# Western Championships

The Western Championships also known as the Western States Championships or Western Sectional Championships was a men's and women's open tennis tournament staged annually at various locations from 1887 until 1978.

## History

On July 4, 1887, the first Championships of the Western States were inaugurated at the Scarlett Ribbon Club in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and the first men's champion was Charles Amherst Chase. In 1895 a women's championship event was added to the schedule which was won by Marion Capwell.
In 1973 the final ladies championship was held that was won by the Australian player Evonne Goolagong. The men's tournament continued to play until 1978 which was won by the American player Eddie Dibbs.
The championships were part of the USLTA Circuit from 1887 until 1923. It became of part of the ILTF Circuit following the United States joining the International Lawn Tennis Federation in 1925 until 1969 In 1970 the tournament became part of the ILTF Grand Prix Circuit. In 1955 and from 1969 until 1973 the women's event was also valid as the Tri-State Championships.

## Locations

The championships have been played in the following cities; Chicago, Cincinnati, Harbor Springs, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Lake Forest, Minnetonka, Neenah, River Forest and Sharonville.

## Finals
### Men's singles

(incomplete roll)
| Year | Location | Champion | Runner Up | Score |
| Western States Championships |||||
| ↓ USNLTA Circuit ↓ |||||
| 1887 | Chicago | Charles A. Chase | B.F. Cummins | 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1888 | Chicago | Charles A. Chase (2) | E.W. McClellan | 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1889 | Chicago | Charles A. Chase (3) | Samuel T. Chase | 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1890 | Chicago | Charles A. Chase (4) | John Ryerson | 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 |
| 1891 | Chicago | Samuel T. Chase | B.F. Cummins | 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 1892 | Chicago | Samuel T. Chase (2) | John Ryerson | 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 1893 | Evanston | Samuel T. Chase (3) | Evarts Wrenn | 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 |
| 1897 | Chicago | Kreigh Collins | Carr Neel | 6-3, 7-5, 7-9, 9-7 |
| 1899 | Chicago | Carr Neel | Kreigh Collins | 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1900 | Chicago | Kreigh Collins (2) | Carr Neel | w.o. |
| 1907 | Lake Forest | Nat Emerson | Harry Waidner | 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 1908 | Chicago | Nat Emerson (2) | Harry Waidner | 8-10, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 |
| Western Championships |||||
| 1919 | Kansas City | Willis E. Davis) | Ralph Burdick | 10-8, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 |
| 1921 | Indianapolis | Vinnie Richards | Walter T. Hayes | 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1922 | Chicago | John F. Hennessey | Walter Wesbrook | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 11-9 |
| ↓ ILTF Circuit ↓ |||||
| 1923 | Chicago | Walter Wesbrook | George Lott | ? |
| 1924 | Indianapolis | Bill Tilden II | John F. Hennessey | 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1925 | Detroit | Harvey Snodgrass | Walter Wesbrook | 3-6, 8-6, 7-5, 8-6 |
| 1926 | Indianapolis | Alfred H. Chapin | Brian Norton | 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 |
| 1927 | Dayton | George Lott | John F. Hennessey | 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 |
| 1928 | Chicago | Emmett Pare | Stanley Gordon Lum | 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1929 | Skokie | Keith Gledhill | Ellsworth Vines | 12-10, 0-6, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 |
| 1930 | Chicago | Harris Coggeshall | Clifford Sutter | 2-2 sets retd. |
| 1931 | Chicago | Harris Coggeshall (2) | Marcel Rainville | ? |
