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1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit

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1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit
Billie Jean King (pictured in 1973) won 17 tour titles.
Details
Duration22 December 1970 – 20 December 1971
Edition58th
Tournaments165
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
Virginia Slims Circuit (19)
ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix (17)[a]
ILTF World Circuit (125)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesUnited States Billie Jean King (17)
Most tournament finalsUnited States Billie Jean King (25)
1970
1972

The 1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit was the 58th season since the formation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation in 1913,[1] it consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players.

It was composed of three circuits the first Virginia Slims Circuit with 19 events approved by the ILTF,[2] and the first Grand Prix Circuit with 17 events under the auspices of the ILTF and the regular ILTF World Circuit,[3][4] with 125 events makes up the majority of the 165 tournaments staged this year.

Circuits

[edit]

Grand Prix Circuit

[edit]

The 1971 ILTF Pepsi-Cola Grand Prix was a tennis circuit administered by the International Lawn Tennis Federation which served as a forerunner to the current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. The circuit consisted of the four modern Grand Slam tournaments and open tournaments recognised by the ILTF. This article covers all tournaments that were part of that year's Women's Grand Prix.[5]

Virginia Slims Circuit

[edit]

Prior to the establishment of this circuit there was an inequality between the prize money purses for male and female tennis players which gave rise to complaints from a number of the leading female tennis players of the time. Nine of them, including Billie Jean King, became later known as the "Original 9" after being banned from the then existing multi-gender invitational professional events run by the influential United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) due to their boycotting of the Pacific Southwest Championships. This resulted in the first Virginia Slims-sponsored event being held in September 1970 in Houston, an event which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the annual Virginia Slims Circuit the following year.[6] In 1971 the total prize money available from the Virginia Slims events was $309,100 and Billie Jean King became the first female athlete in history to earn more than $100,000 in one season.[7][8]

ILTF World Circuit

[edit]

This worldwide circuit consisted of 125 events that were not part of the sponsored Virginia Slims and Grand Prix circuits they made up the majority of the 165 tournaments staged this year. This years singles title leader Billie Jean King won her 17 tournaments across all three circuits.[citation needed]

This circuit began on 30 December 1970 with the Western Australian Open in Perth, Australia and ended on 25 December with the Border Championships, East London, South Africa.[citation needed]

Schedule

[edit]

This is a calendar of all events sponsored by Virginia Slims in the year 1971, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. The table also includes the Grand Slam tournaments and the 1971 Federation Cup.[7]

Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Virginia Slims Circuit
ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix Circuit
ILTF World Circuit
Team events

December (1970)

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
29 Dec Federation Cup
Perth, Australia
Federation Cup
Grass – 14 teams knockout
 Australia
3–0
 Great Britain  France
 United States
 Yugoslavia
 Netherlands
 South Africa
 New Zealand
Western Australian Open
Perth, Australia
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
6–1, 6–2
United Kingdom Virginia Wade France Gail Chanfreau
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Patti Hogan
South Africa Laura Rossouw
Australia Lesley Hunt
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–4, 7–5
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United Kingdom Virginia Wade

January

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 Jan British Motor Cars Invitational
San Francisco, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $15,200 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–4
United States Rosie Casals United Kingdom Ann Jones (3rd)
United States Nancy Richey (4th)
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Jane Bartkowicz
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–7, 6–1
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
New South Wales Open
Sydney
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
6–2, 6–2
Soviet Union Olga Morozova France Gail Chanfreau
Japan Kazuko Sawamatsu
South Africa Brenda Kirk
United States Kristien Kemmer
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United States Patti Hogan
Australia Margaret Court
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
6–2, 6–0
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Kerry Harris
11 Jan Billie Jean King Invitational
Long Beach, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $14,000 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–2
United States Rosie Casals United Kingdom Ann Jones
United States Nancy Richey
United States Stephanie Johnson
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
United States Denise Carter
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
7–5, 6–3
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
18 Jan Virginia Slims of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,500 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–2
United States Rosie Casals United Kingdom Ann Jones
France Françoise Dürr
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
Australia Karen Krantzcke
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
United States Denise Carter
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 1–6, 6–2
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
25 Jan Virginia Slims of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $12,500 – 16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
1–6, 7–6, 6–4
United States Rosie Casals United Kingdom Ann Jones
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Denise Carter
United States Tory Fretz
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–7, 6–0, 7–5
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
Victoria Championships
Melbourne, Australia
Non-tour event
Singles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
7–6, 7–6
Australia Margaret Court Japan Kazuko Sawamatsu
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Patti Hogan
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
Netherlands Trudy Walhof
France Gail Chanfreau

