1970 Houston Women's Invitation

1970 Houston Women's Invitation
Date September 23–26
Edition 1st
Draw 8S
Prize money $7,500
Location Houston, TX, USA
Champions
United States Rosie Casals

The 1970 Houston Women's Invitation (also known as the Virginia Slims Invitation for sponsorship reasons) was a women's only tennis tournament. The tournament was the first women only tournament and was created by Gladys Heldman.

The tournament was held in protest to the unfair distribution of prize money at tennis events. The women objected to the Pacific Southwest Championships offering a 12:1 ratio split in prize money. Eight women, including Billie Jean King, went with Heldman to play in this one-off tournament.

The Houston Women's invitation received sponsorship from Virginia Slims, making the total prize purse $7,500. The event was contested by eight players and took place at the same time as the Pacific Southwest Championships. The tournament was won by Rosie Casals when she beat Judy Dalton of Australia in the final.

Background

"Outspoken on behalf of women's rights, in and out of sports–tennis in particular—she was possibly the most influential figure in popularizing professional tennis in the United States."[1]

Collins on King

Until the Houston event, all women's tournaments were held alongside men's tennis events.[2] These events were part of the Grand Prix series for women, but unlike the men's series, without a season-ending championship.[2] The Open era began with the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth in 1968. At the first Open Wimbledon, the prize-fund difference was 2.5:1 in favour of men. Billie Jean King won £750 for taking the title, while Rod Laver took £2,000. The total purses of the competitions were £14,800 for men and £5,680 for women.[3] By the 1970s, the pay which had been 2.5:1 ratio between men and women increased. In 1969, ratios of 5:1 in terms of pay were common at smaller tournaments; by 1970, these figures increased to 8:1 and even 12:1.[4]

"Gladys and her magazine became the allies of disgruntled female players."[5]

Collins on Heldman and World Tennis magazine.

Gladys Heldman, who was a former player in the amateur era, had been making her mark in American tennis throughout the 1950s and 60s. When the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) voted not to hold the National Indoor Championships because they always lost money, Heldman stepped in to underwrite the losses, and turned in an $8,000 profit. In 1962, she raised $18,000 to charter a plane to take 85 foreign tennis players to New York to play in the US Open and underwrote their expenses as well. Heldman's involvement in tennis went back ten years, to 1953, when she set up World Tennis magazine. It made a loss at first, but by the mid-1960s it sold 43,000 copies, maiking the highest-selling tennis magazine in the world. Heldman used her magazine to increase awareness of gender inequality in sports. In winter 1969, Heldman staged three women's only tournaments: a $5,000 tournament in Philadelphia; another $5,000 tournament at the Vanderblit Club in New York; and a tournament without prize money in Dallas.[6]

"If they don't like it. I won't give them any prize money."

Jack Kramer in response to Heldman

The turning point in the struggle for acceptance of the women's game came before the US Open in 1970. The Pacific Southwest Championships, run by Jack Kramer, had announced a 12:1 ratio in the prize difference between what males and females would win; since the tournament would not take place until after the Open players, including King and Rosie Casals, contacted Heldman and stated that they wanted to boycott the event. Heldman advised against the idea and she approached Kramer twice without success. Heldman decided that if women were not going to be paid fairly, then she would set up a tournament to rival Kramer's. Houston was chosen as the venue as Heldman was about to move there. She contacted the Houston Racquet Club and the Texas Lawn Tennis Association about her idea and within days had created a $5,000 tournament for eight women.[7]

In the locker rooms at Forest Hills, the women tennis professionals argued about whether to boycott the Pacific Southwest Championship. The idealists in the group wanted to make a point before 12:1 ratios were the norm. Others wanted no part in a rebellion. When it looked as if the group would get nowhere, Heldman walked into the locker room and announced her plan for the Houston Women's Invitation.[7]

Opposition

When Heldman first told Kramer of her tournament, he stated that he would not oppose the tournament.[8] Once Kramer spoke with his friends at the USLTA, he changed his mind and decided that he would object to the tournament taking place; since the women needed the governing body's backing to be allowed to proceed.[8] The USLTA, according to King, tried to pin the blame on Perry T. Jones, the president of Southern California Tennis Association, who at the time was in a coma. The USLTA sent a telegram to Heldman allegedly signed by him. Jones died the next day.[9]

Sanctions

Two days before the tournament, Alaster Martin, president of the USLTA, sent an ultimatum to the players planning to take part in the tournament. His message stated that the USLTA would suspend any player involved, meaning that could not play in Wightman or Federation Cup competition. Their future at the Grand Slams would also be in doubt.[9]

"At that point I didn't care if I never played Wimbledon again.""