| 1932 | River Forest | Frank Parker | Lester Stoefen | 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1933 | Chicago | George Lott (2) | Frank Parker | 0-6, 7-5, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 1934 | River Forest | Bryan Grant | John McDiarmid | 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1935 | Chicago | Wilbur Coen | John McDiarmid | 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 1936 | Harbor Springs | Ernie Sutter | Julius Heldman | 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1937 | Harbor Springs | Walter Senior | William Murphy | 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 |
| 1939 | Chicago | William Murphy | Jack Tidball | 6-8, 6-1, 6-1, 9-7 |
| 1940 | Indianapolis | Bobby Riggs | Welby Van Horn | 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1941 | Indianapolis | Bobby Riggs (2) | Don McNeill | 7-5, 3-6, 10-8, 6-4 |
| 1942 | Chicago | Seymour Greenberg | Jimmy Evert | 7-5, 6-0, 6-2 |
| 1944 | Neenah | Pancho Segura | Bill Talbert | 3-6, 6-1 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 |
| 1945 | Neenah | Bill Talbert | Elwood Cooke | 6-2, 6-8, 7-5 |
| 1946 | Indianapolis | Bill Talbert (2) | Seymour Greenberg | 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 |
| 1947 | Chicago | Gardner Larned | Seymour Greenberg | 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 |
| 1948 | Indianapolis | Pancho Gonzales | Jack Tuero | 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 1949 | Chicago | James Brink | Herbert (Buddy) Behrens | 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1950 | Indianapolis | Herb Flam | Tony Trabert | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1951 | Chicago | Bernard Bartzen | Seymour Greenberg | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 1952 | Indianapolis | Art Larsen | Dick Savitt | 6-2, 1-6, 8-6, 6-4 |
| 1953 | Milwaukee | Noel Brown | George Worthington | 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 |
| 1954 | Indianapolis | Vic Seixas | Ham Richardson | 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1955 | Cincinnati | Bernard Bartzen (2) | Tony Trabert | 7-9, 11-9, 6-4 |
| 1956 | Indianapolis | Vic Seixas | Edward Moylan | 6-4, 6-,3 4-6, 6-2 |
| 1957 | Milwaukee | Vic Seixas (2) | Bernard Bartzen | 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 1958 | Indianapolis | Alex Olmedo | Bernard Bartzen | 1-6, 8-6, 6-0 |
| 1959 | Milwaukee | Bernard Bartzen (3) | Warren Woodcock | 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 1960 | Indianapolis | Whitney Reed | Reg Bennett | 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1961 | Milwaukee | Donald Dell | Marty Riessen | 2-6, 7-9, 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1962 | Indianapolis | Charlie Pasarell | Marty Riessen | 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1963 | Milwaukee | Billy Lenoir | Marty Riessen | 8-10, 2-6, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1964 | Indianapolis | Dennis Ralston | Marty Riessen | 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1965 | Milwaukee | Cliff Richey | Marty Riessen | 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1966 | Indianapolis | Cliff Richey (2) | Dennis Ralston | 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1967 | Indianapolis | Mike Belkin | Pancho Guzmán | 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1968 | Indianapolis | Jaime Fillol | Cliff Richey | 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ |||||
| 1969 | Cincinnati | Cliff Richey (3) | Allan Stone | 6–1, 6–2. |
| ↓ Grand Prix circuit ↓ |||||
| 1970 | Cincinnati | Ken Rosewall | Cliff Richey | 7–9, 9–7, 8–6 |
| 1971 | Cincinnati | Stan Smith | Juan Gisbert, Sr. | 7–6, 6–3 |
| 1972 | Cincinnati | Jimmy Connors | Guillermo Vilas | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1973 | Cincinnati | Ilie Năstase | Manuel Orantes | 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1974 | Cincinnati | Marty Riessen | Robert Lutz | 7–6$^{(8–6)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| 1975 | Cincinnati | Tom Gorman | Sherwood Stewart | 7–5, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1976 | Cincinnati | Roscoe Tanner | Eddie Dibbs | 7–6, 6–3 |
| 1977 | Cincinnati | Harold Solomon | Mark Cox | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1979 | Cincinnati | Eddie Dibbs | Raúl Ramírez | 5–7, 6–3, 6–2 |

