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-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
6 FebFidelity WCT Richmond, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesAustralia Rod Laver 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3South Africa Cliff DrysdaleUnited States Arthur Ashe Australia John NewcombeUnited States Robert Lutz Australia Roy Emerson United States Charlie Pasarell United Kingdom Roger Taylor
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 7–6, 7–6Australia John Newcombe Australia Tony Roche
8 FebU.S. Professional Indoor Philadelphia, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesAustralia Rod Laver 4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2Australia Ken RosewallUnited States Arthur Ashe Netherlands Tom OkkerUnited States Marty Riessen South Africa Cliff Drysdale United States Jeff Borowiak United States Robert Lutz
United States Arthur Ashe United States Robert Lutz 6–3, 6–7, 6–3Australia John Newcombe Australia Tony Roche
20 FebCanadian Open (WCT) Toronto, Ontario, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesAustralia Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4Australia Ken RosewallNetherlands Tom Okker United States Charlie PasarellUnited Kingdom Roger Taylor Australia Roy Emerson Australia Fred Stolle United States Marty Riessen
Australia Bob Carmichael Australia Ray Ruffels 6–4, 4–6, 6–4Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod Laver

March

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
5 MarSaga Bay Tennis Classic Hollywood, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesAustralia Ken Rosewall 3–6, 6–2, 6–4South Africa Cliff DrysdaleAustralia Fred Stolle United States Charlie PasarellUnited Kingdom Roger Taylor Egypt Ismail El Shafei United Kingdom Mark Cox United States Arthur Ashe
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 7–5, 6–4Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod Laver
16 MarKemper International Tennis Tournament Chicago, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesNetherlands Tom Okker 4–6, 6–2, 6–3United States Arthur AsheUnited States Robert Lutz Australia Ken RosewallUnited States Charlie Pasarell United States Marty Riessen Australia John Alexander United States Robert Lutz
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–3Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod Laver

April

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
9 AprRiver Oaks Tennis Tournament Houston, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesAustralia Rod Laver 6–2, 6–4Australia Ken RosewallNetherlands Tom Okker United Kingdom Roger TaylorAustralia William Bowrey Australia John Alexander Australia John Newcombe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod Laver 6–3, 6–3Australia Ken Rosewall Australia Fred Stolle
16 AprRothmans International Quebec Quebec City, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesUnited States Marty Riessen 7–5, 6–2, 7–5Australia Rod LaverSouth Africa Cliff Drysdale United States Arthur AsheUnited States Charlie Pasarell United Kingdom Roger Taylor Australia Roy Emerson Australia Ken Rosewall
Australia Bob Carmichael Australia Ray Ruffels 4–6, 6–3, 7–5Australia Terry Addison Australia John Alexander
23 AprCharlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesAustralia Ken Rosewall 2–6, 6–2, 6–2United States Cliff RicheySouth Africa Cliff Drysdale Australia John AlexanderUnited Kingdom Mark Cox Australia William Bowrey Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 6–4, 4–6, 7–6Australia John Newcombe Australia Tony Roche
30 AprUnited Bank Classic Denver, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S SinglesAustralia Rod Laver 4–6, 6–3, 6–4United States Marty RiessenAustralia Roy Emerson Netherlands Tom OkkerUnited States Robert Lutz Australia John Newcombe United States Arthur Ashe Australia John Alexander
Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod Laver 1–6, 6–4, 6–3South Africa Cliff Drysdale United Kingdom Roger Taylor

May

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
1 MayAlan King Tennis Classic Las Vegas, United States Regular series $50,000 – hard – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesAustralia John Newcombe 6–3, 6–4South Africa Cliff DrysdaleUnited States Marty Riessen United States Frank FroehlingAustralia Rod Laver United Kingdom Roger Taylor Netherlands Tom Okker Australia Ken Rosewall
Australia Roy Emerson Australia Rod Laver defaultAustralia John Newcombe Australia Tony Roche
10 MayWCT Finals Dallas, United States WCT Finals $50,000 – carpet (i) – 8S SinglesAustralia Ken Rosewall 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6Australia Rod LaverUnited States Marty Riessen United States Arthur AsheAustralia John Newcombe South Africa Cliff Drysdale Netherlands Tom Okker United States Robert Lutz