February

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Feb Virginia Slims of Chattanooga
Chattanooga, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,700 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–1
United Kingdom Ann Jones France Françoise Dürr
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Jane Bartkowicz
Australia Karen Krantzcke
United States Kristy Pigeon
United States Rosie Casals
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
BP New Zealand Championships
Christchurch, New Zealand
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–1, 6–4
Netherlands Betty Stöve United States Kathleen Harter
France Gail Chanfreau
South Africa Laura Rossouw
Netherlands Trudy Walhof
United States Patty Ann Reese
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Kathleen Harter
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
France Gail Chanfreau
Australia Evonne Goolagong
8 Feb Philadelphia Indoor Championships
Philadelphia, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,500 – 16S
SinglesDoubles
United States Rosie Casals
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
France Françoise Dürr United States Billie Jean King
United Kingdom Ann Jones
United States Tory Fretz
United States Denise Carter
Australia Kerry Melville
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
15 Feb Station WLOD
Fort Lauderdale, United States
Virginia Slims
Clay – $10,000 – 16S
SinglesDoubles
France Françoise Dürr
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
United States Billie Jean King Australia Kerry Melville
United States Rosie Casals
Australia Judy Dalton
United Kingdom Ann Jones
United States Denise Carter
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
USSR Championships
Moscow, Soviet Union
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
6–1, 7–5
Soviet Union Maria Kull Soviet Union Yelena Granaturova
Soviet Union Anna Yeremeyeva
Soviet Union Yekaterina Kryuchkova
Soviet Union Marina Kroschina
Soviet Union Eugenia Birioukova
Soviet Union Rausa Islanova
Soviet Union Eugenia Birioukova
Soviet Union Marina Kroschina
7–6, 5–7, 7–5
Soviet Union Yelena Granaturova
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
22 Feb Virginia Slims National Indoors
Winchester, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,500 – 16S/2D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
4–6, 6–2, 6–3
United States Rosie Casals United Kingdom Ann Jones
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Jane Bartkowicz
United States Kristy Pigeon
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones

March

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Mar Benson & Hedges Centennial Open
Auckland, New Zealand
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
3–6, 7–6(5–1), 6–2
Australia Evonne Goolagong United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Patti Hogan
United States Sharon Walsh
Australia Lesley Bowrey
Australia Lesley Hunt
New Zealand Marilyn Pryde
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
7–6, 6–0
Australia Lesley Bowrey
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
8 Mar Dunlop Australian Open
Sydney, Australia
Grand Slam
Grass – 30S/14D
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
2–6, 7–6, 7–5
Australia Evonne Goolagong Australia Lesley Hunt
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Jan O'Neill
Australia Norma Marsh
United States Sharon Walsh
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–0, 6–0
Australia Jill Emmerson
Australia Lesley Hunt
15 Mar Virginia Slims US Indoors
Detroit, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $10,000 – 8S/2D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
3–6, 6–1, 6–2
United States Rosie Casals United Kingdom Ann Jones
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
United States Tory Fretz
Australia Wendy Gilchrist
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
2–6, 6–2, 6–3
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Jane Bartkowicz
22 Mar Virginia Slims of New York
New York, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $15,600 – 20S
SinglesDoubles
United States Rosie Casals
6–4, 6–4
United States Billie Jean King 3rd: United Kingdom Ann Jones
4th: France Françoise Dürr
United States Julie Heldman
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Cecilia Martinez
United States Jane Bartkowicz
29 Mar Caribe Hilton Invitational
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Virginia Slims
$10,000 – 24S/11D
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Ann Jones
6–4, 6–4
United States Nancy Richey United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Jane Bartkowicz
United States Denise Carter
United States Tory Fretz
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Rosie Casals
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
7–6, 6–3
Australia Karen Krantzcke
Australia Kerry Melville
Natal Open Championships
Durban, South Africa
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
6–2, 6–1
United States Patti Hogan United Kingdom Virginia Wade
West Germany Heide Schildeknecht
Australia Lesley Hunt
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Australia Evonne Goolagong
West Germany Helga Niessen Masthoff
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Australia Kerry Harris
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw

April

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Apr Virginia Slims Masters
St. Petersburg, United States
Virginia Slims
Clay – $10,000 – 16S/15Q/11D
SinglesDoubles
United States Chris Evert
6–1, 6–2
United States Julie Heldman United States Billie Jean King
United States Rosie Casals
Australia Karen Krantzcke
United States Judy Alvarez
Australia Kerry Melville
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
7–6, 3–6, 6–3
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Julie Heldman
Monte Carlo Open Championships
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Non-tour event
16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
France Gail Chanfreau
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Netherlands Betty Stöve Sweden Christina Sandberg
France Odile de Roubin
Italy Lucia Bassi
Czechoslovakia Marie Neumannová
Hungary Katalin Borka
Italy Lea Pericoli
West Germany Katja Ebbinghaus
Netherlands Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–3
Italy Lucia Bassi
Italy Lea Pericoli
South Africa Open
Johannesburg, South Africa
Non-tour event
26S/8D
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
6–3, 6–1
Australia Evonne Goolagong United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
Australia Kerry Harris
West Germany Helga Niessen Masthoff
South Africa Pat Walkden
United States Patti Hogan
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–3, 6–2
South Africa Brenda Kirk
South Africa Laura Rossouw
12 Apr Caesar's Palace World Pro Championships
Las Vegas, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $29,200 – 16S/13Q/10D
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Ann Jones
7–5, 6–4
United States Billie Jean King United States Julie Heldman
Australia Judy Dalton
United States Nancy Richey
France Françoise Dürr
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Rosie Casals
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Ann Jones
0–6, 6–2, 6–4
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
USA National Bank Open
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Non-tour event
6S/2D
SinglesDoubles
United States Chris Evert
6–2, 6–0
United States Laura duPont United States Janet Newberry
United States Eliza Pande
United States Sue Stap
United States Beverly Cansler
United States Chris Evert
United States Sue Stap
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
United States Janet Newberry
United States Eliza Pande
19 Apr Virginia Slims of San Diego
San Diego, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $12,500 – 16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
4–6, 7–5, 6–1
United States Rosie Casals United States Julie Heldman
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
South Africa Esmé Emmanuel
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Tory Fretz
United States Kristy Pigeon
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–7, 6–2, 6–3
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
Catania Open Grand Prix
Catania, Italy
Non-tour event
15S/8D
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–0, 6–3
France Gail Chanfreau West Germany Helga Schultze
South Africa Laura Rossouw
Czechoslovakia Marie Neumannová
South Africa Brenda Kirk
Czechoslovakia Miloslava Holubová
United States Pam Teeguarden
United States Pam Teeguarden
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–4, 6–4
France Gail Chanfreau
West Germany Helga Schultze
26 Apr Rothmans Sutton Hard Courts
Sutton, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
7–5, 2–6, 6–3
United Kingdom Joyce Williams United Kingdom Jill Cooper
United Kingdom Shirley Brasher
Australia Barbara Hawcroft
United Kingdom Nell Truman
Republic of Ireland Susan Minford
United Kingdom Sally Holdsworth
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United Kingdom Joyce Williams
6–4, 6–3
United States Shirley Brasher
United States Margaret Cooper
River Plate Championships
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
6–0, 6–3
Italy Anna-Maria Nasuelli Netherlands Betty Stöve
Argentina Beatriz Araujo
Argentina Marta Fernández Ruiz
Argentina Raquel Giscafré
Argentina Inés Roget
Argentina Graciela Morán
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
Netherlands Betty Stöve
7–5, 6–1
Argentina Beatriz Araujo
Argentina Ines Roget

