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The Italian Open Championships

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#1 · (Edited)
Italian Open Championships

Held on clay, in Milan until 1934, in Rome in '35, from '50 to '60, from '62 to '79, and from '87 forward, in Turin in '61, in Perugia from '80 to '84, in Taranto in '85

1930 Lili de Alvarez (Sp) d. Lucia Valerio 3-6 8-6 6-0
1931 Lucia Valerio d. Dorothy Burke (US) 2-6 6-2 6-2
1932 Ida Adamoff (Frn) d. Lucia Valerio 6-4 7-5
1933 Elizabeth Ryan (US) d. Ida Adamoff (Frn) 6-1 6-1
1934 Helen Jacobs (US) d. Lucia Valerio 6-3 6-0
1935 Hilde Sperling (Ger) d. Lucia Valerio 6-4 6-1
1936-1949 not held

1950 Annalissa Bossi d. Joan Curry (GB) 6-4 6-4
1951 Doris Hart (US) d. Shirley Fry (US) 6-3 8-6
1952 Susan Partridge (GB) d. Patricia Harrison (GB) 6-3 7-5
1953 Doris Hart (US) d. Maureen Connolly (US) 4-6 9-7 6-3
1954 Maureen Connolly (US) d. Pat Ward (GB) 6-3 6-0
1955 Pat Ward (GB) d. Erika Vollmer (Ger) 6-4 6-3
1956 Althea Gibson (US) d. Suzi Kormoczy (Hun) 6-3 7-5
1957 Shirley Bloomer (GB) d. Dottie Knode 1-6 9-7 6-2
1958 Maria Bueno (Brz) d. Lorraine Coghlan (Aus) 3-6 6-3 6-3
1959 Christine Truman (GB) d. Sandra Reynolds (SA) 6-0 6-1

1960 Suzi Kormoczy (Hun) d. Ann Haydon (GB) 6-4 4-6 6-1
1961 Maria Bueno (Brz) d. Lesley Turner (Aus) 6-4 6-4
1962 Margaret Smith (Aus) d. Maria Bueno (Brz) 8-6 5-7 6-4
1963 Margaret Smith (Aus) d. Lesley Turner (Aus) 6-3 6-4
1964 Margaret Smith (Aus) d. Lesley Turner (Aus) 6-1 6-1
1965 Maria Bueno (Brz) d. Nancy Richey (US) 6-1 1-6 6-3
1966 Ann Haydon Jones (GB) d. Annette van Zyl (SA) 8-6 6-1
1967 Lesley Turner (Aus) d. Maria Bueno (Brz) 6-3 6-3
1968 Lesley Turner (Aus) d. Margaret Smith Court (Aus) 6-2 2-6 6-3
1969 Julie Heldman (US) d. Kerry Melville (Aus) 7-5 6-4

1970 Billie-Jean King (US) d. Julie Heldman (US) 6-1 6-3
1971 Virginia Wade (GB) d. Helga Masthoff (Ger) 6-4 6-4
1972 Linda Tuero (US) d. Olga Morozova (USSR) 6-4 6-3
1973 Evonne Goolagong (Aus) d. Chris Evert (US) 7-6 6-0
1974 Chris Evert (US) d. Martina Navratilova (Cz) 6-3 6-3
1975 Chris Evert (US) d. Martina Navratilova (Cz) 6-1 6-0
1976 Mima Jausovec (Yug) d. Lesley Hunt (Aus) 6-1 6-3
1977 Janet Newberry (US) d. Renata Tomanova (Cz) 6-3 7-6
1978 Regina Marsikova (Cz) d. Virginia Ruzici (Rum) 7-5 7-5
1979 Tracy Austin (US) d. Sylvia Hanika (Ger) 6-4 1-6 6-3

1980 Chris Evert-Lloyd (US) d. Virginia Ruzici (Rum) 5-7 6-2 6-2
1981 Chris Evert-Lloyd (US) d. Virginia Ruzici (Rum) 6-1 6-2
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd (US) d. Hana Mandlikova (Cz) 6-0 6-3
1983 Andrea Temesvari (Hun) d. Bonnie Gadusek (US) 6-1 6-0
1984 Manuela Maleeva (Bul) d. Chris Evert-Lloyd (US) 6-3 6-3
1985 Raffaella Reggi d. Vicky Nelson (US) 6-4 6-4
1986 not held
1987 Steffi Graf (Ger) d. Gabriela Sabatini (Arg) 7-5 4-6 6-0
1988 Gabriela Sabatini (Arg) d. Helen Kelesi (Can) 6-1 6-7 6-1
1989 Gabriela Sabatini (Arg) d. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Sp) 6-2 5-7 6-4
1990 Monica Seles (Yug) d. Martina Navratilova (US) 6-1 6-1

