Grand Slam Cup

The Grand Slam Cup was a tennis tournament held annually at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany from 1990 through 1999. The event was organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which invited the best-performing players in the year's Grand Slam events to compete in the Grand Slam Cup.

Grand Slam Cup
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1990
Abolished1999
Editions10
LocationMunich, Germany
VenueOlympiahalle
CategoryGrand Slam Cup
SurfaceCarpet / indoors (1990–97)
Hard / indoors (1998–99)

History

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The tournament was created in 1990 and was played on indoor carpet courts. From 1990 to 1996, it was held in December but was moved to the middle of autumn from 1997 to 1999. From 1990 to 1997 the tournament was limited to male players. A women's Cup was added in 1998 and was held simultaneously with the men's Cup.

Throughout its existence, the Grand Slam Cup was famous for paying out the highest prize money of any tournament in tennis. The winner for the first three years of the Cup received U.S.$2 million in prize money, which dipped to $1.625 million in 1993, rose to $1.875 million in 1996 and back to $2 million in 1997 before falling to $1.3 million in 1998. If the Cup was won by a player who had also won a Grand Slam event that year they received a bonus of $1 million. Prize money for the winner of the two women's Cups was fixed at $800,000.

The Grand Slam Cup was not recognized by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and participants did not receive points in the ATP computer rankings nor have it credited as an official career title. Following the discontinuation of the Cup in 1999, the ATP decided to give the event retroactive recognition and added it to players' record of official titles. A compromise between the ITF and the ATP was announced on December 9, 1999 which merged the Cup with the ATP Tour World Championship, the ATP's year-end tournament also held annually in Germany, giving birth to the ATP World Tour Finals, an official tour event.

A direct result of the merging of the two competitions can still be seen in the qualification rules for the ATP World Tour Finals, which included one notable difference from those of the prior ATP Tour World Championship. The Tour World Championship was meant to include the top eight players on the ATP computer rankings at the end of a season, even though this could mean the exclusion of a Grand Slam champion who had not been able to earn sufficient ranking points in the rest of the year. Present Finals rules ensure the participation of a Grand Slam champion who is unable to earn a top eight ranking at the end of the season and automatic qualification for the top seven players in the computer rankings. The eighth ranked player, however, qualifies only if all Grand Slam singles champions are among the top eight. Any Grand Slam event champion who is not in the top eight but is still in the top twenty is included to the detriment of the eighth ranked player. This situation occurred at the 2004 Tennis Masters Cup, where Andre Agassi, the 8th ranked player in the ATP Champions Race, was excluded from the event in favor of Gastón Gaudio, who had won that year's French Open but was ranked 10th at the end of the year.

Pete Sampras was the most successful player at this event winning two titles out of three final appearances.

Qualification

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Qualification and seeding for the Grand Slam Cup were not related to the ATP computer rankings. Points were allocated to a player based on his Grand Slam performances, and after all four Grand Slam events had concluded the 16 players with the most points – 12 in 1998 and 1999 – qualified for the Cup. Grand Slam champions were not assured of a berth in the event.

Qualification points (Grand Slams tournaments only)
Grand Slam RoundW F SF QF R16 R32 R64 R128
Points6004503001507540202

Format of play

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In the men's tournament the first two rounds of the Cup were the best of three sets while the semifinals and final were the best of five sets. There was no tie-break if a match went over the full distance.

In the women's tournament all rounds were best of three sets.

Finals

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YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1990 Pete Sampras Brad Gilbert6–3, 6–4, 6–2
1991 David Wheaton Michael Chang7–5, 6–2, 6–4
1992 Michael Stich Michael Chang6–2, 6–3, 6–2
1993 Petr Korda Michael Stich2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 11–9
1994 Magnus Larsson Pete Sampras7–6(8–6), 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–4
1995 Goran Ivanišević Todd Martin7–6(7–4), 6–3, 6–4
1996 Boris Becker Goran Ivanišević6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1997 Pete Sampras (2) Patrick Rafter6–2, 6–4, 7–5
1998 Marcelo Ríos Andre Agassi6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–1), 5–7, 6–3
1999 Greg Rusedski Tommy Haas6–3, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5)

Women

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YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1998 Venus Williams Patty Schnyder6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1999 Serena Williams Venus Williams6–1, 3–6, 6–3

Draws

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1990

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Date:[1] December 11 – December 16

