The 1973 WTA Tour was also the first season of the WTA Tour was officially formed by Billie Jean King following a meeting held in the Gloucester Hotel in London during the week before Wimbledon. It was composed of the third annual Virginia Slims Circuit a tour of tennis tournaments for female tennis players, sponsored by Virginia Slims cigarettes. and the ILTF Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix, a circuit of tournaments sponsored by Commercial Union Assurance Company.
Schedule This is a calendar of all events sponsored by Virginia Slims in the year 1973, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. The table also includes the Grand Slam tournaments, the 1973 Virginia Slims Championships and the 1973 Federation Cup.
Key Grand Slam tournamentsVirginia Slims championshipsVirginia Slims Circuit ILTF Commercial Union Assurance Grand PrixILTFTeam events
December (1972) WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists25 Dec1 JanAustralian Open Melbourne, AustraliaGrand Slam (A) Grass – 64S/32DSingles – Doubles Margaret Court 6–4, 7–5 Evonne Goolagong Kerry Melville Kazuko Sawamatsu Karen Krantzcke Dianne Fromholtz Virginia Wade Kerry Harris Margaret Court Virginia Wade6–4, 6–4 Kerry Harris Kerry Melville
January WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists15 Jan British Motor Cars InvitationalSan Francisco, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $25,000 – 16S/8D Margaret Court 6–3, 6–3 Kerry Melville Valerie Ziegenfuss Rosie Casals Marcie Louie Nancy Gunter Françoise Dürr Wendy Overton Margaret Court Lesley Hunt6–1, 7–5 Wendy Overton Valerie Ziegenfuss22 Jan British Motor Cars of Los AngelesLos Angeles, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $25,000 – 16S/8D Margaret Court 7–5, 6–7(1–5), 7–5 Nancy Gunter3rd: Betty Stöve4th: Rosie Casals Karen Krantzcke Kerry Melville Françoise Dürr Valerie Ziegenfuss Rosie Casals Julie HeldmanWalkover Margaret Court Lesley Hunt29 Jan Virginia Slims of WashingtonWashington, D.C., United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $25,000 – 32S/8D Margaret Court 6–1, 6–2 Kerry Melville3rd: Rosie Casals 4th: Janet Newberry Julie Heldman Betty Stöve Wendy Overton Valerie Ziegenfuss Rosie Casals Julie Heldman6–3, 6–3 Kerry Harris Kerry Melville
February WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 FebBarnett Bank ClassicMiami, United StatesVirginia SlimsHard – $30,000 Margaret Court 4–6, 6–1, 7–5 Kerry Melville3rd: Rosie Casals 4th: Karen Krantzcke Laura Rossouw Julie Heldman Valerie Ziegenfuss Wendy Paish Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve4–6, 6–2, 6–3 Rosie Casals Billie Jean King19 Feb Virginia Slims of IndianapolisIndianapolis, United StatesVirginia SlimsHard (i) – $25,000 Billie Jean King 5–7, 6–2, 6–4 Rosie Casals3rd: Margaret Court 4th: Lesley Hunt Kerry Harris Corinne Molesworth Pam Teeguarden Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Billie Jean King7–6, 6–4 Margaret Court Lesley Hunt26 Feb Virginia Slims of DetroitDetroit, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $25,000 Margaret Court 7–6, 6–3 Kerry Melville 3rd: Billie Jean King 4th: Rosie Casals Lesley Hunt Julie Heldman Laura duPont Valerie Ziegenfuss Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–3, 3–6, 6–1 Karen Krantzcke Betty StöveFort Lauderdale Open Fort Lauderdale, United States Grand Prix (A) Clay – $20,000 – 16S/8D Chris Evert 6–1, 6–2 Virginia Wade Linda Tuero Evonne Goolagong Marie Neumannová Martina Navratilova Jeanne Evert Patti Hogan Gail Chanfreau Virginia Wade 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 Evonne Goolagong Janet Young
