1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit

The 1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit was the 58th season since the formation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation in 1913,[1] it consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players.

1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit
Billie Jean King (pictured in 1973) won 17 tour titles.
Details
Duration22 December 1970 – 20 December 1971
Edition58th
Tournaments165
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
Virginia Slims Circuit (19)
ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix (17)[a]
ILTF World Circuit (125)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesUnited States Billie Jean King (17)
Most tournament finalsUnited States Billie Jean King (25)
1970
1972

It was composed of three circuits the first Virginia Slims Circuit with 19 events approved by the ILTF,[2] and the first Grand Prix Circuit with 17 events under the auspices of the ILTF and the regular ILTF World Circuit,[3][4] with 125 events makes up the majority of the 165 tournaments staged this year.

Circuits

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Grand Prix Circuit

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The 1971 ILTF Pepsi-Cola Grand Prix was a tennis circuit administered by the International Lawn Tennis Federation which served as a forerunner to the current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. The circuit consisted of the four modern Grand Slam tournaments and open tournaments recognised by the ILTF. This article covers all tournaments that were part of that year's Women's Grand Prix.[5]

Virginia Slims Circuit

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Prior to the establishment of this circuit there was an 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. Nine of them, including Billie Jean King, became later known as the "Original 9" after being banned from the then existing multi-gender invitational professional events run by the 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 Houston, an event which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the annual Virginia Slims Circuit the following year.[6] 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.[7][8]

ILTF World Circuit

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This worldwide circuit consisted of 125 events that were not part of the sponsored Virginia Slims and Grand Prix circuits they made up the majority of the 165 tournaments staged this year. This years singles title leader Billie Jean King won her 17 tournaments across all three circuits.[citation needed]

This circuit began on 30 December 1970 with the Western Australian Open in Perth, Australia and ended on 25 December with the Border Championships, East London, South Africa.[citation needed]

Schedule

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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.[7]

Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Virginia Slims Circuit
ILTF Pepsi Grand Prix Circuit
ILTF World Circuit
Team events

December (1970)

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
29 Dec Federation Cup
Perth, Australia
Federation Cup
Grass – 14 teams knockout
  Australia
3–0
  Great Britain   France
  United States
  Yugoslavia
  Netherlands
  South Africa
  New Zealand
Western Australian Open
Perth, Australia
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Margaret Court
6–1, 6–2
  Virginia Wade   Gail Chanfreau
  Betty Stöve
  Winnie Shaw
  Patti Hogan
  Laura Rossouw
  Lesley Hunt
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
6–4, 7–5
  Winnie Shaw
  Virginia Wade

January

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 Jan British Motor Cars Invitational
San Francisco, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $15,200 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–4
  Rosie Casals   Ann Jones (3rd)
  Nancy Richey (4th)
  Françoise Dürr
  Kerry Melville
  Jane Bartkowicz
  Mary-Ann Eisel
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–7, 6–1
  Françoise Dürr
  Ann Jones
New South Wales Open
Sydney
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Margaret Court
6–2, 6–2
  Olga Morozova   Gail Chanfreau
  Kazuko Sawamatsu
  Brenda Kirk
  Kristien Kemmer
  Betty Stöve
  Patti Hogan
  Margaret Court
  Olga Morozova
6–2, 6–0
  Helen Gourlay
  Kerry Harris
11 Jan Billie Jean King Invitational
Long Beach, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $14,000 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
  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
18 Jan Virginia Slims of Milwaukee
Milwaukee, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,500 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
  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
25 Jan Virginia Slims of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $12,500 – 16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  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
Victoria Championships
Melbourne, Australia
Non-tour event
Singles
  Evonne Goolagong
7–6, 7–6
  Margaret Court   Kazuko Sawamatsu
  Winnie Shaw
  Patti Hogan
  Olga Morozova
  Trudy Walhof
  Gail Chanfreau

