▁ ▁Qual ified ▁players ▁particip ate ▁in ▁a ▁round - ro bin ▁format ▁in ▁two ▁groups ▁of ▁four . ▁The ▁w inners ▁and ▁run ners - up ▁of ▁each ▁group ▁advance ▁to ▁the ▁semif inals . ▁Dou bles ▁teams ▁particip ate ▁in ▁a ▁single ▁elim ination ▁draw . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁champion ships ▁were ▁held ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁in ▁B oca ▁R aton , ▁Florida ▁( USA ) ▁as ▁a ▁clim actic ▁event ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁tournament s ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Virginia ▁S lim s , ▁called ▁the ▁Virginia ▁S lim s ▁Circ uit . ▁From ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁the ▁event ▁was ▁held ▁in ▁October , ▁before ▁switching ▁to ▁March ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁until ▁ 1 9 8 6 . ▁The ▁W TA ▁then ▁decided ▁to ▁adopt ▁a ▁January – Nov ember ▁playing ▁season , ▁and ▁so ▁the ▁event ▁was ▁switched ▁to ▁being ▁held ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁each ▁year . ▁As ▁a ▁consequence , ▁there ▁were ▁two ▁champion ships ▁held ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 . ▁ ▁The ▁event ▁was ▁held ▁in ▁Los ▁Angeles , ▁California ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁Mad ison ▁Square ▁Garden ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 . ▁With ▁the ▁exception ▁of ▁a ▁one - year ▁move ▁to ▁Oak land , ▁California ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 ,