The LA Women's Tennis Championships was a Premier-level women's tennis tournament on the WTA Tour held in Carson, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The tournament was played on outdoor hard courts and a part of the US Open Series.

The tournament was founded in 1971 as the Billie Jean King Invitational as part of the inaugural Virginia Slims Circuit in Long Beach, California in 1971 by Jerry Diamond, one of the tour's organizers. In 1973, it moved to Los Angeles. The event was off the tour calendar for three years (1974–1976) when the season-ending championships were played in Los Angeles. The tournament was an indoor event until 1983, when it switched to outdoor hard courts in Manhattan Beach where it stayed for 20 years. IMG bought the event from Diamond in 1996. The event was moved to its final location in Carson in 2003. It was acquired by its new landlord, AEG, in 2004.

In 2009 AEG and USTA sold the tournament to Octagon, who moved the event to Carlsbad, California. It was renamed the Mercury Insurance Open.

Past finals

Martina Navratilova a "Tennis Champion"
  • Martina Navratilova was the most successful player winning 8 singles titles.

Singles

YearLocationChampionRunner-upScoreName
1971Long BeachUnited States Billie Jean KingUnited States Rosemary Casals6–1, 6–2Billie Jean King Invitational
1972United States Rosemary CasalsFrance Françoise Dürr6–2, 6–7(4–5), 6–3Independent Press-Telegram's Women's Tennis Championships
1973Los AngelesAustralia Margaret CourtUnited States Nancy Gunter7–5, 6–7(1–5), 7–5British Motor Cars Tournament
1974–76Not held
1977United States Chris EvertUnited States Martina Navratilova6–2, 2–6, 6–1Virginia Slims of Los Angeles
1978United States Martina NavratilovaUnited States Rosemary Casals6–3, 6–2
1979United States Chris Evert (2)United States Martina Navratilova6–3, 6–4Avon Championships of Los Angeles
1980United States Martina Navratilova (2)United States Tracy Austin6–2, 6–0
1981United States Martina Navratilova (3)United States Andrea Jaeger6–4, 6–0
1982Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mima JaušovecWest Germany Sylvia Hanika6–2, 7–6(7–4)
1983Manhattan BeachUnited States Martina Navratilova (4)United States Chris Evert6–1, 6–3Virginia Slims of Los Angeles (II)
1984United States Chris Evert (3)Australia Wendy Turnbull6–2, 6–3
1985West Germany Claudia Kohde-KilschUnited States Pam Shriver6–2, 6–4
1986United States Martina Navratilova (5)United States Chris Evert7–6(7–5), 6–3
1987West Germany Steffi GrafUnited States Chris Evert6–3, 6–4
1988United States Chris Evert (4)Argentina Gabriela Sabatini2–6, 6–1, 6–1
1989United States Martina Navratilova (6)Argentina Gabriela Sabatini6–0, 6–2
1990Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica SelešUnited States Martina Navratilova6–4, 3–6, 7–6(8–6)
1991Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seleš (2)Japan Kimiko Date6–3, 6–1
1992United States Martina Navratilova (7)Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seleš6–4, 6–2
1993United States Martina Navratilova (8)Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario7–5, 7–6(7–4)
1994United States Amy FrazierUnited States Ann Grossman6–1, 6–3
1995Spain Conchita MartínezUnited States Chanda Rubin4–6, 6–1, 6–3Acura Classic
1996United States Lindsay DavenportGermany Anke Huber6–2, 6–3
1997United States Monica Seles (3)United States Lindsay Davenport5–7, 7–5, 6–4
1998United States Lindsay Davenport (2)Switzerland Martina Hingis4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1999United States Serena WilliamsFrance Julie Halard-Decugis6–1, 6–4
2000United States Serena Williams (2)United States Lindsay Davenport4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–1)estyle.com Classic
2001United States Lindsay Davenport (3)United States Monica Seleš6–3, 7–5
2002United States Chanda RubinUnited States Lindsay Davenport5–7, 7–6(7–5), 6–3JPMorgan Chase Open
2003CarsonBelgium Kim ClijstersUnited States Lindsay Davenport6–1, 3–6, 6–1
2004United States Lindsay Davenport (4)United States Serena Williams6–1, 6–3
2005Belgium Kim Clijsters (2)Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová6–4, 6–1
2006Russia Elena DementievaSerbia Jelena Janković6–3, 4–6, 6–4
2007Serbia Ana IvanovicRussia Nadia Petrova7–5, 6–4East West Bank Classic
2008Russia Dinara SafinaItaly Flavia Pennetta6–4, 6–2
2009Italy Flavia PennettaAustralia Samantha Stosur6–4, 6–3LA Women's Tennis Championships
2010Succeeded by San Diego Open