May

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 May Italian Open
Rome, Italy
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–4, 6–4
West Germany Helga Niessen Masthoff Germany Helga Schultze
France Gail Chanfreau
Czechoslovakia Marie Neumannová
Australia Lesley Bowrey
Italy Lea Pericoli
South Africa Laura Rossouw
West Germany Helga Niessen Masthoff
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
5–7, 6–2, 6–2
Australia Lesley Bowrey
Australia Helen Gourlay
Tulsa Claycourts
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Non-tour event
10S/4D
SinglesDoubles
United States Chris Evert
6–0, 6–3
United States Mary-Ann Eisel United States Laura duPont
United States Marcie Louie
United States Jeanne Evert
United States Karin Benson
United States Kathy Kraft
United States Sue Stap
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Karin Benson
2–6, 7–5, 7–5
United States Chris Evert
United States Jeanne Evert
10 May London Hard Court Championships
London, England
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Australia Margaret Court
6–0, 6–3
France Françoise Dürr France Gail Chanfreau
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
United States Julie Heldman
United Kingdom Nell Truman
Australia Judy Dalton
United States Rosie Casals
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–4
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
17 May British Hard Court Championships
Bournemouth, England
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Australia Margaret Court
7–5, 6–1
Australia Evonne Goolagong France Françoise Dürr
United States Mary–Ann Curtis
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Tory Fretz
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United States Patti Hogan
United States Mary–Ann Curtis
France Françoise Dürr
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
Grand Prix German Open
Hamburg, West Germany
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
West Germany Helga Masthoff West Germany Helga Hösl
United States Rosie Casals
West Germany Heide Orth
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
Japan Kazuko Sawamatsu
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–2, 6–1
West Germany Helga Masthoff
West Germany Heide Orth
24 May
31 May
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam (A)
Clay – 64S/44Q/32D/38X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–3, 7–5
Australia Helen Gourlay Netherlands Marijke Schaar
United States Nancy Richey
United States Linda Tuero
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Lesley Bowrey
France Gail Chanfreau
France Gail Chanfreau
France Françoise Dürr
6–4, 6–1
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Kerry Harris
France Jean-Claude Barclay
France Françoise Dürr
6–3, 6–4
Soviet Union Toomas Leius
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw

June

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 Jun Players Nottingham
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
United States Julie Heldman
6–4, 7–9, 6–3
Australia Barbara Hawcroft Australia Helen Amos
South Africa Laura Rossouw
South Africa Brenda Kirk
Chile Michelle Rodríguez
Australia Patricia Faulkner
Sweden Madeleine Pegel
France Françoise Dürr
United States Julie Heldman
6–0, 6–3
Chile Ana María Pinto Bravo
Argentina Raquel Giscafré
Kent Championships
Beckenham, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Kerry Melville
6–0, 3–6, 9–7
United States Kristy Pigeon United States Patti Hogan
Australia Wendy Gilchrist
United States Tam O'Shaughnessy
United States Janet Newberry
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United Kingdom Christine Janes
United Kingdom Christine Truman
United Kingdom Nell Truman
6–3, 9–7
Soviet Union Olga Morozova
Soviet Union Zaiga Yanzone
14 Jun Queen's Club Championships
London, England
Grand Prix Circuit (D)
Grass – 64S/32D
Australia Margaret Court
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
United States Billie Jean King United States Rosie Casals
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
United States Kristy Pigeon
United Kingdom Jill Cooper
United Kingdom Christine Janes
Australia Helen Gourlay
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–2, 8–6
United States Mary–Ann Curtis
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
21 Jun
28 June
Wimbledon Championships
London, England
Grand Slam (A)
Grass – 96S/24D/80X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–4, 6–1
Australia Margaret Court Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Billie Jean King
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Nancy Richey
France Françoise Dürr
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
Australia Owen Davidson
United States Billie Jean King
3–6, 6–2, 15–13
United States Marty Riessen
Australia Margaret Court

