Tennis tournament
The Connecticut Open was a professional
tennis tournament played on outdoor
hard courts under various names and in various venues from 1948 until 2019.
It was most recently a
Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Premier Tournament on the
WTA Tour , held annually at the
Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center in
New Haven, Connecticut , United States, just before the fourth and last
Grand Slam tournament of the year, the
US Open .
[1] From 2005 through 2010, the tournament was also part of the
ATP World Tour 250 series of the
ATP Tour .
In 2019, the tournament sanction was sold to APG, a sports and entertainment company, which transferred it to
Zhengzhou , China.
[2]
History
The tournament was created in 1948 as the U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships and first played in
Sacramento, California , in the United States. Over the 20 years of its first run, the event was held in various locations in the western United States: San Francisco;
Berkeley, California ;
Salt Lake City, Utah ;
Seattle, Washington ;
La Jolla, California ; and
Denver, Colorado . Among the winners of the event were
Doris Hart ,
Darlene Hard ,
Nancy Richey ,
Rosemary Casals ,
Billie Jean King , and
Jane Bartkowicz . The event was discontinued in 1969 after the beginning of the
Open Era .
[3]
In 1988, the
United States Tennis Association (USTA) reinstated the tournament. The first edition of the new U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships was held that year in
San Antonio, Texas , first as part of
Tier IV of the
WTA Tour , then as an upgraded
Tier III event in 1990. The championships were sponsored by
Post Cereals in 1990
[4] and by
Acura from 1992 to 1994.
[4] Over the first years of its second run, the tournament was won by several past or future
World No. 1s , including
Steffi Graf ,
Monica Seles , and
Martina Navratilova . The event was held in
Stratton Mountain, Vermont , in 1993 and 1994, but conflicts with the
1996 Summer Olympics prevented the tournament from being held the following two years. In 1997, the event returned again, now within
Tier II and first in
Stone Mountain, Georgia , then settling in 1998 in
New Haven, Connecticut , under the new sponsorship of
Pilot Pen .
[3] In the first years of its run in New Haven, the renamed Pilot Pen International saw its competition dominated by
Lindsay Davenport (four-time runner-up in New Haven, one previous time in Stone Mountain, and 2005 champion) and
Venus Williams (four-time champion from 1999 to 2002).
New Haven was already host to a men's tournament, the
Pilot Pen International . It was created in 1973 in
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire , as the Volvo International, and moved to
Connecticut in 1990, where it took Pilot Pen sponsorship in 1997. When the men's event was cancelled in 1999, the women's Pilot Pen tournament remained the only one of the region.
In 2005, the USTA purchased the men's tournament of
Long Island, New York ,
[5] and merged it with the women's Pilot Pen International to create Pilot Pen Tennis , the first large joint
ATP –
WTA tournament leading to the
US Open .
[6] The tournament became the last event of the
US Open Series and continued to attract top players, including champions
Caroline Wozniacki ,
Svetlana Kuznetsova ,
James Blake ,
Justine Henin , and
Nikolay Davydenko .
In 2011, after the men's competition moved to
Winston-Salem , the newly women's-only event was renamed the New Haven Open at Yale .
[7] In 2014, it was renamed the Connecticut Open .
[8]
In 2019, the Connecticut Open ended due to a lack of funding. The tournament's sanction was sold and assigned to
Zhengzhou, China , after the 2019 US Open.
[9] In 2021, the
Tennis in the Land tournament in Cleveland took over its former spot on the WTA schedule.
