The 1971 Virginia Slims Circuit was the first annual Virginia Slims Circuit, a tour of tennis tournaments for female tennis players, sponsored by Virginia Slims cigarettes. Prior to the establishment of this circuit there was a huge inequality between the prize money purses for male and female tennis players which gave rise to complaints from a number of the leading female tennis players of the time. These players included Billie Jean King and became known as the "Original 9" after being banned from the events run by the hugely influential United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) due to their boycotting of the Pacific Southwest Championships. This resulted in the first Virginia Slims-sponsored event being held in September 1970 in Dallas, an event which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the annual Virginia Slims Circuit the following year. In 1971 the total prize money available from the Virginia Slims events was $309,100 and Billie Jean King became the first female athlete in history to earn more than $100,000 in one season.[1][2]
Schedule [edit]
This is a calendar of all events sponsored by Virginia Slims in the year 1971, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. The table also includes the Grand Slam tournaments and the 1971 Federation Cup.[1]
| Grand Slam tournaments |
| Virginia Slims event |
| Federation Cup |
December (1970) [edit]
January [edit]
| Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
| Jan 6 |
British Motor Cars Invitational
San Francisco, United States
Virginia Slims
$15,200 – Hard – 16S/8D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–4 |
Rosie Casals |
Third place |
Fourth place |
Françoise Dürr
Kerry Melville
Jane Bartkowicz
Mary-Ann Eisel |
Ann Jones
6–4, 6–4 |
Nancy Richey |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–7, 6–1 |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones |
| Jan 8 |
Australian Open
Sydney, Australia
Grand Slam
Grass – 30S/14D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Margaret Court
2–6, 7–6, 7–5 |
Evonne Goolagong |
Lesley Hunt
Winnie Shaw |
Helen Gourlay
Jan O'Neill
Norma Marsh
Sharon Walsh |
Margaret Court
Evonne Goolagong
6–0, 6–0 |
Joy Emerson
Lesley Hunt |
| Jan 14 |
Billie Jean King Invitational
Long Beach, United States
Virginia Slims
$14,000 – Hard – 16S/8D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–2 |
Rosie Casals |
Ann Jones
Nancy Richey |
Stephanie Johnson
Valerie Ziegenfuss
Denise Carter
Mary-Ann Eisel |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
7–5, 6–3 |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones |
| Jan 21 |
Virginia Slims of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, United States
Virginia Slims
$12,500 – Hard (i) – 16S/8D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–2 |
Rosie Casals |
Ann Jones
Françoise Dürr |
Mary-Ann Eisel
Karen Krantzcke
Valerie Ziegenfuss
Denise Carter |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones |
| Jan 25 |
Virginia Slims of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, United States
Virginia Slims
$12,500 – Hard – 16S/4D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
1–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
Rosie Casals |
Ann Jones
Françoise Dürr |
Kerry Melville
Denise Carter
Tory Fretz
Mary-Ann Eisel |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–7, 6–0, 7–5 |
Mary-Ann Eisel
Valerie Ziegenfuss |
February [edit]
| Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
| Feb 4 |
Virginia Slims of Chattanooga
Chattanooga, United States
Virginia Slims
$12,700 – Hard (i) – 16S/8D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–1 |
Ann Jones |
Françoise Dürr
Kerry Melville |
Jane Bartkowicz
Karen Krantzcke
Kristy Pigeon
Rosie Casals |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5 |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones |
| Feb 9 |
Philadelphia Indoor Championships
Philadelphia, United States
Virginia Slims
$12,500 – Hard (i) – 16S
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Rosie Casals
6–2, 3–6, 6–2 |
Françoise Dürr |
Billie Jean King
Ann Jones |
