1994 Bank of the West Classic – Singles

Singles
1994 Bank of the West Classic
Champion Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Runner-up Martina Navratilova
Score1–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–3)
Draw28 (2WC/1Alt)
Seeds8

Martina Navratilova was the defending champion, but lost in the final to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario. The score was 1–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–3).[1][2] It was the 20th title for Sánchez Vicario in her singles career and her 8th title in this season, after previously winning at Amelia Island, Barcelona, Hamburg, the French Open, Montréal, the US Open and Tokyo.[3]

This was the first ever professional tournament for future 7-time major champion and world No. 1 Venus Williams, at the age of 14. She defeated Shaun Stafford in the first round and faced Sánchez Vicario (then World No. 2) at the second round. Williams won the first set and was leading 3–1 in the second set, but Sánchez Vicario won the next 11 games in a row and won the match 2–6, 6–3, 6–0.[4]

The match was recreated in the film King Richard, released in 2021. Sánchez Vicario (played by Mexican tennis player Marcela Zacarías) showed her discomfort after being portrayed as the antagonist of the film, as she was accused of performing gamesmanship in order to defeat Williams.[5]

Seeds

The first four seeds received a bye to the second round.

  1. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (champion)
  2. Martina Navratilova (final)
  3. Lindsay Davenport (semifinals)
  4. Magdalena Maleeva (withdrew)
  5. Anke Huber (quarterfinals)
  6. Amy Frazier (quarterfinals)
  7. Lori McNeil (first round)
  8. Zina Garrison-Jackson (quarterfinals)

Draw

Key

Finals

Semifinals Final
          
1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6 4 6
3 Lindsay Davenport 2 6 3
1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1 77 77
2 Martina Navratilova 6 65 63
Debbie Graham 6 2 5
2 Martina Navratilova 3 6 7

Top half

First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals
1 A Sánchez Vicario 2 6 6
WC V Williams 6 6 WC V Williams 6 3 0
S Stafford 3 4 1 A Sánchez Vicario 6 6
M Werdel 6 4 6 8 Z Garrison-Jackson 3 3
J Kruger 4 6 3 M Werdel 3 3
A Dechaume-Balleret 0 1 8 Z Garrison-Jackson 6 6
8 Z Garrison-Jackson 6 6 1 A Sánchez Vicario 6 4 6
3 L Davenport 2 6 3
3 L Davenport 5 6 77
C Kuhlman 6 4 2 K Po 7 3 63
K Po 4 6 6 3 L Davenport 6 6
M McGrath 6 6 5 A Huber 2 2
WC M Tu 3 4 M McGrath 0 4
A Mall 2 6 2 5 A Huber 6 6
5 A Huber 6 4 6

Bottom half

First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals
7 L McNeil 5 2
D Graham 7 6 D Graham 5 6 6
T Ignatieva 4 2 P Fendick 7 2 2
P Fendick 6 6 D Graham 6 6
P Langrová 2 1 J Watanabe 0 2
J Watanabe 6 6 J Watanabe 6 6
Alt E Smylie 0 2
D Graham 6 2 5
6 A Frazier 6 6 2 M Navratilova 3 6 7
R Nideffer 0 0 6 A Frazier 6 6
P Shriver 4 79 2 T Whitlinger-Jones 4 2
T Whitlinger-Jones 6 67 6 6 A Frazier 6 4 1
M Kochta 6 7 2 M Navratilova 2 6 6
S Cacic 3 5 M Kochta 6 2 3
2 M Navratilova 4 6 6

References

  1. ^ "History and Past Champions". Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. Retrieved April 25, 2022. Singles - 1994: Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
  2. ^ Spander, Art (November 7, 1994). "Near End, Navratilova Denied - Tennis: In her second-to-last tournament, she loses to Sanchez Vicario in Oakland final". Los Angeles Times. Oakland, California. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Arantxa gana a Navratilova y consigue su octavo torneo de la temporada" [Arantxa defeats Navratilova and wins her eighth title of the season]. El País (in Spanish). Oakland, California. November 6, 1994. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "Williams gives Sánchez a scare". Chicago Tribune. Oakland, California. November 3, 1994. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Labarga, Nacho (April 8, 2022). "Arantxa Sánchez Vicario se 'carga' 'El método Williams' y desmonta su papel de "mala, malísima"" [Arantxa Sánchez Vicario criticizes 'King Richard' and denies her role of 'villain'.]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved April 25, 2022.