Thunderbird Classic (tennis)

The Thunderbird Classic was a Virginia Slims Circuit affiliated tennis tournament founded in 1952,[1] as a combined men's and women's tournament called the Phoenix Thunderbird Championships Invitational.

In 1971 the women's tournament was re branded as the Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic and ran annually under a number of name changes until 1980 when it too was discontinued.

In 1971 women's event became part of the Virginia Slims Circuit and was known as the Virginia Slims Thunderbird Classic, that event carried on till 1980 when it was last known as the Thunderbird Classic before it too was abolished.

The event was originally played at the end February annually, then moved to mid to late March.

It was only in 1970 that its scheduling was moved to October that year, however the women's event carried on with the new dates.