The Malaysian Open was a combined men's and women's professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts that was originally founded the Malayan Championships. The event has been held at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort and The Royal Selangor Golf Club. The tournament ran from 1921 to 1978. It was revived for a second time from 1992 through to 1995. It was staged for the third and final time from 2009 to 2018.
History The first edition of the Malayan Championships was played in 1921 in Singapore. Women participated for the first time in 1925. In 1942 the event was suspended due to World War II and it resumed in 1948. On 16 September 1963 the country changed its name, from Malaya to Malaysia and the tournament became the Malaysian Open in 1964 (though only open to amateurs until 1969).
In 1992 the women's tournament was reestablished as the Malaysian Tennis Classic. It was competed on indoor hard courts in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament was part of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, and was designated as a Tier IV event. Winners received $18,000. In both years it was held from 19 April to 26 April. The event was discontinued from 1993 onwards. In 1993 the men's tournament was revived as the Kuala Lumpur Open (aka Malaysia Salem Open) which ran until 1995. The men's event was played on hard courts in 1993 and on indoor carpet courts from 1994 to 1995. It was an event on the ATP World Series, replacing the Singapore Open for this period. Four Malaysian Players (V. Selvam, Mon S Sudesh, Martin. A and A. Lourdesamy) were banned for participating in the Bridgestone Open that was simultaneous with the Kuala Lumpur Open, as the Bridgestone Tournament wasn't sanctioned by the LTAM. Selvam's banned was lifted after two years by the LTAM.
In 2009 the men's tournament was revived as the Proton Malaysian Open that ran until 2015 as an ATP World Tour 250 fixture. In 2016 the men's event was replaced on the ATP tour by the Chengdu Open. In 2010 the women's tournament was revived for the second time. Initially, the organisers operated with a license directly from WTA. However, later on they cut a deal for a lease of WTA Palermo's license in late-2013.
In 2017, the Women's Tennis Association deleted reference to Israeli player Julia Glushko's nationality and Israel's flag from Glushko's profile on their website ahead of her scheduled participation at the Malaysian Open, when event organizers requested all references to her being Israeli be removed from the WTA website in order for her to be allowed to take part in the event. The WTA subsequently reinstated them.
The last men's Malaysian Open was held in 2015 and the women's in 2017, after which, WTA Palermo returned to the tour calendar in 2019. The event was affiliated with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and is an International-level tournament on the WTA Tour.
