The 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1972. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). The circuit included twenty-three regular events, and two circuit finals, one taking place in May, counting for the second half of the 1971 season, and the first part of the 1972 season, and a smaller one taking place in November, counting for the second half of the 1972 season, from July through November.
Schedule This is the complete schedule of events on the 1972 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.
Key WCT Finals Regular series
February WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists2 Feb Fidelity WCT Richmond, United StatesRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Rod Laver2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe John Newcombe Robert Lutz Roy Emerson Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor Tom Okker Marty Riessen7–6, 7–6 John Newcombe Tony Roche8 Feb U.S. Professional Indoor Philadelphia, United StatesRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Rod Laver4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 Ken Rosewall Arthur Ashe Tom Okker Marty Riessen Cliff Drysdale Jeff Borowiak Robert Lutz Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz6–3, 6–7, 6–3 John Newcombe Tony Roche20 Feb Canadian Open (WCT) Toronto, Ontario, CanadaRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Rod Laver6–1, 6–4 Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor Roy Emerson Fred Stolle Marty Riessen Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels6–4, 4–6, 6–4 Roy Emerson Rod Laver
March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 Mar Saga Bay Tennis Classic Hollywood, United StatesRegular seriesHard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Ken Rosewall3–6, 6–2, 6–4 Cliff Drysdale Fred Stolle Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor Ismail El Shafei Mark Cox Arthur Ashe Tom Okker Marty Riessen7–5, 6–4 Roy Emerson Rod Laver16 Mar Kemper International Tennis Tournament Chicago, United StatesRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Tom Okker4–6, 6–2, 6–3 Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz Ken Rosewall Charlie Pasarell Marty Riessen John Alexander Robert Lutz Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–2, 6–3 Roy Emerson Rod Laver26 Mar Macon International Tennis Tournament Macon, United StatesRegular seriesCarpet – $50,000 – 32S/16D Mark Cox6–3, 6–7(9–11), 6–3 Roy Emerson Graham Stilwell Roger Taylor Nikola Pilić Jeff Borowiak Tom Okker Phil Dent Roy Emerson Tom Okker7–6, 6–2 Mark Cox Graham Stilwell
April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists3 Apr River Oaks Tennis Tournament Houston, United StatesRegular seriesClay – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Rod Laver6–2, 6–4 Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Roger Taylor William Bowrey John Alexander John Newcombe Nikola Pilić Roy Emerson Rod Laver6–3, 6–3 Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle9 Apr Rothmans International Quebec Quebec City, CanadaRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Marty Riessen7–5, 6–2, 7–5 Rod Laver Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor Roy Emerson Ken Rosewall Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels4–6, 6–3, 7–5 Terry Addison John Alexander18 Apr Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United StatesRegular seriesClay – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Ken Rosewall2–6, 6–2, 6–2 Cliff Richey Cliff Drysdale John Alexander Mark Cox William Bowrey Tom Okker Marty Riessen Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–4, 4–6, 7–6 John Newcombe Tony Roche24 Apr United Bank Classic Denver, United StatesRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32SSingles Rod Laver4–6, 6–3, 6–4 Marty Riessen Roy Emerson Tom Okker Robert Lutz John Newcombe Arthur Ashe John Alexander Roy Emerson Rod Laver1–6, 6–4, 6–3 Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor
May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists1 May Alan King Tennis Classic Las Vegas, United StatesRegular seriesHard – $50,000 – 32S/16D John Newcombe6–3, 6–4 Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen Frank Froehling Rod Laver Roger Taylor Tom Okker Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Rod Laverdefault John Newcombe Tony Roche8 May WCT Finals Dallas, United StatesWCT FinalsCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 8SSingles Ken Rosewall4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–5) Rod Laver Marty Riessen Arthur Ashe John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale Tom Okker Robert Lutz
July WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists1 Jul Holton Tennis Classic St. Louis, United StatesRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D John Newcombe6–3, 6–3 Nikola Pilić Cliff Drysdale Charlie Pasarell Tony Roche Tom Okker Marty Riessen Cliff Richey John Newcombe Tony Roche7–6, 6–2 John Alexander Phil Dent17 Jul Washington Star International Washington, United StatesRegular seriesClay – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Tony Roche3–6, 7–6, 6–4 Marty Riessen Ray Ruffels John Newcombe John Alexander Cliff Richey Arthur Ashe Ismail El Shafei Tom Okker Marty Riessen3–6, 6–3, 6–2 John Newcombe Tony Roche24 Jul First National Tennis Classic Louisville, United StatesRegular seriesClay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Arthur Ashe6–4, 6–4 Mark Cox John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen Tony Roche Tom Okker Nikola Pilić John Alexander Phil Dent6–4, 6–3 Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz
August WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 6 Aug U.S. Pro Tennis Championships Boston, United States Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Robert Lutz 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe Rod Laver Marty Riessen Nikola Pilić Tony Roche Tony Roche John Newcombe 6–3, 1–6, 7–6 Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz13 Aug Cleveland Classic Cleveland, United StatesRegular seriesHard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Mark Cox6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 Ray Ruffels Roger Taylor Cliff Drysdale Ken Rosewall Nikola Pilić Marty Riessen Ismail El Shafei Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor7–6, 6–3 Frank Froehling Charlie Pasarell20 Aug Colonial Nat'l Invitation Tennis Tournament Fort Worth, United StatesRegular seriesHard – 32S/16D John Newcombe5–7, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4 Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Arthur Ashe John Alexander Tony Roche Graham Stilwell Marty Riessen Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–2, 6–2 Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle
September WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists11 Sep Rothmans International Montreal, Quebec, CanadaRegular seriesHard – 32S/16D Arthur Ashe7–5, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 Roy Emerson Ismail El Shafei Tom Okker John Newcombe Marty Riessen Cliff Drysdale Cliff Richey Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–1, 4–6, 7–6 Bob Maud Ken Rosewall
October
WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists1 Oct Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Championships Alamo, United StatesRegular seriesHard – 32S/16D John Newcombe6–1, 6–1, 7–5 Cliff Drysdale Tom Okker Arthur Ashe Terry Addison Mark Cox John Alexander Roy Emerson Tom Okker Marty Riessen7–6, 6–4 Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie22 Oct Rothmans International Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaRegular seriesCarpet – 32S/16D John Newcombe6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 7–5 Marty Riessen Mark Cox Robert Lutz Roy Emerson Tom Okker Brian Fairlie Arthur Ashe John Newcombe Fred Stolle7–6, 6–0 Cliff Drysdale Allan Stone29 Oct Canada Dry InternationalEssen, West GermanyRegular seriesCarpet (i) – 32S/16D Nikola Pilić4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6 Robert Lutz Cliff Richey Ismail El Shafei John Newcombe Wilhelm Bungert Tom Okker Arthur Ashe
November WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 Nov Swedish Pro Tennis Championships Gothenburg, SwedenRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles John Newcombe6–0, 6–3, 6–1 Roy Emerson Tom Okker Mark Cox Allan Stone Roger Taylor Haroon Rahim Jeff Borowiak Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–2, 7–6 Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie18 Nov Rotterdam Indoors Rotterdam, NetherlandsRegular seriesCarpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Arthur Ashe3–6, 6–2, 6–1 Tom Okker John Newcombe Mark Cox Charlie Pasarell Robert Lutz Robin Drysdale Marty Riessen Roy Emerson John Newcombe6–2, 6–3 Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz26 Nov WCT Winter Finals Rome, ItalyWCT FinalsCarpet (i) – $25,000 – 8SSingles Arthur Ashe6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 Robert Lutz Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Nikola Pilić Marty Riessen Mark Cox John Newcombe
Statistical information These tables present the number of singles (S), and doubles (D) titles won by each player and each nation during the season, within all the tournament categories of the 1972 WCT circuit: the WCT Finals, and the regular series tournaments. The players/nations are sorted by: 1) total number of titles (a doubles title won by two players representing the same nation counts as only one win for the nation); 2) importance of those titles (a WCT Finals win equalling two regular tournaments wins); 3) a singles > doubles hierarchy; 4) alphabetical order (by family names for players).
Titles won by player
Total titles PlayerFinalsRegular seriesAll titles S S D S D10 John Newcombe 6 4 6 4 Tom Okker 1 9 1 9 Marty Riessen 1 9 1 97 Rod Laver 5 2 5 25 Arthur Ashe 1 3 1 4 13 Ken Rosewall 1 2 3 0 Tony Roche 1 2 1 2 Roy Emerson 3 0 32 Robert Lutz 1 1 1 1 Bob Carmichael 2 0 2 Ray Ruffels 2 0 21 Mark Cox 1 1 0 Nikola Pilić 1 1 0 Stan Smith 1 1 0 John Alexander 1 0 1 Jimmy Connors 1 0 1 Phil Dent 1 0 1 Cliff Drysdale 1 0 1 Pancho Gonzales 1 0 1 Fred Stolle 1 0 1 Roger Taylor 1 0 1
Titles won by nation
Total titles NationFinalsRegular seriesAll titles S S D S D22 1 13 8 14 819 1 6 12 7 1210 1 9 1 92 1 1 1 11 1 1 0 South Africa 1 0 1
Standings These are the standings of the top twenty singles players on the WCT circuit, at the end of the 1971 World Championship Tennis circuit, and after each edition of the WCT Finals in the 1972 season.
1971 Standings # Player 1 Rod Laver 2 Tom Okker 3 Ken Rosewall 4 Cliff Drysdale 5 Arthur Ashe 6 John Newcombe 7 Marty Riessen 8 Robert Lutz 9 Roy Emerson 10 Andrés Gimeno 11 Charlie Pasarell 12 John Alexander 13 Dennis Ralston 14 Ray Ruffels = Ismail El Shafei = Nikola Pilić 17 Bob Maud 18 Mark Cox 19 Roger Taylor 20 Fred Stolle 1972 Standings (May) # Player 1 Rod Laver 2 Ken Rosewall 3 Tom Okker 4 Cliff Drysdale 5 Marty Riessen 6 Arthur Ashe 7 Robert Lutz 8 John Newcombe 9 Roy Emerson = Charlie Pasarell 11 John Alexander 12 Roger Taylor 13 Andrés Gimeno 14 Mark Cox 15 Jeff Borowiak 16 Fred Stolle = Nikola Pilić 18 Ismail El Shafei 19 Bob Carmichael 20 Ray Ruffels 1972 Standings (November) # Player 1 John Newcombe 2 Arthur Ashe 3 Tom Okker 4 Mark Cox 5 Cliff Drysdale = Marty Riessen 7 Robert Lutz = Nikola Pilić 9 Roy Emerson = Tony Roche = Ismail El Shafei 12 Cliff Richey 13 Charlie Pasarell 14 Ray Ruffels 15 Ken Rosewall = Roger Taylor 17 John Alexander 18 Bob Carmichael = Allan Stone = Haroon Rahim = Jeff Borowiak
See also 1972 Grand Prix circuit 1972 USLTA Indoor Circuit Association of Tennis Professionals International Tennis Federation
References
External links Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) official website International Tennis Federation (ITF) official website