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1979 Italian Open
1979 Italian Open
Date	21–27 May (M) ; 7–13 May (W)
Edition	36th
Draw	64S / 32D (M); 32/S / 16D (W)
Prize money	$175,000 (M) ; $100,000 (W)
Surface	Clay / outdoor
Location	Rome, Italy
Venue	Foro Italico
Champions
Men's singles
	Vitas Gerulaitis
Women's singles
	Tracy Austin
Men's doubles
	Peter Fleming / Tomáš Šmíd
Women's doubles
	Betty Stöve / Wendy Turnbull

The 1979 Italian Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament that was played on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. It was the 36th edition of the tournament. The men's tournament was part of the 1979 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix while the women's tournament, held separately for the first time, was part of the Colgate Series (Category AAA). The women's event was played from 7 May through 13 May 1979 while the men's event was organized from 21 May through 27 May 1979. After a final that lasted five hours and nine minutes second-seeded Vitas Gerulaitis won the men's singles title, his second Italian Open title after 1977, and the accompanying $28,000 first-prize money.^[3] The women's singles title was won by third-seeded Tracy Austin. In the semifinal Austin defeated compatriot Chris Evert-Lloyd which ended Evert-Lloyd's record 125-match winning streak on clay that had started in August 1973.^[4]^[5]

Finals

Men's singles

Vitas Gerulaitis defeated Guillermo Vilas 6–7^(4–7), 7–6^(7–0), 6–7^(5–7), 6–4, 6–2

It was Gerulaitis' 2nd singles title of the year and the 13th of his career.

Women's singles

Tracy Austin defeated Sylvia Hanika 6–4, 1–6, 6–3

It was Austin's 3rd singles title of the year and the 6th of her career.

Men's doubles

Peter Fleming / Tomáš Šmíd defeated José Luis Clerc / Ilie Năstase 4–6, 6–1, 7–5

Women's doubles

Betty Stöve / Wendy Turnbull defeated Evonne Goolagong / Kerry Reid 6–3, 6–4

References

^ "1979 Rome – Men's singles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
^ "1979 Rome – Men's doubles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
^ "Gerulaitis Outlasts Vilas at Rome". The Palm Beach Post. 28 May 1979. p. D3.
^ "Lloyd streak was one of top feats in tennis". Lawrence Journal-World. AP. 20 May 1979. p. 6B.
^ John Barrett, ed. (1980). World of Tennis 1980 : a BP yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 88–89, 144–145. ISBN 9780362020120. OCLC 237184610.