Tory Fretz
Denise Carter
Kerry Melville
Judy Tegart Dalton |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
N/A |
N/A |
| Feb 15 |
Station WLOD
Fort Lauderdale, United States
Virginia Slims
$10,000 – Clay – 16S
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Françoise Dürr
6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
Billie Jean King |
Kerry Melville
Rosie Casals |
Judy Dalton
Ann Jones
Denise Carter
Valerie Ziegenfuss |
N/A
N/A |
N/A |
| Feb 26 |
Virginia Slims of Boston
Boston, United States
Virginia Slims
$12,500 – Hard (i) – 16S/2D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
4–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
Rosie Casals |
Ann Jones
Françoise Dürr |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Jane Bartkowicz
Kristy Pigeon
Kerry Melville |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5 |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones |
| Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
| Mar 18 |
Virginia Slims US Indoors
Detroit, United States
Virginia Slims
$10,000 – Hard (i) – 8S/2D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Rosie Casals |
Ann Jones
Mary-Ann Eisel |
Valerie Ziegenfuss
Tory Fretz
Wendy Gilchrist
Judy Tegart Dalton |
Mary-Ann Eisel
Valerie Ziegenfuss
2–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Jane Bartkowicz |
| Mar 24 |
Virginia Slims of New York
New York, United States
Virginia Slims
$15,600 – Hard (i) – 20S
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Rosie Casals
6–4, 6–4 |
Billie Jean King |
Third place |
Fourth place |
Julie Heldman
Kerry Melville
Cecilia Martinez
Jane Bartkowicz |
Ann Jones
6–2, 6–4 |
Françoise Dürr |
N/A
N/A |
N/A |
| Mar 28 |
Caribe Hilton Invitational
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Virginia Slims
$10,000 – 24S/11D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Ann Jones
6–4, 6–4 |
Nancy Richey |
Mary-Ann Eisel
Jane Bartkowicz |
Denise Carter
Tory Fretz
Judy Tegart Dalton
Rosie Casals |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones
7–6, 6–3 |
Karen Krantzcke
Kerry Melville |
| Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
| Apr 5 |
Virginia Slims Masters
St. Petersburg, United States
Virginia Slims
$10,000 – Clay – 16S/15Q/11D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Chris Evert
6–1, 6–2 |
Julie Heldman |
Billie Jean King
Rosie Casals |
Karen Krantzcke
Judy Alvarez
Kerry Melville
Judy Tegart Dalton |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones
7–6, 3–6, 6–3 |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Julie Heldman |
| Apr 13 |
Caesar's Palace World Pro Championships
Las Vegas, United States
Virginia Slims
$29,200 – Hard – 16S/13Q/10D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Ann Jones
7–5, 6–4 |
Billie Jean King |
Julie Heldman
Judy Dalton |
Nancy Richey
Françoise Dürr
Mary-Ann Eisel
Rosie Casals |
Françoise Dürr
Ann Jones
0–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King |
| Apr 22 |
Virginia Slims of San Diego
San Diego, United States
Virginia Slims
$12,400 – Hard – 16S/4D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
3–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
Rosie Casals |
Julie Heldman
Valerie Ziegenfuss |
Esme Emanuel
Kerry Melville
Tory Fretz
Kristy Pigeon |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–7, 6–2, 6–3 |
Françoise Dürr
Judy Tegart Dalton |
August [edit]
| Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
| Aug 2 |
Virginia Slims International Houston
Houston, United States
Virginia Slims
$40,000
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–4, 4–6, 6–1 |
Kerry Melville |
Third place |
Fourth place |
Mary-Ann Eisel
Julie Heldman
Françoise Dürr
Rosie Casals |
Nancy Richey
6–3, 6–3 |
Judy Tegart Dalton |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–1, 1–6, 6–2 |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Françoise Dürr |
| Aug 16 |
Virginia Slims of Chicago
Chicago, United States
Virginia Slims
$20,000 – Clay
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Françoise Dürr
6–4, 6–2 |
Billie Jean King |
Nancy Richey
Rosie Casals |
