Connecticut Open (tennis)

(Redirected from Pilot Pen Tennis)

The Connecticut Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts under various names and in various venues from 1948 until 2019.

Connecticut Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourWTA Tour
Founded1948
Abolished2019
Editions50
LocationNew Haven, Connecticut
United States
CategoryATP World Series
(1990–1997)
ATP International Series
(1998–2008)
ATP World Tour 250 series
(2009–2010)
WTA Tier IV
(1988–1989)
WTA Tier III
(1990–1994)
WTA Tier II
(1997–2008)
WTA Premier
(2009–2018)
SurfaceHard / outdoor

It was most recently a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Premier Tournament on the WTA Tour, held annually at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, just before the fourth and last Grand Slam tournament of the year, the US Open.[1] From 2005 through 2010, the tournament was also part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the ATP Tour.

In 2019, the tournament sanction was sold to APG, a sports and entertainment company, which transferred it to Zhengzhou, China.[2]

History edit

The tournament was created in 1948 as the U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships and first played in Sacramento, California, in the United States. Over the 20 years of its first run, the event was held in various locations in the western United States: San Francisco; Berkeley, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; La Jolla, California; and Denver, Colorado. Among the winners of the event were Doris Hart, Darlene Hard, Nancy Richey, Rosemary Casals, Billie Jean King, and Jane Bartkowicz. The event was discontinued in 1969 after the beginning of the Open Era.[3]

In 1988, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) reinstated the tournament. The first edition of the new U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships was held that year in San Antonio, Texas, first as part of Tier IV of the WTA Tour, then as an upgraded Tier III event in 1990. The championships were sponsored by Post Cereals in 1990[4] and by Acura from 1992 to 1994.[4] Over the first years of its second run, the tournament was won by several past or future World No. 1s, including Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Martina Navratilova. The event was held in Stratton Mountain, Vermont, in 1993 and 1994, but conflicts with the 1996 Summer Olympics prevented the tournament from being held the following two years. In 1997, the event returned again, now within Tier II and first in Stone Mountain, Georgia, then settling in 1998 in New Haven, Connecticut, under the new sponsorship of Pilot Pen.[3] In the first years of its run in New Haven, the renamed Pilot Pen International saw its competition dominated by Lindsay Davenport (four-time runner-up in New Haven, one previous time in Stone Mountain, and 2005 champion) and Venus Williams (four-time champion from 1999 to 2002).

New Haven was already host to a men's tournament, the Pilot Pen International. It was created in 1973 in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, as the Volvo International, and moved to Connecticut in 1990, where it took Pilot Pen sponsorship in 1997. When the men's event was cancelled in 1999, the women's Pilot Pen tournament remained the only one of the region.

In 2005, the USTA purchased the men's tournament of Long Island, New York,[5] and merged it with the women's Pilot Pen International to create Pilot Pen Tennis, the first large joint ATPWTA tournament leading to the US Open.[6] The tournament became the last event of the US Open Series and continued to attract top players, including champions Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova, James Blake, Justine Henin, and Nikolay Davydenko.

In 2011, after the men's competition moved to Winston-Salem, the newly women's-only event was renamed the New Haven Open at Yale.[7] In 2014, it was renamed the Connecticut Open.[8]

In 2019, the Connecticut Open ended due to a lack of funding. The tournament's sanction was sold and assigned to Zhengzhou, China, after the 2019 US Open.[9] In 2021, the Tennis in the Land tournament in Cleveland took over its former spot on the WTA schedule.[10]