[10]
Past finals
Women's singles
Location
Year
Champion
Runner-up
Score
San Francisco
1948*
Gussie Moran
Virginia Wolfenden Kovacs
2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1949*
Doris Hart
Dorothy Head Knode
6–3, 6–4
Berkeley, California
1950*
Patricia Canning Todd
Magda Rurac
6–2, 6–1
Salt Lake City
1951
Patricia Canning Todd (2)
Anita Kanter
6–1, 6–4
Seattle
1952
Mary Arnold Prentiss
Anita Kanter
6–1, 8–6
Salt Like City
1953
Anita Kanter
Joan Merciadis
6–0, 6–4
1954
Beverly Baker Fleitz
Barbara Green
6–1, 6–3
La Jolla, California
1955
Mimi Arnold
Patricia Canning Todd
6–0, 6–0
1956
Nancy Chaffee Kiner
Patricia Canning Todd
6–4, 5–7, 7–5
1957
Beverly Baker Fleitz (2)
Mimi Arnold
6–1, 6–1
1958
Beverly Baker Fleitz (3)
Karen Hantze
6–1, 8–6
Denver, Colorado
1959
Sandra Reynolds
Beverly Baker Fleitz
6–3, 6–2
La Jolla, California
1960
Katherine D. Chabot
Karen Hantze
4–6, 7–5, 7–5
1961
Nancy Richey
Dorothy Head Knode
6–1, 6–1
Seattle
1962
Carol Hanks
Marilyn Montgomery
7–5, 6–3
La Jolla, California
1963
Darlene Hard
Tory Fretz
6–1, 8–6
Sacramento, California
1964
Kathleen Harter
Kathy Blake
6–1, 6–0
1965
Rosemary Casals
Kathleen Harter
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
La Jolla, California
1966
Billie Jean King
Patti Hogan
7–5, 6–0
Sacramento, California
1967
Jane "Peaches" Bartkowicz
Valerie Ziegenfuss
6–4, 6–4
La Jolla, California
1968
Maryna Godwin
Janet Newberry
6–3, 8–6
Sacramento, California
1969
Eliza Pande
Kristien Kemmer
7–5, 6–4
1970– 1987
Not held
San Antonio, Texas
1988
Steffi Graf
Katerina Maleeva
6–4, 6–1
1989
Steffi Graf (2)
Ann Henricksson
6–1, 6–4
1990
Monica Seles
Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
6–4, 6–3
1991
Steffi Graf (3)
Monica Seles
6–4, 6–3
1992
Martina Navratilova
Nathalie Tauziat
6–2, 6–1
Stratton Mountain, Vermont
1993
Conchita Martínez
Zina Garrison
6–3, 6–2
1994
Conchita Martínez (2)
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1995
Not held
1996
Not held
Stone Mountain, Georgia
1997
Lindsay Davenport
Sandrine Testud
6–4, 6–1
New Haven, Connecticut
1998
Steffi Graf (4)
Jana Novotná
6–4, 6–1
1999
Venus Williams
Lindsay Davenport
6–2, 7–5
2000
Venus Williams (2)
Monica Seles
6–2, 6–4
2001
Venus Williams (3)
Lindsay Davenport
7–6(8–6) , 6–4
2002
Venus Williams (4)
Lindsay Davenport
7–5, 6–0
2003
Jennifer Capriati
Lindsay Davenport
6–2, 4–0 retired
2004
Elena Bovina
Nathalie Dechy
6–2, 2–6, 7–5
2005
Lindsay Davenport (2)
Amélie Mauresmo
6–4, 6–4
2006
Justine Henin
Lindsay Davenport
6–0, 1–0 retired
2007
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Ágnes Szávay
4–6, 3–0 retired
2008
Caroline Wozniacki
Anna Chakvetadze
3–6, 6–4, 6–1
2009
Caroline Wozniacki (2)
Elena Vesnina
6–2, 6–4
2010
Caroline Wozniacki (3)
Nadia Petrova
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
2011
Caroline Wozniacki (4)
Petra Cetkovská
6–4, 6–1
2012
Petra Kvitová
Maria Kirilenko
7–6(11–9) , 7–5
2013
Simona Halep
Petra Kvitová
6–2, 6–2
2014
Petra Kvitová (2)
Magdaléna Rybáriková
6–4, 6–2
2015
Petra Kvitová (3)
Lucie Šafářová
6–7(6–8) , 6–2, 6–2
2016
Agnieszka Radwańska
Elina Svitolina
6–1, 7–6(7–3)
2017
Daria Gavrilova
Dominika Cibulková
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
2018
Aryna Sabalenka
Carla Suárez Navarro
6–1, 6–4
From 1948 through 1950, the U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships were a combined event with the Pacific Coast Championships.
