| U.S. Women's Clay Court Championships | |
| Type: | defunct |
| Founded: | 1912 |
| Ended: | 1986 |
| Editions: | 55 |
| Event Name: | U.S. Open Clay Courts |
| Tour: | Grand Prix (1971–1972) WTA Tour (1973–1986) |
| Location: | Various United States |
| Surface: | Clay |
The U.S. Open Clay Courts, known formally as the U.S. Clay Court Championships, was a national tennis championship for women that was sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association. The first edition was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1912, two years after the first men's championships, and was won by May Sutton.[1] [2] The final edition was held in 1986 and won by Steffi Graf. The tournament was not held in 1913, 1924–1939 and 1942. The doubles event was first held in 1914.[2]
Nancy Richey and Chris Evert won more singles titles (6) at this tournament than any other woman. Linda Tuero holds the record for runners-up in singles (3).
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||
| 1913 | Not held | |||
| 1914 |  Mary Browne | 6–1, 3–6, 6–2 | ||
| 1915 | 3–6, 6–1, 6–3 | |||
| 1916 |  Molla Bjurstedt | 8–6, 6–3 | ||
| 1917 | W. E. Ellis | 6–1, 6–3 | ||
| 1918 | 6–4, 6–2 | |||
| 1919 | Corinne Gould | Carrie Neely | 6–4, 6–2 | |
| 1920 | Corinne Gould | 6–0, 6–1 | ||
| 1921 | 6–0, 6–3 | |||
| 1922 | 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 | |||
| 1923 | 7–5, 1–6, 6–4 | |||
| 1924 – 1939 | Not held | |||
| 1940 | 7–5, 6–0 | |||
| 1941 | 6–3, 6–1 | |||
| 1942 | Not held | |||
| 1943 | Pauline Betz | 6–1, 6–0 | ||
| 1944 | Mary Arnold | 7–5, 6–4 | ||
| 1945 | Pauline Betz | 6–3, 7–5 | ||
| 1946 | 10–8, 6–4 | |||
| 1947 | Mary Arnold Prentiss | 6–1, 6–1 | ||
| 1948 | Dorothy Head | 6–2, 6–0 | ||
| 1949 |  Magda Rurac | 2–6, 9–7, 6–3 | ||
| 1950 | 6–1, 6–3 | |||
| 1951 | Dorothy Head | 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 | ||
| 1952 | 6–4, 6–3 | |||
| 1953 | 6–4, 6–4 | |||
| 1954 | Maureen Connolly | Doris Hart | 6–3, 6–1 | |
| 1955 | Dorothy Head Knode | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| 1956 | Shirley Fry | Althea Gibson | 7–5, 6–1 | |
| 1957 | Althea Gibson | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
| 1958 | Dorothy Head Knode[3] | 6–3, 6–8, 6–2 | ||
| 1959 | 6–2, 2–6, 6–3 | |||
| 1960 | Dorothy Head Knode | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| 1961 | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 | |||
| 1962 | 6–3, 6–1 | |||
| 1963 | 6–1, 6–1 | |||
| 1964 | Nancy Richey | 6–2, 6–1 | ||
| 1965 | Nancy Richey | 5–7, 6–3, 9–7 | ||
| 1966 | Nancy Richey | 6–2, 6–2 | ||
| 1967 | Nancy Richey | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
| 1968 | Nancy Richey | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
| 1969 | Linda Tuero | 6–2, 6–2 | ||
| 1970 | Linda Tuero |  Gail Sherriff Chanfreau | 7–5, 6–1 | |
| 1971 | Linda Tuero | 6–4, 7–5 | ||
| 1972 | 7–6(5–2), 6–1 | |||
| 1973 | Chris Evert | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| 1974 | Chris Evert | Gail Sherriff Chanfreau | 6–0, 6–0 | |
| 1975 | Chris Evert | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| 1976 | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 | |||
| 1977 | Nancy Richey | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| 1978 | 6–2, 6–3 | |||
| 1979 | Chris Evert |  Evonne Goolagong Cawley | 6–4, 6–3 | |
| 1980 | Chris Evert | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
| 1981 | Andrea Jaeger | 6–1, 6–0 | ||
| 1982 | Virginia Ruzici | 6–2, 6–0 | ||
| 1983 | 6–2, 6–2 | |||
| 1984 | 6–4, 6–3 | |||
| 1985 |  Andrea Temesvári | Zina Garrison | 7–6, 6–3 | |
| 1986 | 2–6, 7–6, 6–4 | |||
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | ||||
| 1945 | ||||
| 1946 | 6–4, 6–1 | |||
| 1947 | Gussie Moran Mary Arnold Prentiss | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
| 1948 | Not held | |||
| 1949 | Not held | |||
| 1950 | Shirley Fry Doris Hart | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 | ||
| 1951 | ||||
| 1952 | 7–5, 6–4 | |||
| 1953 | 6–3, 6–0 | |||
| 1954 | Maureen Connolly Doris Hart | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
| 1955 | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | |||
| 1956 | Shirley Fry Dorothy Head Knode | 6–2, 6–2 | ||
| 1957 | 6–3, 6–0 | |||
| 1958 | Karol Fageros Dorothy Head Knode | |||
| 1959 | ||||
| 1960 | 6–3, 6–4 | |||
| 1961 | ||||
| 1962 | ||||
| 1963 |  Maria Bueno Darlene Hard | |||
| 1964 | ||||
| 1965 | Carole Graebner Nancy Richey | |||
| 1966 | 1–6, 6–4, 6–4 | |||
| 1967 | Karen Krantzcke Kerry Melville | |||
| 1968 | ||||
| 1969 | 6–0, 10–8 | |||
| 1970 | Rosemary Casals Gail Sherriff Chanfreau | 6–2, 6–2 | ||
| 1971 | Judy Tegart Dalton Billie Jean King | Julie Heldman Linda Tuero | 6–1, 6–2 | |
| 1972 | 6–2, 6–1 | |||
| 1973 | 6–4, 6–4 | |||
| 1974 | Gail Sherriff Chanfreau Julie Heldman | 6–3, 6–1 | ||
| 1975 | Fiorella Bonicelli  María-Isabel Fernández | Gail Sherriff Chanfreau Julie Heldman | 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 | |
| 1976 | 6–2, 6–3 | |||
| 1977 | Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss | 5–7, 7–5, 6–3 | ||
| 1978 | 6–3, 6–1 | |||
| 1979 | 6–1, 6–0 | |||
| 1980 | Anne Smith Paula Smith | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | ||
| 1981 | JoAnne Russell Virginia Ruzici |  Sue Barker Paula Smith | 6–2, 6–2 | |
| 1982 | JoAnne Russell Virginia Ruzici | 7–5, 7–6 | ||
| 1983 | Kathleen Horvath Virginia Ruzici | 4–6, 7–6, 6–2 | ||
| 1984 | Beverly Mould Paula Smith | Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell | 6–2, 7–5 | |
| 1985 | Penny Barg Paula Smith | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
| 1986 | 6–2, 6–0 | |||