1973 World Championship Tennis circuit
The 1973 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1973. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). In April 1972 WCT signed an agreement with the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) as a result of which the 1973 men's tennis season was divided in a WCT section, which ran from January until May, and a Grand Prix circuit which was held from May onward. The WCT circuit divided the players into two groups of 32 players, with each group playing 11 tournaments of the 22 tournaments. The four highest ranked players from each group qualified for the season finals in Dallas.[1] The total available prize money was almost $1,250,000.[2]
Schedule
- Key
Tour Finals |
Group A Tournaments |
Group B Tournaments |
January
Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
15 January | Saga Bay Classic Miami, United States Group A $50,000 – Hard – 32S/16D | Rod Laver 7–6(7–2), 6–3, 7–5 | Dick Stockton | Bob Lutz John Alexander | Roy Emerson Jim McManus Cliff Richey Stan Smith |
Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–4, 6–4 | Terry Addison Colin Dibley |
18 January | Rothmans International Deeside and London, Great Britain Group B $50,000 – Hard (i) – 32S/16D | Brian Fairlie 2–6, 6–2, 6–2, 7–6 | Mark Cox | Arthur Ashe Marty Riessen | Tom Okker Ken Rosewall Alex Metreveli Dick Crealy |
Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–3, 6–3 | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner |
22 January | Michelob Pro–Celebrity La Costa, United States Group A $50,000 – Hard – 32S/16D | Colin Dibley 6–3, 7–6(8–6) | Stan Smith | Rod Laver Roy Emerson | Tom Edlefsen John Alexander Harold Solomon Phil Dent |
Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–7, 6–3, 6–4 | Nikola Pilić Allan Stone |
29 January | Astor Cup Professional Championships Milan, Italy Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Marty Riessen 7–6(7–4), 6–0, 7–6(7–3) | Roscoe Tanner | Ken Rosewall Tom Gorman | Dick Crealy Bob Carmichael Mark Cox Tom Okker |
Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–3, 6–3 | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle |
Fidelity Tournament Richmond, United States Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Rod Laver 6–4, 6–3 | Roy Emerson | John Alexander Dick Stockton | Cliff Richey Bob Lutz Stan Smith Phil Dent |
Roy Emerson Rod Laver 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Terry Addison Colin Dibley |
February
Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
6 February | U.S. Professional Indoor Philadelphia, United States Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Stan Smith 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–4 | Robert Lutz | Bob Maud Niki Pilić | Cliff Richey Dick Stockton Rod Laver Colin Dibley |
Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
11 February | Rothmans International Toronto, Ontario, Canada Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4 | Roy Emerson | Stan Smith Jaime Fillol | Cliff Richey Allan Stone Ove Bengtson Dick Stockton |
John Alexander Phil Dent 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2 | Roy Emerson Rod Laver |
12 February | Professional Championships Copenhagen, Denmark Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Roger Taylor 6–2, 6–3, 7–6 | Marty Riessen | Brian Fairlie Ken Rosewall | Mark Cox Jan Kodeš Erik van Dillen Dick Crealy |
Tom Gorman Erik Van Dillen 6–4, 6–4 | Mark Cox Graham Stilwell |
19 February | Professional Championships Cologne, West Germany Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Jan Kodeš 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 | Brian Fairlie | Mark Cox Alex Metreveli | Marty Riessen Ken Rosewall Haroon Rahim Ismail El Shafei |
Mark Cox Graham Stilwell 7–6, 6–3 | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
26 February | Kemper International Chicago, United States Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Arthur Ashe 3–6, 7–6(11–9), 7–6(7–2) | Roger Taylor | Tom Gorman Dick Crealy | Marty Riessen Tom Okker Ken Rosewall Ray Moore |
Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 | Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie |
March
Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