Past finals Men's singles YearLocationChampionsRunners-upScoreMalayan Championships1921 Singapore Shunjiro Nakamura Khoo Hooi-Hye6–4, 6–31922 Kuala Lumpur Asaji Honda Eric Oliver 6–3, 6–31923 Penang Khoo Hooi-Hye Scovell 6–2, 6–01924 Ipoh Asano Scovell 6–0, 6–31925 Singapore Khoo Hooi-Hye Kenneth Mano 6–3, 6–31926 Kuala Lumpur Khoo Hooi-Hye Chua Choon Leong 6–4, 6–21927 Kuala Lumpur Khoo Hooi-Hye Ong Ee Kong 6–1, 6–11928 Singapore Paul Clerc Khoo Hooi-Hye 5–7, 6–3, 6–31929 Kuala Lumpur Khoo Hooi-Hye Lim Bong Soo 4–3 rtd.1930Singapore Huyuh Van Giao Nguyen van Chim w.o.1931 Kuala Lumpur Lim Bong Soo Lam Say Kee 8–6, 7–51932 Singapore Lim Bong Soo Alexander Pitt 6–0, 6–21933 Kuala Lumpur Lim Bong Soo H. M. De Souza 9–7 rtd.1934 Singapore Chin Kee Onn Yong Loon Chong Chim 6–2, 6–31935 Kuala Lumpur Lim Bong Soo Nguyen van Chim 6–3, 3–6, 6–41936 Ipoh Hildon Sansoni Rolf Grut 3–6, 6–3, 6–01937 Kuala Lumpur Chin Kee Onn Rolf Grut 6–2, 8–61938 Singapore Samboedjo Hoerip Lim Djoe Djiem 6–1, 6–21939 Ipoh Chin Kee Onn Yon bin Mian 6–3, 6–21940 Singapore Kho Sin-Khie Chin Kee Onn 6–3, 6–11941 Kuala Lumpur Kho Sin-Khie Chin Kee Onn 6–0, 6–21942-1947Not held (due to world war two)1948 Penang S. C. Beaty Goon Kok Lem 6–1, 6–21949 Singapore Koon Hung Ip Tan Liep Tjauw6–3, 6–41950 Kuala Lumpur Chew Bee Ong Chin Kee Onn 6–4, 6–01951 Ipoh Koon Hung Ip S. C. Beaty 6–2, 4–6, 6–11952 Penang Koon Hung Ip Chew Bee Ong 3–6, 7–5, 7–51953 Singapore Neale Fraser Chew Bee Ong 6–4, 6–31954 Kuala Lumpur Chew Bee Ong Rupert Ferdinands 6–4, 6–11955 Ipoh Chew Bee Ong Koon Hung Ip 6–3, 5–7, 6–31956 Penang Tan Liep Tjauw Rupert Ferdinands 3–6, 6–3, 6–41957 Singapore Koon Hung Ip Tan Liep Tjauw 6–3, 6–41958 Kuala Lumpur Raymundo Deyro Koo Hong Boo7–5, 6–21959 Ipoh Sumant Misra Warren Jacques 6–1, 6–41960 Penang City Atsushi Miyagi Felicisimo Ampon 6–1, 5–7, 6–31961 Kuala Lumpur Johnny Jose Felicisimo Ampon 6–1, 6–21962 Ipoh Johnny Jose (2) Ian Crookenden 6–4, 6–21963 Penang City Ken Fletcher Tony Roche 6–4, 4–6, 6–4Malaysian Open Tennis Championship1964 Kuala Lumpur Takeshi Koura Isao Watanabe w.o.1965 Penang City Bill Bowrey John Newcombe 6–4, 1–6, 6–11966 Ipoh Somparn Champisri Seri Charuchinda 6–2, 6–21967 Kuala Lumpur Allan Stone Colin Stubs 6–1, 6–21968 Penang City Doug Smith Gondo Widjojo6–3, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4↓ Open Era ↓1969 Kuala Lumpur Van Bay Vo Elwyn McCabe6–4, 2–1, ret.1970 Kuala Lumpur Colin Dibley Van Thanh Vo6–2, 6–3, 6–41971 Kuala Lumpur Ian Fletcher Van Thanh Vo6–1, 6–2, 6–11972 Kuala Lumpur Gondo Widjojo Atet Wijono4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 3–2, ret.1973 Kuala Lumpur Anand Amritraj Van Bay Vo7–5, 0–6, 6–4, 7–51974 Kuala Lumpur Peter McNamara Felix Bautista Jr.8–6, 6–3, 6–21975 Petaling Jaya Trevor Little Gondo Widjojo 6–3, 6–3Malaysian Salem Open1993 (Jan.) Kuala Lumpur Richey Reneberg Olivier Delaître 6–3, 6–11993 (Sept.) Kuala Lumpur Michael Chang Jonas Svensson 6–0, 6–41994 Kuala Lumpur Jacco Eltingh Andrei Olhovskiy 7–6, 2–6, 6–41995 Kuala Lumpur Marcelo