WITC (1974-1978)

[Fiero425]

Anyone with any memory of an exhibition tournament back in the mid to late 70's; the "WITC?" For some strange reason I was thinking of The World Invitational Tennis Classic where the top 4 players from both the men's and ladies' tour came to Hilton Head Island to mix it up for cash, fun, and bragging rights! The event took place in the fall, no more than a week, but the telecast was weekly showing only one match starting the following spring; all the singles, dubs, and mixed doubles! So that was about 11 or 12 weeks of tennis; semi and final of the men, ladies, and MxD, with MD and WD! Anyone could win the event by winning matches and collecting a point; won once by Billie Jean King only taking the MxD's with Stan Smith!

Everyone at the top of their game played including King, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Chris Evert for the ladies and Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, Ilie Nastase, Roscoe Tanner, and Arthur Ashe for the men! I wish they could re-boot this; a more elaborate event than the Hopman Cup which only has 2 players from each invited country! Could anyone see Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray getting together with Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, and Aggie Radwanska for such a thing? They were only offering $50,000 to the winner along with a year long lease of a Ford back then! Aces got a cash prize I remember Tanner (truck lease) winning with 50 over the week! Maybe if a $MILL$ was involved? :angel: :dodgy:

- [video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ7M7LPwo1I[/video] - '78 (Borg/Newcombe = Men's Final)

 

[shawnbm]

I recall this, but the Pepsi Slam of Tennis in Boca Raton was my favorite one of these. The year's major winners were invited to play each other for big money and some of the matches were really good. It was on clay, so you can imagine who won most of them.

 

[Fiero425]

I recall this, but the Pepsi Slam of Tennis in Boca Raton was my favorite one of these. The year's major winners were invited to play each other for big money and some of the matches were really good. It was on clay, so you can imagine who won most of them.

I remember it well! These kind of exhibition championships were so big back in the 70's! IIRC The French Open back then had the highest payout on tour; around $42,500! If you could get the top 4 players somewhere like Boca or Vegas, it was GOLD! The Pepsi Slam was the first event that signaled Borg's dominance over Connors! After Bjorn defeated Connors in consecutive years there, he only lost maybe one match at the '78 USO and he had a thumb injury that wouldn't allow him to hold onto his own racket; slamming it to the ground a few times after a serve! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[shawnbm]

Yes, Borg really turned the corner against Connors in the Pepsi Slam of 1979. Until then, Connors held a slight edge dating back to 1974. After that victory, he won the next nine or ten matches against his great rival. If I recall, though, Connors won the last two times they played and must be kicking himself for losing the 1981 semi at SW19 after being up two sets to love.

 

[tented]

I recall this, but the Pepsi Slam of Tennis in Boca Raton was my favorite one of these. The year's major winners were invited to play each other for big money and some of the matches were really good. It was on clay, so you can imagine who won most of them.

Those were the days, huh? Can you imagine Pepsi sponsoring a tennis tournament these days? Yet I remember players drinking Coke on centre court at Wimbledon.