February

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Feb Virginia Slims of Chattanooga
Chattanooga, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,700 – 16S/8D
SinglesDoubles
  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
BP New Zealand Championships
Christchurch, New Zealand
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong
6–1, 6–4
  Betty Stöve   Kathleen Harter
  Gail Chanfreau
  Laura Rossouw
  Trudy Walhof
  Patty Ann Reese
  Winnie Shaw
  Kathleen Harter
  Winnie Shaw
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
  Gail Chanfreau
  Evonne Goolagong
8 Feb Philadelphia Indoor Championships
Philadelphia, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,500 – 16S
SinglesDoubles
  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
15 Feb Station WLOD
Fort Lauderdale, United States
Virginia Slims
Clay – $10,000 – 16S
SinglesDoubles
  Françoise Dürr
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
  Billie Jean King   Kerry Melville
  Rosie Casals
  Judy Dalton
  Ann Jones
  Denise Carter
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
USSR Championships
Moscow, Soviet Union
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Olga Morozova
6–1, 7–5
  Maria Kull   Yelena Granaturova
  Anna Yeremeyeva
  Yekaterina Kryuchkova
  Marina Kroschina
  Eugenia Birioukova
  Rausa Islanova
  Eugenia Birioukova
  Marina Kroschina
7–6, 5–7, 7–5
  Yelena Granaturova
  Olga Morozova
22 Feb Virginia Slims National Indoors
Winchester, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $12,500 – 16S/2D
SinglesDoubles
  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

March

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Mar Benson & Hedges Centennial Open
Auckland, New Zealand
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Margaret Court
3–6, 7–6(5–1), 6–2
  Evonne Goolagong   Winnie Shaw
  Patti Hogan
  Sharon Walsh
  Lesley Bowrey
  Lesley Hunt
  Marilyn Pryde
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
7–6, 6–0
  Lesley Bowrey
  Winnie Shaw
8 Mar Dunlop Australian Open
Sydney, Australia
Grand Slam
Grass – 30S/14D
SinglesDoubles
  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
  Jill Emmerson
  Lesley Hunt
15 Mar Virginia Slims US Indoors
Detroit, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $10,000 – 8S/2D
SinglesDoubles
  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
22 Mar Virginia Slims of New York
New York, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard (i) – $15,600 – 20S
SinglesDoubles
  Rosie Casals
6–4, 6–4
  Billie Jean King 3rd:   Ann Jones
4th:   Françoise Dürr
  Julie Heldman
  Kerry Melville
  Cecilia Martinez
  Jane Bartkowicz
29 Mar Caribe Hilton Invitational
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Virginia Slims
$10,000 – 24S/11D
SinglesDoubles
  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
Natal Open Championships
Durban, South Africa
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Margaret Court
6–2, 6–1
  Patti Hogan   Virginia Wade
  Heide Schildeknecht
  Lesley Hunt
  Winnie Shaw
  Evonne Goolagong
  Helga Niessen Masthoff
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
  Kerry Harris
  Winnie Shaw

