The Virginia Slims of Houston is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament played from 1970 to 1995. It was held in Houston, Texas in the United States and played on indoor carpet courts from 1970 to 1984 and on outdoor clay courts from 1985 to 1995.
| Virginia Slims of Houston |
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| Event name | Virginia Slims of Houston (1970–78, 1983–94)
Avon Championships of Houston (1979–82)
Gallery Furniture Championships (1995) |
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| Tour | WTA Tour (1970–95) |
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| Founded | 1970 |
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| Abolished | 1995 |
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| Surface | Carpet (1970–84)
Clay (1985–95) |
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The event has the distinction of being the first-ever tournament on the professional women's circuit, which would eventually become the WTA Tour. In 1971, the event served as the series Championships of the inaugural Virginia Slims Tour.
Martina Navratilova was the most successful player at the tournament, winning the singles and doubles competitions six times each, partnering Dutchwomen Betty Stöve and Manon Bollegraf and Americans Janet Newberry, Pam Shriver, Elise Burgin and Kathy Jordan once each for her doubles successes.
| Year
|
Champions
|
Runners-up
|
Score
|
| 1970 |
 Rosemary Casals |
 Judy Dalton |
5–7, 6–1, 7–5
|
| 1971 |
Billie Jean King |
Kerry Melville |
6–4, 4–6, 6–1
|
| 1972 |
Not Held
|
| 1973 |
 Françoise Dürr |
Rosemary Casals |
6–4, 1–6, 6–4
|
| 1974 |
Chris Evert |
 Virginia Wade |
6–3, 5–7, 6–1
|
| 1975 |
Chris Evert |
Margaret Court |
6–3, 6–2
|
| 1976 |
Martina Navratilova |
Chris Evert |
6–3, 6–4
|
| 1977 |
Martina Navratilova |
Sue Barker |
7–6(5–3), 7–5
|
| 1978 |
Martina Navratilova |
Billie Jean King |
1–6, 6–2, 6–2
|
| 1979 |
Martina Navratilova |
Virginia Wade |
6–3, 6–2
|
| 1980 |
Billie Jean King |
Martina Navratilova |
6–1, 6–3
|
| 1981 |
 Hana Mandlíková |
 Bettina Bunge |
6–4, 6–4
|
| 1982 |
Bettina Bunge |
Pam Shriver |
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
|
| 1983 |
Martina Navratilova |
Sylvia Hanika |
6–3, 7–6
|
| 1984 |
Hana Mandlíková |
 Manuela Maleeva |
6–4, 6–2
|
| 1985 |
Martina Navratilova |
Elise Burgin |
6–4, 6–1
|
| 1986 |
Chris Evert-Lloyd |
Kathy Rinaldi |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4
|
| 1987 |
Chris Evert |
Martina Navratilova |
3–6, 6–1, 7–6
|
| 1988 |
Chris Evert |
Martina Navratilova |
6–0, 6–4
|
| 1989 |
 Monica Seles |
Chris Evert |
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
|
| 1990 |
Katerina Maleeva |
 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
6–1, 1–6, 6–4
|
| 1991 |
Monica Seles |
Mary Joe Fernández |
6–4, 6–3
|
| 1992 |
Monica Seles |
Zina Garrison |
6–1, 6–1
|
| 1993 |
Conchita Martínez |
Sabine Hack |
6–3, 6–2
|
| 1994 |
Sabine Hack |
Mary Pierce |
7–5, 6–4
|
| 1995 |
Steffi Graf |
 Åsa Carlsson |
6–1, 6–1
|
| Year
|
Champions
|
Runners-up
|
Score
|
| 1970 |
Not Held
|
| 1971 |
Rosemary Casals
Billie Jean King |
Judy Dalton
Françoise Dürr |
6–3, 1–6, 6–4
|
| 1972 |
Not Held
|
| 1973 |
Mona Schallau
Pam Teeguarden |
Françoise Dürr
 Betty Stöve |
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
|
| 1974 |
Janet Newberry
Wendy Overton |
Sue Stap
Virginia Wade |
4–6, 7–5, 6–2
|
| 1975 |
Françoise Dürr
Betty Stöve |
Evonne Goolagong
Virginia Wade |
2–6, 6–3, 7–6
|
| 1976 |
Françoise Dürr
Rosemary Casals |
Chris Evert
Martina Navratilova |
6–0, 7–5
|
| 1977 |
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve |
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura |
4–6, 6–2, 6–1
|
| 1978 |
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova |
 Greer Stevens
Mona Guerrant |
7–6(5–4), 4–6, 7–6(5–4)
|
| 1979 |
Martina Navratilova
Janet Newberry |
Pam Shriver
Betty Stöve |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2
|
| 1980 |
Billie Jean King
Ilana Kloss |
Betty Stöve
Wendy Turnbull |
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
|
| 1981 |
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura |
Regina Maršíková
Mary Lou Piatek |
5–7, 6–4, 6–3
|
| 1982 |
Kathy Jordan
Pam Shriver |
Sue Barker
Sharon Walsh |
7–6, 6–2
|
| 1983 |
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver |
Jo Durie
Barbara Potter |
6–4, 6–3
|
| 1984 |
Mima Jaušovec
Anne White |
Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh |
6–4, 3–6, 7–6
|
| 1985 |
Elise Burgin
Martina Navratilova |
Manuela Maleeva
Helena Suková |
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
|
| 1986 |
Chris Evert-Lloyd
Wendy Turnbull |
Elise Burgin
JoAnne Russell |
6–2, 6–4
|
| 1987 |
Kathy Jordan
Martina Navratilova |
Zina Garrison
Lori McNeil |
6–2, 6–4
|
| 1988 |
Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison |
Lori McNeil
Martina Navratilova |
6–7, 6–2, 6–4
|
| 1989 |
Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison |
Gigi Fernández
Lori McNeil |
6–3, 6–4
|
| 1990 |
Not Completed
|
| 1991 |
 Jill Hetherington
Kathy Rinaldi |
Patty Fendick
Mary Joe Fernández |
6–1, 2–6, 6–1
|
| 1992 |
Patty Fendick
Gigi Fernández |
Jill Hetherington
Kathy Rinaldi |
7–5, 6–4
|
| 1993 |
Katrina Adams
Manon Bollegraf |
 Eugenia Maniokova
 Radka Zrubáková |
6–3, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
|
| 1994 |
Manon Bollegraf
Martina Navratilova |
Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison |
6–4, 6–2
|
| 1995 |
Nicole Arendt
Manon Bollegraf |
Wiltrud Probst
Rene Simpson |
6–4, 6–2
|