### Women' singles

(incomplete roll)
| Year | Location | Champion | Runner Up | Score |
| Western States Championships |||||
| ↓ USNLTA Circuit ↓ |||||
| 1895 | Chicago | Marion Capwell | Carrie Neely | 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5 |
| 1896 | Chicago | Jennie Craven | Carrie Neely | 8-6, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 1897 | Chicago | Louise Pound | Jennie Craven | 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1898 | Chicago | Juliette Atkinson | Louise Pound | 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1899 | Chicago | Juliette Atkinson (2) | Myrtle McAteer | 5-7, 10-8, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1900 | Chicago | Myrtle McAteer | Maud Banks | 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 |
| 1901 | Chicago | Myrtle McAteer (2) | Winona Closterman | 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1902 | Chicago | Myrtle McAteer (3) | Carrie Neely | 9-7, 4-6, 6-0 |
| 1903 | Chicago | Myrtle McAteer (4) | Winona Closterman | 8-6, 6-1 |
| 1904 | Chicago | May Sutton | Marie Wimer | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1905 | Chicago | Myrtle McAteer (5) | Carrie Neely | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1906 | Chicago | Winona Closterman Neff | Miriam Steever | 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1907 | Lake Forest | Carrie Neely | Louise Riddell Williams | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 1908 | Chicago | Carrie Neely (2) | Miriam Steever | 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1909 | Lake Forest | Carrie Neely (3) | Alice Day Beard | 6-1, 7-5 |
| 1910 | Lake Forest | Gwendolyn Rees | Carrie Neely | 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 1911 | Lake Forest | Hazel Hotchkiss | Carrie Neely | 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1912 | Lake Forest | May Sutton (2) | Mary Browne | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1913 | Lake Forest | Gwendolyn Rees (2) | Carrie Neely | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1914 | Lake Forest | Mary Browne | Louise Riddell Williams | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1915 | Lake Forest | Carrie Neely (4) | Louise Pound | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1916 | Lake Forest | Marguerite Davis | Carrie Neely | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1917 | Chicago | Carrie Neely (5) | Mary K. Voorhees | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1918 | Chicago | Carrie Neely (6) | Ethel Billings Northup | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Western Championships |||||
| 1919 | Kansas City | Corinne Gould | Marguerite Davis | 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 |
| 1920 | Cincinnati | Roberta Esch | Mildred Rask | 8-6, 4-6 6-3 |
| 1921 | Indianapolis | Mrs H.S. Adams | Ruth Wise | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 1922 | Chicago | Marion Leighton | Jessie Grieve | 6-1, 6-1 |
| ↓ ILTF Circuit ↓ |||||
| 1923 | Chicago | Ruth Smith Riese | Marion Leighton | 6-1, 7-5 |
| 1924 | Indianapolis | Marion Leighton (2) | Lillian Litt Alter | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1925 | Detroit | Mrs J. Johnston | Marion Leighton | 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 |
| 1926 | Indianapolis | Charlotte Hosmer Chapin | Marion Leighton | 6-2, 7-5 |
| 1927 | Dayton | Marion Leighton (3) | Clara Zinke | 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 |
| 1928 | Dayton | Marjorie Gladman | Ruth Smith Riese | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 1929 | Glencoe | Ruth Bailey | Clara Zinke | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 1930 | Chicago | Catherine Wolf | Clara Zinke | 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 |
| 1931 | Chicago | Catherine Wolf (2) | Mae Ceurvorst | 1-6, 6-0, 6-2 |
| 1932 | River Forest | Dorothy Weisel Hack | Catherine Wolf | 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 |
| 1933 | Chicago | Catherine Wolf (3) | Helen Fulton | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1934 | River Forest | Gracyn Wheeler | Esther Hare Bartosh | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 1935 | Chicago | Catherine Wolf (4) | Eunice Dean | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1936 | Harbor Springs | Catherine Wolf (5) | Elizabeth Kesting | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1937 | Harbor Springs | Catherine Wolf (6) | Elizabeth Kesting | 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 1939 | Chicago | Virginia Wolfenden | Patricia Canning | 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1940 | Indianapolis | Alice Marble | Virginia Wolfenden | 6-2, 8-6 |
| 1941 | Indianapolis | Pauline Betz | Dorothy Bundy | 9-7, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 1942 | Chicago | Catherine Wolf (7) | Baba Lewis | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 1944 | Neenah | Pauline Betz (2) | Dorothy Bundy | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1945 | Neenah | Doris Hart | Mary Arnold | 6-3, 8-6 |
| 1946 | Indianapolis | Mary Arnold Prentiss | Shirley Fry | 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 1947 | Chicago | Lucille Davidson | Doris Popple | 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 |
| 1948 | Indianapolis | Dorothy Head | Baba Lewis | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1949 | Chicago | Magda Rurac | Beverly Baker | 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1950 | Indianapolis | Beverly Baker | Melita Ramirez | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1951 | Chicago | Toby Greenberg | Jeanne Arth | 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 |
| 1952 | Indianapolis | Anita Kanter | Karol Fageros | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 1953 | Milwaukee | Thelma Coyne Long | Althea Gibson | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 1954 | Indianapolis | Lois Felix | Ethel Norton | 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 1955 | Cincinnati | Mimi Arnold | Barbara Breit | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1956 | Indianapolis | Mary Ann Mitchell | Barbara Green | 6-8, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 1957 | Milwaukee | Karol Fageros | Lois Felix | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 1958 | Indianapolis | Susan Hodgeman | Marilyn Montgomery | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 1959 | Milwaukee | Karol Fageros (2) | Dottie Head Knode | 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1960 | Indianapolis | Susan Hodgeman | Farel Footman | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 1961 | Milwaukee | Mary Habicht | Lynn Haines | 1-6, 6-2, 6-0 |
| 1962 | Indianapolis | Tory Ann Fretz | Julie Heldman | 8-6, 6-3 |
| 1963 | Milwaukee | Nancy Richey | Vicki Palmer | 6-2, 7-5 |
| 1964 | Indianapolis | Julie Heldman | Jean Danilovich | 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 |
| 1965 | Milwaukee | Nancy Richey (2) | Carole Caldwell Graebner | 6-1, 6-0 |
| 1966 | Indianapolis | Nancy Richey (3) | Peachy Kellmeyer | 6-0, 6-1 |
| 1967 | Indianapolis | Nancy Richey (4) | Kerry Melville | 6-4, 6-0 |
| 1968 | Indianapolis | Nancy Richey (5) | Stephanie DeFina | 6-3, 6-2 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ |||||
| 1969 | Cincinnati | Lesley Turner Bowrey | Gail Sherriff Chanfreau | 1-6, 7-5, 10-10, ret. |
| ↓ Grand Prix circuit ↓ |||||
| 1970 | Cincinnati | Rosemary Casals | Nancy Richey | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1971 | Cincinnati | Virginia Wade | Linda Tuero | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1972 | Cincinnati | Margaret Smith Court | Evonne Goolagong | 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 1973 | Cincinnati | Evonne Goolagong | Chris Evert | 6-2, 7-5 |

## Tournament statistics
### Men

* Most Singles Titles: Charles A. Chase (4)
* Most Singles Finals: Marty Riessen (6)

### Women

* Most Singles Titles: Catherine Wolf (7)
* Most Singles Finals: Carrie Neely (14)

## See Also

* Western Indoor Open (indoor event from 1920 to 1978)