1974 Italian Open (tennis)

1974 Italian Open
Date 26 May - 3 June
Edition 31st
Category Grand Prix (AA)
Draw 64S/32D (men)
44S/22D (women)
Prize money $90,000
Surface Clay court / outdoor
Location Rome, Italy
Venue Foro Italico
Champions
Men's Singles
Sweden Björn Borg [1]
Women's Singles
United States Chris Evert
Men's Doubles
United States Brian Gottfried / Mexico Raúl Ramírez [2]
Women's Doubles
United States Chris Evert / Soviet Union Olga Morozova
Italian Open
 < 1973 1975 > 

The 1974 Italian Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament that was played by men on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. The men's tournament was part of the 1974 Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix circuit while the women's tournament was part of the Women's International Grand Prix circuit. The tournament was held from 26 May through 3 June 1974. The singles titles were won by third-seeded Björn Borg and first-seeded Chris Evert.[3][4][5][6]

World no. 2 Jimmy Connors and Evonne Goolagong were banned from playing in the 1974 Italian Open by Philippe Chatrier, president of the French Tennis Federation (FTF), because both had signed contracts to play in the World Team Tennis league in the United States.[7][8] The initial rounds in the men's event were played as best-of-three-set matches while the semifinal and final were played as best-of-five-set. Second-seeded Jan Kodeš was disqualified during his second round match against Tonino Zugarelli when he pushed referee Brunetti during an argument over a disputed line call. Borg's semifinal match against Guillermo Vilas was stopped at 1–1 in the final set due to darkness and was finished the next day. Borg won and had to follow-up by playing the final against titleholder Ilie Năstase only two hours later.[3][5]

Winners

Men's Singles

Sweden Björn Borg defeated Romania Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–4, 6–2

Women's Singles

United States Chris Evert defeated Czechoslovakia Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–3

Men's Doubles

United States Brian Gottfried / Mexico Raúl Ramírez defeated Spain Juan Gisbert / Romania Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–2, 6–3

Women's Doubles

United States Chris Evert / Soviet Union Olga Morozova defeated West Germany Helga Masthoff / West Germany Heide Orth w.o.[lower-alpha 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ Masthoff retired before the final due to an injured knee.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "ATP – 1974 Rome Men's Singles draw". ATP.
  2. ↑ "ATP – 1974 Rome Men's Doubles draw". ATP.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 John Barrett, ed. (1975). World of Tennis '75: a BP and Commercial Union yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 75–78. ISBN 9780362002171.
  4. ↑ "Borg Surprises Nastase for Title". Schenectady Gazette. Jun 4, 1974.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Tireless Borg halts Nastase for crown". St. Petersburg Times. Jun 4, 1974.
  6. ↑ "Chris Evert Victorious In Rome Tourney". Observer-Reporter. Jun 3, 1974.
  7. ↑ "Connors-Goolagong Lawsuit Thrown Out By French Judge". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Jun 1, 1974.
  8. ↑ "Italian Open Bars Connors From Playing". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 23, 1974.

External links