# San Diego Open (tennis)

The San Diego Open is an annual professional tennis tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour, held in San Diego, California. The tournament was founded in 1971. It is held at the Barnes Tennis Center. In 2025 it returned as an ATP Challenger 100 event when it replaced the WTA 500 event.

## ATP tournament history

The San Diego Open was an ATP 250 tournament held at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, California. In August 2021, after the cancellation of the Asia Swing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Barnes Tennis Center was allocated a two-year 250 tournament license. Prior to that, it was exclusively a WTA event which was last held as a WTA Challenger in 2015 in Carlsbad, California.
Daniel Vallverdu took on the position of managing director, Ryan Redondo was named the tournament director and Billie Jean King accepted the role of honorary tournament chairman.
With the ATP Tour returning to China in 2023, the tournament's men's event ceased. In its place an ATP Challenger Tour 100 event was introduced in 2025.

## WTA tournament history

This event was founded in 1971 as the Southern California Open, it's official name. That year there had been two previous women's tennis tournaments in San Diego: a Virginia Slims of San Diego (sponsored name) aka the Southern California Open event, and the Wells Fargo Open, which ran from 1979 to 1982. Giscafre's former doubles partner, Jane Stratton, attained co-ownership of the tournament from 1986 until the event's cessation. The tournament has had various principal sponsors throughout its history, and has been played under the headings of the Great American Bank Classic, the Mazda Classic and the Toshiba Classic. The tournament was known for its strong player fields, location in the hills and atmosphere.
Although the tournament achieved Tier-I status only in 2004, it became a draw to the heavyweights in women's tennis since its inception in the 1980s, being a crucial warm-up tournament leading to the US Open. Past champions of the tournament include former world No.-1s Steffi Graf, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Martina Hingis, Justine Henin, and Maria Sharapova. Six players won the tournament more than once, four of them consecutively. Graf holds the record for most wins (4); Venus Williams holds the record for most consecutive titles (3).
The tournament's purse doubled to $200,000 in 1989, when the sponsor changed to San Diego–based Great American Bank from Virginia Slims, a cigarette brand owned by Philip Morris. The tournament moved from the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club to the La Costa Resort and Spa in 1991, when the sponsor was changed to Mazda from Great American, which was in financial decline. On September 7, 2009, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced the return of professional women's tennis to San Diego in 2010, under the sponsorship of Mercury Insurance. The Mercury Insurance Open was renamed the Southern California Open starting in 2013.
In 2014, the event was relocated to Tokyo, Japan.
The tournament became the Carlsbad Classic in 2015, hosted by the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, California, from November 23–29. As a WTA Challenger event, the Carlsbad Classic featured a 32-player singles main draw, an 8-player qualifying draw, and an 8-team doubles draw with $125,000 in prize money. It was the first WTA tournament held during Thanksgiving week.
The tournament returned to the WTA Tour as a WTA 500 event in 2022 for three editions at the Barnes Tennis Center. It was cancelled in 2025 and replaced by the Mérida Open on the WTA Tour. Starting in 2025, at the same location in San Diego, an ATP Challenger Tour event is held known as the Better Buzz San Diego Open.
    Official name
* Southern California Open (San Diego) (1971-2013).
    Sponsored names
* Virginia Slims of San Diego: 1971, 1985–1988
* Wells Fargo Open: 1979–1982
* Ginny of San Diego: 1984
* Great American Bank Classic: 1989–1990
* Mazda Classic: 1991–1993
* Toshiba Classic; 1994–1998
* TIG Classic: 1999
* Acura Classic: 2000–2007
* Mercury Insurance Open: 2010–2012
* Southern California Open: 2013
* Carlsbad Classic: 2015
* Cymbiotika: 2023–2024

## Past finals
### Men's singles

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 2021 | Casper Ruud | Cameron Norrie | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 2022 | Brandon Nakashima | Marcos Giron | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 2023–24 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ ATP Challenger Tour ↓ ||||
| 2025 | Eliot Spizzirri | Mackenzie McDonald | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |

### Women's singles
#### Prior tournaments in San Diego area

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 1971 | Billie Jean King | Rosemary Casals | 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 1979 | Tracy Austin | Martina Navratilova | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1980 | Tracy Austin (2) | Wendy Turnbull | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1981 | Tracy Austin (3) | Pam Shriver | 6–2, 5–7, 6–2 |
| 1982 | Tracy Austin (4) | Kathy Rinaldi | 7–6, 6–3 |

#### Subsequent and current organized event

| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 1984 | Debbie Spence | Betsy Nagelsen | 6–3, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 6–4 |
| 1985 | Annabel Croft | Wendy Turnbull | 6–0, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| 1986 | Melissa Gurney | Stephanie Rehe | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1987 | Raffaella Reggi | Anne Minter | 6–0, 6–4 |
| 1988 | Stephanie Rehe | Ann Grossman | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1989 | Steffi Graf | Zina Garrison | 6–4, 7–5 |
| ↓ Tier III tournament ↓ ||||
| 1990 | Steffi Graf (2) | Manuela Maleeva-Fragnière | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1991 | Jennifer Capriati | Monica Seles | 4–6, 6–1, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$ |
| 1992 | Jennifer Capriati (2) | Conchita Martínez | 6–3, 6–2 |
| ↓ Tier II tournament ↓ ||||
| 1993 | Steffi Graf (3) | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 |
| 1994 | Steffi Graf (4) | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1995 | Conchita Martínez | Lisa Raymond | 6–2, 6–0 |
| 1996 | Kimiko Date | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 3–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis | Monica Seles | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–4 |
| 1998 | Lindsay Davenport | Mary Pierce | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1999 | Martina Hingis (2) | Venus Williams | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 2000 | Venus Williams | Monica Seles | 6–0, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 6–2 |
| 2001 | Venus Williams (2) | Monica Seles | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 2002 | Venus Williams (3) | Jelena Dokić | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 2003 | Justine Henin | Kim Clijsters | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| ↓ Tier I tournament ↓ ||||
| 2004 | Lindsay Davenport (2) | Anastasia Myskina | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 2005 | Mary Pierce | Ai Sugiyama | 6–0, 6–3 |
| 2006 | Maria Sharapova | Kim Clijsters | 7–5, 7–5 |
| 2007 | Maria Sharapova (2) | Patty Schnyder | 6–2, 3–6, 6–0 |
| 2008–2009 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ Premier tournament ↓ ||||
| 2010 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | Agnieszka Radwańska | 6–4, 6–7$^{(7–9)}$, 6–3 |
| 2011 | Agnieszka Radwańska | Vera Zvonareva | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2012 | Dominika Cibulková | Marion Bartoli | 6–1, 7–5 |
| 2013 | Samantha Stosur | Victoria Azarenka | 6–2, 6–3 |
| 2014 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ WTA 125 tournament ↓ ||||
| 2015 | Yanina Wickmayer | Nicole Gibbs | 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| 2016–21 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ WTA 500 tournament ↓ ||||
| 2022 | Iga Świątek | Donna Vekić | 6–3, 3–6, 6–0 |
| 2023 | Barbora Krejčíková | Sofia Kenin | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 2024 | Katie Boulter | Marta Kostyuk | 5–7, 6–2, 6–2 |

### Men's doubles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 2021 | Joe Salisbury Neal Skupski | John Peers Filip Polášek | 7–6$^{(7–2)}$, 3–6, [10–5] |
| 2022 | Nathaniel Lammons Jackson Withrow | Jason Kubler Luke Saville | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–2 |
| 2023–24 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ ATP Challenger Tour ↓ ||||
| 2025 | Eliot Spizzirri Tyler Zink | Juan José Bianchi Noah Zamora | 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, [10–8] |

### Women's doubles
#### Prior

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1971 | Rosemary Casals Billie Jean King | Françoise Dürr Judy Tegart Dalton | 6–7, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1979 | Rosemary Casals (2) Martina Navratilova | Betty Ann Grubb Stuart Ann Kiyomura | 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1980 | Tracy Austin Ann Kiyomura | Rosemary Casals Wendy Turnbull | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1981 | Kathy Jordan Candy Reynolds | Rosemary Casals Pam Shriver | 6–1, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1982 | Kathy Jordan (2) Paula Smith | Patricia Medrado Cláudia Monteiro | 6–3, 5–7, 7–6 |