Women's doubles
Location
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
New Haven
2018
Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková
Barbora Strýcová
Hsieh Su-wei
Laura Siegemund
6–4, 6–7(7–9) , [10–4]
2017
Gabriela Dabrowski
Xu Yifan
Ashleigh Barty
Casey Dellacqua
3–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2016
Sania Mirza (3)
Monica Niculescu
Kateryna Bondarenko
Chuang Chia-jung
7–5, 6–4
2015
Julia Görges
Lucie Hradecká
Chuang Chia-jung
Liang Chen
6–3, 6–1
2014
Andreja Klepač
Sílvia Soler Espinosa
Marina Erakovic
Arantxa Parra Santonja
7–5, 4–6, [10–7]
2013
Sania Mirza (2)
Zheng Jie (2)
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Katarina Srebotnik
6–3, 6–4
2012
Liezel Huber
Lisa Raymond (4)
Andrea Hlaváčková
Lucie Hradecká
4–6, 6–0, [10–4]
2011
Chuang Chia-jung
Olga Govortsova
Sara Errani
Roberta Vinci
7–5, 6–2
2010
Květa Peschke
Katarina Srebotnik
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Meghann Shaughnessy
7–5, 6–0
2009
Nuria Llagostera Vives
María José Martínez Sánchez
Iveta Benešová
Lucie Hradecká
6–2, 7–5
2008
Květa Peschke
Lisa Raymond (3)
Sorana Cîrstea
Monica Niculescu
4–6, 7–5, [10–7]
2007
Sania Mirza
Mara Santangelo
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 6–2
2006
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur
6–4, 6–2
2005
Lisa Raymond (2)
Samantha Stosur
Gisela Dulko
Maria Kirilenko
6–2, 6–7(1–7) , 6–1
2004
Nadia Petrova
Meghann Shaughnessy
Martina Navratilova
Lisa Raymond
6–1, 1–6, 7–6(7–4)
2003
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Paola Suárez
Alicia Molik
Magüi Serna
7–6(8–6) , 6–3
2002
Daniela Hantuchová
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Tathiana Garbin
Janette Husárová
7–6, 1–6, 7–5
2001
Cara Black
Elena Likhovtseva
Jelena Dokić
Nadia Petrova
6–0, 3–6, 6–2
2000
Julie Halard-Decugis
Ai Sugiyama
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Paola Suárez
6–4, 5–7, 6–2
1999
Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs
Elena Likhovtseva
Jana Novotná
7–6(7–1) , 6–2
1998
Alexandra Fusai
Nathalie Tauziat
Mariaan de Swardt
Jana Novotná
6–1, 6–0
Stone Mt.
1997
Nicole Arendt
Manon Bollegraf
Alexandra Fusai
Nathalie Tauziat
6–7(5–7) , 6–3, 6–2
1996
Not held
1995
Not held
Stratton Mountain
1994
Elizabeth Sayers-Smylie (2)
Pam Shriver (3)
Conchita Martínez
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4) , 2–6, 7–5
1993
Elizabeth Sayers-Smylie
Helena Suková (2)
Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
Mercedes Paz
6–1, 6–2
San Antonio
1992
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver (2)
Patty Fendick
Andrea Strnadová
3–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
1991
Patty Fendick
Monica Seles
Jill Hetherington
Kathy Rinaldi
7–6(7–2) , 6–2
1990
Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Sayers-Smylie
Gigi Fernández
Robin White
7–5, 7–5
1989
Katrina Adams
Pam Shriver
Patty Fendick
Jill Hetherington
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1988
Lori McNeil
Helena Suková
Rosalyn Fairbank
Gretchen Rush-Magers
6–3, 6–7(5–7) , 6–2
Men's singles
Location
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
Long Island (exhibition)
1981
Brian Teacher
Yannick Noah
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1982
Gene Mayer
Johan Kriek
6–2, 6–3
1983
Gene Mayer
Heinz Günthardt
6–7(9–11) , 6–4, 6–0
1984
Ivan Lendl
Andrés Gómez
6–2, 6–4
1985
Ivan Lendl
Jimmy Connors
6–1, 6–3
1986
Ivan Lendl
John McEnroe
6–2, 6–4
1987
Jonas Svensson
