The Heart of America Championships was a USLTA/ILTF affiliated combined men's and women's clay court then later hard court tennis tournament founded in 1939. Also known as the Heart of America International Championships it was played in Kansas City, Missouri, United States until 1973.
History Launched by the Missouri Valley Tennis Association in June 1939 the Heart of America tennis tournament was structured as a multi-divisional festival of tennis, combining grassroots competition with top-tier championship play.
Rather than being just a single men's or women's open draw, it operated as an all-encompassing regional showcase with multiple concurrent divisions.
The open division was the most prestigious event that attracted national and international talent. It served as a major stop on the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) circuit, offering ranking points and draw spots for top collegiate stars, touring amateurs, and visiting international players.
The tournament ran its final edition in September 1973. As international tennis restructured into unified commercial tour circuits, traditional regional tournaments like the Heart of America were gradually phased out.
Past finals Mens singles (incomplete roll) Year Champion Runner-Up Score1939 Frank Parker Wayne Sabin 6–2, 8–6, 6–41940 Frank Parker (2) Bobby Riggs4–6, 6–1, 7–5, 7–51941 Bobby Riggs Frank Parker6–0, 7–5, 7–51946 Frank Parker (3) Bill Talbert3–6, 8–6, 6–3, 6–41947 Frank Parker (4) Gardnar Mulloy 3–6, 6–2, 6–01948 Gardner Larned Bud Behrens6–3, 6–2, 6–21952 Tut Bartzen Hal Surface ?1962 Jose Edison Mandarino Hank Jungle 6–8, 6–4, 6–41963 Cliff Drysdale François Godbout 6–8, 6–1, 6–4, 6–11964 Cliff Drysdale (2) Premjit Lall6–2, 7–5, 6–41965 Donald Dell John Powless 6–1, 6–1, 6–11966 Keith Carpenter John Powless 9–7, 6–3, 2–6, 4–6, 6–41967Reissen Gains Crown In Heart Tournament". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. 11 Sep 1967. p. 67. Marty Riessen Peter Curtis 6–2, 6–1, 6–21968 Jim Parker Ingo Buding 6–8, 3–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–41969 Gerald Battrick Bill Bowrey6–3, 6–41970 Frank Froehling Terry Addison divided title 1971 Richard Reilly Dave Phillips 6–3, 4–6, red.1972 Bill De Baun Van Thompson 6–2, 3–6, 6–31973 David Imonitie Van Thompson 6–7, 6–2, 6–2
Womens singles (incomplete roll) Year Champion Runner-Up Score1939 Bertha Thompson Frances Jacobson6–1, 6–21940Frank Parker Defeats Riggs For Tennis Title. Lewiston Morning Tribune. 10 June 1940. p.6. Virginia Wolfenden Mary Hardwick6–0, 6–21941 Dorothy Bundy Pauline Betz 6–2, 2–6, 6–31946 Virginia Kovacs Mary Arnold Prentiss11–9, 6–31947 Baba Lewis Laura Lou Jahn6–0, 6–11948Symon-Jahn Take Title. St. Joseph Gazette. 22 June 1948. p.7. Magda Rurac Marta Barnett Andrade6–0, 6–8, 6–21950 Magda Rurac (2) Laura Lou Jahn1–6, 6–0, 6–01951 Lucille Davidson Doris Popple6–3, 6–31962"Brazilian Claims Tennis Crown". St. Joseph News-Press. 10 September 1962. p.12. Carmen Coronado Mary Ann Eisel4–6, 7–5, 6–21963 Monique Salfati Pia Balling 6–2, 8–61964 Helga Schultze Heidi Schildknecht4–6, 6–3, 6–21965"Dell Captures Tennis Title". Reading Eagle. 13 September 1965. p.20. Kathy Harter Gail Sherriff6–3, 6–11966"Canadian Takes International Tennis Tourney". The Fort Scott Tribune. 1 September 1966. p.5. Kathy Harter (2) Esme Emanuel6–0, 6–41967 Stephanie DeFina Esme Emanuel 6–4, 4–6, 6–41968 Julie Heldman Laura Rossouw 4–6, 6–2, 7–51969 Lesley Bowrey Kerry Harris8–6, 4–6, 7–51970 Valerie Ziegenfuss Corinne Molesworth6–0, 6–2
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