1974 to 1975 before that was discontinued. In 1981 a Tampa Open men's tournament held in Tampa, Florida through till 1983.

Finals Men's singles Results included: Masters InvitationalYearChampionRunner-upScore1953Sports in Brief by the Associated Press. Biloxi Daily. Biloxi, Mississippi: Newspaper Archives. March 10, 1953. p. 13. Art Larsen Gardnar Mulloy6–3, 6–2, 6–31954 Art Larsen (2) Kurt Nielsen6–2, 6–1, 6–31955 Art Larsen (3) Herb Flam7–5, 6–3, 3–6, 6–31956 Vic Seixas Art Larsen6–4, 6–3, 6–21957 Vic Seixas (2) Mervyn Rose7–5, 6–1, 7–9, 9–71958 Luis Ayala Mervyn Rose6–3, 1–6, 4–6, 6–2, 6–21959 Mario Llamas Francisco Contreras6–3, 6–41960 Neale Fraser Roy Emerson6–4, 6–0, 9–71961 Roy Emerson Luis Ayala6–4, 6–2, 6–01962 Roy Emerson (2) Rod Laver6–2, 6–4, 6–11963 Manuel Santana Roy Emerson6–4, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–31964 Roy Emerson (3) Frank Froehling6–3, 6–4, 6–21965 Ramanathan Krishnan Mike Belkin4–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3St Petersburg Masters Invitational1966 Niki Pilić Cliff Richey9–7, 7–5, 8–61967 Allen Fox Niki Pilić6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2Open era 1968ATP Tour Mike Belkin Jaime Fillol2–6, 6–0, 7–5, 6–41969ATP Tour Željko Franulović Jaime Fillol6–4, 6–31970ATP Tour Jan Kodeš Joaquín Loyo-Mayoo6–4, 6–2, 6–41971ATP Tour Mike Belkin (2) Harald Elschenbroich7–5, 7–6, 6–1For continuation of the men's event see St. Petersburg WCT

Women's singles (incomplete roll) Masters InvitationalYearChampionRunner-upScore1953 Doris Hart Shirley Fry6–3, 6–31959 Christiane Mercelis Marie Toomey Martin6–3, 6–41960 Ann Haydon Donna Floyd6–1, 6–31961 Suzy Körmöczy Ann Haydon6–2, 6–01962 Maria Bueno Darlene Hard 6–2, 4–6, 6–41963 Maria Bueno (2) Lesley Turner6–2, 11–91964 Nancy Richey Judy Alvarez 6–3, 6–41965 Nancy Richey (2) Margaret Smith 6–3, 6–2St. Petersburg Masters Invitational1966 Nancy Richey (3) Betty Stöve6–2, 6–21967 Ann Haydon-Jones (2) Jan Lehane O'Neill6–4, 1–6, 6–3Open era 1968Tennis, St Louis Sporting News. St. Louis, Missouri: Newspaper Archives. April 27, 1968. p. 8. Nancy Richey (4) Lesley Turner Bowrey 7–5, 6–01969 Kerry Melville Lesley Turner Bowrey6–4, 6–31970 Nancy Richey (5) Judy Alvarez 6–0, 6–2For continuation of the women's event see Virginia Slims Masters St Petersburg

Locations Played from 1953 to 1990 in various locations in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida in the United States. St Augustine, Florida from 1953 to 1954, then Jacksonville, Florida from 1955 to 1959, then it was held in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1960 to 1975

Event names 1953–1965 Masters Invitational 1966–1971 St Petersburg Masters Invitational 1975–1976 St. Petersburg WCT

Tournament records Most men's titles: Art Larsen & Roy Emerson (3) Most men's finals: Art Larsen & Roy Emerson (4) Most women's titles: Nancy Richey (5) Most women's finals: Nancy Richey (5)

See also Eckerd Open (for continuation of the women's event) St. Petersburg WCT (for the revived men's event) Tampa Open – men's tournament (1981–1983) held in Tampa, Florida

References