Doubles

YearLocationChampionRunner-upScoreName
1971Long BeachUnited States Rosemary Casals United States Billie Jean KingFrance Françoise Dürr United Kingdom Ann Haydon-Jones7–5, 6–3Billie Jean King Invitational
1972United States Rosemary Casals (2) United Kingdom Virginia WadeAustralia Helen Gourlay Australia Karen Krantzcke6–4, 5–7, 7–5Independent Press-Telegram's Women's Tennis Championships
1973Los AngelesUnited States Rosemary Casals (3) United States Julie HeldmanAustralia Margaret Court Australia Lesley HuntwalkoverBritish Motor Cars Tournament
1974–76Not held
1977United States Rosemary Casals (4) United States Chris EvertUnited States Martina Navratilova Netherlands Betty Stöve6–2, 6–4Virginia Slims of Los Angeles
1978Netherlands Betty Stöve United Kingdom Virginia Wade (2)South Africa Greer Stevens United States Pam Teeguarden6–3, 6–2
1979United States Rosemary Casals (5) United States Chris Evert (2)United States Martina Navratilova United States Anne Smith6–4, 1–6, 6–3Avon Championships of Los Angeles
1980United States Rosemary Casals (6) United States Martina NavratilovaUnited States Kathy Jordan United States Anne Smith7–6, 6–2
1981United Kingdom Sue Barker United States Ann KiyomuraUnited States Marita Redondo United States Peanut Louie6–1, 4–6, 6–1
1982United States Kathy Jordan United States Anne SmithUnited States Barbara Potter United States Sharon Walsh6–3, 7–5
1983Manhattan BeachUnited States Martina Navratilova (2) United States Pam ShriverUnited States Betsy Nagelsen Romania Virginia Ruzici6–1, 6–0Virginia Slims of Los Angeles (II)
1984United States Chris Evert Lloyd (3) Australia Wendy TurnbullWest Germany Bettina Bunge West Germany Eva Pfaff6–2, 6–4
1985West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Czechoslovakia Helena SukováCzechoslovakia Hana Mandlíková Australia Wendy Turnbull6–4, 6–2
1986United States Martina Navratilova (3) United States Pam Shriver (2)West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Czechoslovakia Helena Suková6–4, 6–3
1987United States Martina Navratilova (4) United States Pam Shriver (3)United States Zina Garrison United States Lori McNeil6–3, 6–4
1988United States Patty Fendick Canada Jill HetheringtonUnited States Gigi Fernández United States Robin White7–6(7–2), 5–7, 6–4
1989United States Martina Navratilova (5) Australia Wendy Turnbull (2)West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch United States Mary Joe Fernández5-2 retired
1990United States Gigi Fernández Czechoslovakia Jana NovotnáArgentina Mercedes Paz Argentina Gabriela Sabatini6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1991Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko Soviet Union Natalia ZverevaUnited States Gretchen Rush Magers United States Robin White6–1, 2–6, 6–2
1992Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Czechoslovakia Helena Suková (2)United States Zina Garrison United States Pam Shriver6–4, 6–2
1993Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (2) Czech Republic Helena Suková (3)United States Gigi Fernández Belarus Natalia Zvereva7–6(7–3), 6–3
1994France Julie Halard France Nathalie TauziatCzech Republic Jana Novotná United States Lisa Raymond6–1, 0–6, 6–1
1995United States Gigi Fernández (2) Belarus Natasha Zvereva (2)Argentina Gabriela Sabatini Latvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland7–5, 6–7(2–7), 7–5Acura Classic
1996United States Lindsay Davenport Belarus Natasha Zvereva (3)United States Amy Frazier United States Kimberly Po6–1, 6–4
1997Indonesia Yayuk Basuki Netherlands Caroline VisLatvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland Czech Republic Helena Suková7–6(9–7), 6–3
1998Switzerland Martina Hingis Belarus Natasha Zvereva (4)Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn Ukraine Elena Tatarkova6–4, 6–2
1999Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (3) Latvia Larisa Savchenko NeilandUnited States Lisa Raymond Australia Rennae Stubbs6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–0
2000Belgium Els Callens Belgium Dominique Monami Van RoostUnited States Kimberly Po France Anne-Gaëlle Sidot6–2, 7–5estyle.com Classic
2001United States Kimberly Po-Messerli France Nathalie Tauziat (2)United States Nicole Arendt Netherlands Caroline Vis6–3, 7–5
2002Belgium Kim Clijsters Serbia and Montenegro Jelena DokićSlovakia Daniela Hantuchová Japan Ai Sugiyama6–2, 6–3JPMorgan Chase Open
2003CarsonFrance Mary Pierce Australia Rennae StubbsRussia Elena Bovina Belgium Els Callens6–3, 6–3
2004Russia Nadia Petrova United States Meghann ShaughnessySpain Conchita Martínez Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–3
2005Russia Elena Dementieva Italy Flavia PennettaUnited States Angela Haynes United States Bethanie Mattek6–2, 6–4
2006Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual Argentina Paola SuárezSlovakia Daniela Hantuchová Japan Ai Sugiyama6–3, 6–4
2007Czech Republic Květa Hrdličková Peschke Australia Rennae Stubbs (2)Australia Alicia Molik Italy Mara Santangelo6–0, 6–1East West Bank Classic
2008Chinese Taipei Yung-jan Chan Chinese Taipei Chia-Jung ChuangCzech Republic Eva Hrdinová Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová2–6, 7–5, (10-4)
2009Chinese Taipei Chia-Jung Chuang (2) China Yan ZiRussia Maria Kirilenko Poland Agnieszka Radwańska6–0, 4–6, 10–7LA Women's Tennis Championships
2010Succeeded by San Diego Open

See also