Richard Luton Properties Canberra International
Encyclopedia
The Richard Luton Properties Canberra International was a women's tennis
tournament held in Canberra
, Australia. The event was affiliated with the Women's Tennis Association
(WTA), and was classed variously as a Tier III (2001), a Tier V (2002–2005), and a Tier IV (2006) on the WTA Tour. It was competed on outdoor hardcourt
s. The event was intended to be one of the build-up tournaments to the first Grand Slam
event of the year: the Australian Open
.
The tournament was held at the National Sports Club in the Northern Canberra suburb of Lyneham
and was played on Rebound Ace
hardcourt
s. A singles and doubles competition was held each year. The singles prize winner received US$16,000 and 95 tournament points. Justine Henin and Ana Ivanović
, both of whom went on to win Grand Slam titles, were amongst the singles champions.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament held in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia. The event was affiliated with the Women's Tennis Association
Women's Tennis Association
The Women's Tennis Association , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of Women's Professional Tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of...
(WTA), and was classed variously as a Tier III (2001), a Tier V (2002–2005), and a Tier IV (2006) on the WTA Tour. It was competed on outdoor hardcourt
Hardcourt
Hardcourt or hard court describes a form of surface or floor on which a sport is played. It may refer to an indoor court made from a wood, or more specifically hardwood such as maple, as in basketball or indoor soccer. Alternatively, it may refer to outdoor materials such as asphalt, shale, or clay...
s. The event was intended to be one of the build-up tournaments to the first Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
event of the year: the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
.
The tournament was held at the National Sports Club in the Northern Canberra suburb of Lyneham
Lyneham, Australian Capital Territory
Lyneham is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the North Canberra district. It is named after Sir William Lyne, premier of the Australian state of New South Wales from 1899 to 1901. The suburb name was gazetted in 1928, but development did not commence until 1958. The streets of Lyneham are named...
and was played on Rebound Ace
Rebound Ace
Rebound Ace is a cushioned tennis hardcourt composed of polyurethane rubber, fiberglass, and other materials on top of an asphalt or reinforced concrete base...
hardcourt
Hardcourt
Hardcourt or hard court describes a form of surface or floor on which a sport is played. It may refer to an indoor court made from a wood, or more specifically hardwood such as maple, as in basketball or indoor soccer. Alternatively, it may refer to outdoor materials such as asphalt, shale, or clay...
s. A singles and doubles competition was held each year. The singles prize winner received US$16,000 and 95 tournament points. Justine Henin and Ana Ivanović
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanović is a former world no. 1 Serbian tennis player. As of November 7, 2011, she is ranked 22th on the WTA rankings. She beat Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open and was the runner-up in singles at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open...
, both of whom went on to win Grand Slam titles, were amongst the singles champions.
Singles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra International | |||
| 2001 |  Justine Henin |
 Sandrine TestudSandrine Testud Sandrine Testud is a former professional female tennis player from France.-Career:Testud broke into top 20 singles rankings in July 1997. On February 7, 1999, she became the fourth Frenchwoman after Françoise Durr, Mary Pierce and Nathalie Tauziat to break into singles top 10 rankings... |
6–2, 6–2 |
| Canberra Women's Classic | |||
| 2002 |  Anna SmashnovaAnna Smashnova Anna Smashnova is a former professional tennis player from Israel. She retired from professional tennis after Wimbledon 2007.Smashnova, who has been noted as having a great last name for a tennis player, reached her career-high singles ranking of World # 15 in 2003. She was in 13 finals, and won... |
 Tamarine TanasugarnTamarine Tanasugarn Tamarine Tanasugarn is a professional Thai tennis player. She was born in Los Angeles, United States, and turned professional in 1994. She has been in the top 20 in both singles and doubles.... |
7–5, 7–6(2) |
| 2003 |  Meghann ShaughnessyMeghann Shaughnessy Meghann Shaughnessy is an American professional tennis player. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of #11 in 2001, and has won six WTA Tour singles titles... |
 Francesca SchiavoneFrancesca Schiavone Francesca Schiavone is an Italian tennis player who turned professional in 1998. She won the 2010 French Open singles title, becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam event in singles. She was also runner-up at the 2011 French Open. As of 24 October 2011, Schiavone's ranking is World... |
6–1, 6–1 |
| 2004 |  Paola SuárezPaola Suárez Paola Suárez was a top 10 tennis player in the early 2000s. She gained prominence in 2004 by reaching the finals of nine straight WTA doubles tournaments, and by reaching the singles semifinals of the French Open tournament, held in Paris."La Negra" Suárez began playing professional tennis at the... |
Silvia Farina Elia Silvia Farina Elia Silvia Farina Elia is a former female tennis player from Italy. She reached a career high of World No. 11 on 20 May 2002. She won her first ITF title at Caltagirone in 1991 and her first WTA tournament at Strasbourg in 2001... |
3–6, 6–4, 7–6(5) |
| Richard Luton Properties Canberra Women's Classic | |||
| 2005 2005 Richard Luton Properties Canberra International Open - Women's Singles Paola Suárez was the defending champion but did not join the tournament on that year. Ana Ivanović, a qualifier here won in the final 7–5, 6–1, against Lucky Loser Melinda Czink.... |
 Ana IvanovićAna Ivanovic Ana Ivanović is a former world no. 1 Serbian tennis player. As of November 7, 2011, she is ranked 22th on the WTA rankings. She beat Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open and was the runner-up in singles at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open... |
 Melinda CzinkMelinda Czink Melinda Czink is a Hungarian professional female tennis player. On September 21, 2009 Czink reached her career-high singles ranking of World No. 37.... |
7–5, 6–1 |
| Richard Luton Properties Canberra International | |||
| 2006 |  Anabel Medina GarriguesAnabel Medina Garrigues Ana Isabel Medina Garrigues , better known as Anabel Medina, is a Spanish female tennis player. She reached a career high WTA Tour ranking of No. 16 on 4 May 2009, and has won 11 singles titles and 14 doubles titles, including the 2008 French Open and 2009 French Open with Virginia Ruano Pascual... |
 Yoon Jeong Cho |
6–4, 0–6, 6–4 |