Challenge of Champions

The Challenge of Champions was an exhibition tennis tournament. Featuring a roster of 8 invited players, it was not recognized by the sport's main sanctioning bodies, but was one of the most lucrative and better regarded non-tour events. Beginning in 1980, it was organized by Canadian company Concert Productions International, which the following year launched a sister event called the Molson Challenge in Toronto.[1] The tournament was discontinued after the 1989 edition.

Challenge of Champions
Defunct tennis tournament
TourInvitational/Exhibition
Founded1981
Abolished1989
Editions10
LocationChicago, U.S.
Atlanta, U.S. (1985–1989)
Las Vegas, U.S. (1984)
SurfaceCarpet (indoor) (1984-1987)
Clay (green) (1988-1989)

Past finals

edit
Year Dates Location Surface Prize Money Winner Runner-up Score
1989 April 26–30 Atlanta Clay (green) $1,200,000   Andre Agassi   Michael Chang 6–3, 6–2
1988 April 28–May 1 Atlanta Clay (green) $1,200,000   Ivan Lendl   Stefan Edberg 2–6, 6–1, 6–3
1987 October 6–11 Atlanta Carpet (indoor) $1,200,000   John McEnroe   Paul Annacone 6–4, 7–5
1986 *November 25–30, 1986 Atlanta Carpet (indoor) $1,200,000   Boris Becker   John McEnroe 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
1985 January 6–12, 1986 Atlanta Carpet (indoor) $1,000,000   Ivan Lendl   Jimmy Connors 6–2, 6–3
1984 January 6–11, 1985 Las Vegas $200,000   John McEnroe   Guillermo Vilas 7–5, 6–0
1983 January 3–8, 1984 Chicago Carpet (indoor) $250,000   Jimmy Connors   Andrés Gómez 6–3, 6–2, 6–1
1982 January 4–9, 1983 Chicago Carpet (indoor) $250,000   Ivan Lendl   Jimmy Connors 4–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4
1981 January 6–11, 1982 Chicago Carpet (indoor) $310,000   Jimmy Connors   John McEnroe 6–7, 7–5, 6–7, 7–5, 6–4
1980 January 7–12, 1981 Chicago Carpet (indoor) $310,000   John McEnroe   Jimmy Connors 6–2, 6–4, 6–1
  • Held twice during the 1986 calendar year like the Nabisco Masters

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tennis roundup". The Toronto Star. January 11, 1981. p. C10  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
edit