1991 Gabriela Sabatini (Arg) d. Monica Seles (Yug) 6-3 6-2
1992 Gabriela Sabatini (Arg) d. Monica Seles (Yug) 7-5 6-4
1993 Conchita Martinez (Sp) d. Gabriela Sabatini (Arg) 7-5 6-1
1994 Conchita Martinez (Sp) d. Martina Navratilova (US) 7-6 6-4
1995 Conchita Martinez (Sp) d. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Sp) 6-3 6-1
1996 Conchita Martinez (Sp) d. Martina Hingis (Swt) 6-2 6-3
1997 Mary Pierce (Frn) d. Conchita Martinez (Sp) 6-4 6-0
1998 Martina Hingis (Swt) d. Venus Williams (US) 6-3 2-6 6-3
1999 Venus Williams (US) d. Mary Pierce (Frn) 6-4 6-2

2000 Monica Seles (US) d. Amélie Mauresmo (Frn) 6-2 7-6
2001 Jelena Dokic (Aus) d. Amélie Mauresmo (Frn) 7-6 6-1
2002 Serena Williams (US) d. Justine Hénin (Bel) 7-6 6-4
2003 Kim Clijsters (Bel) d. Amélie Mauresmo (Frn) 3-6 7-6 6-0
2004 Amélie Mauresmo (Frn) d. Jennifer Capriati (US) 3-6 6-3 7-6
2005 Amélie Mauresmo (Frn) d. Patty Schnyder (Swt) 2-6 6-3 6-4
2006 Martina Hingis (Swt) d. Dinara Safina (Rus) 6-2 7-5
2007 Jelena Jankovic (Ser) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) 7-5 6-1
2008 Jelena Jankovic (Ser) d. Alize Cornet (Frn) 6-2 6-2
2009 Dinara Safina (Rus) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) 6-3 6-2

2010 Maria José Martinez-Sanchez (Sp) d. Jelena Jankovic (Ser) 7-6 7-5
2011 Maria Sharapova (Rus) d. Sam Stosur(Aus) 6-2 6-4

Most Titles

05 Chris Evert------------Won 1974-1975 and 1980-82. Chris made the finals a record 7 times.
04 Conchita Martinez-----Won 1993-1996. A record 4 consecutive titles and 5 consecutive finals.
04 Gabriela Sabatini------Won 1988-89 and 1991-92. d #1 player 3 times-Navratilova(87),Seles (91-92)
03 Maria Bueno-----------Won 1958, 1961, and 1965
03 Margaret Smith Court--Won 1962-1964.

* Monica Seles won the title in 1990 and 2000-a record 10 year gap between singles titles.

*This event was one of the few major titles that ever eluded Martina Navratilova. Navratilova was a 4 time finalist-a record number of finals without winning the title. Martina played near the start (1974 and 1975 finals) and the end (1990 and 1994 finals-her last year on tour in singles) of her career, but skipped the Italian from 1976 to 1986, her peak years.

--------------------------------------------------------------
The Italian Open is the youngest of the great national championships, having begun in 1930. In that inaugural year, Bill Tilden carried off the men’s title and Lilli de Alvarez the women’s crown. That first tournament and the four which followed it were held in Milan but in 1935 the event was moved to the Foro Italico in Rome. The stadium, which had been built in 1925 close to the Colosseo in the neo-classical style in vogue at that time as it evoked the greatness of Ancient Rome, is surrounded by giant marble statues and pine trees and one of the most beautiful tennis arenas in the world.

The citizens of Rome had to wait until 1950 for the next edition of the “Internazionali d’Italia” as the championship was suspended from 1936-49 because of the Abyssinian and Second World Wars. In 1961, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the modern Italian state, the tournament was held in Turin, the capital of Piedmont, whose King had become King of Italy in 1861. Throughout the 50s and 60s, the women’s event enjoyed its heyday, regularly attracting almost all the top players who were playing the European clay court circuit. During this period, it was seen as the most important event outside the Grand Slams. The first open edition was held in 1969, the Italian federation having resisted calls to declare the tournament open the previous year.

