It’s been known by many names — the Washington Star International, the D.C. Bank Tennis Classic, the Sovran Bank Classic, and finally the Legg Mason. Here are 10 memorable finals in the tournament’s 40-year history:
10. 1997 Michael Chang def. Petr Korda
After beating Wayne Ferriera in the 1996 finals, Chang made it a repeat with a come-from-behind three-set win over Korda. It was just the second time in tournament history that a player successfully defended his title.
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9. 2008 Juan Martin del Potro def. Viktor Troicki
After losing in the second round at Wimbledon, the 19-year-old, 6-foot-6 Argentine went won four straight tournaments. His fourth came decisively at the Legg Mason as he handled a hobbled Troicki (back injury) in the finals.
8. 1969 Thomas Koch def. Arthur Ashe
In the inaugural event, left-hander Koch outlasted Ashe in the only five-set final tournament history. The match took 3 hours, 3 minutes. Afterward the president’s daughter, Tricia Nixon, presented the trophy and Koch was awarded a green jacket.
7. 1999 Andre Agassi def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Agassi, the dominant player of the decade at the Legg Mason, topped off the 1990s with his fifth title, and did it in dominating fashion, winning 7-6 (3), 6-1. No other player has won more than three titles in Washington.
6. 2002 James Blake def. Paradorn Srichapan
The Harvard-educated Blake recovered from a terrible first set to win 1-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. It was a popular victory in Rock Creek Park as Blake became the first African American to win here since Arthur Ashe (1973).
5. 1991 Andre Agassi def. Petr Korda
It took 22 years for the tournament to produce a back-to-back champion, but Agassi finally accomplished the feat with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 victory. The previous year, Agassi throttled Jim Grabb to win his first of five Legg Mason championships.
4. 1974 Harold Solomon def. Guillermo Villas
The patient, moon-balling, local hero Solomon, from Silver Spring, was four points shy of victory when a thunderstorm hit Rock Creek Park. He returned the next day to put the finishing touches on his popular victory as 4,000 fans showed up on a Tuesday.
3. 1973 Arthur Ashe def. Tom Okker
Old-timers will remember when the finals were played on Monday night and broadcast on UHF Channel 26. The most memorable match of that era came when Ashe won for the first time in D.C. and on his least favorite playing surface (clay).
2. 2007 Andy Roddick def. John Isner
It took a three-time champion in Roddick to end the captivating run by Isner, playing in his first ATP tournament since graduating from the University of Georgia. The 6-foot-9 Isner won five straight matches in third-set tiebreakers on his way to the finals.
1. 1988 Jimmy Connors def. Andres Gomez
At age 35, Connors was the overwhelming sentimental favorite as he won for the third and final time in Washington, breaking a title drought that had lasted 3 years, 9 months, and 18 days.
