Howard Hughes Open Tennis Championships
| Howard Hughes Open Tennis Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | WCT Circuit |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Abolished | 1970 |
| Editions | 2 |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada United States |
| Venue | The Frontier Hotel and Casino Tennis Courts |
| Surface | Hard / outdoor |
| Draw | 32 S (men) |
| Prize money | $50,000 |
The Howard Hughes Open Tennis Championships [1] or Howard Hughes Open[2] was a WCT affiliated hard court tennis tournament founded in 1969. The tournament was played at the The Frontier Hotel and Casino tennis courts, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Also known as the Howard Hughes Invitational[3] the event was part of the WCT Circuit until 1970.
History
In December 1967 the US billionaire business man Howard Hughes bought the Frontier Hotel and Casino,[4] for $23 million, and set about renovate it.[5] In 1969 the Howard Hughes Open Championships was established combined mens and womens tournament that was played on outdoor hard courts at the Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, that event ran for two editions only until 1970.
In 1971 a new successor women's only Caesars Palace World Pro Championships tournament was established that ran for one edition only.[6]
In 1972 a new men's successor event to the Howard Hughes Invitational called the Alan King Tennis Classic began. That event ran annually until 1985, and both of these events were played at the Caesars Palace Hotel.
Past finals
Men's singles
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969[7] |  Pancho Gonzales |
Arthur Ashe |
6–0, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1970[8] | Pancho Gonzales (2) |
.svg.png){kind=small} Rod Laver |
6–1, 7–5, 5–7, 6–3 |
Women's singles
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969[9] | Nancy Richey |
Billie Jean King |
2–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
References
- ↑ "Sports Potpurri". Meriden Journal. 8 October 1969. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "The Ghost Came Back". The Phoenix. 25 November 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Gonzales Seeks Tennis Revenge". The Pittsburgh Press. 16 May 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Frontier Hotel and Casino Collection, 1942-1988. MS-00297. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Manning, Mary (May 15, 2008). "Howard Hughes: A revolutionary recluse". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Mrs. Jones Beats Mrs. King for $9,000 Tennis Prize". The New York Times. Las Vegas, Nev. Associated Press. April 19, 1971. p. 46.
- ↑ "Pancho Bows Out With Tourney Win". Daily News. 10 October 1969. p. 18. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Pancho Keep's Hughes Title". The Pittsburgh Press. 17 May 1970. p. 46. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ "Sport Briefs". The Norwalk Hour. 18 October 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 15 July 2026.