As the 1970s progressed, however, the event suffered heavily from the establishment of the Virginia Slims circuit and World Team Tennis. Nevertheless, it continued to attract the all the players who were not committed to WTT and remained the principal warm-up event for Roland Garros. In 1979, following the collapse of WTT, the WTA, in association with Colgate, made a major effort to restore the championships to their former glory. The women held their own separate event at the Foro Italico and the draw included six former champions. However, the 32-player draw meant that after completion of the first round, there were only 15 matches left to play and the crowds stayed away in droves. Because of this setback, the event was moved to Perugia the following year, where it stayed until 1984. The 1985 Taranto tournament, with prize money of only $50,000, was accorded the title of the Italian Open in 1985, but bore little resemblance to the championships of old. In 1986, a $75,000 event, the Ellesse Grand Prix, was staged at Perugia but the Italian federation refused to acknowledge it as the Italian Open. At that time, plans were already laid to bring the women’s championships back to the Foro Italico in Rome in 1987 in conjunction with IMG. Since 1987, the tournament re-established itself as the second most important event in the European clay-court season together with the German Championships. After the demise of Berlin it remains as the second most prestigous clay court event in existence.

In 2012 the women combined with the men in Rome for the first time since 1978.

Major thanks go out to Andy T (who provided the initial winners list and many summaries) and Jimbo, who extended the winners lists. Thanks to Ugarte for many scores from the 1930s.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
1930

Dates: April 28-May 4
Site: Milan

QF: Lili de Alvarez (Sp) d Guilia Perelli
QF: Baroness Maud Levi d Vigano
QF: Lucia Valerio d Arlette Neufeld (Frn)
QF: Anna Luzzatti d Rosetta Gagliari

SF: Alvarez d Levi 6-2 6-1
SF: Valerio d Luzzatti default

FI: Lili de Alvarez (Sp) d. Lucia Valerio 3-6 8-6 6-0

DF: Lili de Alvarez (Sp)/Lucia Valerio d. Leila-Claude Anet (Frn)/Arlette Neufeld (Frn) 7-5 7-5

MX: Lili de Alvarez (Sp)/Umberto de Morpurgo d. Lucia Valerio/Pat Hughes (GB) 4-6 6-4 6-2

This was the inaugural edition of the Italian Championships. At one point in the final Lucia Valerio had led by 6-3 4-1.

Lili de Alvarez
 
#3 · (Edited)
1931

Dates: May 5-12*
Site: Milan, Italy

QF: Lucia Valerio d Mme De Bruyn Kops
QF: Rosie Berthet (Frn) d Rosetta Gagliardi
QF: Grioni d Maria Covi
QF: Dorothy Andrus (US) d Leila Claude-Anet (Frn)

SF: Valerio d Berthet 6-3 4-6 6-4
SF: Andrus d Grioni 6-2 2-6 6-2

FI: Lucia Valerio d. Dorothy Andrus (US) 2-6 6-2 6-2

DF: Ana Luzzatti/Mrs Prousse d. Dorothy Andrus (US)/Lucia Valerio 6-3 1-6 6-3

MX: Lucia Valerio/Pat Hughes (GB) d Dorothy Andrus (US)/Alberto del Bono 6-0 6-1

Seating capacity at the club of 15 courts is 3,500.

*Note the apparent conflict in dates between the Austrian Chmps and the Italian Chmps in Milan.





Lucia Valerio (pictured above) was the first Italian woman to win her home championships. A native of Milan, she was born there on February 28, 1905. Her favorite shots were her forehand, passing shots, and cut service (from Lowe's 1932 Annual)
 
#4 · (Edited)
1932

Dates:
Site: Milan

QF: Ida Adamoff (Frn) d Guilia Perelli
QF: Marie Horn (Ger) d Leila Claude-Anet (Frn)
QF: Cilly Aussem (Ger) d Elsa Riboli
QF: Valerio d Dorothy Andrus Burke (US)

SF: Adamoff d Horn 6-3 7-5
SF: Valerio d Aussem 3-6 8-6 6-2

FI: Ida Adamoff (Frn) d. Lucia Valerio 6-4 7-5

DF: Lolette Payot (Swt)/Colette Rosambert (Frn) d. Dorothy Burke (US)/Lucia Valerio 7-5 6-3

MX: Jacques Bonte (Frn)/Lolette Payot (Swt) d. Alberto del Bono/Dorothy Burke (US) 6-1 6-2

Alberto del Bono may ="Tito" del Bono.



Ida Adamoff. She also won the Rumanian Chmps in 1932 and made the French doubles final in 1935.
 