July

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Jul Swedish Open
Båstad, Sweden
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Clay – 32S/32D
West Germany Helga Masthoff
4–6, 6–1, 6–3
Sweden Ingrid Bentzer Sweden Christina Sandberg
United States Linda Tuero
Chile Ana María Pinto Bravo
West Germany Heide Orth
Sweden Ann-Charlotte Dahlberg
France Odile de Roubin
West Germany Helga Masthoff
West Germany Heide Orth
6–2, 6–1
Chile Ana María Pinto Bravo
United States Linda Tuero
Open Welsh Championships
Newport, Wales
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Grass – S32/D16
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–4
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Kerry Harris
United Kingdom Elizabeth James
France Gail Chanfreau
United Kingdom Joyce Williams
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Kerry Harris
6–3, 8–6
France Gail Chanfreau
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Swiss Open
Gstaad, Switzerland
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Clay – S32/D16
France Françoise Dürr
6–3, 6–3
Australia Lesley Hunt Netherlands Marijke Schaar
Czechoslovakia Alena Palmeová-West
Italy Lea Pericoli
Italy Fiorella Bonicelli
Switzerland Silvia Gubler
South Africa Laura Rossouw
South Africa Brenda Kirk
South Africa Laura Rossouw
8–6, 6–3
France Françoise Dürr
Italy Lea Pericoli
Carroll's Irish Open
Dublin, Ireland
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Margaret Court
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Australia Evonne Goolagong Netherlands Betty Stöve
Australia Lesley Bowrey
Republic of Ireland Geraldine Barniville
Republic of Ireland Sue Minford
United Kingdom Veronica Burton
United States Tam O'Shaughnessy
United States Kathleen Harter
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
France Gail Chanfreau
Australia Evonne Goolagong
12 Jul North of England Championships
Hoylake, England
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Grass – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–3
United States Rosie Casals Australia Margaret Court
United States Patti Hogan
Australia Evonne Goolagong
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
United States Julie Heldman
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
walkover
Australia Margaret Court
Australia Evonne Goolagong
19 Jul Green Shield Midland Championships
Leicester, England
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–2, 6–4
United States Patti Hogan Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Kristien Kemmer
Australia Kerry Harris
Australia Barbara Hawcroft
Australia Fay Toyne
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
Australia Evonne Goolagong
8–6, 6–4
Australia Barbara Hawcroft
United States Patti Hogan
Austrian Open
Kitzbühel, Austria
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–2, 4–6, 7–5
South Africa Laura Rossouw Germany Helga Schultze
United States Rosie Casals
Germany Heide Orth
United States Tory Fretz
Chile Ana María Arias
South Africa Brenda Kirk
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–2, 6–4
West Germany Helga Niessen Masthoff
West Germany Heide Orth
26 Jul Dutch Open Championships
Hilversum, Netherlands[9]
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
8–6, 6–3
Sweden Christina Sandberg West Germany Cora Schediwy
Netherlands Betty Stöve
Netherlands Trudy Waldhof
West Germany Katja Ebbinghaus
South Africa Brenda Kirk
Czechoslovakia Alena Palmeová-West
Sweden Christina Sandberg
Netherlands Betty Stöve
6–1, 6–2
West Germany Katja Ebbinghaus
Netherlands Trudy Waldhof

