Madison Square Garden Pro Explained

Madison Square Garden Pro
Type:Defunct
Founded:1954
Abolished:1969
Editions:5
City:New York City
Country:United States
Venue:Madison Square Garden
Surface:Hard court (indoors)

The Madison Square Garden Pro was a men's and women's tennis event for professionals. Also known as the Madison Square Garden Pro Championships. It first began in 1954 and served as the opening tournament of the 1954 World Pro Tour. The event was then not staged for a further twelve years when it was re-established in 1966 as one tournament in the pro circuit. The 1968 and 1969 tournaments were the final events of the combined WCT/NLT tours in the Open Era of tennis, the top four players in each tour played off for the combined professional championship.[1] [2] From 1977 to 1989 the Masters Grand Prix finals were played at Madison Square Gardens.

Men's singles

YearDateChampionRunner-upScore
1954 Jan 3–4 7–9, 6–4, 6–4
1966 Mar 21–26 6–3, 6–3
1967 Jun 6–9 6–4, 6–4
1968 Nov 27– Dec 1 6–3, 6–4
1969 May 15–17 6–2, 4–6, 6–1

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: American tennis tilt set at Garden tonight. The Bryan Times. UPI. May 15, 1969. 11.
  2. News: Laver Emerson Eye Tennis Gold. The Pittsburgh Press. UPI. May 17, 1969. 9.
  3. Book: Robertson . Max . The Encyclopedia of Tennis . 1974 . Viking Press . New York . 978-0-670-29408-4 . 63 . en.