#5 · (Edited)
1933

Dates:May 9-14
Venue: Milan

QF: Elizabeth Ryan (US) d Anna Luzzatti
QF: Lucia Valerio d Simone Barbier (Frn)
QF: Elsa Riboli d Yvanna Orlandini
QF: Ida Adamoff (Frn) d Rosapina

SF: Ryan d Valerio 6-2 6-4
SF: Adamoff d Riboli 6-1 6-2

FI: Elizabeth Ryan (US) d. Ida Adamoff (Frn) 6-1 6-1

DF: Ida Adamoff (Frn)/Dorothy Burke (US) d. Elizabeth Ryan (US)/Lucia Valerio 6-3 1-6 6-4

MX: Dorothy Burke/Andre Martin-Legeay (Frn) d. E Gabrowitz/Orlandi 6-4 6-3

This Corbis image show Elizabeth Ryan in a rare off court picture from the 1930s. She was denied a Grand Slam singles-the Italian was the most prestigious singles evert she ever captured out of close to 300 singles titles.

 
#6 · (Edited)
1934

Dates: May 9-13
Venue: Milan

May 9-16, Italian Championships, Milan, Italy (Clay)

QF: Helen Jacobs (US) d Anna Luzzatti ????
QF: Ida Adamoff (Frn) d Madzy Rollin-Couquerque (Neth)
QF: Lucia Valerio d Edith Belliard (Frn)
QF: Dorothy Andrus Burke (US) d Elizabeth Ryan (US)

SF: Jacobs d Adamoff ????
SF: Valerio d Burke ????

FI: Helen Jacobs (USA) d. Lucia Valerio 6-3 6-0

DF: Helen Jacobs (USA)/Elizabeth Ryan (USA) d. Ida Adamoff (FRA)/Dorothy Burke (USA) 7-5 9-7

MX: Elizabeth Ryan (US)/Henry Culley (US) d. Madzy Rollin-Couquerque (Neth)/Ferenc Puncec (Yug) 6-1 6-3


This was almost certainly Ryan's last career event. The stock market crash had meant the slow drain on her funds could not be reversed. She turned pro and taught many years in Hawaii and other places before returning to settle in London. Easily the winner of over 700 titles in singles, doubles, and mixed combined-a record no one will ever be likely to break.


This was almost certainly Ryan's last career event.

Helen Jacobs

 
#7 · (Edited)
1935

Dates:April 15-24
Site: Rome

QF: Hilde Sperling (Den) d Nancy Lyle (GB) 6-3 6-2
QF: Jadwiga Jedrzejowska (Pol) d Susan Noel (GB) 10-8 6-2
QF: Lucia Valerio d Ida Adamoff (Frn) 9-7 6-3
QF: Cilly Aussem (Ger) d Jacqueline Goldschmidt (Frn) 1-6 7-5 7-5

SF: Sperling d Jedrzejowska 6-1 6-4
SF: Valerio d Aussem 6-4 6-4

FI: Hilde Sperling (Den) d. Lucia Valerio 6-4 6-1

DF: Evelyn Dearman (GB)/Nancy Lyle (GB) d. Cilly Aussem (Ger)/Elizabeth Ryan (US) 6-2 6-4

MX: Jadwiga Jedrzejowska (Pol)/Harry Hopman (Aus) d. Evelyn Dearman (GB)/Pat Hughes (GB) 6-3 1-6 6-3

In 1935, the field included many top Europeans: Krahwinkel, Ryan, Cilly Aussem and Jadwiga Jedrezjowska. Susan Noel upset Swiss star Lolette Payot before the QF. This was almost certainly Ryan's last career event.

The 1935 semifinal at the Foro Italico. That's Lucia Valerio on the left. The person on the right is Cilly Aussem, the German player who later married an Italian Count.



Winner Hilde Sperling was a clay court terror. From 1935 to the start of World War II in 1939 she only lost once on clay-that was to Simone Mathieu in 1937 at Beaulieu. Sperling had a 19-1 head to head vs Mathieu

 
#8 · (Edited)
There were no Italian Championships from 1936-1949

Mussalini's invasion of Ethiopia made italy an international pariah. Later on war intervened. For about 15 years there would be no Italian Championship event.

The famous statues at the Foro Italico. Inspired by facism-they are a signature symbol of the event. Ironaically it was due to Mussalini that no italian event was held from 1936 to 1950




 
#9 · (Edited)
1950

Dates: April 17-26
Venue: Foro Italico, Rome.