Lesley Hunt
Betty Ann Hansen
Judy Tegart Dalton
Linda Tuero |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Françoise Dürr
6–4, 7–6 |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King |
| Aug 28 |
Virginia Slims of Newport
Newport, United States
Virginia Slims
$20,000 – Grass
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Kerry Melville
6–3, 6–7, 7–6 |
Françoise Dürr |
Billie Jean King
Rosie Casals |
C. Sanberg
Judy Tegart Dalton
Lesley Hunt
Mary-Ann Eisel |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Françoise Dürr
6–2, 6–1 |
Kerry Harris
Kerry Melville |
September [edit]
| Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
Sep 1
Sep 8 |
US Open
New York, United States
Grand Slam
Hard – 64S/32D/47X
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw – Mixed Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–6(5–2) |
Rosie Casals |
Chris Evert
Kerry Melville |
Laura du Pont
Lesley Hunt
Judy Tegart Dalton
Joyce Williams |
Rosie Casals
Judy Tegart Dalton
6–3, 6–3 |
Gail Chanfreau
Françoise Dürr |
Owen Davidson
Billie Jean King
6–3, 7–5 |
Bob Maud
Betty Stöve |
| Sep 14 |
Virginia Slims of Louisville
Louisville, United States
Virginia Slims
$20,000
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
6–1, 4–6, 6–3 |
Rosie Casals |
Kerry Melville
Françoise Dürr |
Lita Liem
Alena Palmeova-West
Helen Gourlay
Margaret Cooper |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Françoise Dürr
2–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Kerry Melville
Betty Stöve |
| Sep 27 |
Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic
Phoenix, United States
Virginia Slims
$20,000 – Hard – 32S/4D
Singles Draw – Doubles Draw |
Billie Jean King
7–5, 6–1 |
Rosie Casals |
Kerry Melville
Nancy Richey Gunter |
Wendy Overton
Judy Tegart Dalton
Françoise Dürr
Lesley Hunt |
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2 |
Judy Tegart Dalton
Françoise Dürr |
Statistical information [edit]
These tables present the number of singles (S), doubles (D), and mixed doubles (X) titles won by each player and each nation during the 1971 Virginia Slims Circuit. They also include data for the Grand Slam tournaments.
1) total number of titles (a doubles title won by two players representing the same nation counts as only one win for the nation);
2) highest amount of highest category tournaments (for example, having a single Grand Slam gives preference over any kind of combination without a Grand Slam title);
3) a singles > doubles > mixed doubles hierarchy;
4) alphabetical order (by family names for players).
| Grand Slam tournaments |
| Virginia Slims events |
Titles won by player [edit]
| Total |
Player |
S |
D |
X |
S |
D |
S |
D |
X |
| 25 |
King, Billy JeanBilly Jean King (USA) |
● |
● |
● ● |
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● |
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● |
12 |
11 |
2 |
| 14 |
Casals, RosieRosie Casals (USA) |
|
● ● |
|
● ● |
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● |
2 |
12 |
0 |
| 10 |
Durr, FrançoiseFrançoise Durr (FRA) |
|
● |
● |
● ● |
● ● ● ● ● ● |
2 |
7 |
1 |
| 5 |
Haydon-Jones, AnnAnn Haydon-Jones (GBR) |
|
|
|
● ● |
● ● ● |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| 4 |
Tegart Dalton, JudyJudy Tegart Dalton (AUS) |
|
● |
|
|
● ● ● |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| 3 |
Goolagong, EvonneEvonne Goolagong (AUS) |
● ● |
● |
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
0 |
| 2 |
Court, MargaretMargaret Court (AUS) |
● |
● |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
| 1 |
Chanfreau, GailGail Chanfreau (FRA) |
|
● |
|
|
|
0 |
6 |
0 |
| 1 |
Evert, ChrisChris Evert (USA) |
|
|
|
● |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
Melville, KerryKerry Melville (AUS) |
|
|
|
● |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
| 1 |
Eisel, Mary-AnnMary-Ann Eisel (USA) |
|
|
|
|
● |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 1 |
Ziegenfuss, ValerieValerie Ziegenfuss (USA) |
|
|
|
|
● |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Titles won by nation [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]