Nancy Richey looking back on the incident.[9]

Before the tournament started, Stan Malless, chairman of the USLTA's scheduling committee, called the group planning to play in the tournament. Malless stated that they could have a sanctioned amateur tournament with no prize money. If they chose this option, they could play for $7,500 in "money under the table". If they played for the money honestly, they would be suspended. The women chose the latter. They signed one-week contracts with Heldman to protect the racquet club from sanctions. With the start of the tournament an hour away and the contracts not signed, King phoned Martin to give him one last chance. Martin offered no money deal and could only offer two tournaments for women: the US Indoor Championships and the US Open. King put the phone down walked away, and with the other eight women signed Heldman's contract.[10] The USLTA suspended the players the next day.[11][12]

Players

"BJ and Rosie were the ringleaders on court, close friends, doubles partners frequent final–round foes, super saleswomen for the emerging tour. They were perfect role players, feisty but good humored kids off the public courts who believed women had a destiny in professional sport."[13]

Bud Collins

"We knew we were making history and we had such a strong sense of purpose. I just kept thinking about the vision we had for the future of our sport. We wanted to ensure that any girl in the world that was good enough would have a place to go and make a living playing tennis."

Billie Jean King speaking in 2010.[17]

Two other players had to withdraw from the event: Patti Hogan withdrew because she did not want to take the risk and stand against the establishment. Margaret Court withdrew as she had just lost to Chris Evert, who was 15 at the time, after completing her Grand Slam.[9]

Tournament

"He came to the financial and spiritual rescue of the women, up to then second–class citizens of tournament tennis."[22]

Bud Collins on Cullman

Joseph Cullman added an additional $2,500 making the purse stand at $7,500.[17] Cullman was the chairman of Philip Morris and lent the company's Virginia Slims brand to the event. The tournament was therefore called the Virginia Slims Invitation.[9]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
1  United States Rosie Casals 6 7  
   United States Valerie Ziegenfuss 1 5  
  1  United States Rosie Casals 4 7 6  
     Australia Kerry Melville 6 5 3  
   Australia Kerry Melville 6 6
   United States Kristy Pigeon 3 4  
    1  United States Rosie Casals 5 6 7
     Australia Judy Dalton 7 1 5
   United States Billie Jean King 3 3  
   Australia Judy Dalton 6 6  
   Australia Judy Dalton 4 7 6
  2  United States Nancy Richey 6 5 2     Third Place Playoff
   United States Peaches Bartkowicz 3 3
2  United States Nancy Richey 6 6        Australia Kerry Melville 6 6
  2  United States Nancy Richey 1 2

[23]

Aftermath

During the tournament, Barry MacKay, chairman of the Pacific Coast Championships, called Heldman with an offer. Following all the publicity surrounding her event MacKay had decided to increase the women's prize fund for a draw of 32 players from $2,000 to $4,400. Heldman declined and stated that her players would play for a purse of $11,000. MacKay called the next day and agreed to the demands.[11]

After the event, the women voted for Heldman to run a new women's only tour. This became the Virginia Slims Circuit, with Phillip Morris continuing their link and sponsoring 8 of the 16 tournaments on the schedule.

References

  1. Collins, Bud (2010). "International Hall of Fame". The Bud Collins History of Tennis: an authoritative encyclopedia and record book. New Chapter Press. pp. 557–596. ISBN 978-0-942257-70-0.
  2. 1 2 Tingay, Lance (1983). The Guinness book of tennis fact & feats. Guinness Superlatives Limited. pp. 210–11. ISBN 0-85112-289-2.
  3. King, Billie Jean; Starr, Cynthia (1988). "Birth of a Tour". In Regina Ryan. We Have Come a Long Way. Regina Ryan Publishing. p. 116. ISBN 0-07-034625-9.
  4. King & Starr, p. 120.
  5. Collins, p. 588.
  6. King & Starr, p. 121.
  7. 1 2 King & Starr, p. 123.
  8. 1 2 King & Starr, p. 124.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 King & Starr, p. 125.
  10. King & Starr, p. 126.
  11. 1 2 King & Starr, p. 127.
  12. "USLTA acts against nine rebels". AAP–Reuter. Sydney Morning Herald. September 27, 1970.
  13. 1 2 Collins, p. 557.
  14. "On This Day: First Virginia Slims Series Begins". wtatour.com. January 6, 2011.
  15. "In Her Own Words: Judy Dalton". wtatour.com. September 23, 2010.
  16. "In Her Own Words: Julie Heldman". wtatour.com. September 23, 2010.
  17. 1 2 "On This Day: Rebellion & Independence". wtatour.com. September 23, 2010.
  18. "In Her Own Words: Kerry Melville Reid". wtatour.com. September 23, 2010.
  19. "In Her Own Words: Kristy Pigeon". wtatour.com. September 23, 2010.
  20. "In Her Own Words: Nancy Richey". wtatour.com. September 23, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  21. Aaraton, Harvey (August 29, 2000). "Sports of The Times; Following In the Path Of a Pioneer". New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  22. Collins, p. 568.
  23. "Houston Women's Invitational" (PDF). wtatour.com. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
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