March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 MarVirginia Slims of ChicagoChicago, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet – $30,000 Margaret Court 6–2, 4–6, 6–4 Billie Jean King Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Kristien Kemmer Pam Teeguarden Janet Newberry Julie Heldman Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–4, 6–2 Karen Krantzcke Betty StöveMaureen Connolly Brinker Memorial Dallas, United States Grand Prix (A) Hard (i) – $37,210 – 32S/16D Virginia Wade 6–4, 6–1 Evonne Goolagong Chris Evert Kazuko Sawamatsu Marita Redondo Linda Tuero Katja Ebbinghaus Sharon Walsh Evonne Goolagong Janet Young 6–3, 6–2 Gail Chanfreau Virginia Wade12 Mar Virginia Slims of RichmondRichmond, United States Virginia Slims Clay – $25,000 Margaret Court 6–2, 6–1 Janet Newberry 3rd: Betty Stöve 4th: Julie Heldman Pam Teeguarden Valerie Ziegenfuss Marcie Louie Nancy Gunter Margaret Court Lesley Hunt6–2, 7–6(5–4) Karen Krantzcke Betty Stöve U.S. National Women's Indoor Hingham, United States Grand Prix (C) Carpet (i) – $20,000 – 16S/16D Evonne Goolagong 6–4, 6–4 Virginia Wade Olga Morozova Linda Tuero Jackie Fayter Marie Neumannová Isabel Fernández de Soto Gail Chanfreau Marina Kroschina Olga Morozova 6–2, 6–4 Evonne Goolagong Janet Young 19 Mar Akron Open Akron, United States Grand Prix (B) Carpet (i) – $25,000 – 16S/8D Chris Evert 6–3, 6–4 Olga Morozova Marina Kroschina Marita Redondo Virginia Wade Linda Tuero Isabel Fernández de Soto Sue Stap Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh 7–5, 6–4 Michele Gurdal Patricia Bostrom26 Mar Virginia Slims of TucsonTucson, United StatesVirginia SlimsHard – $25,000 – 32S/12D Kerry Melville 6–3, 6–3 Nancy Gunter 3rd: Rosie Casals 4th: Valerie Ziegenfuss Laura Rossouw Kerry Harris Janet Newberry Wendy Overton Janet Newberry Pam Teeguarden3–6, 7–6, 7–5 Karen Krantzcke Betty StöveLady Gotham Classic New York City, United States Grand Prix (B) Carpet (i) – $30,000 – 16S Chris Evert 6–0, 6–4 Katja Ebbinghaus Marina Kroschina Helga Niessen Masthoff Isabel Fernández de Soto Kazuko Sawamatsu Linda Tuero Heide Orth
April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists2 Apr Max-Pax Coffee ClassicPhiladelphia, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 16S/8D Margaret Court 6–1, 6–0 Kerry Harris 3rd: Rosie Casals 4th: Lesley Hunt Valerie Ziegenfuss Janet Newberry Nancy Gunter Kerry Melville Margaret Court Lesley Hunt6–1, 3–6, 6–2 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve First Federal of Sarasota Open Sarasota, United States Grand Prix (C) Clay – $20,000 – 16S/8D Chris Evert 6–3, 6–2 Evonne Goolagong Patti Hogan Helga Niessen Masthoff Gail Chanfreau Marie Neumannová Sue Stap Marijke Schaar Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh 4–6, 6–0, 6–3 Martina Navratilova Marie Neumannová9 Apr Virginia Slims of BostonBoston, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $25,000 Margaret Court 6–2, 6–4 Billie Jean King Rosie Casals Julie Heldman Mona Schallau Betty Stöve Valerie Ziegenfuss Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–4, 6–2 Françoise Dürr Betty StöveMiami Beach Pros Miami Beach, United States Grand Prix (C) Clay – $20,000–48S Chris Evert 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 Evonne Goolagong Marijke Schaar Helga Niessen Masthoff Isabel Fernández de Soto Patti Hogan Linda Tuero Marie Neumannová16 Apr Virginia Slims of JacksonvilleJacksonville, United StatesVirginia SlimsClay – $25,000 Margaret Court 5–7, 6–3, 6–1 Rosie Casals 3rd: Kerry Melville 4th: Wendy Overton Valerie Ziegenfuss Janet Newberry Karen Krantzcke Billie Jean King Rosie Casals Billie Jean King7–6, 5–7, 6–3 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve St. Petersburg Masters St. Petersburg, United States Grand Prix (C) Clay – $18,800 – 32S/16D Chris Evert 6–2, 0–6, 6–4 Evonne Goolagong Marita Redondo Martina Navratilova Patti Hogan Isabel Fernández de Soto Helga Niessen Masthoff Marijke Schaar Chris Evert Jeanne Evert 6–2, 7–6 Evonne Goolagong Janet Young30 Apr Family Circle CupHilton Head Island, United StatesVirginia SlimsClay – $100,000 – 16S/8D Rosie Casals 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 Nancy Gunter Kerry Melville Billie Jean King Margaret Court Betty Stöve Laurie Fleming Wendy Overton Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve3–6, 6–4, 6–3 Rosie Casals Billie Jean KingFederation CupBad Homburg, West GermanyFederation CupClay – 30 teams knockout3–0