Ríos Mark Philippoussis 7–6, 6–2 Proton Malaysian Open 2009 Kuala Lumpur Nikolay Davydenko Fernando Verdasco 6–4, 7–5 2010 Kuala Lumpur Mikhail Youzhny Andrey Golubev 6–7(7–9), 6–2, 7–6(7–3) 2011 Kuala Lumpur Janko Tipsarević Marcos Baghdatis 6–4, 7–5 2012 Kuala Lumpur Juan Mónaco Julien Benneteau 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 2013 Kuala Lumpur João Sousa Julien Benneteau 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 2014 Kuala Lumpur Kei Nishikori Julien Benneteau 7–6(7–4), 6–4 2015 Kuala Lumpur David Ferrer Feliciano López 7–5, 7–5
Women's singles Incomplete roll YearLocationChampionsRunners-upScoreMalayan Championships1925 Singapore Sybil Dando Mary Holmes 6–4, 2–6, 6–41926Kuala Lumpur Mrs N. Toft Mrs Rule 6–2, 6–21927Kuala Lumpur Violet Howett Laing Sybil Dando 3–6, 6–4, 6–21928 Singapore Violet Howett Laing (2) Mrs Davies 6–4, 2–6, 8–61929Kuala Lumpur Miss E.M. Aitken Mrs Zylstra6–4, 6–31930 Singapore Gwendoline Moon Allin Mrs E.A. Taylor3–6, 6–1, 6–41931Kuala Lumpur Elizabeth Oldfield Mrs Drew6-3, 2-6, 6-41932 Singapore Elizabeth Oldfield (2) Mrs E.A. Taylor 6-3, 3-6, 9-71933Kuala Lumpur Elizabeth Oldfield (3) Mrs Eileen Corbett6-4, 6-41934 Singapore Gwendoline Moon Allin (2) Mrs M. Millar 6-3, 6-11935 Kuala Lumpur Gwendoline Moon Allin (3) Violet Howett Laing 6-3, 6-11936 Ipoh Doreen Sansoni Gwendoline Moon Allin 3–6, 6–3, 6–11937 Kuala Lumpur Doreen Sansoni (2) Betty Humphrey 6–4, 2–6, 6–41938 Singapore Doreen Sansoni (3) Joyce Grenier6–4, 6–11939 Ipoh Doreen Sansoni (4) Gwendoline Moon Allin 6–2, 6–31940 Singapore Joyce Grenier Carter Nellie Chia 6–1, 6–01941 Kuala Lumpur Joyce Grenier Carter (2) Gwendoline Moon Allin 6–1, 6–01942-1947Not held (due to world war two)1948 Penang City Joyce Grenier Fraser (3) M. Eduardo 6–3, 6–11949 Singapore Joyce Grenier Fraser (4) Susan de Vries Batten6–2, 6–41950 Kuala Lumpur Helen Thackara Dew Gladys Loke Chua 6–4, 6–31951 Ipoh Helen Thackara Dew (2) Susan de Vries Batten 6–1, 6–31952 Penang City Helen Thackara Dew (3) Mrs Koon Hung Ip 6–4, 6–31953 Singapore Susan de Vries Batten Mrs Martha Young6–3, 3–6, 6–31954 Kuala Lumpur Monica Ereaut Sheridan Gladys Loke Chua6–0, 6–01955 Ipoh Gladys Loke Chua Helen Thackara Dew6–3 8–61956 Penang City Mrs K. Le Mercier Mrs R. Hamilton6–3, 6–31957 Singapore Ranjani Jayasuriya Katherine Leong6–0, 6–01958 Kuala Lumpur Heather MacFarlane Stirling Mrs Tan Liep Tjiauw14–12, 6–41959 Ipoh Heather MacFarlane Stirling (2) Mrs Sanguan Sucharitakul 6–3, 6–31960 Penang City Mrs Sanguan Sucharitakul Katherine Leong 4–0 ret.1961 Kuala Lumpur Reiko Miyagi Desideria Ampon 6–3, 6–11962 Ipoh Ethne Green Judy Davidson 7–5 6–31963 Penang City Noelene Turner Ethne Green 8–6, 7–5Malaysian Open Tennis Championship1964 Kuala Lumpur Phanow Sudsawasdi Maisie Lai6–4, 6–21965 Penang City Phanow Sudsawasdi (2) Phisamai Samerpong 7–5, 2–6, 6–01966 Ipoh Phanow Sudsawasdi (3) Mien Suhadi6–8, 6–0, 6–31967 Kuala Lumpur Lita Liem Lany Kaligis6–2, 4–6, 7–51968 Penang