#### Subsequent & current

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1984 | Betsy Nagelsen Paula Smith (2) | Terry Holladay Iwona Kuczyńska | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1985 | Candy Reynolds (2) Wendy Turnbull | Rosalyn Fairbank Susan Leo | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1986 | Beth Herr Alycia Moulton | Elise Burgin Rosalyn Fairbank | 5–7, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1987 | Jana Novotná Catherine Suire | Elise Burgin Sharon Walsh | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1988 | Patty Fendick Jill Hetherington | Betsy Nagelsen Dinky Van Rensburg | 7–6$^{(12–10)}$, 6–4 |
| 1989 | Elise Burgin Rosalyn Fairbank | Gretchen Magers Robin White | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| ↓ Tier III tournament ↓ ||||
| 1990 | Patty Fendick (2) Zina Garrison | Elise Burgin Rosalyn Fairbank-Nideffer | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| 1991 | Jill Hetherington (2) Kathy Rinaldi | Gigi Fernández Nathalie Tauziat | 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
| 1992 | Jana Novotná (2) Larisa Neiland | Conchita Martínez Mercedes Paz | 6–1, 6–4 |
| ↓ Tier II tournament ↓ ||||
| 1993 | Gigi Fernández Helena Suková | Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1994 | Jana Novotná (2) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | Ginger Helgeson Rachel McQuillan | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1995 | Gigi Fernández (2) Natasha Zvereva | Alexia Dechaume-Balleret Sandrine Testud | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1996 | Gigi Fernández (3) Conchita Martínez | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Larisa Neiland | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1997 | Martina Hingis Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (2) | Amy Frazier Kimberly Po | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1998 | Lindsay Davenport Natasha Zvereva (2) | Alexandra Fusai Nathalie Tauziat | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1999 | Lindsay Davenport (2) Corina Morariu | Serena Williams Venus Williams | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 2000 | Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs | Lindsay Davenport Anna Kournikova | 4–6, 6–3, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ |
| 2001 | Cara Black Elena Likhovtseva | Martina Hingis Anna Kournikova | 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 |
| 2002 | Elena Dementieva Janette Husárová | Daniela Hantuchová Ai Sugiyama | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2003 | Kim Clijsters Ai Sugiyama | Lindsay Davenport Lisa Raymond | 6–4, 7–5 |
| ↓ Tier I tournament ↓ ||||
| 2004 | Cara Black (2) Rennae Stubbs (2) | Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez | 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 2005 | Conchita Martínez (2) Virginia Ruano Pascual | Daniela Hantuchová Ai Sugiyama | 6–7$^{(7–9)}$, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 2006 | Cara Black (3) Rennae Stubbs (3) | Anna-Lena Grönefeld Meghann Shaughnessy | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 2007 | Cara Black (4) Liezel Huber | Anna Chakvetadze Victoria Azarenka | 7–5, 6–3 |
| 2008–2009 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ Premier tournament ↓ ||||
| 2010 | Maria Kirilenko Zheng Jie | Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 2011 | Kvĕta Peschke Katarina Srebotnik | Raquel Kops-Jones Abigail Spears | 6–0, 6–2 |
| 2012 | Raquel Kops-Jones Abigail Spears | Vania King Nadia Petrova | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 2013 | Raquel Kops-Jones (2) Abigail Spears (2) | Chan Hao-ching Janette Husárová | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 2014 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ WTA 125 tournament ↓ ||||
| 2015 | Gabriela Cé Verónica Cepede Royg | Oksana Kalashnikova Tatjana Maria | 1–6, 6–4, [10–8] |
| 2016–2021 | not held | not held | not held |
| ↓ WTA 500 tournament ↓ ||||
| 2022 | Coco Gauff Jessica Pegula | Gabriela Dabrowski Giuliana Olmos | 1–6, 7–5, [10–4] |
| 2023 | Barbora Krejčíková Kateřina Siniaková | Danielle Collins CoCo Vandeweghe | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 2024 | Nicole Melichar-Martinez Ellen Perez | Desirae Krawczyk Jessica Pegula | 6–1, 6–2 |