Neha Patil (Editor)

Grand Prix Super Series

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

The Grand Prix Super Series of men's tennis tournaments, formed part of the Grand Prix and World Championship Tennis tours between 1970 and 1989, and were held annually throughout the year in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. After the Majors and Season ending Championships these tournaments were the most prestigious and highest level events of the Grand Prix Tour, they had a six name changes from 1970 through to 1977, Group One, Group B, Group A, Group AA, 5 Star and 6 Star before settling on a consistent naming format called Super Series" from 1978 until 1989.

Contents

When the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) became the sole governing body of men's tennis in 1990 all of the surviving tournaments of the Grand Prix were absorbed into the new ATP Tour. The nine top events existing at that time first become known as the ATP Championship Series Single Week and are currently branded as ATP World Tour Masters 1000.

  • Note: Some players who competed in these tournaments may have represented another country other than those stated by official sources the Association of Tennis Professionals and the International Tennis Federation.
  • Note: two professional tours co-existed during this period; players competed on both.
  • Ivan Lendl was the most successful player with 22 titles (1980–89).

    • History

    The Grand Prix tennis circuit was conceived from idea put forward by former World No. 1 player Jack Kramer, turned promoter in 1968. He proposed "a series of tournaments with a money bonus pool that would be split up on the basis of a cumulative point system." and to "encourage players to compete regularly in the series and qualify for a special championship tournament at the end of the tour season". This system formed the basis of the men's professional game. The WCT founded by Lamar Hunt and David Dixon (1968) was merged into the Grand Prix Tour in 1978. The WCT withdrew from 1982 to 1984, and at this time sued the Men's Tennis Council who organized the men's tennis tour. A settlement resulted in WCT's reincorporation into the Grand Prix in 1985. After the Majors and Season Ending Championships these events were the highest in-terms of status and were the equivalent to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000. Throughout the 20-year period from 1970 to 1989 a number of these tournaments ceased to be Top Tier Tennis Events.

  • Note: Although there were fewer WCT tournaments to the rival Grand Prix Circuit the prize money was generally larger.

    • Complete list for this period.

    Tournaments

    (*): tournaments from the WCT circuit:

  • Philadelphia: 1970–1977
  • Boston: 1971–1972
  • Monte Carlo: 1974–1977
  • Forest Hills: 1982–1985

    • Points allocation

    The points awarded for the Super Series tournaments and its predecessors were as follows:

    Results

  • def =(default)
  • nh = (not held)
  • r = (retired)
  • ts = (tournament stopped)
  • wo = (walkover)
  • doubles results missing are not listed in the ATP & ITF archives for there respective years.
  • not all tournament articles by year are listed, see the main tournament article for reference.
  • Notes: The Australian Open was not a triple crown event from 1970 to 1976 considered a higher grand slam tournament in terms of ranking points allocated by the GP tour.

    • 1970 Grand Prix – Group 1

    The 1970 Grand Prix circuit was the inaugural edition of the Grand Prix circuit and consisted of 20 tournaments which were held from April through December. The tournaments were graded in one of three categories which determined the number of ranking points available: Group A, comprising three Grand Slam tournaments, Grand Prix Masters, Group 1 and Group 2.

    Singles

    Events are shown in chronological order; except Sydney '71 (held before Philadelphia), Las Vegas '72 (after Rome) and Johannesburg '72 (after Monte Carlo).

    Doubles

    Events are shown in chronological order; except Las Vegas '72, which was held after Rome.

    Singles

    Players with 2 or more titles between 1970 and 1989:

    Records

  • Note: The 4 surfaces are Clay, Carpet, Grass and Hard courts

    • Fastest to Win

  • 1 Year 5 Titles Laver (1970)
  • 3 Years 12 titles Connors (1973–76) Lendl (1986–89)
  • 4 Years 15 Titles Lendl (1985–89)
  • 6 Years 17 Titles Lendl (1983–89)
  • 9 Years 22 Titles Lendl (1980–89)

    • Surfaces

    Winners of GP Series Tournaments on the 4 surfaces

  • Laver (Johannesburg 70, Sydney 70, Philadelphia 70, Rome 71)
  • Connors (Boston 73, Johannesburg 74, Indianapolis 74, London 74)

    • Winners of GP Championship Series Tournaments on 4 continents

  • Laver (Johannesburg 70, Sydney 70, Philadelphia 70, Rome 71)

    • North America

    Winners of 8 North American Series (Hard Court) tournaments.

  • Lendl: (Las Vegas 81, Canada 81,87,89, Forest Hills 82,85, Cincinnati 82, Miami 86)

    • Europe

    Winners of all 3 European Series (Clay Court) tournaments.

  • Vilas (Hamburg 78, Rome 80, Monte Carlo 82)
  • Lendl (Rome 88, Monte Carlo 88, Hamburg 89)

    • Most Series Wins/Finals overall

  • Wins overall: Lendl (22) 1980–89
  • Finals overall: Lendl (31) 1980–89
  • Wins single year: Lendl (5) 1989, Connors (5) 1976, Laver (5) 1970
  • Finals single year: Laver (6) 1970

    • References

    Grand Prix Super Series Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics