1983 Lite Challenge of Champions explained

See main article: article and Challenge of Champions.

The Chicago Challenge of Champions tennis exhibition tournament was held on January 4–9, 1983 at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.[1] The promoter was Andrzej Kepinski, and this was the first year of sponsorship by Miller Lite. This was the third year of the Challenge.

Ivan Lendl won in the final 4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 against Jimmy Connors.

Dates, schedule and attendance

Match play began at 6:30 p.m. each evening from Tuesday, January 4, 1982 through Friday, January 7, 1982. The semi-finals were held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 1982, and the finals were held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 1982.

DateMatch 1Match 2Match 3
January 4Jimmy Connors vs. Henri LeconteBjorn Borg vs. Vitas GerulaitisIvan Lendl vs Sandy Mayer
January 5Vitas Gerulaitis vs. Henri LeconteJohn Mc Enroe vs Sandy MayerIvan Lendl vs. Eliot Teltscher
January 6Vitas Gerulaitis vs. Jimmy ConnorsBjorn Borg vs. Henri LeconteJohn Mc Enroe vs. Eliot Teltscher
January 7Sandy Mayer vs Eliot TeltscherIvan Lendl vs. John Mc EnroeBjorn Borg vs. Jimmy Connors

The attendance for Friday's matches was approximately 15,000.[2] Attendance at Saturday's semi-finals was 15,820, and according to the promoter this was a sell-out of the stadium when configured for tennis.[3] [4] Attendance at Sunday's finals was 11,416 [5]

Purse

The total purse was $250,000. The winner received $100,00, the runner-up $50,000, third and fourth-place finishers received $30,000 each, fifth and sixth-place finishers received $12,500, and the seventh and eighth-place finishers received $7,500. Individual players also received undisclosed amounts for appearing at the event from the sponsors/promoters.[6]

Draw

Group B

Notes and References

  1. News: Kay . Linda . 1982-11-16 . Chicago's Challenge Accepted . Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois . C3.
  2. News: . 1983-01-07 . This year, the Challenge a box-office success . Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois . D2.
  3. News: Kay . Linda . 1983-01-09 . Connors, Lendl again . Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois . C2.
  4. News: Kay . Linda . 1983-01-08 . Borg turns back Connors . Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois . N1.
  5. News: Kay . Linda . 1983-01-10 . Lendl's mighty serves too much for Connors . Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois . C1.
  6. News: Kay . Linda . 1983-01-02 . Challenge courts top stars . Chicago Tribune . Chicago, Illinois . C6.