April

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Apr Virginia Slims Masters
St. Petersburg, United States
Virginia Slims
Clay – $10,000 – 16S/15Q/11D
SinglesDoubles
  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
Monte Carlo Open Championships
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Non-tour event
16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  Gail Chanfreau
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
  Betty Stöve   Christina Sandberg
  Odile de Roubin
  Lucia Bassi
  Marie Neumannová
  Katalin Borka
  Lea Pericoli
  Katja Ebbinghaus
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–3
  Lucia Bassi
  Lea Pericoli
South Africa Open
Johannesburg, South Africa
Non-tour event
26S/8D
SinglesDoubles
  Margaret Court
6–3, 6–1
  Evonne Goolagong   Winnie Shaw
  Virginia Wade
  Kerry Harris
  Helga Niessen Masthoff
  Pat Walkden
  Patti Hogan
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
6–3, 6–2
  Brenda Kirk
  Laura Rossouw
12 Apr Caesar's Palace World Pro Championships
Las Vegas, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $29,200 – 16S/13Q/10D
SinglesDoubles
  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
USA National Bank Open
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Non-tour event
6S/2D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–2, 6–0
  Laura duPont   Janet Newberry
  Eliza Pande
  Sue Stap
  Beverly Cansler
  Chris Evert
  Sue Stap
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
  Janet Newberry
  Eliza Pande
19 Apr Virginia Slims of San Diego
San Diego, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $12,500 – 16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
4–6, 7–5, 6–1
  Rosie Casals   Julie Heldman
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
  Esmé Emmanuel
  Kerry Melville
  Tory Fretz
  Kristy Pigeon
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–7, 6–2, 6–3
  Françoise Dürr
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
Catania Open Grand Prix
Catania, Italy
Non-tour event
15S/8D
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
6–0, 6–3
  Gail Chanfreau   Helga Schultze
  Laura Rossouw
  Marie Neumannová
  Brenda Kirk
  Miloslava Holubová
  Pam Teeguarden
  Pam Teeguarden
  Virginia Wade
6–4, 6–4
  Gail Chanfreau
  Helga Schultze
26 Apr Rothmans Sutton Hard Courts
Sutton, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong
7–5, 2–6, 6–3
  Joyce Williams   Jill Cooper
  Shirley Brasher
  Barbara Hawcroft
  Nell Truman
  Susan Minford
  Sally Holdsworth
  Evonne Goolagong
  Joyce Williams
6–4, 6–3
  Shirley Brasher
  Margaret Cooper
River Plate Championships
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Olga Morozova
6–0, 6–3
  Anna-Maria Nasuelli   Betty Stöve
  Beatriz Araujo
  Marta Fernández Ruiz
  Raquel Giscafré
  Inés Roget
  Graciela Morán
  Olga Morozova
  Betty Stöve
7–5, 6–1
  Beatriz Araujo
  Ines Roget
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 May Italian Open
Rome, Italy
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
6–4, 6–4
  Helga Niessen Masthoff   Helga Schultze
  Gail Chanfreau
  Marie Neumannová
  Lesley Bowrey
  Lea Pericoli
  Laura Rossouw
  Helga Niessen Masthoff
  Virginia Wade
5–7, 6–2, 6–2
  Lesley Bowrey
  Helen Gourlay
Tulsa Claycourts
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Non-tour event
10S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–0, 6–3
  Mary-Ann Eisel   Laura duPont
  Marcie Louie
  Jeanne Evert
  Karin Benson
  Kathy Kraft
  Sue Stap
  Mary-Ann Eisel
  Karin Benson
2–6, 7–5, 7–5
  Chris Evert
  Jeanne Evert
10 May London Hard Court Championships
London, England
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
  Margaret Court
6–0, 6–3
  Françoise Dürr   Gail Chanfreau
  Virginia Wade
  Julie Heldman
  Nell Truman
  Judy Dalton
  Rosie Casals
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–4
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
17 May British Hard Court Championships
Bournemouth, England
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
  Margaret Court
7–5, 6–1
  Evonne Goolagong   Françoise Dürr
  Mary–Ann Curtis
  Winnie Shaw
  Tory Fretz
  Betty Stöve
  Patti Hogan
  Mary–Ann Curtis
  Françoise Dürr
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
Grand Prix German Open
Hamburg, West Germany
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
  Helga Masthoff   Helga Hösl
  Rosie Casals
  Heide Orth
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
  Kazuko Sawamatsu
  Kerry Melville
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–2, 6–1
  Helga Masthoff
  Heide Orth
24 May
31 May
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam (A)
Clay – 64S/44Q/32D/38X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Evonne Goolagong
6–3, 7–5
  Helen Gourlay   Marijke Schaar
  Nancy Richey
  Linda Tuero
  Françoise Dürr
  Lesley Bowrey
  Gail Chanfreau
  Gail Chanfreau
  Françoise Dürr
6–4, 6–1
  Helen Gourlay
  Kerry Harris
  Jean-Claude Barclay
  Françoise Dürr
6–3, 6–4
  Toomas Leius
  Winnie Shaw

June

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 Jun Players Nottingham
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Julie Heldman
6–4, 7–9, 6–3
  Barbara Hawcroft   Helen Amos
  Laura Rossouw
  Brenda Kirk
  Michelle Rodríguez
  Patricia Faulkner
  Madeleine Pegel
  Françoise Dürr
  Julie Heldman
6–0, 6–3
  Ana María Pinto Bravo
  Raquel Giscafré
Kent Championships
Beckenham, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Kerry Melville
6–0, 3–6, 9–7
  Kristy Pigeon   Patti Hogan
  Wendy Gilchrist
  Tam O'Shaughnessy
  Janet Newberry
  Betty Stöve
  Christine Janes
  Christine Truman
  Nell Truman
6–3, 9–7
  Olga Morozova
  Zaiga Yanzone
14 Jun Queen's Club Championships
London, England
Grand Prix Circuit (D)
Grass – 64S/32D
  Margaret Court
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
  Billie Jean King   Rosie Casals
  Virginia Wade
  Kristy Pigeon
  Jill Cooper
  Christine Janes
  Helen Gourlay
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–2, 8–6
  Mary–Ann Curtis
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
21 Jun
28 June
Wimbledon Championships
London, England
Grand Slam (A)
Grass – 96S/24D/80X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Evonne Goolagong
6–4, 6–1
  Margaret Court   Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Billie Jean King
  Winnie Shaw
  Kerry Melville
  Nancy Richey
  Françoise Dürr
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
  Owen Davidson
  Billie Jean King
3–6, 6–2, 15–13
  Marty Riessen
  Margaret Court

