Los Angeles Open (tennis) explained

Los Angeles Open
Type:	defunct
City:	Los Angeles, California
Country:	United States
Founded:	1927
Abolished:	2012
Editions:	86
Venue:	Los Angeles Tennis Club (1927–1974, 1980–1983) Pauley Pavilion (1975–1979) Los Angeles Tennis Center (1984–2012)
Category:	ATP World Tour 250 series / ATP International Series / ATP World Series (1990–2012) Grand Prix Tour (1970–1989)
Surface:	Hard / outdoors
Draw:	28S / 32Q / 16D (2012)
Prize Money:	$557,550 (2012)

The Los Angeles Open was a former tennis tournament held in Los Angeles, United States from 1927 until 2012. It included a women's draw until 1974 when Linda Lewis won the last ladies title. Subsequently, it became a men-only event and integrated into the ATP's professional tennis circuit. The inaugural edition of the event, known as the Pacific Southwest Championships, was organized by Perry T. Jones and held at the Los Angeles Tennis Club (LATC) starting in October 1927. Bill Tilden and Kea Bouman were the first singles champions.^[1] The tournament quickly became a prestigious event on the tennis calendar.^[2]

History

The tournament was usually held in September and hosted the top men (and until 1975, women) in the world.^[3] Tournament winners from its beginning in 1927 until 1967 included most of the world's No. 1 tennis players: Bill Tilden, Ellsworth Vines, Don Budge, Fred Perry, Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales and amateur champions Roy Emerson and Barry MacKay. In the open era the event was known by various (sponsored) names including Farmers Classic, Countrywide Classic, Los Angeles Tennis Open, Pacific South West Open and Jack Kramer Open. Jack Kramer became the tournament director in 1970 when Jones retired.^[2] In the open era, the tournament was won by Rod Laver twice, a second and third time by Gonzales, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Richard Krajicek, and Andre Agassi. In doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan won a record six titles.^[4]

From 1975 to 1979 the tournament was played indoors at the Pauley Pavilion.^{[5] [6]} Beginning in 1984, the tournament was held at the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA, which was built to host the 1984 Summer Olympics tennis event. The matches were played on the Straus Stadium court with a capacity of 6,500 and the 1,500-seat capacity Grandstand court. In its last years it was an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament on the ATP Tour and had a 28-player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw. The tournament, with prize money of $557,550 in 2012, was one of the events included in the US Open Series. Special events during the tournament's run included Kids Day, Fashion Day, Valspar Performance Challenge, and a Legends Invitational Singles competition.

Colombian investors purchased the tournament's license for $1.5 million at the end of 2012 and moved the tournament to Bogotá where it was named the Claro Open Colombia.^{[7] [8] [9]}

thumb|Main Entrance to the Countrywide Classic at UCLA's L.A. Tennis Center.thumb|Straus Stadium at the L.A. Tennis Center, on the UCLA campus.thumb|Grandstand court at the LA Tennis Open.