Past finals edit

Women's singles edit

LocationYearChampionRunner-upScore
San Francisco1948* Gussie Moran Virginia Wolfenden Kovacs2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1949* Doris Hart Dorothy Head Knode6–3, 6–4
Berkeley, California1950* Patricia Canning Todd Magda Rurac6–2, 6–1
Salt Lake City1951 Patricia Canning Todd (2) Anita Kanter6–1, 6–4
Seattle1952 Mary Arnold Prentiss Anita Kanter6–1, 8–6
Salt Like City1953 Anita Kanter Joan Merciadis6–0, 6–4
1954 Beverly Baker Fleitz Barbara Green6–1, 6–3
La Jolla, California1955 Mimi Arnold Patricia Canning Todd6–0, 6–0
1956 Nancy Chaffee Kiner Patricia Canning Todd6–4, 5–7, 7–5
1957 Beverly Baker Fleitz (2) Mimi Arnold6–1, 6–1
1958 Beverly Baker Fleitz (3) Karen Hantze6–1, 8–6
Denver, Colorado1959 Sandra Reynolds Beverly Baker Fleitz6–3, 6–2
La Jolla, California1960 Katherine D. Chabot Karen Hantze4–6, 7–5, 7–5
1961 Nancy Richey Dorothy Head Knode6–1, 6–1
Seattle1962 Carol Hanks Marilyn Montgomery7–5, 6–3
La Jolla, California1963 Darlene Hard Tory Fretz6–1, 8–6
Sacramento, California1964 Kathleen Harter Kathy Blake6–1, 6–0
1965 Rosemary Casals Kathleen Harter6–4, 4–6, 6–2
La Jolla, California1966 Billie Jean King Patti Hogan7–5, 6–0
Sacramento, California1967 Jane "Peaches" Bartkowicz Valerie Ziegenfuss6–4, 6–4
La Jolla, California1968 Maryna Godwin Janet Newberry6–3, 8–6
Sacramento, California1969 Eliza Pande Kristien Kemmer7–5, 6–4
1970–
1987
Not held
San Antonio, Texas1988 Steffi Graf Katerina Maleeva6–4, 6–1
1989 Steffi Graf (2) Ann Henricksson6–1, 6–4
1990 Monica Seles Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière6–4, 6–3
1991 Steffi Graf (3) Monica Seles6–4, 6–3
1992 Martina Navratilova Nathalie Tauziat6–2, 6–1
Stratton Mountain, Vermont1993 Conchita Martínez Zina Garrison6–3, 6–2
1994 Conchita Martínez (2) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario4–6, 6–3, 6–4
 1995Not held
1996Not held
Stone Mountain, Georgia1997 Lindsay Davenport Sandrine Testud6–4, 6–1
New Haven, Connecticut1998 Steffi Graf (4) Jana Novotná6–4, 6–1
1999 Venus Williams Lindsay Davenport6–2, 7–5
2000 Venus Williams (2) Monica Seles6–2, 6–4
2001 Venus Williams (3) Lindsay Davenport7–6(8–6), 6–4
2002 Venus Williams (4) Lindsay Davenport7–5, 6–0
2003 Jennifer Capriati Lindsay Davenport6–2, 4–0 retired
2004 Elena Bovina Nathalie Dechy6–2, 2–6, 7–5
2005 Lindsay Davenport (2) Amélie Mauresmo6–4, 6–4
2006 Justine Henin Lindsay Davenport6–0, 1–0 retired
2007 Svetlana Kuznetsova Ágnes Szávay4–6, 3–0 retired
2008 Caroline Wozniacki Anna Chakvetadze3–6, 6–4, 6–1
2009 Caroline Wozniacki (2) Elena Vesnina6–2, 6–4
2010 Caroline Wozniacki (3) Nadia Petrova6–3, 3–6, 6–3
2011 Caroline Wozniacki (4) Petra Cetkovská6–4, 6–1
2012 Petra Kvitová Maria Kirilenko7–6(11–9), 7–5
2013 Simona Halep Petra Kvitová6–2, 6–2
2014 Petra Kvitová (2) Magdaléna Rybáriková6–4, 6–2
2015 Petra Kvitová (3) Lucie Šafářová6–7(6–8), 6–2, 6–2
2016 Agnieszka Radwańska Elina Svitolina6–1, 7–6(7–3)
2017 Daria Gavrilova Dominika Cibulková4–6, 6–3, 6–4
2018 Aryna Sabalenka Carla Suárez Navarro6–1, 6–4
  • From 1948 through 1950, the U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships were a combined event with the Pacific Coast Championships.