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Stefan Edberg465
  Michael Chang647  Michael Chang776 
Alt Henri Leconte66 Alt Henri Leconte633 
7 Thomas Muster34   Michael Chang344  
4 Pete Sampras5674 Pete Sampras666  
  Andrei Cherkasov7254 Pete Sampras77658
Alt Kevin Curren6367 5 Goran Ivanišević62776
5 Goran Ivanišević7779 4 Pete Sampras666  
6 Jonas Svensson634Alt Brad Gilbert342  
Alt Brad Gilbert266  Aaron Krickstein7743
  Aaron Krickstein66 Alt Brad Gilbert6566
3 Andrés Gómez34 Alt Brad Gilbert637926
8 David Wheaton776568 David Wheaton366764
  Yannick Noah627738 David Wheaton677 
Alt Christian Bergström40 2 Ivan Lendl264 
2 Ivan Lendl66 

1991

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Date:[2] December 10 – December 15

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
Alt Todd Woodbridge66 
Alt Aaron Krickstein33 Alt Todd Woodbridge466 
  Paul Haarhuis6237 David Wheaton678 
7 David Wheaton1667 David Wheaton787877  
3 Michael Stich66 3 Michael Stich666663  
  Goran Prpić43 3 Michael Stich7106 
  Jaime Yzaga33 5 Guy Forget684 
5 Guy Forget66 7 David Wheaton766  
6 Jimmy Connors644  Michael Chang524  
  Jakob Hlasek066  Jakob Hlasek673 
Alt Cristiano Caratti41 4 Ivan Lendl796 
4 Ivan Lendl66 4 Ivan Lendl664657
8 Patrick McEnroe466  Michael Chang246779
  Thierry Champion6148 Patrick McEnroe24 
  Michael Chang66   Michael Chang66 
2 Jim Courier42 

1992

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Date:[3] December 8 – December 13

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Stefan Edberg64776
  Michael Stich77648  Michael Stich777 
Alt Emilio Sánchez32 8 Richard Krajicek645 
8 Richard Krajicek66   Michael Stich7777377 
3 Pete Sampras66 4 Pete Sampras6365662 
  Alexander Volkov34 3 Pete Sampras776 
  Henri Leconte366  Henri Leconte634 
5 Wayne Ferreira630  Michael Stich666  
6 John McEnroe66   Michael Chang232  
Alt Nicklas Kulti14 6 John McEnroe642
  Guy Forget54 4 Goran Ivanišević366
4 Goran Ivanišević76 4 Goran Ivanišević772463
7 Petr Korda276  Michael Chang636636
Alt Wally Masur6547 Petr Korda34 
  Michael Chang66   Michael Chang66 
2 Andre Agassi42 

1993

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Date:[4] December 7 – December 12

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Pete Sampras66 
  Thomas Muster31 1 Pete Sampras796 
  Michael Chang647  Michael Chang673 
8 Wally Masur2651 Pete Sampras663661011
3 Sergi Bruguera66   Petr Korda377371213
  Magnus Larsson34 3 Sergi Bruguera604
  Petr Korda66   Petr Korda466
8 Alexander Volkov23   Petr Korda2677211
5 Michael Stich66 5 Michael Stich646569
Alt MaliVai Washington31 5 Michael Stich566
Alt Brett Steven679 Alt Brett Steven744
4 Cédric Pioline467 5 Michael Stich23666
7 Boris Becker54 2 Stefan Edberg66331
  Wayne Ferreira76   Wayne Ferreira7710
Alt Todd Martin32   Stefan Edberg6566
2 Stefan Edberg66 

1994

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Date:[5] December 6 – December 11

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Pete Sampras66 
Alt Jaime Yzaga24 1 Pete Sampras66 
  Alberto Berasategui15 8 Michael Chang43 
8 Michael Chang67 1 Pete Sampras5666510
3 Boris Becker5666 Goran Ivanišević734778
  Wayne Ferreira7433 Boris Becker41 
  Jonas Björkman42 6 Goran Ivanišević66 
6 Goran Ivanišević66 1 Pete Sampras666654 
5 Todd Martin776   Magnus Larsson784776 
  Karel Nováček654 5 Todd Martin677 
Alt Andriy Medvedev7404 Sergi Bruguera465 
4 Sergi Bruguera5665 Todd Martin411  
7 Stefan Edberg4796  Magnus Larsson666  
  Magnus Larsson6678  Magnus Larsson616
  Thomas Muster35 2 Andre Agassi360
2 Andre Agassi67 

1995

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Date:[6] December 5 – December 10

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Pete Sampras677 
  Patrick McEnroe161 1 Pete Sampras   
  Petr Korda633 8 Goran Ivaniševićw/o  
8 Goran Ivanišević776 8 Goran Ivanišević79466 
4 Michael Chang6103 6 Yevgeny Kafelnikov67634 
  Jacco Eltingh7126   Jacco Eltingh632
  Renzo Furlan41 6 Yevgeny Kafelnikov366
6 Yevgeny Kafelnikov66 8 Goran Ivanišević7766  
5 Thomas Muster63619 Todd Martin6434  
Alt Byron Black7726Alt Byron Black611 
Alt Cédric Pioline17773 Boris Becker776 
3 Boris Becker66293 Boris Becker73464 
10 Andriy Medvedev6710 9 Todd Martin56677 
  Aaron Krickstein268 10 Andriy Medvedev360r
  Sergi Bruguera624 9 Todd Martin634
9 Todd Martin776 

