1969 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit
 Margaret Court is title leader this year with 19 titles won | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 January 1969 – 28 December 1969 |
| Edition | 56th (ILTF) |
| Tournaments | 291 |
| Categories | Grand Slam (4) ILTF African Circuit (12) ILTF Asian Circuit (19) ILTF Australasia Circuit (22) ILTF Central American & Caribbean Circuit (9) ILTF European Circuit (140) ILTF North American Circuit (76) ILTF South American Circuit (6) Team Events (6) |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most tournament titles |  Margaret Court (19) |
| Most tournament finals | Margaret Court (20) |
← 1968 1970 → | |
The 1969 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit was the 56th season since the formation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation in 1913,[1] and the 95th season since the first women's tournaments were held in 1876.
Also known as the World Tennis Circuit [2] or simply the ILTF Circuit [3] consisted of a worldwide series of 291 tennis tournaments played across 6 continental tennis circuits and administered by the ILTF and its associate members.
The circuit began on 1 January 1969 in East London, South Africa and ended on 28 December 1969 in Paris, France.[4]
Summary of season
[edit]From 1888 until 1912 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations.[5] Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.[6]
After the formation of the ILTF the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments.[7] Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits.[8] After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Women tennis players on the world circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments.[9]
The 1969 ILTF women's tennis circuit began on 1 January with the Border Championships, East London, South Africa. In the four most important tournaments of the year Margaret Court defeated the defending champion Billie Jean King in the final to win the women's singles tennis title at the Australian Open.[10] It was her eighth Australian Open title and her fourteenth major title overall. In Paris French Open at Roland Garros. Margaret Court defeated Ann Jones in the final to win the women's singles tennis title.[11] It was her third French Open title, her second major title of the year, and her fifteenth major overall.[12]
In early summer in London, England at the Wimbledon Championships Britain's Ann Haydon Jones defeated the three-time defending American champion Billie Jean King in the final, to win the ladies' singles tennis title.[13] It was her first Wimbledon title, and her third and last Grand Slam singles title overall.[14] In New York the final Grand Slam tournament of the year is played at the US Open Australia's Margaret Court defeated Nancy Richey in the final, to win the women's singles tennis title.[15] It was her third major singles title of the year, her third US Open singles title and her sixteenth singles major title overall. The circuit ended on 28 December 1969 at the Michel Bivort Cup tournament, Paris, France that was played indoors.[16]
Schedule
[edit]This is a calendar of all official events that were administered by the International Lawn Tennis Federation in the year 1969, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage where sources permit. The table also includes Grand Slam events, and tournaments on the African, Asian, Australasia, Central American & Caribbean, European, and South American ILTF regional circuits,[17] as part of the annual world tennis circuit.[18] Team events such as the Federation Cup and Wightman Cup are included.
- Key
| Grand Slam events |
| African Circuit.[19] |
| Asian Circuit.[19] |
| Australasia Circuit.[19] |
| Central American/Caribbean Circuit.[20] |
| European Circuit.[21] |
| North American Circuit.[22] |
| South American Circuit.[19] |
| Team & Games events |