Past winners

Men's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1927			6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1928			2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3
1929			8–10, 7–5, 9–7, 8–6
1930			14–12, 6–3, 6–4
1931	Ellsworth Vines (2)		8–10, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5, 6–2
1932			6–2, 6–4, 7–5
1933	Fred Perry (2)		6–4, 1–6, 6–0, 7–5
1934	Fred Perry (3)		10–8, 6–4, 6–3
1935			1–6, 11–9, 6–3, retired
1936	Don Budge (2)		6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1937	Don Budge (3)		2–6, 7–5, 6–4, 7–5
1938			6–3, 0–6, 6–4, 6–4
1939			4–6, 6–0, 6–2, 6–4
1940			5–7, 2–6, 6–0, 12–10, 6–3
1941				7–5, 6–0, 6–1
1942	Frank Parker (2)	Pancho Segura	6–4, 6–1, 6–3
1943		Pancho Segura	0–6, 6–1, 6–2
1944	Frank Parker (3)		6–4, 6–8, 8–6
1945	Frank Parker (4)		6–2, 6–4
1946	Jack Kramer (2)		6–2, 6–8, 6–2, 8–6
1947	Jack Kramer (3)		10–8, 6–4, 6–4
1948			4–6, 7–9, 7–5, retired
1949			6–3, 9–11, 8–6, 6–4
1950			9–7, 6–3, 6–2
1951	Frank Sedgman (2)		6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4
1952			6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1953			6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1954	Vic Seixas (2)		7–5, 6–3, 6–4
1955			6–1, 6–4, 6–2
1956			4–6, 6–1, 5–7, 6–3, 7–5
1957	Vic Seixas (3)		9–7, 6–3, 6–4
1958			7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 9–7
1959			6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 6–4
1960			5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
1961			6–2, 1–6, 6–4
1962	Roy Emerson (2)		16–14, 6–3
1963			2–6, 9–7, 6–2
1964	Roy Emerson (3)		6–3, 6–3
1965			6–4, 6–3
1966			6–3, 6–3
1967	Roy Emerson (4)		12–14, 6–3, 6–4
↓ Open Era ↓
1968			4–6, 6–0, 6–0
	Pancho Gonzalez (2)		6–0, 7–5
	Rod Laver (2)		4–6, 6–4, 7–6^(7–5)
	Pancho Gonzalez (3)		3–6, 6–3, 6–3
			6–4, 6–4
1973			7–5, 7–6
	Jimmy Connors (2)		6–3, 6–1
	Arthur Ashe (2)		3–6, 7–5, 6–3
			6–2, 6–2
	Stan Smith (2)		6–4, 2–6, 6–3
	Arthur Ashe (3)		6–2, 6–4
			6–4, 6–4
			6–3, 6–2
			6–7, 6–3, 6–3
	Jimmy Connors (3)		6–2, 6–1
1983	Gene Mayer (2)		7–6, 6–1
1984	Jimmy Connors (4)		6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1985			7–6^(7–5), 6–7^(8–10), 7–6^(7–4)
1986	John McEnroe (2)		6–2, 6–3
1987			6–4, 6–4
1988			6–2, 7–5
			2–6, 6–4, 6–2
1990			7–6, 2–6, 7–6
1991			6–2, 6–7^(5–7), 6–3
1992			6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1993	Richard Krajicek (2)		0–6, 7–6^(7–3), 7–6^(7–5)
			6–2, 6–2
			6–7^(7–9), 7–6^(7–4), 6–2
			6–4, 6–3
1997			6–4, 6–4
1998			6–4, 6–4
1999	Pete Sampras (2)		7–6^(7–3), 7–6^(7–1)
	Michael Chang (2)		6–7^(2–7), 6–3, retired
	Andre Agassi (2)		6–4, 6–2
	Andre Agassi (3)		6–2, 6–4
			6–3, 4–6, 7–5
			7–6^(8–6), 6–4
	Andre Agassi (4)		6–4, 7–5
	Tommy Haas (2)		4–6, 7–5, 6–3
	Radek Štěpánek		7–6^(9–7), 5–7, 6–2
			6–1, 7–6^(7–2)
			6–4, 3–6, 6–1
	Sam Querrey (2)		5–7, 7–6^(7–2), 6–3
			5–7, 6–4, 6–4
	Sam Querrey (3)		6–0, 6–2
2013	succeeded by Claro Open Colombia

Women's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1927			6–2, 0–6, 6–4
1928			6–1, 6–2
1929			8–6, 7–5
1930			8–6, 6–0
1931	Anna McCune Harper		3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1932	Anna McCune Harper		10–8, 6–3
1933		Alice Marble	6–2, 6–2
1934	Ethel Burkhardt		10–8, 1–6, 6–4
1935	Ethel Burkhardt	Kay Stammers	6–1, 6–4
1936		Alice Marble	7–5, 2–6, 6–4
1937	Alice Marble	Gracyn Wheeler	6–1, 6–0
1938			6–4, 6–4
1939	Alice Marble	Dorothy Bundy	9–7, 6–1
1940	Dorothy Bundy		6–3, 6–3
1941	Sarah Palfrey Cooke	Dorothy Bundy	6–3, 7–5
1942			6–2, 6–2
1943	Louise Brough		6–3, 6–3
1944	Pauline Betz		6–4, 6–3
1945	Margaret Osborne	Louise Brough	11–9, 6–2
1946	Pauline Betz	Dorothy Bundy	6–2, 6–2
1947			6–3, 6–2
1948	Louise Brough	Beverly Baker	6–2, 6–3
1949		Beverly Baker	7–5, 5–7, 4–1 ret.
1950	Helen Perez	Dorothy Bundy Cheney	6–2, 6–2
1951		Beverly Baker	9–7, 6–4
1952	Maureen Connolly		6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1953	Doris Hart	Shirley Fry	1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1954	Louise Brough		6–3, 4–6, 6–1
1955	Beverly Baker Fleitz	Barbara Breit	6–1, 6–4
1956			4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1957	Althea Gibson	Louise Brough	6–3, 6–1
1958	Beverly Baker Fleitz		6–3, 9–7
1959	Beverly Baker Fleitz		4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1960		Darlene Hard	6–4, 6–3
1961	Darlene Hard		5–7, 6–2, 6–3
1962		Darlene Hard	6–8, 11–9, 2–4 ret.
1963	Darlene Hard		6–3, 6–3
1964	Maria Bueno	Billie Jean Moffitt	3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1965	Carole Caldwell Graebner		6–4, 6–4
1966	Maria Bueno		6–2, 6–2
1967	Billie Jean King		6–0, 6–4
1968	Rosemary Casals	Maria Bueno	6–3, 6–1
1969	Billie Jean King	Ann Haydon Jones	6–2, 6–3
1970			6–3, 6–2
1971	Rosemary Casals & Billie Jean King	6–6 joint default
1972			7–5, 5–7, 6–2
1973			5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1974	Linda Lewis		6–2, 6–2
1974	women's events discontinued