David Pate
7–6, 3–6, 6–3
1988
Andre Agassi
Yannick Noah
6–3, 0–6, 6–4
1989
Ivan Lendl
Mikael Pernfors
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Long Island
1990
Stefan Edberg
Goran Ivanišević
7–6, 6–3
1991
Ivan Lendl
Stefan Edberg
6–3, 6–2
1992
Petr Korda
Ivan Lendl
6–2, 6–2
1993
Marc Rosset
Michael Chang
6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1994
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Cédric Pioline
5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1995
Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Jan Siemerink
7–6(7–0) , 6–2
1996
Andrei Medvedev
Martin Damm
7–5, 6–3
1997
Carlos Moyá
Patrick Rafter
6–4, 7–6(7–1)
1998
Patrick Rafter
Félix Mantilla
7–6(7–3) , 6–2
1999
Magnus Norman
Àlex Corretja
7–6(7–4) , 4–6, 6–3
2000
Magnus Norman
Thomas Enqvist
6–3, 5–7, 7–5
2001
Tommy Haas
Pete Sampras
6–3, 3–6, 6–2
2002
Paradorn Srichaphan
Juan Ignacio Chela
5–7, 6–2, 6–2
2003
Paradorn Srichaphan
James Blake
6–2, 6–4
2004
Lleyton Hewitt
Luis Horna
6–3, 6–1
New Haven
2005
James Blake
Feliciano López
3–6, 7–5, 6–1
2006
Nikolay Davydenko
Agustín Calleri
6–4, 6–3
2007
James Blake
Mardy Fish
7–5, 6–4
2008
Marin Čilić
Mardy Fish
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
2009
Fernando Verdasco
Sam Querrey
6–4, 7–6(8–6)
2010
Sergiy Stakhovsky
Denis Istomin
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Men's doubles
Location
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
Long Island
1990
Guy Forget
Jakob Hlasek
Udo Riglewski
Michael Stich
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
1991
Eric Jelen
Carl-Uwe Steeb
Doug Flach
Diego Nargiso
0–6, 6–4, 7–6
1992
Francisco Montana
Greg Van Emburgh
Gianluca Pozzi
Olli Rahnasto
6–4, 6–2
1993
Marc-Kevin Goellner
David Prinosil
Arnaud Boetsch
Olivier Delaître
6–7, 7–5, 6–2
1994
Olivier Delaître
Guy Forget
Andrew Florent
Mark Petchey
6–4, 7–6
1995
Cyril Suk
Daniel Vacek
Rick Leach
Scott Melville
5–7, 7–6, 7–6
1996
Luke Jensen
Murphy Jensen
Hendrik Dreekmann
Alexander Volkov
6–3, 7–6
1997
Marcos Ondruska
David Prinosil
Mark Keil
T. J. Middleton
6–4, 6–4
1998
Julian Alonso
Javier Sánchez
Brandon Coupe
Dave Randall
6–4, 6–4
1999
Olivier Delaître
Fabrice Santoro
Jan-Michael Gambill
Scott Humphries
7–5, 6–4
2000
Jonathan Stark
Kevin Ullyett
Jan-Michael Gambill
Scott Humphries
6–4, 6–4
2001
Jonathan Stark
Kevin Ullyett
Leoš Friedl
Radek Štěpánek
6–1, 6–4
2002
Mahesh Bhupathi
Mike Bryan
Petr Pála
Pavel Vízner
6–3, 6–4
2003
Robbie Koenig
Martín Rodríguez
Martin Damm
Cyril Suk
6–3, 7–6
2004
Antony Dupuis
Michaël Llodra
Yves Allegro
Michael Kohlmann
6–2, 6–4
New Haven
2005
Gastón Etlis
Martín Rodríguez
Rajeev Ram
Bobby Reynolds
6–4, 6–3
2006
Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram
Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Marcin Matkowski
6–3, 6–3
2007
Mahesh Bhupathi
Nenad Zimonjić
Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Marcin Matkowski
6–3, 6–3
2008
Marcelo Melo
André Sá
Mahesh Bhupathi
Mark Knowles
7–5, 6–2
2009
Julian Knowle
Jürgen Melzer
Bruno Soares
Kevin Ullyett
6–4, 7–6(7-3)
2010
Robert Lindstedt
Horia Tecău
Rohan Bopanna
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
6–4, 7–5
2011 earthquake
On August 23, 2011, 1:51 PM local time
[11]
a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia stopped play for two hours
[12] while the main stadium was checked for damage by the fire department.
See also
References
External links
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