The Richmond WCT, also known by its sponsored names Fidelity Bankers Invitational and United Virginia Bank Tennis Classic, was a men's tennis tournament played in Richmond, Virginia in the United States founded in 1966 as the Richmond Invitational Indoor Championships . The inaugural edition in February 1966 was a two-day event with eight player and without prize money. The first six editions, from 1966 through 1971, were invitational tournaments and were held at the Richmond Arena. The 1970 edition was the first one to offer prize money, namely $12,500. In 1972 the event became part of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) Tour and moved to the Richmond Coliseum. All subsequent editions were held at the Coliseum except for the 1983 edition which was held at the Robins Center. All editions were held on indoor carpet courts. Lou Einwick was the tournament chairman or director for all editions.
Finals
Singles YearChampionRunner-upScore 1966 Chuck McKinley Frank Froehling 6–1, 6–2 1967 Charlie Pasarell Arthur Ashe 6–3, 8–6 1968 Arthur Ashe Chuck McKinley 6–2, 6–1 1969 Clark Graebner Thomaz Koch 6–3, 10–12, 9–7 1970 Arthur Ashe (2) Stan Smith 6–2, 13–11 1971 Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 1972 Rod Laver Cliff Drysdale 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 1973 Rod Laver (2) Roy Emerson 6–4, 6–3 1974 Ilie Năstase Tom Gorman 6–2, 6–3 1975 Björn Borg Arthur Ashe 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 1976 Arthur Ashe (3) Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–4 1977 Tom Okker Vitas Gerulaitis 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 1978 Vitas Gerulaitis John Newcombe 6–3, 6–4 1979 Björn Borg (2) Guillermo Vilas 6–3, 6–1 1980 John McEnroe Roscoe Tanner 6–1, 6–2 1981 Yannick Noah Ivan Lendl 6–1, 3–1, RET. 1982 José Luis Clerc Fritz Buehning 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 1983 Guillermo Vilas Steve Denton 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 1984 John McEnroe (2) Steve Denton 6–3, 7–6(9–7)
Doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore 1966 Chuck McKinley Gene Scott Arthur Ashe Cliff Richey 6–8, 8–6, 7–5 1967 Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell Cliff Drysdale Ron Holmberg 6–1, 6–4 1968 Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell Ron Holmberg Bob Lutz 6–4, 6–4 1969 Bob McKinley Jim McManus Arthur Ashe Cliff Richey 8–6, 3–6, 7–5 1970 Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell Jim McManus Stan Smith 9–7, 6–2 1971 Arthur Ashe Dennis Ralston John Newcombe Ken Rosewall 7–6, 3–6, 7–6 1972 Tom Okker Marty Riessen John Newcombe Tony Roche 7–6, 7–6 1973 Roy Emerson Rod Laver Terry Addison Colin Dibley 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 1974 Nikola Pilić Allan Stone John Alexander Phil Dent 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 1975 Hans Kary Fred McNair Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta 7–6, 5–7, 7–6 1976 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 6–4, 7–5 1977 Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker Ross Case Tony Roche 6–4, 6–4 1978 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan Vitas Gerulaitis Sandy Mayer 6–3, 7–5 1979 Brian Gottfried John McEnroe Ion Țiriac Guillermo Vilas 6–4, 6–3 1980 Fritz Buehning Johan Kriek Brian Gottfried Frew McMillan 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 1981 Tim Gullikson Bernard Mitton Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 1982 Mark Edmondson Kim Warwick Syd Ball Rolf Gehring 6–4, 6–2 1983 Pavel Složil Tomáš Šmíd Fritz Buehning Brian Teacher 6–2, 6–4 1984 John McEnroe Patrick McEnroe Steve Denton Kevin Curren 7–6, 6–2
See also Virginia Slims of Richmond – women's tournament
Notes
References
External links ATP Tour archive Reports and photos of 1977 Richmond WCT Mike Harris, Ben Blake, Tom Savage Commonwealth Times 1977-02-08, pages 12–15 The $35,000 Racquet Dave Cody, Commonwealth Times February 17, 1981 pp. 1,12–13,24