City Lita Liem (2) Loanita Rachman6–4, 6–2↓ Open Era ↓1969 Kuala Lumpur Radhika Menon Nguyen Thi Gioi5–7, 6–1, 6-21970Barrett, John. Tingay, Lance. West, Peter. (1971) World of Tennis 1971 : a BP yearbook. Queen Anne Press. London. . p.287. Kuala Lumpur Mrs Philippa Miall Mrs Somsri Chotichuti4–6, 6–2, 7–51971 Kuala Lumpur Cecilie Fleming Somsri Klamssombuti 7–5, 6–41972 Kuala Lumpur Mrs Philippa Miall (2) Mrs Vera Kaspers 13–11, 6–11974 Kuala Lumpur Lany Kaligis Lita Liem Sugiarto7–5, 3–6, 6–31975 Petaling Jaya Lany Kaligis (2) Lita Liem Sugiarto 6–2, 6–4 1976 Kuala Lumpur Lita Liem Sugiarto Suthasini Sirikaya6–0, 6–31977 Kuala Lumpur Duk-Hee Lee Choi Kyung Mie6–2, 6–11978Kuala Lumpur Chong Soog Yang Carol Draper7–5, 6–2Malaysian Tennis Classic1992 Kuala Lumpur Yayuk Basuki Andrea Strnadová 6–3, 6–01993 Kuala Lumpur Nicole Provis Ann Grossman 6–3, 6–2Malaysian Open2010 Kuala Lumpur Alisa Kleybanova Elena Dementieva 6–3, 6–2BMW Malaysian Open2011 Kuala Lumpur Jelena Dokić Lucie Šafářová 2–6, 7–6(11–9), 6–42012 Kuala Lumpur Hsieh Su-wei Petra Martić 2–6, 7–5, 4–1 ret.2013 Kuala Lumpur Karolína Plíšková Bethanie Mattek-Sands 1–6, 7–5, 6–32014 Kuala Lumpur Donna Vekić Dominika Cibulková 5–7, 7–5, 7–6(7–4)2015 Kuala Lumpur Caroline Wozniacki Alexandra Dulgheru 4–6, 6–2, 6–12016 Kuala Lumpur Elina Svitolina Eugenie Bouchard 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 7–5Alya Malaysian Open2017 Kuala Lumpur Ashleigh Barty Nao Hibino 6–3, 6–2
Women's doubles
YearChampionsRunners-upScoreMalaysian Tennis Classic1992 Isabelle Demongeot Natalia Medvedeva Rika Hiraki Petra Langrová 2–6, 6–4, 6–11993 Patty Fendick Meredith McGrath Nicole Arendt Kristine Kunce 6–4, 7–6(7–2)Malaysian Open2010 Chan Yung-jan Zheng Jie Anastasia Rodionova Arina Rodionova 6–7(4–7), 6–2, [10–7]BMW Malaysian Open 2011 Dinara Safina Galina Voskoboeva Noppawan Lertcheewakarn Jessica Moore 7–5, 2–6, [10–5] 2012 Chang Kai-chen Chuang Chia-jung Chan Hao-ching Rika Fujiwara 7–5, 6–4 2013 Shuko Aoyama Chang Kai-chen (2) Janette Husárová Zhang Shuai 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), [14–12] 2014 Tímea Babos Chan Hao-ching Chan Yung-jan Zheng Saisai6–3, 6–4 2015 Liang Chen Wang Yafan Yuliya Beygelzimer Olga Savchuk4–6, 6–3, [10–4] 2016 Varatchaya Wongteanchai Yang Zhaoxuan Liang Chen Wang Yafan4–6, 6–4, [10–7]Alya Malaysian Open 2017 Ashleigh Barty Casey Dellacqua Nicole Melichar Makoto Ninomiya7–6(7–5), 6–3
Event names Malayan Championships (1921–63) men and women Malaysian Open Tennis Championship (1964–78) men and women Malaysian Tennis Classic (1992–93) women Kuala Lumpur Open (aka Malaysia Salem Open) (1993–95) men Proton Malaysian Open (2009-2013) men Malaysian Open (2010) women (2014–15) men BMW Malaysian Open (2011–16) women Alya Malaysian Open (2017) women
References
External links Official website for women tournaments ATP World Tour archive Tournament Profile on the WTA Tour 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Calendar WTA Tour history