Women's doubles edit

LocationYearChampionsRunners-upScore
New Haven2018 Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková
Barbora Strýcová
Hsieh Su-wei
Laura Siegemund
6–4, 6–7(7–9), [10–4]
2017 Gabriela Dabrowski
Xu Yifan
Ashleigh Barty
Casey Dellacqua
3–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2016 Sania Mirza (3)
Monica Niculescu
Kateryna Bondarenko
Chuang Chia-jung
7–5, 6–4
2015 Julia Görges
Lucie Hradecká
Chuang Chia-jung
Liang Chen
6–3, 6–1
2014 Andreja Klepač
Sílvia Soler Espinosa
Marina Erakovic
Arantxa Parra Santonja
7–5, 4–6, [10–7]
2013 Sania Mirza (2)
Zheng Jie (2)
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Katarina Srebotnik
6–3, 6–4
2012 Liezel Huber
Lisa Raymond (4)
Andrea Hlaváčková
Lucie Hradecká
4–6, 6–0, [10–4]
2011 Chuang Chia-jung
Olga Govortsova
Sara Errani
Roberta Vinci
7–5, 6–2
2010 Květa Peschke
Katarina Srebotnik
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Meghann Shaughnessy
7–5, 6–0
2009 Nuria Llagostera Vives
María José Martínez Sánchez
Iveta Benešová
Lucie Hradecká
6–2, 7–5
2008 Květa Peschke
Lisa Raymond (3)
Sorana Cîrstea
Monica Niculescu
4–6, 7–5, [10–7]
2007 Sania Mirza
Mara Santangelo
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 6–2
2006 Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur
6–4, 6–2
2005 Lisa Raymond (2)
Samantha Stosur
Gisela Dulko
Maria Kirilenko
6–2, 6–7(1–7), 6–1
2004 Nadia Petrova
Meghann Shaughnessy
Martina Navratilova
Lisa Raymond
6–1, 1–6, 7–6(7–4)
2003 Virginia Ruano Pascual
Paola Suárez
Alicia Molik
Magüi Serna
7–6(8–6), 6–3
2002 Daniela Hantuchová
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Tathiana Garbin
Janette Husárová
7–6, 1–6, 7–5
2001 Cara Black
Elena Likhovtseva
Jelena Dokić
Nadia Petrova
6–0, 3–6, 6–2
2000 Julie Halard-Decugis
Ai Sugiyama
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Paola Suárez
6–4, 5–7, 6–2
1999 Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs
Elena Likhovtseva
Jana Novotná
7–6(7–1), 6–2
1998 Alexandra Fusai
Nathalie Tauziat
Mariaan de Swardt
Jana Novotná
6–1, 6–0
Stone Mt.1997 Nicole Arendt
Manon Bollegraf
Alexandra Fusai
Nathalie Tauziat
6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–2
 1996Not held
1995Not held
Stratton
Mountain
1994 Elizabeth Sayers-Smylie (2)
Pam Shriver (3)
Conchita Martínez
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–6(7–4), 2–6, 7–5
1993 Elizabeth Sayers-Smylie
Helena Suková (2)
Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière
Mercedes Paz
6–1, 6–2
San Antonio1992 Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver (2)
Patty Fendick
Andrea Strnadová
3–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
1991 Patty Fendick
Monica Seles
Jill Hetherington
Kathy Rinaldi
7–6(7–2), 6–2
1990 Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Sayers-Smylie
Gigi Fernández
Robin White
7–5, 7–5
1989 Katrina Adams
Pam Shriver
Patty Fendick
Jill Hetherington
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1988 Lori McNeil
Helena Suková
Rosalyn Fairbank
Gretchen Rush-Magers
6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–2

Men's singles edit

LocationYearChampionsRunners-upScore
Long Island
(exhibition)
1981 Brian Teacher Yannick Noah4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1982 Gene Mayer Johan Kriek6–2, 6–3
1983 Gene Mayer Heinz Günthardt6–7(9–11), 6–4, 6–0
1984 Ivan Lendl Andrés Gómez6–2, 6–4
1985 Ivan Lendl Jimmy Connors6–1, 6–3
1986 Ivan Lendl John McEnroe6–2, 6–4
1987 Jonas Svensson David Pate7–6, 3–6, 6–3
1988 Andre Agassi Yannick Noah6–3, 0–6, 6–4
1989 Ivan Lendl Mikael Pernfors4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Long Island1990 Stefan Edberg Goran Ivanišević7–6, 6–3
1991 Ivan Lendl Stefan Edberg6–3, 6–2
1992 Petr Korda Ivan Lendl6–2, 6–2
1993 Marc Rosset Michael Chang6–4, 3–6, 6–1
1994 Yevgeny Kafelnikov Cédric Pioline5–7, 6–1, 6–2
1995 Yevgeny Kafelnikov Jan Siemerink7–6(7–0), 6–2
1996 Andrei Medvedev Martin Damm7–5, 6–3
1997 Carlos Moyá Patrick Rafter6–4, 7–6(7–1)
1998 Patrick Rafter Félix Mantilla7–6(7–3), 6–2
1999 Magnus Norman Àlex Corretja7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–3
2000 Magnus Norman Thomas Enqvist6–3, 5–7, 7–5
2001 Tommy Haas Pete Sampras6–3, 3–6, 6–2
2002 Paradorn Srichaphan Juan Ignacio Chela5–7, 6–2, 6–2
2003 Paradorn Srichaphan James Blake6–2, 6–4
2004 Lleyton Hewitt Luis Horna6–3, 6–1
New Haven2005 James Blake Feliciano López3–6, 7–5, 6–1
2006 Nikolay Davydenko Agustín Calleri6–4, 6–3
2007 James Blake Mardy Fish7–5, 6–4
2008 Marin Čilić Mardy Fish6–4, 4–6, 6–2
2009 Fernando Verdasco Sam Querrey6–4, 7–6(8–6)
2010 Sergiy Stakhovsky Denis Istomin3–6, 6–3, 6–4