August

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Aug Virginia Slims International
Houston, United States
Virginia Slims
$40,000
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 4–6, 6–1
Australia Kerry Melville 3rd: United States Nancy Richey
4th: Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
United States Julie Heldman
France Françoise Dürr
United States Rosie Casals
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 1–6, 6–2
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
Cincinnati Open
Cincinnati, United States
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Hard – 32S/16D
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–3
United States Linda Tuero France Gail Chanfreau
Australia Helen Gourlay
France Nathalie Fuchs
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Sue Stap
Australia Kerry Harris
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Kerry Harris
6–4, 6–4
France Gail Chanfreau
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
9 Aug Women's Clay Court Championships
Indianapolis, US
Grand Prix Circuit (D)
Clay – 32S/16D
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5
United States Linda Tuero Australia Helen Gourlay
France Gail Chanfreau
United States Julie Heldman
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Australia Kerry Harris
Australia Kerry Melville
Australia Judy Dalton
United States Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–2
United States Julie Heldman
United States Linda Tuero
16 Aug Virginia Slims of Chicago
Lake Bluff, Illinois, United States
Virginia Slims
Clay – $20,000
SinglesDoubles
France Françoise Dürr
6–4, 6–2
United States Billie Jean King United States Nancy Richey
United States Rosie Casals
Australia Lesley Hunt
United States Betty Ann Hansen
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Linda Tuero
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
6–4, 7–6
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
Wightman Cup
Cleveland, United States
Hard (i)
Team event
 United States
4–3
 Great Britain
23 Aug Eastern Grass Court Championships
South Orange NJ, United States
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Grass – 64S/32D
United States Chris Evert
6–4, 6–0
Australia Helen Gourlay United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
Indonesia Lita Liem
Indonesia Lany Kaligis
United Kingdom Joyce Williams
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
Australia Lesley Bowrey
Cancelled
30 Aug Virginia Slims of Newport
Newport, United States
Virginia Slims
Grass – $20,000
SinglesDoubles
Australia Kerry Melville
6–3, 6–7(3–5), 7–6(5–4)
France Françoise Dürr United States Billie Jean King
United States Rosie Casals
Sweden Christina Sandberg
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
Australia Lesley Hunt
United States Mary-Ann Eisel
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
6–2, 6–1
Australia Kerry Harris
Australia Kerry Melville
30 Aug
6 Sep
US Open
New York, United States
Grand Slam (A)
Grass – 64S/32D/47X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–6(5–2)
United States Rosie Casals United States Chris Evert
Australia Kerry Melville
United States Laura du Pont
Australia Lesley Hunt
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United Kingdom Joyce Williams
United States Rosie Casals
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
6–3, 6–3
France Gail Chanfreau
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Owen Davidson
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 7–5
South Africa Bob Maud
Netherlands Betty Stöve

September

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
13 Sep Virginia Slims of Louisville
Louisville, United States
Virginia Slims
$20,000
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
6–1, 4–6, 6–3
United States Rosie Casals Australia Kerry Melville
France Françoise Dürr
Indonesia Lita Liem
Czechoslovakia Alena Palmeová-West
Australia Helen Gourlay
United States Margaret Cooper
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
2–6, 6–4, 6–3
Australia Kerry Melville
Netherlands Betty Stöve
20 Sep Pacific Southwest Championships
Los Angeles, United States
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Carpet (i) – 32S/16D
United States Billie Jean King vs. United States Rosie Casals
6–6 double default
Australia Kerry Melville
France Françoise Dürr
United States Wendy Overton
Australia Lesley Hunt
Australia Helen Gourlay
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
27 Sep Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic
Phoenix, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $20,000 – 32S/4D
SinglesDoubles
United States Billie Jean King
7–5, 6–1
United States Rosie Casals Australia Kerry Melville
Australia Nancy Richey Gunter
United States Wendy Overton
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Lesley Hunt
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr

