Cacharel Caracas Open
Introduction The '''Cacharel Caracas Open''' was a men's  tennis tournament founded as the '''Altimira International''', also known as the  '''Altamira International Invitation''' and '''Caracas International Championships'''. The tournament was played annually at the Altamira Tennis Club, Miranda, Caracas, Venezuela usually in mid-March initially as part of the ILTF Caribbean Circuit.The women's tournament ended in 1970 and the men's event continued. From 1975 to 1976 the men's editions were known as the '''Caracas WCT''' tournament before it was briefly discontinued in 1982 the tournament was revived under a new name before it was abolished in 1983.
History In 1927 the Venezuelan International Tennis Assoction was established and established a Venezuelan Lawn Tennis Championships at the first Altamira Tennis Club. In 1946 the Altamira Tennis Club was formally created. In 1956 the Altamira International, also known as the Altamira International Invitation tournament was established at Altamira Tennis Club, Caracas, Venezuela.The Atamira International was organized as part of a spring (March to May) Caribbean Circuit which included tournaments in Jamaica (Kingston International Invitation), Puerto Rico (Caribe Hilton Championships), Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad International) and Colombia, Colombia International (Ciudad de Barranquilla). the tournament attracted the top players of the day.In 1970 the women's event was discontinued. The tournament continued under brand name Altamira International until 1974.Between 1975 and 1976 the men's event became part of the WCT Circuit and was known as the Caracas WCT tournament. In 1977 the tournament was not held for five years when it was revived and rebranded in 1982 as the Caracas Open played at the same venue until 1983.
Finals ===Men's singles===(incomplete roll)YearWinnerRunner-upScore''Altamira International''1956  Orlando Sirola  Mervyn Rose  2–6, 3–6, 12–10, 6–4, 6–21958   Budge Patty  Luis Ayala  6–3, 11–13, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4   1959  Jon Douglas  Mike Davies  6–3, 6–4, 6–3  1960  Andres Gimeno  Mike Davies  6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1961  Rod Laver  Luis Ayala  4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 8–6  1962  Rod Laver (2) Roy Emerson  9–7, 6–2, 6–0  1963  Manuel Santana  Thomaz Koch  9–11, 8–6, 6–1, 6-4  1964  Ron Holmberg  Roy Emerson  6–2, 6–4, 9–7 1965  Pierre Barthès  Manuel Santana  6–1, 6–4, 6–2 1966  Tony Roche  John Newcombe  0–6, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 1967  Nikola Pilić  Rafael Osuna  4–6, 7–5, 6–0, 4–6, 6–1  ''Open era ''1968  Marty Riessen  Cliff Richey  6–1, 8–6, 6–1 ''Altamira International''1969  Thomaz Koch  Mark Cox  8–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–4  1970 Tom Gorman  Gerald Battrick  6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 1971  Thomaz Koch (2) Manuel Orantes  7–6, 6–1, 6–3  1972 Manuel Orantes  Haroon Rahim  6–4, 7–5, 6–4 1973 Tom Gorman Francois Jauffret  6–3, 7–6, 6–3 1974 Charlie Pasarell  Eddie Dibbs  6–7, 6–2, 6–1 ''Caracas WCT''1975 Rod Laver (3) Raul Ramirez  7–6, 6–2  1976 Raúl Ramírez  Ilie Năstase  6–3, 6–4  1977/1981''Event suspended''''Caracas Open''1982 Raúl Ramírez  Zoltán Kuhárszky  4–6, 7–6, 6–3  1983 Raúl Ramírez (2) Morris Strode  6–4, 6–2===Men's Doubles===YearChampionsRunners-upScore 1982  Steve Meister Craig Wittus   Eric Fromm Cary Leeds  6–7, 7–6, 6–4 1983  Jaime Fillol Stan Smith   Andrés Gómez Ilie Năstase  6–7, 6–4, 6–3===Women's Singles===(incomplete roll)YearWinnerRunner-upScore''Altamira International'' 1958  Althea Gibson Maria Bueno6–1, 4–6, 9–7 1959  Christine Truman   Maria Bueno6–2, 6–3 1960  Maria Bueno Ann Haydon3–6, 7–5, 6–2 1961  Maria Bueno (2) Darlene Hard7–5, 6–1 1962  Maria Bueno (3) Darlene Hard 6–2, 5–7, 6–2 1963  Maria Bueno (4) Lesley Turner7–5, 8–6 1964  Francoise Durr Rita Bentley6–3, 6–2 1965  Margaret Smith Lesley Turner4–6, 6–2, 7–5 1966  Norma Baylon Gail Sherriff 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 1967  Ann Haydon Jones Virginia Wade6–2, 6–3''Open era '' 1968  Ann Haydon Jones (2) Julie Heldman6–4, 11–9''Altamira International Open Invitation'' 1969  Margaret Smith Court (2) Maria Buenow.o. ''Altamira International'' 1970  Mary-Ann Eisel Patti Hogan6-3 6-3
Location and venue The Altimira Tennis Club was founded in 1946 by the Venezuelan International Tennis Association (f.1927) who built the club and is headquartered there. Today the club consists of 11 tennis courts.
Event names The tournament throughout its history had been known by various names including:* Altamira International* Altamira International Invitation* Altamira International Open Invitation* Caracas International Championships* Caracas WCT* Copa Altimira International Invitation
Event statistics * Most men's titles:  Rod Laver &  Raúl Ramírez (3)* Most women's titles:  Maria Bueno (4)
References
External links * ITF Vault* ITF Vault