May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 7 May British Hard Court Championships Bournemouth, Great Britain Grand Prix (C) Clay – ?S/?D/32XD Virginia Wade 6–4, 6–4 Evonne Goolagong Dianne Fromholtz Lindsey Beaven Veronica Burton Glynis Coles Wendy Turnbull Christine Matison Patricia Coleman Wendy Turnbull 7–5, 7–5 Evonne Goolagong Janet Young Virginia Wade Frew McMillan 6–2, 6–3 Ilana Kloss Bernard Mitton14 MayMercedes-Benz Open Lee-on-Solent, United KingdomNon-tour eventGrassDraw Evonne Goolagong6–3, 6–2 Pat Pretorius Evonne Goolagong Janet Young6–1, 6–2 Jackie Fayter Peggy MichelSurrey Hardcourt Championships Guildford, United KingdomNon-tour eventGrassDraw Dianne Fromholtz7–5, 6–3 Kazuko Sawamatsu Patti Hogan / Sharon Walsh vs Lesley Charles / Glynis ColesTitle Shared21 May28 MayFrench OpenParis, FranceGrand Slam (AA) Clay (red) – 64S/45Q/32D/32XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Margaret Court6–7, 7–6, 6–4 Chris Evert Françoise Dürr Evonne Goolagong Helga Masthoff Odile de Roubin Martina Navratilova Katja Ebbinghaus Margaret Court Virginia Wade6–2, 6–3 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve Françoise Dürr Jean-Claude Barclay6–1, 6–4 Betty Stöve Patrice Dominguez
June WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 4 Jun Italian Open Rome, Italy Grand Prix (A) Clay – 48S/24D Evonne Goolagong 7–6(8–6), 6–0 Chris Evert Vlasta Vopičková Helga Niessen Masthoff Renáta Tomanová Kristien Kemmer Linda Tuero Katja Ebbinghaus Olga Morozova Virginia Wade 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 Martina Navratilova Renáta TomanováRothmans Championships Chichester, United KingdomNon-tour eventGrass Dianne Fromholtz6–1, 6–0 Brigitte Cuypers Julie Heldman Ann Kiyomura7–5, 6–3 Jackie Fayter Peggy Michel 11 Jun German Open Hamburg, West Germany Grand Prix (B) Clay – 32S/16D Helga Niessen Masthoff 6–4, 6–1 Pat Pretorius Kazuko Sawamatsu Marijke Schaar Mima Jaušovec Fiorella Bonicelli Kristien Kemmer Renáta Tomanová Helga Niessen Masthoff Heide Orth 6–1, 6–2 Kristien Kemmer Laura Rossouw John Player Open Nottingham, Great Britain Grand Prix (B) Grass – 32S/16D Billie Jean King 8–6, 6–4 Virginia Wade Rosemary Casals Chris Evert Lany Kaligis Patti Hogan Pam Teeguarden Glynis Coles Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King 6–2, 9–7 Chris Evert Betty StöveGreen Shield Kent Championships Beckenham, United KingdomNon-tour eventGrassDraw Dianne Fromholtz7–5, 0–6, 6–1 Janet Newberry Marina Kroschina Olga Morozova8–6, 6–3 Jackie Fayter Peggy Michel 18 Jun Rothmans Championships London, Great Britain Grand Prix (C) Grass – ?S/?D Olga Morozova 6–2, 6–3 Evonne Goolagong Valerie Ziegenfuss Julie Heldman Kristien Kemmer Marita Redondo Kerry Melville Chris Evert Rosie Casals Billie Jean King 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve25 Jun2 JulWimbledon ChampionshipsLondon, Great BritainGrand Slam (AA) Grass – 96S/50D/80XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Billie Jean King6–0, 7–5 Chris Evert Margaret Court Evonne Goolagong Olga Morozova Rosie Casals Virginia Wade Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Billie Jean King6–1, 4–6, 7–5 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve Billie Jean King Owen Davidson6–3, 6–2 Janet Newberry Raúl Ramírez
July