| Virginia Slims of Houston | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Event name | Virginia Slims of Houston(1970–78, 1983–94) Avon Championships of Houston(1979–82) Gallery Furniture Championships(1995) |
| Tour | WTA Tour(1970–95) |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Abolished | 1995 |
| Surface | Carpet(1970–84) Clay(1985–95) |
TheVirginia Slims of Houston is a defunctWTA Tour affiliatedtennis tournament played from 1970 to 1995. It was held inHouston, Texas in the United States and played onindoor carpet courts from 1970 to 1984 and onoutdoor clay courts from 1985 to 1995.
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 seriesChampionships of the inauguralVirginia Slims Tour.
Martina Navratilova was the most successful player at the tournament, winning the singles and doubles competitions six times each, partnering DutchwomenBetty Stöve andManon Bollegraf and AmericansJanet Newberry,Pam Shriver,Elise Burgin andKathy Jordan once each for her doubles successes.