19 March | Peachtree Corners Classic Atlanta, United States Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Stan Smith 6–3, 6–4 | Rod Laver | Cliff Richey Cliff Drysdale | Onny Parun Dick Stockton Allan Stone Robert Maud |
Roy Emerson Rod Laver 7–6, 6–3 | Robert Maud Andrew Pattison |
Union Trust Classic Washington, United States Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Tom Okker 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–3) | Arthur Ashe | Roger Taylor Ken Rosewall | Ray Moore Mark Cox Dick Crealy Alex Metreveli |
Tom Okker Marty Riessen 4–6, 7–6, 6–2 | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner |
26 March | Holton Classic St. Louis, United States Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Stan Smith 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | Rod Laver | Cliff Drysdale Niki Pilić | John Alexander Gerald Battrick Bob Lutz Cliff Richey |
Ove Nils Bengtson Jim McManus 6–2, 7–5 | Terry Addison Colin Dibley |
Rothmans International Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Tom Gorman 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 | Jan Kodeš | Roscoe Tanner Ken Rosewall | Fred Stolle Erik van Dillen Pierre Barthès Ray Moore |
Pierre Barthes Roger Taylor 5–7, 6–3, 7–6 | Tom Gorman Erik Van Dillen |
April
Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
2 April | River Oaks International Tennis Tournament Houston, United States Group B $50,000 – Clay – 32S/16D | Ken Rosewall 6–4, 6–1, 7–5 | Fred Stolle | Jan Kodeš Tom Okker | Arthur Ashe Vladimír Zedník Marty Riessen Brian Fairlie |
Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–5, 7–5 | Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner |
Munich WCT Munich, West Germany Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Stan Smith 6–1, 7–5 | Cliff Richey | John Alexander Brian Gottfried | Robert Lutz Rod Laver Ove Bengtson Dick Stockton |
Nikola Pilić Allan Stone 7–5, 5–7, 6–4 | Cliff Drysdale Cliff Richey |
9 April | Brussels WCT Brussels, Belgium Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Stan Smith 6–2, 6–4, 6–1 | Rod Laver | Dick Stockton Roy Emerson | Cliff Richey Cliff Drysdale Ove Bengtson John Alexander |
Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–4, 7–6 | John Alexander Phil Dent |
Cleveland WCT Cleveland, United States Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Ken Rosewall 6–3, 6–4 | Roger Taylor | Raymond Moore Brian Fairlie | Arthur Ashe Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau Marty Riessen Jan Kodeš |
Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 6–2, 6–3 | Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie |
16 April | Carolinas International Tennis Tournament Charlotte, United States Group B $50,000 – Clay – 32S/16D | Ken Rosewall 6–3, 7–6(7–1) | Arthur Ashe | Roscoe Tanner Mark Cox | Tom Gorman Bob Carmichael Željko Franulović Marty Riessen |
Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–6, 3–6, 6–3 | Tom Gorman Erik Van Dillen |
Johannesburg WCT Johannesburg, South Africa Group A $50,000 – Hard – 32S/16D | Brian Gottfried W/O[lower-alpha 1] | Jaime Fillol | Ove Bengtson Onny Parun | Robert Lutz Andrew Pattison Colin Dibley Gerald Battrick |
Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 | Frew McMillan Allan Stone |
23 April | United Bank Classic Denver, United States Group B $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Mark Cox 6–1, 6–1 | Arthur Ashe | Roscoe Tanner Ross Case | Brian Fairlie Marty Riessen Tom Leonard Roger Taylor |
Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 | Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
Swedish Pro Tennis Championships Gothenburg, Sweden Group A $50,000 – Carpet – 32S/16D | Stan Smith 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 | John Alexander | Gerald Battrick Rod Laver | Ove Bengtson Cliff Richey Roy Emerson Dick Stockton |
Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–7, 6–4, 6–1 | Nikola Pilić Allan Stone |
May
Week of |
Tournament |
Champions |
Runners-up |
Semifinalists |
Quarterfinalists |
3 May | Masters Doubles WCT Montreal, Quebec, Canada Tour Finals $200,000 – Carpet – 8D | Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–2, 7–6(7–1), 6–0 | Tom Okker Marty Riessen | Roy Emerson / Rod Laver Ken Rosewall / Fred Stolle | Terry Addison / Colin Dibley Nikola Pilić / Allan Stone Mark Cox / Graham Stilwell Arthur Ashe / Roscoe Tanner |