July

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Jul Swedish Open
Båstad, Sweden
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Clay – 32S/32D
  Helga Masthoff
4–6, 6–1, 6–3
  Ingrid Bentzer   Christina Sandberg
  Linda Tuero
  Ana María Pinto Bravo
  Heide Orth
  Ann-Charlotte Dahlberg
  Odile de Roubin
  Helga Masthoff
  Heide Orth
6–2, 6–1
  Ana María Pinto Bravo
  Linda Tuero
Open Welsh Championships
Newport, Wales
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Grass – S32/D16
  Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–4
  Judy Tegart-Dalton   Winnie Shaw
  Helen Gourlay
  Kerry Harris
  Elizabeth James
  Gail Chanfreau
  Joyce Williams
  Helen Gourlay
  Kerry Harris
6–3, 8–6
  Gail Chanfreau
  Winnie Shaw
Swiss Open
Gstaad, Switzerland
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Clay – S32/D16
  Françoise Dürr
6–3, 6–3
  Lesley Hunt   Marijke Schaar
  Alena Palmeová-West
  Lea Pericoli
  Fiorella Bonicelli
  Silvia Gubler
  Laura Rossouw
  Brenda Kirk
  Laura Rossouw
8–6, 6–3
  Françoise Dürr
  Lea Pericoli
Carroll's Irish Open
Dublin, Ireland
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Margaret Court
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
  Evonne Goolagong   Betty Stöve
  Lesley Bowrey
  Geraldine Barniville
  Sue Minford
  Veronica Burton
  Tam O'Shaughnessy
  Kathleen Harter
  Winnie Shaw
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
  Gail Chanfreau
  Evonne Goolagong
12 Jul North of England Championships
Hoylake, England
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Grass – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–3
  Rosie Casals   Margaret Court
  Patti Hogan
  Evonne Goolagong
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Virginia Wade
  Julie Heldman
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
walkover
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong
19 Jul Green Shield Midland Championships
Leicester, England
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong
6–2, 6–4
  Patti Hogan   Helen Gourlay
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Kristien Kemmer
  Kerry Harris
  Barbara Hawcroft
  Fay Toyne
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Evonne Goolagong
8–6, 6–4
  Barbara Hawcroft
  Patti Hogan
Austrian Open
Kitzbühel, Austria
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–2, 4–6, 7–5
  Laura Rossouw   Helga Schultze
  Rosie Casals
  Heide Orth
  Tory Fretz
  Ana María Arias
  Brenda Kirk
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–2, 6–4
  Helga Niessen Masthoff
  Heide Orth
26 Jul Dutch Open Championships
Hilversum, Netherlands[9]
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong
8–6, 6–3
  Christina Sandberg   Cora Schediwy
  Betty Stöve
  Trudy Waldhof
  Katja Ebbinghaus
  Brenda Kirk
  Alena Palmeová-West
  Christina Sandberg
  Betty Stöve
6–1, 6–2
  Katja Ebbinghaus
  Trudy Waldhof

August

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Aug Virginia Slims International
Houston, United States
Virginia Slims
$40,000
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–4, 4–6, 6–1
  Kerry Melville 3rd:   Nancy Richey
4th:   Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Mary-Ann Eisel
  Julie Heldman
  Françoise Dürr
  Rosie Casals
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 1–6, 6–2
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Françoise Dürr
Cincinnati Open
Cincinnati, United States
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Hard – 32S/16D
  Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–3
  Linda Tuero   Gail Chanfreau
  Helen Gourlay
  Nathalie Fuchs
  Winnie Shaw
  Sue Stap
  Kerry Harris
  Helen Gourlay
  Kerry Harris
6–4, 6–4
  Gail Chanfreau
  Winnie Shaw
9 Aug Women's Clay Court Championships
Indianapolis, US
Grand Prix Circuit (D)
Clay – 32S/16D
  Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5
  Linda Tuero   Helen Gourlay
  Gail Chanfreau
  Julie Heldman
  Winnie Shaw
  Kerry Harris
  Kerry Melville
  Judy Dalton
  Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–2
  Julie Heldman
  Linda Tuero
16 Aug Virginia Slims of Chicago
Lake Bluff, Illinois, United States
Virginia Slims
Clay – $20,000
SinglesDoubles
  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
Wightman Cup
Cleveland, United States
Hard (i)
Team event
  United States
4–3
  Great Britain
23 Aug Eastern Grass Court Championships
South Orange NJ, United States
Grand Prix Circuit (C)
Grass – 64S/32D
  Chris Evert
6–4, 6–0
  Helen Gourlay   Winnie Shaw
  Lita Liem
  Lany Kaligis
  Joyce Williams
  Virginia Wade
  Lesley Bowrey
Cancelled
30 Aug Virginia Slims of Newport
Newport, United States
Virginia Slims
Grass – $20,000
SinglesDoubles
  Kerry Melville
6–3, 6–7(3–5), 7–6(5–4)
  Françoise Dürr   Billie Jean King
  Rosie Casals
  Christina Sandberg
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Lesley Hunt
  Mary-Ann Eisel
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Françoise Dürr
6–2, 6–1
  Kerry Harris
  Kerry Melville
30 Aug
6 Sep
US Open
New York, United States
Grand Slam (A)
Grass – 64S/32D/47X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  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