QF: Barbara Scofield (US) d Betty Hilton (GB) 7-5 3-6 6-2
QF: Annalisa Bossi d Jean Quertier (GB) 6-3 1-6 8-6
QF: Nicla Migliori d Jean Walker-Smith (GB) 6-3 0-6 6-3
QF: Joan Curry (GB) d Gussie Moran (US) 0-6 6-4 6-3

SF: Bossi d Scofield 1-6 6-3 6-3
SF: Curry d Migliori 6-4 6-0

FI: Annalisa Bossi d. Joan Curry (GB) 6-2 6-4

DF: Jean Quertier/Jean Walker-Smith d Joan Curry/Joy Mottram 6-2 6-2

MX: Gusiie Moran/Adrian Quist led Analissa Bossi/Gianni Cucelli 6-2 1-0 unfinished.

British player Tony Mottram calls this "the first big international clash of the year" in a report to the British magazine Lawn Tennis and Badminton. In contrast to other places on her world tour Gussie does not fill the stands in Rome despite being called "Le Magnifica Gussie" by the press. For her first round match a dozen cameramen follow her onto court. One enthusiastic photographer was escorted off the court for squatting down in the center of the court during warmups. For a while Gussie was forced to loft balls over his head!

In the end the glory fittingly goes to Bossi, the #1 Italian. She will be the last Italian female singles winner for over 30 years until Reggi wins in 1986!

Bossi in action in 1950


Glamorous Gussie Moran-her lace panties shot her to fame in 1949

 
#10 · (Edited)
1951


Dates:April 9-16
Venue: Foro Italico, Rome

QF: Doris Hart (US) d. Joan Curry (GB) 4-6 6-3 6-4
QF: Thelma Long (Aus) d. Beverly Baker (US) default
QF: Shirley Fry (US) d. Pat Ward (GB) 6-2 6-1
QF: Louise Brough (US) d. Anne-Marie Seghers (Frn) 6-1 3-6 6-0

SF: Hart d. Long 6-1 6-3
SF: Fry d. Brough 6-3 11-9

FI: Doris Hart (US) d. Shirley Fry (US) 6-3 8-6

Doubles

SF: Fry/Hart d. Bologna/Manfredi 6-1 6-1
SF: Brough/Long d. Adamson/Seghers 6-2 6-4

FI: Shirley Fry/Doris Hart d. Louise Brough/Thelma Long 6-1 7-5

MX: Shirley Fry (US)/Felicissimo Ampon (Phil) d Doris Hart (US)/Lennart Bergelin (Swd) 8-6 3-6 6-4

Final played before a crowd of 10,000. This is Hart's 4th straight singles title win in 1951 and 3rd win in a row over Fry. Hart's stronger serve and faster pace keep Fry running throughout. The mixed final thrilled the crowd. A few weeks later Shirley won the French, but then Doris turned the tables at Wimbledon.

Dorsi Hart (left) and Shirley Fry (right). In 1951 they traveled 4 continents together
 
#17 · (Edited)
1958

Maria Bueno enchanted the Roman crowds and the tennis world at large, beating Thelma Long 61 61, Shirley Bloomer 16 97 86 and Coghlan 36 63 63 to win her first major tournament on her first European tour.

Fame finds the Senorita-Bueno takes Rome by storm in 1958





 
#18 · (Edited)
1959

18 year-old Christine Truman lost just 8 points in the first set and 11 in the second in a final rout of Sandra Reynolds en route to her first major international title. She went on to win at Roland Garros. Reynolds had beaten holder Maria Bueno 46 75 63 in a thrilling semi-final.

At the Foro Italico in 1959. Lea Pericoli
 
#103 ·
Fantastic pic! I would have loved to have seen Pericoli play ... and playing doubles with Sylvana! Would remind me of myself against a lot of the S&V players I compete against :)
 
#21 · (Edited)
1962

Dates: May 7-15
Venue: The Foro Italico, Rome

Draw=47

3R: Smith [1] d Floyd 6-2 6-4
3R: Kormoczy d. Lehane [8] 4-6 6-2 6-4
3R: Hard [5] d Lazzarino 3-6 6-1 6-3
3R: Haydon [4] d Buding 6-4 6-1

3R: Truman [3] d Ramorino 6-1 6-1
3R: Pericoli d Schuurman [6] 6-0 6-3
3R: Sukova d Turner [7] 4-6 6-2 6-4
3R: Bueno [2] d Schacht 6-3 6-2

QF: Smith [1] d. Kormoczy 4-6 6-1 6-1
QF: Hard [5] d. Haydon [4] 6-4 6-3
QF: Truman [3] d. Pericoli 6-2 6-0
QF: Bueno [2] d. Sukova 6-2 6-2

SF: Smith [1] d. Hard [5] 7-5 6-3
SF: Bueno [2] d. Truman [3] 6-2 4-6 7-5.