October

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 Oct Dewar Cup Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–0, 6–3
France Françoise Dürr United Kingdom Jackie Fayter
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
United Kingdom Corinne Molesworth
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Patti Hogan
United States Julie Heldman
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Julie Heldman
6–3, 6–0
United States Patti Hogan
United Kingdom Nell Truman
18 Oct Dewar Cup Billingham
Billingham, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
15S/4D
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
United States Julie Heldman Australia Evonne Goolagong
France Françoise Dürr
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United Kingdom Cathie Lorains
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Patti Hogan
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–3, 4–6, 6–2
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Julie Heldman
25 Oct Embassy British Indoor Championships
London, England
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Carpet – 32S/16D
United States Billie Jean King
6–1, 5–7, 7–5
France Françoise Dürr United States Rosemary Casals
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Patti Hogan
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
3–6, 7–5, 6–3
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Julie Heldman

November

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Nov Dewar Cup Aberavon
Aberavon, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
7–6, 6–3
Australia Evonne Goolagong United States Julie Heldman
France Françoise Dürr
Australia Wendy Gilchrist
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United States Patti Hogan
Netherlands Betty Stöve
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
7–5, 6–4
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Julie Heldman
8 Nov Dewar Cup Torquay
Torquay, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
Australia Evonne Goolagong
6–1, 6–0
France Françoise Dürr United States Julie Heldman
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
United Kingdom Jackie Fayter
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United Kingdom Penny Moor
Netherlands Betty Stöve
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Julie Heldman
7–6, 6–4
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
15 Nov Dewar Cup Championships
London, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–1, 6–3
United States Julie Heldman France Françoise Dürr
Australia Evonne Goolagong
Netherlands Betty Stöve
United Kingdom Winnie Shaw
United Kingdom Jackie Fayter
United States Patti Hogan
Australia Evonne Goolagong
United States Julie Heldman
7–5, 6–4
France Françoise Dürr
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
29 Nov Clean Air Classic
New York City, United States
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–3
United States Rosie Casals

December

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Dec Benson & Hedges International
Christchurch, New Zealand
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
France Françoise Dürr
6–3, 6–0
United States Billie Jean King United States Rosemary Casals
Australia Kerry Melville
Australia Lesley Hunt
United States Kristien Kemmer
United States Valerie Ziegenfuss
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
United States Rosie Casals
United States Billie Jean King
6–3, 9–8(8–6)
Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton
France Françoise Dürr

Awarding points system

[edit]

Grand Prix Circuit

[edit]

The Grand Prix tournaments were divided into four groups. Group A consisted of the three Grand Slam events – French Open, Wimbledon Championships and US Open – while the other tournaments were divided into Groups B, C and D by prize money and draw size. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament. The points allocation is listed below:

Group A
  • Champion: 40
  • Runner-up: 30
  • Semifinalist: 20
  • Quarterfinalist: 10
  • Round of 16: 5
  • Round of 32: 3
Group B
  • Champion: 30
  • Runner-up: 20
  • Semifinalist: 10
  • Quarterfinalist: 5
  • Round of 16: 3
  • Round of 32: –
Group C
  • Champion: 20
  • Runner-up: 12
  • Semifinalist: 6
  • Quarterfinalist: 4
  • Round of 16: 2
  • Round of 32: –
Group D
  • Champion: 15
  • Runner-up: 9
  • Semifinalist: 5
  • Quarterfinalist: 3
  • Round of 16:: –
  • Round of 32: –

Standings and bonus pool earnings

[edit]

A bonus pool of $50,000 was available for the top 13 points ranked players. To qualify for a share of the bonus pool the players had to participate in a minimum of nine tournaments.[10]

Rk Name Tour. Points Bonus
1 United States Billie Jean King 9 181 $10,000
2 France Françoise Dürr 9 119 $7,500
3 Australia Evonne Goolagong [b] 6 116
4 Australia Margaret Court [b] 6 106
5 Australia Helen Gourlay 12 83 $6,500
6 United States Rosemary Casals [b] 8 71
7 Australia Judy Dalton 9 70 $5,250
8 United Kingdom Virginia Wade 10 69 $4,000
9 United States Linda Tuero [b] 7 60
10 Australia Kerry Melville [b] 7 55