9 May | WCT Finals Dallas, United States Tour Finals $100,000 – Carpet – 8S Singles Draw | Stan Smith 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 | Arthur Ashe | Rod Laver Ken Rosewall | John Alexander Roy Emerson Marty Riessen Roger Taylor |
Statistical information
Titles won by player
- Key
Tour Finals |
Regular Tournaments |
All titles |
Total |
Player |
Singles |
Doubles |
Singles |
Doubles |
Singles |
Doubles |
10 | Smith, StanStan Smith (USA) | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
8 | Laver, RodRod Laver (AUS) | | | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
6 | Riessen, MartyMarty Riessen (USA) | | | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
6 | Okker, TomTom Okker (NED) | | | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
5 | Rosewall, KenKen Rosewall (AUS) | | | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
5 | Emerson, RoyRoy Emerson (AUS) | | | | 5 | | 5 |
3 | Lutz, RobertRobert Lutz (USA) | | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |
2 | Taylor, RogerRoger Taylor (GBR) | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | Ashe, ArthurArthur Ashe (USA) | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | Gorman, TomTom Gorman (USA) | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | Gottfried, BrianBrian Gottfried (USA) | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | Cox, MarkMark Cox (GBR) | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | Stolle, FredFred Stolle (AUS) | | | | 2 | | 2 |
1 | Fairlie, BrianBrian Fairlie (AUS) | | | 1 | | 1 | |
1 | Dibley, ColinColin Dibley (AUS) | | | 1 | | 1 | |
1 | Kodeš, JanJan Kodeš (TCH) | | | 1 | | 1 | |
1 | Stockton, DickDick Stockton (USA) | | | | 1 | 1 |
1 | Alexander, JohnJohn Alexander (AUS) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Dent, PhilPhil Dent (AUS) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Van Dillen, ErikErik Van Dillen (USA) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Stilwell, GrahamGraham Stilwell (GBR) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Barthes, PierrePierre Barthes (FRA) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Bengtson, Ove NilsOve Nils Bengtson (SWE) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | McManus, JimJim McManus (USA) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Pilic, NikolaNikola Pilic (YUG) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Stone, AllanAllan Stone (AUS) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
1 | Tanner, RoscoeRoscoe Tanner (USA) | | | | 1 | | 1 |
Titles won by nation
- Key
Tour Finals |
Group A Tournaments |
Group B Tournaments |
All titles |
Standings
- Key
Qualified for Tour Finals |
Group A |
Rk |
Name |
Country |
Matches Played |
Matches Won |
Points |
Prize Money (USD) |
1 | Stan Smith | USA | 46 | 41 | 75 | 154,100 |
2 | Rod Laver | AUS | 44 | 37 | 63 | 78,200 |
3 | Roy Emerson | AUS | 29 | 20 | 28 | 41,350 |
3 | John Alexander | AUS | 33 | 22 | 28 | 31,300 |
5 | Cliff Richey | USA | 34 | 23 | 27 | 24,350 |
6 | Dick Stockton | USA | 31 | 20 | 25 | 23,200 |
7 | Bob Lutz | USA | 27 | 17 | 21 | 41,800 |
8 | Brian Gottfried | USA | 20 | 10 | 20 | 20,300 |
9 | Colin Dibley | AUS | 23 | 13 | 18 | 22,750 |
10 | Jaime Fillol | CHI | 22 | 13 | 17 | 14,300 |
|
Group B |
Rk |
Name |
Country |
Matches Played |
Matches Won |
Points |
Prize Money (USD) |
1 | Ken Rosewall | AUS | 42 | 34 | 53 | 66,400 |
2 | Arthur Ashe | USA | 36 | 26 | 41 | 63,150 |
3 | Marty Riessen | USA | 36 | 26 | 35 | 47,200 |
4 | Roger Taylor | GBR | 31 | 21 | 34 | 42,800 |
4 | Mark Cox | GBR | 33 | 23 | 34 | 31,950 |
6 | Brian Fairlie | AUS | 32 | 22 | 33 | 30,900 |
7 | Jan Kodeš | TCH | 27 | 19 | 28 | 23,800 |
8 | Tom Okker | NED | 29 | 19 | 25 | 34,400 |
9 | Roscoe Tanner | USA | 27 | 16 | 24 | 25,250 |
10 | Tom Gorman | USA | 25 | 16 | 23 | 28,200 |
|
See also
Notes
- ↑ Fillol defaulted before the final due to illness (flu).[3]
References
- ↑
- Collins Bud History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book (2nd ed.). USA: New Chapter Press. 2010. ISBN 0-942257-70-7.
- ↑ John Barrett, ed. (1974). World of Tennis '74. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780362001679.
- ↑ "Gottfried wins". Star-News. Apr 24, 1973.
External links