The Thunderbird Classic was a Virginia Slims Circuit affiliated tennis tournament founded in 1952, as a combined men's and women's tournament called the Phoenix Thunderbird Championships Invitational. Also known as the Phoenix Thunderbird Invitation it continued as a joint event until 1970 when it was branded as the Phoenix Thunderbird Open the men's event was discontinued that year.

In 1971, the women's tournament was re branded as the Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic and ran annually under a number of name changes until 1980 when it too was discontinued.

History The tournament was founded in 1952, as the Phoenix Thunderbird Championships a joint men's and women's tennis tournament played at the Phoenix Country Club, Phoenix, Arizona, United States. In 1953 the word 'championships' was dropped from the tournament title. In 1969 the tournament went open under the brand name the Thunderbird Invitational. In 1970 the tournament was re branded as the Phoenix Thunderbird Open,World of Tennis 1971 and was the final year as a combined event when the men's tournament was discontinued.

In 1971, women's event became part of the Virginia Slims Circuit and was known as the Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic, that event carried on till 1980 when it was last known as the Thunderbird Classic before it too was abolished. The tournament was originally played on indoor hard courts from 1953 to 1965, then outdoor hard courts from 1966 to 1970. The event was originally played at the end February annually, then moved to mid to late March. It was only in 1970 that its scheduling was moved to October that year, however the women's event carried on with the new dates.

Finals Singles

YearWinnersRunners-up ScorePhoenix Thunderbird Invitational 1953 Anita Kanter Dorothy Bundy Cheney 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1954 Beverly Baker Fleitz Helen Pastall Perez 6–4, 7–5 1955 Beverly Baker Fleitz (2) Pat Canning Todd 6–1, 6–1 1956 Beverly Baker Fleitz (3) Mary Ann Mitchell 6–1, 6–1 1957 Louise Brough Pat Canning Todd 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 1958 Beverly Baker Fleitz (4) Louise Brough 6–2, 3–6, 10–8 1959 Vicky Palmer Barbara Green 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 1960 Karen Hantze Vicki Palmer 7–5, 9–7 1961 Nancy Richey Darlene Hard 6–3, 6–4Phoenix Thunderbird Invitation 1962 Nancy Richey (2) Karen Hantze Susman 6–3, 7–5 1963 Nancy Richey (3) Vicki Palmer 8–6, 8–6 1964 Jane Albert Mimi Arnold 6–3, 7–5 1965 Justina Bricka Jane Albert 6–2, 6–4 1966 Billie Jean Moffitt King Mary-Ann Eisel 6–3, 6–21967 Nancy Richey (4) Carol Aucamp6–1, 6–41968 Patti Hogan Tory Ann Fretz6–2, 6–4↓  Open Era  ↓1969 Nancy Richey (5) Patti Hogan 6–2, 6–0.Phoenix Thunderbird Open1970 Vicki Berner Stephanie Tolleson6–3, 6–2Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic1971 Billie Jean King (2) Rosie Casals 7–5, 6–11972 Billie Jean King (3) Margaret Smith Court 7–6(7–3), 6–3Virginia Slims of Phoenix1973 Billie Jean King (4) Nancy Richey Gunter 6–1, 6–31974 Virginia Wade Helen Gourlay 6–1, 6–2Thunderbird Classic1975 Nancy Richey Gunter (6) Virginia Wade 4–6, 7–5, 6–41976 Chris Evert Dianne Fromholtz 6–1, 7–51977 Billie Jean King (5) Wendy Turnbull 1–6, 6–1, 6–01978 Martina Navratilova Tracy Austin 6–4, 6–21979 Martina Navratilova (2) Chris Evert 6–1, 6–31980 Regina Maršíková Wendy Turnbull 7–6(10–8), 7–6(7–3)

Doubles

YearChampionRunner-up Score1971 Rosie Casals Billie Jean King Françoise Dürr Judy Tegart Dalton 6–3, 6–2 1972 Rosie Casals (2) Wendy Overton Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve 6–4, 6–31973 Kerry Harris Kerry Melville Rosie Casals Billie Jean King 6–4, 6–41974 Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve Mona Schallau Pam Teeguarden 6–3, 5–7, 6–31975 Françoise Dürr (2) Betty Stöve (2) Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova 6–7, 6–4, 6–01976 Billie Jean King (2) Betty Stöve (3) Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 6–2, 6–11977 Billie Jean King (3) Martina Navratilova Helen Gourlay Cawley JoAnne Russell 6–1, 7–51978 Tracy Austin Betty Stöve (4) Martina Navratilova Anne Smith 6–4, 6–7, 6–21979 Betty Stöve (5) Wendy Turnbull Rosie Casals Chris Evert 6–4, 7–61980 Pam Shriver Paula Smith Ann Kiyomura Candy Reynolds 6–0, 6–4

See also Arizona Tennis Classic (successor men's event) Phoenix Thunderbird Open (men's event) Virginia Slims of Arizona

References

External links WTA Tour history