Moscow International Championships Explained

Moscow International Championships
USSR International Championships
Type:defunct
Tour:ILTF World Circuit
(1956–72)
ILTF Independent Tour
(1973–75)
Location:Moscow, Soviet Union
Surface:Clay (outdoors)

The Moscow International Championships was a men's and women's open international outdoor tennis tournament founded in 1956.[1] The tournament was organised by the Tennis Federation of the USSR was played on clay courts in Moscow, Soviet Union until 1975.

The event also carried the joint denomination of USSR International Championships.[1] The championships were part ILTF European Circuit a sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit until 1972 then became part of the ILTF Independent Tour from 1973 until it was discontinued.[1]

History

In the mid-1950s confrontational relations between the Western Bloc and Soviet Union eased in part the Khrushchev Thaw a policy of de-Stalinization by then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev,[2] meant that Soviet players were free to travel to overseas international tournaments, while foreign players could take part in a limited number of tournaments within the USSR, mainly in the capital Moscow.

The two prominent international tournaments for foreign players to participate in were the Moscow International Indoor Championships or (USSR International Indoor Championships) usually late winter in February to early spring in March.[1] The second international tennis event was Moscow International Championships usually staged in the summer at the end of July, beginning of August and was played on clay courts.[1] Additionally two closed tournaments were also held in Moscow for Soviet players only the Moscow Indoor Championships and the Moscow Outdoor Championships.[1]

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)(incomplete roll) summers

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1959 Wladyslaw Skonecki10–8, 9–7, 6–1.
1960 Istvan Gulyas (2) Zoltán Katona[3] 6–1, 6–3, 6–1.
1961[4] Patricio Rodriguez Toomas Lejus0–6, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4.
1962[5] John Newcombe3–6, 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5.
1963 Toomas Lejus8–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2.
1964[6] Boro Jovanovic5–7, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4, 6–0.
1965 Toomas Lejus2–6, 6–3, 6–0, 11–9.
1966 Alexander Metreveli (2) Vyacheslav Egorov[7] 2–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–1.
1967 Alexander Metreveli (3) Vyacheslav Egorov6–1, 6–1, 6–2.
1968 Toomas Lejus (2) Sergei Likhachev6–8, 7–5, 6–2, 8–6.
↓  Open era  ↓
1969 Toomas Lejus (3) Anatoli Volkov2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–2.
1970 Alexander Metreveli (4) Wieslaw Gasiorek6–3, 6–2, 6–2.
1971 Alexander Metreveli (5)6–4, 6–1, 6–4.
1972 Teimuraz Kakuliya Anatoli Volkov6–3, 6–4
↓  ILTF Independent Tour  ↓
1973 Alexander Metreveli (6) Jan Bedan[8] 6–3, 7–5, 6–4.

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓
1957 Suzy Kormoczy Vera Puzejova2–1 sets
1959 Anna Dmitrieva6–3, 6–1
1960 Anna Dmitrieva (2) Jirina Elgrova6–3, 6–4
1961[9] Vera Sukova5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1962[10] Jan Lehane Anna Dmitrieva 6–3, 6–3
1964[11] Anna Dmitrieva (3)6–2, 6–2
1965 Margaret Smith6–2, 6–4
1966 Ann Haydon Jones Anna Dmitrieva 6–1, 6–3
1968 Olga Morozova6–1, 6–3
↓  Open era  ↓
1969 Julie Heldman Peaches Bartkowicz6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1970 Olga Morozova (2) Tiiu Kivi Parmas6–4, 6–4
1971 A. Yeremeyeva Maria Kull[12] 6–0, 6–3
1972 Olga Morozova (3) Marina Kroschina8–6, 6–2
↓  ILTF Independent Tour  ↓
1975 Olga Morozova (4) Marina Kroshina2–6, 7–6, 6–0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tournaments: Moscow International Championships. The Tennis Base . Tennismem SL . Madrid, Spain . 13 October 2023. subscription.
  2. Web site: Osipova . Zinaida . When the Soviets Domesticated the West . Origins . Ohio State University . 13 October 2023 . en . September 2019.
  3. Web site: Player Profile: Zoltan Katona HUN . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 13 October 2023.
  4. News: Czech Wins Moscow Net Tournament . 13 October 2023 . . The Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive.Com . 28 Aug 1961 . Tampa, Florida . 20 . en.
  5. News: Froehling Wins Men's Singles In Moscow Play . 13 October 2023 . . The Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive.Com . 20 Aug 1962 . Burlington, Vermont . 13.
  6. News: Yugoslavian Captures Moscow Title . 13 October 2023 . . The Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive.Com . 17 Aug 1964 . Hartford, CT . 19 . en.
  7. Web site: Vyacheslav Egorov: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 13 October 2023.
  8. Web site: Sports News: Daja Bedanova drops father Jan Bedan as coach . Radio Prague Int . Radio Prague International . 13 October 2023 . en . 3 October 2002.
  9. The Tampa Tribune
  10. The Burlington Free Press
  11. Hartford Courant
  12. Web site: Profile: Maria Kull URS . www.stevegtennis.com . Steve G Tennis.