WTA Category 1+ (1987), WTA Category 2 (1988–1989), WTA Tier IV (1990–1992), WTA Tier III (1993–2008), WTA International (2009–2013)
The U.S. National Indoor Championships was a
tennis tournament that was last held at the
Racquet Club of Memphis in
Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Also known as the U.S. International Indoor Championships. The event was played on
indoor hard courts and usually took place in February. For much of its more than 100-year history it was a combined men's and women's tournament but in 2014, its final year, only a men's tournament was held. The event was previously known under various sponsored names including the Memphis Open, the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, the Kroger St. Jude Championship, and the Volvo Championships. It was called throughout most of its history the National Indoor Championships.
History
The tournament began in March 1898 when the inaugural edition was played at the Newton Winter Tennis Club in
Newton Center. The men's singles was the only event played and was won by
Leo Ware who defeated
Holcombe Ward in the final in straight sets.[1] There was no tournament held in 1899.
In 1900 a men's doubles event was added and the tournament moved to the
Seventh Regiment Armory in Manhattan, New York, where it was played on a wood court until 1963 with the exception of 1941 (Coliseum in Oklahoma City) and from 1942 until 1945 when no tournament was held due to World War II.
When the Seventh Regiment Armory was closed for renovations a new venue for the tournament had to be selected by the USLTA.[2] In 1964 the tournament moved to
Salisbury, Maryland, and was organized by
Jimmy Connors' manager Bill Riordan.[3]
The last move occurred after the 1976 tournament, when Memphis became the host of the event and was the location of the tournament until its end in 2014.[4][5] The men's tournament was part of the
Grand Prix tennis circuit between 1976 and 1989 before becoming an
ATP Tour event.
The 2013 tournament was the last combined men's and women's tournament and was held February 16–24, 2013, at The Racquet Club of Memphis.
Marina Erakovic was the last woman to win the title.[6] In 2014 the
WTA event moved to
Rio de Janeiro. The men's tournament lost its
ATP World Tour 500 series certification, which also moved to Rio de Janeiro, but continued as an ATP 250 event known as the
Memphis Open, taking over the ATP 250 sanction from the
SAP Open in San Jose.[7][8]
WTA Category 1+ (1987), WTA Category 2 (1988–1989), WTA Tier IV (1990–1992), WTA Tier III (1993–2008), WTA International (2009–2013)
The U.S. National Indoor Championships was a
tennis tournament that was last held at the
Racquet Club of Memphis in
Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Also known as the U.S. International Indoor Championships. The event was played on
indoor hard courts and usually took place in February. For much of its more than 100-year history it was a combined men's and women's tournament but in 2014, its final year, only a men's tournament was held. The event was previously known under various sponsored names including the Memphis Open, the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, the Kroger St. Jude Championship, and the Volvo Championships. It was called throughout most of its history the National Indoor Championships.
History
The tournament began in March 1898 when the inaugural edition was played at the Newton Winter Tennis Club in
Newton Center. The men's singles was the only event played and was won by
Leo Ware who defeated
Holcombe Ward in the final in straight sets.[1] There was no tournament held in 1899.
In 1900 a men's doubles event was added and the tournament moved to the
Seventh Regiment Armory in Manhattan, New York, where it was played on a wood court until 1963 with the exception of 1941 (Coliseum in Oklahoma City) and from 1942 until 1945 when no tournament was held due to World War II.
When the Seventh Regiment Armory was closed for renovations a new venue for the tournament had to be selected by the USLTA.[2] In 1964 the tournament moved to
Salisbury, Maryland, and was organized by
Jimmy Connors' manager Bill Riordan.[3]
The last move occurred after the 1976 tournament, when Memphis became the host of the event and was the location of the tournament until its end in 2014.[4][5] The men's tournament was part of the
Grand Prix tennis circuit between 1976 and 1989 before becoming an
ATP Tour event.
The 2013 tournament was the last combined men's and women's tournament and was held February 16–24, 2013, at The Racquet Club of Memphis.
Marina Erakovic was the last woman to win the title.[6] In 2014 the
WTA event moved to
Rio de Janeiro. The men's tournament lost its
ATP World Tour 500 series certification, which also moved to Rio de Janeiro, but continued as an ATP 250 event known as the
Memphis Open, taking over the ATP 250 sanction from the
SAP Open in San Jose.[7][8]