Madison Square Garden Open Tennis Championship

Madison Square Garden Open Tennis Championship
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameMadison Square Open Tennis Championship (1968-70)
TourILTF World Circuit (1968–70)
Founded1968 (1968)
Abolished1970 (1970)
LocationNew York City, United States
VenueMadison Square Garden
SurfaceCarpet indoors

The Madison Square Garden Open Tennis Championship [1][2] also known as the Madison Square Garden Challenge Trophy[3] and New York Indoor[1] was a men's and women's open international indoor carpet court tennis tournament founded in 1968. It was organised by the USNLTA and played at Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States, until 1970. This international tournament was part of the ILTF World Circuit until 1970, when it was replaced by the Clean Air Classic.[4]

History

On 25 March 1968, the Madison Square Open Tennis Championship was established.[1] The tournament was organised by the USNLTA and was played on indoor carpet courts. The first two editions were played in the standard tournament format; the 1970 and final edition was played as a round-robin tournament with a third and fourth place play-off, then a final.[5]

In 1971 the owners of Madison Square Garden chose not to renew the tournament and the US tennis Association looked for a replacement New York Indoor event, they approached Combustion Equipment Associates Inc to sponsor a new event, which led to the Clean Air Classic that would be played across three venues in Hawthorne, New Jersey and the Vanderbilt International Racquet Club, culminating in the final at the Seventh Regiment Armory.[4]

Finals

Men' singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1968[6] Arthur Ashe Roy Emerson 6-4, 6–4, 7–5.[1]
1969[7] Andrés Gimeno Arthur Ashe 6-1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–8, 9–7.[1]
1970[7] Manuel Santana Stan Smith 6-4, 6–2.[1]

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1968[8] Nancy Richey Judy Tegart 7-5, 7–5.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Tournaments:New York Indoor (I) - Madison Square Open Tennis Championship". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Tennis". Oxnard Press Courier. Oxnard, California: Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive. Com. 31 March 1969. p. 25. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Nancy Upsets Billie Jean". Bakersfield Californian. Bakersfield, California: Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive. Com. 30 March 1968. p. 16. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Janoff, Murray (20 February 1971). "The Clean Air Classic". St Louis Sporting News. St Louis: Wikipedia Library - Newspaper Archive. Com. p. 28. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ^ "New York : Results 1970". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  6. ^ "New York: Overview ATP Tour 1968 to 1972". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b ATP Tour 1968 to 1972
  8. ^ "Ashe, Miss Richey Take Tennis Finals In Garden Tourney; Miss Richey Shows Winning Style ASHE, MISS RICHEY WIN TENNIS TITLES". The New York Times. New York City. 31 March 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 6 October 2023.