September

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
13 Sep Virginia Slims of Louisville
Louisville, United States
Virginia Slims
$20,000
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–1, 4–6, 6–3
  Rosie Casals   Kerry Melville
  Françoise Dürr
  Lita Liem
  Alena Palmeová-West
  Helen Gourlay
  Margaret Cooper
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Françoise Dürr
2–6, 6–4, 6–3
  Kerry Melville
  Betty Stöve
20 Sep Pacific Southwest Championships
Los Angeles, United States
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Carpet (i) – 32S/16D
  Billie Jean King vs.   Rosie Casals
6–6 double default
  Kerry Melville
  Françoise Dürr
  Wendy Overton
  Lesley Hunt
  Helen Gourlay
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–2
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Françoise Dürr
27 Sep Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic
Phoenix, United States
Virginia Slims
Hard – $20,000 – 32S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  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

October

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 Oct Dewar Cup Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong
6–0, 6–3
  Françoise Dürr   Jackie Fayter
  Virginia Wade
  Corinne Molesworth
  Winnie Shaw
  Patti Hogan
  Julie Heldman
  Evonne Goolagong
  Julie Heldman
6–3, 6–0
  Patti Hogan
  Nell Truman
18 Oct Dewar Cup Billingham
Billingham, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
15S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
4–6, 7–5, 6–3
  Julie Heldman   Evonne Goolagong
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
  Cathie Lorains
  Winnie Shaw
  Patti Hogan
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
6–3, 4–6, 6–2
  Evonne Goolagong
  Julie Heldman
25 Oct Embassy British Indoor Championships
London, England
Grand Prix Circuit (B)
Carpet – 32S/16D
  Billie Jean King
6–1, 5–7, 7–5
  Françoise Dürr   Rosemary Casals
  Evonne Goolagong
  Patti Hogan
  Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
  Winnie Shaw
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
3–6, 7–5, 6–3
  Evonne Goolagong
  Julie Heldman

November

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Nov Dewar Cup Aberavon
Aberavon, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
7–6, 6–3
  Evonne Goolagong   Julie Heldman
  Françoise Dürr
  Wendy Gilchrist
  Winnie Shaw
  Patti Hogan
  Betty Stöve
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
7–5, 6–4
  Evonne Goolagong
  Julie Heldman
8 Nov Dewar Cup Torquay
Torquay, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
16S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong
6–1, 6–0
  Françoise Dürr   Julie Heldman
  Virginia Wade
  Jackie Fayter
  Winnie Shaw
  Penny Moor
  Betty Stöve
  Evonne Goolagong
  Julie Heldman
7–6, 6–4
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
15 Nov Dewar Cup Championships
London, United Kingdom
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
6–1, 6–3
  Julie Heldman   Françoise Dürr
  Evonne Goolagong
  Betty Stöve
  Winnie Shaw
  Jackie Fayter
  Patti Hogan
  Evonne Goolagong
  Julie Heldman
7–5, 6–4
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
29 Nov Clean Air Classic
New York City, United States
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–3
  Rosie Casals

December

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Dec Benson & Hedges International
Christchurch, New Zealand
Non-tour event
SinglesDoubles
  Françoise Dürr
6–3, 6–0
  Billie Jean King   Rosemary Casals
  Kerry Melville
  Lesley Hunt
  Kristien Kemmer
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 9–8(8–6)
  Judy Tegart-Dalton
  Françoise Dürr

Awarding points system

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Grand Prix Circuit

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The Grand Prix tournaments were divided into four groups. Group A consisted of the three Grand Slam events – French Open, Wimbledon Championships and US Open – while the other tournaments were divided into Groups B, C and D by prize money and draw size. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament. The points allocation is listed below:

Group A
  • Champion: 40
  • Runner-up: 30
  • Semifinalist: 20
  • Quarterfinalist: 10
  • Round of 16: 5
  • Round of 32: 3
Group B
  • Champion: 30
  • Runner-up: 20
  • Semifinalist: 10
  • Quarterfinalist: 5
  • Round of 16: 3
  • Round of 32: –
Group C
  • Champion: 20
  • Runner-up: 12
  • Semifinalist: 6
  • Quarterfinalist: 4
  • Round of 16: 2
  • Round of 32: –
Group D
  • Champion: 15
  • Runner-up: 9
  • Semifinalist: 5
  • Quarterfinalist: 3
  • Round of 16:: –
  • Round of 32: –

Standings and bonus pool earnings

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A bonus pool of $50,000 was available for the top 13 points ranked players. To qualify for a share of the bonus pool the players had to participate in a minimum of nine tournaments.[10]

Rk Name Tour. Points Bonus
1   Billie Jean King 9 181 $10,000
2   Françoise Dürr 9 119 $7,500
3   Evonne Goolagong [b] 6 116
4   Margaret Court [b] 6 106
5   Helen Gourlay 12 83 $6,500
6   Rosemary Casals [b] 8 71
7   Judy Dalton 9 70 $5,250
8   Virginia Wade 10 69 $4,000
9   Linda Tuero [b] 7 60
10   Kerry Melville [b] 7 55

Top 10 World Rankings

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The 1971 singles rankings as per Lance Tingay.[citation needed]

Prize money leaders

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No. Player Name Prize money
1   Billie Jean King (USA) $117,000
2   Françoise Dürr (FRA) $65,000
3   Rosemary Casals (USA) $62,000
4   Judy Dalton (AUS) $33,876
5   Kerry Melville (AUS) $29,767
6   Ann Jones (GBR) $26,148
7   Margaret Court (AUS) $26,000
8   Evonne Goolagong (AUS) $25,000
9   Virginia Wade (GBR) $24,000
10   Nancy Gunter (USA) $15,300

Statistical information

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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

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Total Player  S   D   X   S   D   S   D   X 
38   Billie Jean King (USA) 17 19 2
21   Rosie Casals (USA) 2 19 0
19   Evonne Goolagong (AUS) 9 10 0
16   Margaret Court (AUS) 10 6 0
16   Françoise Durr (FRA) 4 12 1
6   Judy Tegart Dalton (AUS) 0 6 0
5   Chris Evert (USA) 4 1 0
5   Ann Haydon-Jones (GBR) 2 3 0
2   Gail Chanfreau (FRA) 1 1 0
2   Kerry Melville (AUS) 1 1 0
2   Mary-Ann Eisel (USA) 0 2 0
1   Valerie Ziegenfuss (USA) 0 1 0

Titles won by nation

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Total Nation  S   D   X   S   D   S   D   X 
30   United States (USA) 1 2 2 14 11 15 13 2
10   France (FRA) 0 1 1 2 6 2 7 1
9   Australia (AUS) 3 2 0 1 3 4 5 0
7   Great Britain (GBR) 0 0 0 2 5 2 5 0

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Including three Grand Slam events.
  2. ^ a b c d e Player did not participate in the required minimum of nine tournaments and therefore did not share in the bonus pool.

References

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  1. ^ "History of the ITF: Foundation of International Lawn Tennis Federation 1913". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Reprieve for Girls". The Age. Sydney, Australia: The Wikipedia Library - Newspapers.Com. 19 January 1971. p. 23. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  3. ^ Kimball, Warren F. (December 2017). The United States Tennis Association: Raising the Game. Lincoln, NE: U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-1-4962-0462-2.
  4. ^ Hall, Eric Allen (15 September 2014). Arthur Ashe: Tennis and Justice in the Civil Rights Era. Baltimore, Maryland, United States: JHU Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-4214-1394-5.
  5. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1972). World of Tennis '72. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 143, 144. ISBN 9780362001037. OCLC 86035663.
  6. ^ Adam Lincoln (6 January 2021). "50 years ago today: Virginia Slims Circuit kicks off". Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
  7. ^ a b "WTA Tour Finals" (PDF). www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ^ "About The WTA". www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Tennisbegroting voor Hilversum iets lager". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 21 July 1971. p. 4 – via Delpher.
  10. ^ John Dolan (2011). Women's Tennis 1968–84: the Ultimate Guide. Remous. p. 507.
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