Top 10 World Rankings

[edit]

The 1971 singles rankings as per Lance Tingay.[citation needed]

Prize money leaders

[edit]
No. Player Name Prize money
1  Billie Jean King (USA) $117,000
2  Françoise Dürr (FRA) $65,000
3  Rosemary Casals (USA) $62,000
4  Judy Dalton (AUS) $33,876
5  Kerry Melville (AUS) $29,767
6  Ann Jones (GBR) $26,148
7  Margaret Court (AUS) $26,000
8  Evonne Goolagong (AUS) $25,000
9  Virginia Wade (GBR) $24,000
10  Nancy Gunter (USA) $15,300

Statistical information

[edit]

These tables present the number of singles (S), doubles (D), and mixed doubles (X) titles won by each player and each nation during the 1971 Virginia Slims Circuit. They also include data for the Grand Slam tournaments.

  1. total number of titles (a doubles title won by two players representing the same nation counts as only one win for the nation);
  2. highest amount of highest category tournaments (for example, having a single Grand Slam gives preference over any kind of combination without a Grand Slam title);
  3. a singles > doubles > mixed doubles hierarchy;
  4. alphabetical order (by family names for players).

Key

[edit]
Grand Slam tournaments
Virginia Slims events

Titles won by player

[edit]
Total Player  S   D   X   S   D   S   D   X 
38  Billie Jean King (USA) 17 19 2
21  Rosie Casals (USA) 2 19 0
19  Evonne Goolagong (AUS) 9 10 0
16  Margaret Court (AUS) 10 6 0
16  Françoise Durr (FRA) 4 12 1
6  Judy Tegart Dalton (AUS) 0 6 0
5  Chris Evert (USA) 4 1 0
5  Ann Haydon-Jones (GBR) 2 3 0
2  Gail Chanfreau (FRA) 1 1 0
2  Kerry Melville (AUS) 1 1 0
2  Mary-Ann Eisel (USA) 0 2 0
1  Valerie Ziegenfuss (USA) 0 1 0

Titles won by nation

[edit]
Total Nation  S   D   X   S   D   S   D   X 
30  United States (USA) 1 2 2 14 11 15 13 2
10  France (FRA) 0 1 1 2 6 2 7 1
9  Australia (AUS) 3 2 0 1 3 4 5 0
7  Great Britain (GBR) 0 0 0 2 5 2 5 0

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Including three Grand Slam events.
  2. ^ a b c d e Player did not participate in the required minimum of nine tournaments and therefore did not share in the bonus pool.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "History of the ITF: Foundation of International Lawn Tennis Federation 1913". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Reprieve for Girls". The Age. Sydney, Australia: The Wikipedia Library - Newspapers.Com. 19 January 1971. p. 23. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. ^ Kimball, Warren F. (December 2017). The United States Tennis Association: Raising the Game. Lincoln, NE: U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-1-4962-0462-2.
  4. ^ Hall, Eric Allen (15 September 2014). Arthur Ashe: Tennis and Justice in the Civil Rights Era. Baltimore, Maryland, United States: JHU Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4214-1394-5.
  5. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1972). World of Tennis '72. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 143, 144. ISBN 9780362001037. OCLC 86035663.
  6. ^ Adam Lincoln (6 January 2021). "50 years ago today: Virginia Slims Circuit kicks off". Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
  7. ^ a b "WTA Tour Finals" (PDF). www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ^ "About The WTA". www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Tennisbegroting voor Hilversum iets lager". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 21 July 1971. p. 4 – via Delpher.
  10. ^ John Dolan (2011). Women's Tennis 1968–84: the Ultimate Guide. Remous. p. 507.
[edit]