Miami Grand Prix (tennis)

Miami Grand Prix
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameMiami Beach Pro (1935)
Miami Pro Championships (1948)
WCT Miami Pro Championships (1968)
Aventura Tennis Classic(1971)
Saga Bay Tennis Classic (1972-74)
Miami Grand Prix Tennis Classic (1977)
Miami Grand Prix Coca Cola Classic (1978)
TourWCT circuit
Grand Prix circuit
Founded1935
Abolished1978
Editions9
LocationNorth Miami Beach
Miami, Florida, USA
SurfaceHard / outdoor
Clay / outdoor
Carpet / indoor

The Miami Grand Prix[1] is a defunct men's tennis tournament founded in 1935 as the Miami Beach Pro Championships then revived in 1948, then 1968 when it was part of the WCT Circuit from 1968, 1971–1974 and the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1977–1978. The event was played on outdoor asphalt hard courts in 1935, 1948, 1968, 1971–1974,[2] then switching to outdoor clay courts in 1977, and becoming an indoor carpet courts event in 1978. The tournament was last held in Hollywood, Miami, Florida, United States.

History

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The tournament first had it origins in the Miami Beach Pro Championships held in February 1935 that was staged one time.[3] In March 1948 a revived Miami Pro Championships was held in Miami Beach, Florida for one edition only.[4] In February 1968 that event was revived as the WCT Miami Pro Championships.[4] The tournament was discontinued again, but was revived as the Aventura Tennis Classic in 1971,[5] a WCT event held in Aventura Florida. In 1972 the tournament was rebranded again as the Saga Bay Tennis Classic and was played in Hollywood, Florida until 1974 when it was discontinued again, and ceased to part of the WCT Circuit. In 1977 the event was reestablished as the Miami Grand Prix Tennis Classic,[6] a one star category ILTF Grand Prix Circuit event that was played in Hollywood, Miami, Florida, United States until the end of its run. In 1978 it was branded as the Miami Grand Prix Coca Cola Classic for sponsorship reasons.

Past finals

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Singles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1935 Germany Hans Nüsslein Czechoslovakia Karel Koželuh 3–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–1.[7]
1948 United States Frank Kovacs United States Jimmy Evert 6–1, 7–9, 9–7.[4]
1968.[4] United States Butch Buchholz Australia Tony Roche 31–22, 31–26 [8]
1969–70 Not held
1971 South Africa Cliff Drysdale Australia Rod Laver 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4.[9]
1972 Australia Ken Rosewall South Africa Cliff Drysdale 3–6, 6–2, 6–4
1973 Australia Rod Laver United States Dick Stockton 7–6, 6–3, 7–5
1974 South Africa Cliff Drysdale United States Tom Gorman 6–4, 7–5
1975–76 Not held
1977 United States Eddie Dibbs Mexico Raúl Ramírez 6–0, 6–3
1978 Romania Ilie Năstase United States Tom Gullikson 6–3, 7–5

Doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1971 Australia John Newcombe
Australia Tony Roche
Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Rod Laver
7–6, 7–6
1972 Netherlands Tom Okker
United States Marty Riessen
Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Rod Laver
7–5, 6–4
1973 Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Rod Laver
Australia Terry Addison
Australia Colin Dibley
6–4, 6–4
1974 Australia John Alexander
Australia Phil Dent
Netherlands Tom Okker
United States Marty Riessen
4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1975–76 Not held
1977 United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
Australia Paul Kronk
Australia Cliff Letcher
7–5, 6–4
1978 United States Tom Gullikson
United States Gene Mayer
Australia Bob Carmichael
United States Brian Teacher
7–6, 6–3

Event names

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  • Miami Beach Pro Championships (1935)
  • Miami Pro Championships (1948)
  • WCT Miami Pro Championships (1968)
  • Miami Aventura Tennis Classic(1971)
  • Miami Saga Bay Tennis Classic (1972–74)
  • Miami Grand Prix Tennis Classic (1977)
  • Miami Grand Prix Coca Cola Classic (1978)

References

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  1. ^ "SPORTS WEEK: The Miami Grand Prix". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: newspapers.com. 6 Feb 1977. p. 61. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  2. ^ "World Cup Tennis to get overhaul". The Miami News. 12 February 1968. pp. 4C.
  3. ^ "Nusslein Masters Karel Kozeluh". La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press. La Crosse, Wisconsin: Newspaper Archive. 25 February 1935. p. 8. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: Short Run Book Company. pp. 193, 250. ASIN B001EOVE56.
  5. ^ "South African Wins Aventura's $10,000 Top Prize". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida: newspapers.com. 5 Apr 1971. p. 81. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Come Back Nets Win For Dibbs". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida: newspapers.com. 8 Feb 1977. p. 93. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press. p.8.
  8. ^ "Buchholz over Roche". South Bend Tribune. 12 February 1968. p. 16.
  9. ^ The Miami Herald (1971)

Sources

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