FI: Margaret Smith [1] d. Maria Bueno [2] 8-6 5-7 6-4

Doubles

SF: Bueno/Hard d. Bricka/Smith 3-6 7-5 6-4.
SF: Pericoli/Lazzarino d. Lehane/Turner 7-5 6-4

FI: Maria Bueno/Darlene Hard d. Lea Pericoli/Silvana Lazzarino 6-4 6-4

Mixed Doubles

FI: Lesley Turner/Fred Stolle d Madonna Schacht/Owen Davidson 6-4 6-1

Lea Pericoli at the Foro in 1962 gesticulating. The combination of a partisan crowd and Lea's sky high series of endless lobs defeated many women here over the years.




Put Lea and Silvana together and passions ran rampant




Eventual winners Bueno and Hard




In 1962 the Italian is considered "the fifth major" by most experts. Smith remains undefeated for 1962-her last defeat was in September at the US Nationals! Pericoli beat Schuurman with an endless series of lobs and higher lobs. ....the South African went berserk under the barrage of bloopers."

Darlene troubles Smith in the semis-holding 5 set points in the first, one bad call going against her. Rain delayed play after that, and Darlene was never happy with the slow and soggy court that favored her rival. In the other semi Truman was two points from a win at 5-2 30-0 when she botched an easy overhead. La Bueno then ran off 45 games in a row. Both semis were played in a drizzle.

A high wind affects play in the finals. Maria pushed the Aussie to the limit before succumbing to leg cramps in the third. Controversy occurs when Smith finds out Maria will have a "coach" on the sidelines, which is against all rules. Smith declares she should be allowed to have a "second" too or won't play. Both women are seconded by the respective captains of the Davis Cup teams from their countries. It's an amazing sight as the men towel off the girls and offer encouragement between games.

Maria led 4-3 in the third when the wheels came off. In the end Maria is a lame duck from leg cramps, even serving underhanded at one point. The last 3 games take a mere five minutes-with Smith taking the last two games at love.

Italians don't normally show up for women's matches, but the Bueno-Smith final and the lobbing Italian duo of Lazzarino/Pericoli bring out a full stadium on the last two days. The crowd cheers after Bueno and Hard put away their thousandth smash to win the doubles on the last day.

The full draw at at:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showpost.php?p=19119665&postcount=22
 
#25 · (Edited)
1966

Dates: May 2-8
Venue: The Foro Italico, Rome

Draw=64


3R: Kerry Melville d Judy Tegart [3] 6-3 6-4

QF: Ann Jones [2] d. Helga Niessen [6] 6-2 6-3
QF: Francoise Durr [4] d. Edda Buding [7] 6-0 3-6 6-4
QF: Norma Baylon [5] d. Melville 6-3 7-5
QF: Annette Van Zyl [1] d. Gail Sherriff [8] 6-4 6-0

SF: Jones [2] d. Durr [4] 6-1 6-2
SF: van Zyl [1] d. Baylon [5] 2-6 6-4 6-3

FI: Ann Jones (GB) [2] d. Annette Van Zyl [1] 8-6 6-1


DF: Norma Baylon (Arg)/Annette Van Zyl (SA) d. Ann Jones (GB)/Elizabeth Starkie (GB) 6-3 1-6 6-2

Nancy Richey who had been seeded #1 pulled out after the draw had been made. After Nancy withdrew the Italians changed the draw by moving all the other seeds up a place into the original slot for that seed and making Gail Sherriff #8!!! “It never looked as though anyone but Ann Jones and Annette van zyl would reach the women’s final. With no Smith, no Bueno, no Turner, no Richey and no King, a little of the glamour was rubbed off Mrs Jones victory, but it was gained in the most relentless fashion.

In the final Ann reverses her 4 defeats to van zyl in the South African circuit. ‘There were drop shots galore of course, as the two great Queens of the drop shot..” Jones looked to be in trouble early down 3-1 when a great crowd briefly converged on the ladies as fans moved from one men’s match to another in the stadium. The South African let the commotion affect her concentration and never looked the same. When Annette double faulted at match point there were few in the stands.

Ann went on weeks later to win in Paris for a rare Italian-French double.

1966 winner Ann Jones was always at her best on clay

 
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