Men's doubles edit

LocationYearChampionsRunners-upScore
Long Island1990 Guy Forget
Jakob Hlasek
Udo Riglewski
Michael Stich
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
1991 Eric Jelen
Carl-Uwe Steeb
Doug Flach
Diego Nargiso
0–6, 6–4, 7–6
1992 Francisco Montana
Greg Van Emburgh
Gianluca Pozzi
Olli Rahnasto
6–4, 6–2
1993 Marc-Kevin Goellner
David Prinosil
Arnaud Boetsch
Olivier Delaître
6–7, 7–5, 6–2
1994 Olivier Delaître
Guy Forget
Andrew Florent
Mark Petchey
6–4, 7–6
1995 Cyril Suk
Daniel Vacek
Rick Leach
Scott Melville
5–7, 7–6, 7–6
1996 Luke Jensen
Murphy Jensen
Hendrik Dreekmann
Alexander Volkov
6–3, 7–6
1997 Marcos Ondruska
David Prinosil
Mark Keil
T. J. Middleton
6–4, 6–4
1998 Julian Alonso
Javier Sánchez
Brandon Coupe
Dave Randall
6–4, 6–4
1999 Olivier Delaître
Fabrice Santoro
Jan-Michael Gambill
Scott Humphries
7–5, 6–4
2000 Jonathan Stark
Kevin Ullyett
Jan-Michael Gambill
Scott Humphries
6–4, 6–4
2001 Jonathan Stark
Kevin Ullyett
Leoš Friedl
Radek Štěpánek
6–1, 6–4
2002 Mahesh Bhupathi
Mike Bryan
Petr Pála
Pavel Vízner
6–3, 6–4
2003 Robbie Koenig
Martín Rodríguez
Martin Damm
Cyril Suk
6–3, 7–6
2004 Antony Dupuis
Michaël Llodra
Yves Allegro
Michael Kohlmann
6–2, 6–4
New Haven2005 Gastón Etlis
Martín Rodríguez
Rajeev Ram
Bobby Reynolds
6–4, 6–3
2006 Jonathan Erlich
Andy Ram
Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Marcin Matkowski
6–3, 6–3
2007 Mahesh Bhupathi
Nenad Zimonjić
Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Marcin Matkowski
6–3, 6–3
2008 Marcelo Melo
André Sá
Mahesh Bhupathi
Mark Knowles
7–5, 6–2
2009 Julian Knowle
Jürgen Melzer
Bruno Soares
Kevin Ullyett
6–4, 7–6(7-3)
2010 Robert Lindstedt
Horia Tecău
Rohan Bopanna
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
6–4, 7–5

2011 earthquake edit

On August 23, 2011, 1:51 PM local time[11] a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia stopped play for two hours[12] while the main stadium was checked for damage by the fire department.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Connecticut Open | Connecticut Open". www.ctopen.org. Archived from the original on June 12, 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Events". APG Sports Media. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
  3. ^ a b pilotpentennis.com (2008-08-15). "2008 Pilot Pen Tennis Press Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-08-22.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b sonyericssonwtatour.com. "Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Final Results: 1971-2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  5. ^ "USTA buys ATP event, moves it to New Haven". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  6. ^ USTA (2005-05-10). "USTA purchases ATP men's tournament to create first combined summer event". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  7. ^ "Tennis tournament continues as New Haven Open at Yale". New Haven Open at Yale website. 2010-10-21. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  8. ^ "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Connecticut Open tennis tournament comes to an end after rights to tournament sold". Hartford Courant. 2019-02-01. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  10. ^ "Tennis in the Land brings WTA to Cleveland in August for first time". News-Herald. 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  11. ^ "Magnitude 5.8 – VIRGINIA". Virginia: USGS. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Earthquake Causes Evacuation At New Haven Open". The Huffington Post. September 2, 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.

External links edit