1996

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Date:[7] December 3 – December 8

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
11 Michael Stich33 
Alt Tim Henman66 Alt Tim Henman776 
  MaliVai Washington66   MaliVai Washington633 
7 Richard Krajicek12 Alt Tim Henman6231  
4 Boris Becker66 4 Boris Becker7766  
  Jason Stoltenberg32 4 Boris Becker66 
Alt Jakob Hlasek266Alt Jakob Hlasek41 
10 Cédric Pioline6344 Boris Becker666  
9 Marc Rosset52 2 Goran Ivanišević344  
  Jim Courier76   Jim Courier646
Alt Àlex Corretja463 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov268
3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov677 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov786324
8 Andre Agassi34 2 Goran Ivanišević662666
  Mark Woodforde66   Mark Woodforde44 
  Mikael Tillström42 2 Goran Ivanišević66 
2 Goran Ivanišević66 

1997

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Date:[8] September 23 – September 28

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Pete Sampras636
  Félix Mantilla4621 Pete Sampras786 
WC Boris Becker32 8 Jonas Björkman664 
8 Jonas Björkman66 1 Pete Sampras377776 
4 Greg Rusedski4674 Greg Rusedski661642 
  Todd Woodbridge6154 Greg Rusedski6566
  Yevgeny Kafelnikov66   Yevgeny Kafelnikov7731
5 Sergi Bruguera43 1 Pete Sampras667  
6 Cédric Pioline772 2 Patrick Rafter245  
  Filip Dewulf642r6 Cédric Pioline53 
  Petr Korda65   Petr Korda76 
3 Gustavo Kuerten33r  Petr Korda5677647
7 Marcelo Ríos62662 Patrick Rafter7364779
Alt Mark Woodforde77317 Marcelo Ríos160 
  Thomas Muster23 2 Patrick Rafter677 
2 Patrick Rafter66 

1998

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Date:[9][10] September 29 – October 3

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Petr Korda601
  Cédric Pioline00 WC Andre Agassi466
WC Andre Agassi66 WC Andre Agassi7765276
  Karol Kučera6177650
4 Goran Ivanišević746
  Karol Kučera66   Karol Kučera568
Alt Hicham Arazi44 WC Andre Agassi466173
  Tim Henman53 2 Marcelo Ríos627756
Alt Jonas Björkman76 Alt Jonas Björkman6611
3 Mark Philippoussis4776
3 Mark Philippoussis6434  
Alt Nicolas Escudé33 2 Marcelo Ríos7766  
Alt Félix Mantilla66 Alt Félix Mantilla625 
2 Marcelo Ríos777 

Women

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QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
               
1 Martina Hingis67 
  Conchita Martínez25 
1 Martina Hingis755r
Alt Patty Schnyder575
Alt Patty Schnyder277
3 Jana Novotná655
Alt Patty Schnyder262
  Venus Williams636
4 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario32 
  Venus Williams66 
  Venus Williams66 
  Nathalie Tauziat40 
  Nathalie Tauziat467
2 Lindsay Davenport615

1999

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Date:[11][12] September 27 – October 4

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
1 Andre Agassi0774
Alt Dominik Hrbatý32   Tommy Haas6626
  Tommy Haas66   Tommy Haas66646 
4 Thomas Enqvist34774 
4 Thomas Enqvist66 
Alt Fernando Meligeni2614  Nicolás Lapentti32 
  Nicolás Lapentti6416  Tommy Haas347765 
Alt Vince Spadea25 Alt Greg Rusedski666577 
Alt Richard Krajicek67 Alt Richard Krajicek654 
3 Andriy Medvedev776 
3 Andriy Medvedev36615 
  Gustavo Kuerten363Alt Greg Rusedski63777 
Alt Greg Rusedski636Alt Greg Rusedski778 
2 Yevgeny Kafelnikov566 

Women

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QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
               
1 Martina Hingis776 
  Amélie Mauresmo612 
1 Martina Hingis2787
4 Venus Williams6669
4 Venus Williams66 
Alt Barbara Schett34 
4 Venus Williams163
3 Serena Williams636
  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario31 
3 Serena Williams66 
3 Serena Williams66 
2 Lindsay Davenport34 
Alt Mary Pierce624
2 Lindsay Davenport366

References

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