The Cacharel Caracas Open was a men's tennis tournament founded in 1956 as the Altamira International, also known as the Altamira International Invitation and Caracas International Championships. The tournament was played annually at the Altamira Tennis Club, Miranda, Caracas, Venezuela, usually in mid-March initially as part of the ILTF Caribbean Circuit.

The women's tournament ended in 1970 and the men's event continued. From 1975 to 1976 the men's editions were known as the Caracas WCT tournament before it was briefly discontinued in 1982 the tournament was revived under a new name before it was abolished in 1983.

History In 1927 the Venezuelan International Tennis Association was established and established a Venezuelan Lawn Tennis Championships at the first Altamira Tennis Club. In 1946 the Altamira Tennis Club was formally created.Robertson, Max (1974) In 1956 the Altamira International,Altamira Tennis Club also known as the Altamira International Invitation tournament was established at Altamira Tennis Club, Caracas, Venezuela.

The Atamira International was organized as part of a spring (March to May) Caribbean Circuit which included tournaments in Jamaica (Kingston International Invitation), Puerto Rico (Caribe Hilton Championships), Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad International) and Colombia, Colombia International (Ciudad de Barranquilla). The tournament attracted the top players of the day.

In 1970 the women's event was discontinued. The tournament continued under brand name Altamira International until 1974. Between 1975 and 1976 the men's event became part of the WCT Circuit and was known as the Caracas WCT tournament. In 1977 the tournament was not held for five years when it was revived and rebranded in 1982 as the Caracas Open played at the same venue until 1983.

Finals Men's singles (incomplete roll) YearWinnerRunner-upScoreAltamira International1956 Orlando Sirola Mervyn Rose 2–6, 3–6, 12–10, 6–4, 6–21958 Budge Patty Luis Ayala 6–3, 11–13, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 1959 Jon Douglas Mike Davies 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 1960 Andres Gimeno Mike Davies 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1961 Rod Laver Luis Ayala 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 8–6 1962 Rod Laver (2) Roy Emerson 9–7, 6–2, 6–0 1963 Manuel Santana Thomaz Koch 9–11, 8–6, 6–1, 6–4 1964 Ron Holmberg Roy Emerson 6–2, 6–4, 9–7 1965 Pierre Barthès Manuel Santana 6–1, 6–4, 6–2 1966 Tony Roche John Newcombe 0–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 1967 Nikola Pilić Rafael Osuna 4–6, 7–5, 6–0, 4–6, 6–1 Open era 1968 Marty Riessen Cliff Richey 6–1, 8–6, 6–1 Altamira International1969ATP Caracas Thomaz Koch Mark Cox 8–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 1970ATP Caracas Tom Gorman Gerald Battrick 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 1971ATP Caracas Thomaz Koch (2) Manuel Orantes 7–6, 6–1, 6–3 1972ATP Caracas Manuel Orantes Haroon Rahim 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 1973ATP Caracas Tom Gorman Francois Jauffret 6–3, 7–6, 6–3 1974ATP Caracas Charlie Pasarell Eddie Dibbs 6–7, 6–2, 6–1 Altamira International/Caracas WCT1975ATP Caracas Rod Laver (3) Raul Ramirez 7–6, 6–2 1976ATP Caracas Raúl Ramírez Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–4 1977/1981Event suspendedCaracas Open1982ATP Caracas Raúl Ramírez Zoltán Kuhárszky 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 1983ATP Caracas Raúl Ramírez (2) Morris Strode 6–4, 6–2

Men's Doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore 1982ATP Caracas Steve Meister Craig Wittus Eric Fromm Cary Leeds 6–7, 7–6, 6–4 1983ATP Caracas Jaime Fillol Stan Smith Andrés Gómez Ilie Năstase 6–7, 6–4, 6–3

Women's Singles (incomplete roll) YearWinnerRunner-upScoreAltamira International 1958 Althea Gibson Maria Bueno6–1, 4–6, 9–7 1959 Christine Truman Maria Bueno6–2, 6–3 1960 Maria Bueno Ann Haydon3–6, 7–5, 6–2 1961 Maria Bueno (2) Darlene Hard7–5, 6–1 1962 Maria Bueno (3) Darlene Hard 6–2, 5–7, 6–2 1963 Maria Bueno (4) Lesley Turner7–5, 8–6 1964 Francoise Durr Rita Bentley6–3, 6–2 1965 Margaret Smith Lesley Turner4–6, 6–2, 7–5 1966 Norma Baylon Gail Sherriff 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 1967 Ann Haydon Jones Virginia Wade6–2, 6–3Open era 1968 Ann Haydon Jones (2) Julie Heldman6–4, 11–9Altamira International Open Invitation 1969 Margaret Smith Court (2) Maria Buenow.o.Altamira International 1970 Mary-Ann Eisel Patti Hogan6–3 6–3

Location and venue The Altimira Tennis Club was founded in 1946 by the Venezuelan International Tennis Association (f.1927) who built the club and is headquartered there.Robertson, Max (1974) Today the club consists of 11 tennis courts.Altimira Tennis Club

Event names The tournament throughout its history had been known by various names including: Altamira International Altamira International Invitation Altamira International Open Invitation Caracas International Championships Caracas WCT Copa Altimira International Invitation

Event statistics Most men's titles: Rod Laver & Raúl Ramírez (3) Most women's titles: Maria Bueno (4)

References

External links ITF Vault ITF Vault