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Tennis tournament
Virginia Slims of Houston Event name Virginia Slims of Houston (1970–78, 1983–94) Avon Championships of Houston (1979–82) Gallery Furniture Championships (1995) Tour WTA Tour (1970–95) Founded 1970 Abolished 1995 Surface Carpet (1970–84) Clay (1985–95)
The Virginia Slims of Houston is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1995. It was held in Houston, Texas in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts from 1970 to 1984 and on outdoor clay courts from 1985 to 1995.
The event has the distinction of being the first-ever tournament on the professional women's circuit, which would eventually become the WTA Tour. In 1971, the event served as the series Championships of the inaugural Virginia Slims Tour .
Martina Navratilova was the most successful player at the tournament, winning the singles and doubles competitions six times each, partnering Dutchwomen Betty Stöve and Manon Bollegraf and Americans Janet Newberry , Pam Shriver , Elise Burgin and Kathy Jordan once each for her doubles successes.
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
1970
Rosemary Casals
Judy Dalton
5–7, 6–1, 7–5
1971
Billie Jean King
Kerry Melville
6–4, 4–6, 6–1
1972
Not Held
1973
Françoise Dürr
Rosemary Casals
6–4, 1–6, 6–4
1974
Chris Evert
Virginia Wade
6–3, 5–7, 6–1
1975
Chris Evert
Margaret Court
6–3, 6–2
1976
Martina Navratilova
Chris Evert
6–3, 6–4
1977
Martina Navratilova
Sue Barker
7–6(5–3) , 7–5
1978
Martina Navratilova
Billie Jean King
1–6, 6–2, 6–2
1979
Martina Navratilova
Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–2
1980
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
6–1, 6–3
1981
Hana Mandlíková
Bettina Bunge
6–4, 6–4
1982
Bettina Bunge
Pam Shriver
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1983
Martina Navratilova
Sylvia Hanika
6–3, 7–6
1984
Hana Mandlíková
Manuela Maleeva
6–4, 6–2
1985
Martina Navratilova
Elise Burgin
6–4, 6–1
1986
Chris Evert-Lloyd
Kathy Rinaldi
6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1987
Chris Evert
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 6–1, 7–6
1988
Chris Evert
Martina Navratilova
6–0, 6–4
1989
Monica Seles
Chris Evert
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1990
Katerina Maleeva
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1991
Monica Seles
Mary Joe Fernández
6–4, 6–3
1992
Monica Seles
Zina Garrison
6–1, 6–1
1993
Conchita Martínez
Sabine Hack
6–3, 6–2
1994
Sabine Hack
Mary Pierce
7–5, 6–4
1995
Steffi Graf
Åsa Carlsson
6–1, 6–1
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
1970
Not Held
1971
Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King
Judy Dalton Françoise Dürr
6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1972
Not Held
1973
Mona Schallau Pam Teeguarden
Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1974
Janet Newberry Wendy Overton
Sue Stap Virginia Wade
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
1975
Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve
Evonne Goolagong Virginia Wade
2–6, 6–3, 7–6
1976
Françoise Dürr Rosemary Casals
Chris Evert Martina Navratilova
6–0, 7–5
1977
Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve
Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura
4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1978
Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova
Greer Stevens Mona Guerrant
7–6(5–4) , 4–6, 7–6(5–4)
1979
Martina Navratilova Janet Newberry
Pam Shriver Betty Stöve
4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1980
Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss
Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
1981
Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura
Regina Maršíková Mary Lou Piatek
5–7, 6–4, 6–3
1982
Kathy Jordan Pam Shriver
Sue Barker Sharon Walsh
7–6, 6–2
1983
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
Jo Durie Barbara Potter
6–4, 6–3
1984
Mima Jaušovec Anne White
Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh
6–4, 3–6, 7–6
1985
Elise Burgin Martina Navratilova
Manuela Maleeva Helena Suková
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
1986
Chris Evert-Lloyd Wendy Turnbull
Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell
6–2, 6–4
1987
Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova
Zina Garrison Lori McNeil
6–2, 6–4
1988
Katrina Adams Zina Garrison
Lori McNeil Martina Navratilova
6–7, 6–2, 6–4
1989
Katrina Adams Zina Garrison
Gigi Fernández Lori McNeil
6–3, 6–4
1990
Not Completed
1991
Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi
Patty Fendick Mary Joe Fernández
6–1, 2–6, 6–1
1992
Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández
Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi
7–5, 6–4
1993
Katrina Adams Manon Bollegraf
Eugenia Maniokova Radka Zrubáková
6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
1994
Manon Bollegraf Martina Navratilova
Katrina Adams Zina Garrison
6–4, 6–2
1995
Nicole Arendt Manon Bollegraf
Wiltrud Probst Rene Simpson
6–4, 6–2
Virginia Slims tennis tournaments