Men's doubles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1968			7–5, 6–1
1969		Jim McManus Jim Osborne	6–3, 6–4
1970			7–6, 6–2
1971			7–6, 6–4
1972	Jimmy Connors Pancho Gonzales (2)		6–3, 7–6
1973			6–2, 6–4
1974			6–3, 6–2
1975			7–6, 4–6, 6–4
1976			6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1977			6–3, 6–4
1978	John Alexander (2) Phil Dent (2)		7–6, 6–3
1979			6–4, 6–4
1980			6–2, 6–4
1981			6–4, 6–4
1982			6–1, 6–7, 6–3
1983	Peter Fleming John McEnroe (2)		6–1, 6–2
1984			4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1985			6–3, 7–6
1986			3–6, 7–5, 7–6
1987			6–3, 6–4
1988			6–4, 6–4
			7–5, 7–6
1990	Scott Davis (2) David Pate (2)		3–6, 6–1, 6–3
1991			7–5, 2–6, 6–4
1992	Patrick Galbraith Jim Pugh (2)		7–6, 7–6
1993			7–6, 7–6
	John Fitzgerald Mark Woodforde (2)		4–6, 6–2, 6–0
			6–4, 7–6
1996			7–5, 6–2
1997			7–6, 6–4
1998			6–4, 6–4
1999	Byron Black Wayne Ferreira (2)		6–2, 7–6^(7–4)
2000			walkover
			7–5, 7–6^(8–6)
			6–4, 6–4
			6–4, 3–6, 7–5
	Bob Bryan (2) Mike Bryan (2)		6–3, 7–6^(8–6)
			6–3, 6–4
	Bob Bryan (3) Mike Bryan (3)		6–2, 6–4
	Bob Bryan (4) Mike Bryan (4)		7–6^(7–5), 6–2
			7–6^(7–5), 7–6^(7–5)
	Bob Bryan (5) Mike Bryan (5)		6–4, 7–6^(7–2)
	Bob Bryan (6) Mike Bryan (6)		6–7^(6–8), 6–2, [10–7]
			7–6^(7–3), 7–6^(12–10)
	Ruben Bemelmans Xavier Malisse (2)		7–6^(7–5), 4–6, [10–7]

Most titles

of titles	Name	Years
Singles
4	Andre Agassi Jimmy Connors Roy Emerson Frank Parker	2005, 2002, 2001, 1998 1984, 1982, 1974, 1973 1967, 1964, 1962, 1959 1945, 1944, 1942, 1941
3	Sam Querrey Arthur Ashe Pancho Gonzalez Vic Seixas Jack Kramer Donald Budge Fred Perry	2012, 2010, 2009 1978, 1975, 1963 1971, 1969, 1949 1957, 1954, 1952 1947, 1946, 1943 1937, 1936, 1935 1934, 1933, 1932
2	Tommy Haas Michael Chang Pete Sampras Richard Krajicek John McEnroe Gene Mayer Stan Smith Rod Laver Frank Sedgman Ellsworth Vines	2006, 2004 2000, 1996 1999, 1991 1993, 1992 1986, 1981 1983, 1980 1977, 1972 1970, 1968 1951, 1950 1931, 1930
Doubles
6	Bob Bryan Mike Bryan	2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2001 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2001

Previous names

Years	Name	Sponsor
2010–2012	Farmers Classic	Farmers Insurance Group
2009	LA Tennis Open	None
2006–2008	Countrywide Classic	Countrywide Bank
1998–2005	Mercedes-Benz Cup	Mercedes-Benz
1995–1997	Infiniti Open
1979–1981	Jack Kramer Open	None
	Los Angeles Open	Volvo
1927–1975	Pacific Southwest Championships

See also

• Pacific Coast Championships – tournament held in various locations in Northern California (1889–2013)
• LA Women's Tennis Championships – women's tournament (1971–2009)

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. Book: Wright. Irvine C.. Wright & Ditson's Lawn Tennis Guide for 1928. 1928. Wright & Ditson. Boston. 133–134.
2. Book: Baltzell. E. Digby. E. Digby Baltzell. Sporting Gentlemen : Men's Tennis from the Age of Honor to the Cult of the Superstar. 1995. Free Press. New York [u.a.]. 9780029013151. 233–241.
3. http://www.farmersclassic.com/News/farmersclassictitlesponsor/ Farmers Insurance Group Increases Role at LA Tennis Open With Title Sponsorship
4. Diane Pucin, Bryan twins set tennis record in doubles, Los Angeles Times, August 2, 2010
5. Book: World of Tennis '76 : a BP and Commercial Union yearbook. 1976. Queen Anne Press. London. 9780362002768. 650229036. 100–101. John Barrett. John Barrett (tennis).
6. Web site: Adam Karon. L.A. brings a little bit of tinseltown to tournament. Daily Bruin. July 23, 2000.
7. http://www.insidetennis.com/2012/11/la-lose-big-tennis-tourney/ Farmers Classic: L.A. To Lose Its Big Tennis Tourney
8. Web site: ATP approves event in Bogotá from 2013. www.atpworldtour.com. ATP. December 12, 2012.
9. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Tournaments/Bogota.aspx Claro Open Colombia