July

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
1 JulHolton Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesAustralia John Newcombe 6–3, 6–3Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola PilićSouth Africa Cliff Drysdale United States Charlie PasarellAustralia Tony Roche Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen United States Cliff Richey
Australia John Newcombe Australia Tony Roche 7–6, 6–2Australia John Alexander Australia Phil Dent
12 JulWashington Star International Washington, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesAustralia Tony Roche 3–6, 7–6, 6–4United States Marty RiessenAustralia Ray Ruffels Australia John NewcombeAustralia John Alexander United States Cliff Richey United States Arthur Ashe Egypt Ismail El Shafei
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 3–6, 6–3, 6–2Australia John Newcombe Australia Tony Roche
29 JulFirst National Tennis Classic Louisville, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesUnited States Arthur Ashe 6–4, 6–4United Kingdom Mark CoxAustralia John Newcombe South Africa Cliff DrysdaleUnited States Marty Riessen Australia Tony Roche Netherlands Tom Okker Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
Australia John Alexander United States Phil Dent 6–4, 6–3United States Arthur Ashe United States Robert Lutz

August

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
6 AugU.S. Pro Tennis Championships Boston, United States Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesUnited States Robert Lutz 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4Netherlands Tom OkkerSouth Africa Cliff Drysdale United States Arthur AsheAustralia Rod Laver United States Marty Riessen Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić Australia Tony Roche
Australia Tony Roche Australia John Newcombe 6–3, 1–6, 7–6United States Arthur Ashe United States Robert Lutz
13 AugCleveland Classic Cleveland, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesUnited Kingdom Mark Cox 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4Australia Ray RuffelsUnited Kingdom Roger Taylor South Africa Cliff DrysdaleAustralia Ken Rosewall Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić United States Marty Riessen Egypt Ismail El Shafei
South Africa Cliff Drysdale United Kingdom Roger Taylor 7–6, 6–3United States Frank Froehling United States Charlie Pasarell
20 AugColonial Nat'l Invitation Tennis Tournament Fort Worth, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesAustralia John Newcombe 5–7, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4Australia Ken RosewallNetherlands Tom Okker United States Arthur AsheAustralia John Alexander Australia Tony Roche United Kingdom Graham Stilwell United States Marty Riessen
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–2Australia Ken Rosewall Australia Fred Stolle

September

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
11 SepRothmans International Montreal, Quebec, Canada Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – DoublesUnited States Arthur Ashe 7–5, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3Australia Roy EmersonEgypt Ismail El Shafei Netherlands Tom OkkerAustralia John Newcombe United States Marty Riessen South Africa Cliff Drysdale United States Cliff Richey
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 6–1, 4–6, 7–6United States Robert Maud Australia Ken Rosewall

October

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
1 OctRedwood Bank Pacific Coast Championships Alamo, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16DAustralia John Newcombe 6–1, 6–1, 7–5South Africa Cliff DrysdaleNetherlands Tom Okker United States Arthur AsheAustralia Terry Addison United Kingdom Mark Cox Australia John Alexander Australia Roy Emerson
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 7–6, 6–4Egypt Ismail El Shafei New Zealand Brian Fairlie
22 OctRothmans International Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Regular series Carpet – 32S/16DAustralia John Newcombe 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 7–5United States Marty RiessenUnited Kingdom Mark Cox United States Robert LutzAustralia Roy Emerson Netherlands Tom Okker New Zealand Brian Fairlie United States Arthur Ashe
Australia John Newcombe Australia Fred Stolle 7–6, 6–0South Africa Cliff Drysdale Australia Allan Stone
29 OctCanada Dry International Essen, West Germany Regular series Carpet (i) – 32S/16DSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6United States Robert LutzUnited States Cliff Richey Egypt Ismail El ShafeiAustralia John Newcombe West Germany Wilhelm Bungert Netherlands Tom Okker United States Arthur Ashe

November

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
5 NovSwedish Pro Tennis Championships Gothenburg, Sweden Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesAustralia John Newcombe 6–0, 6–3, 6–1Australia Roy EmersonNetherlands Tom Okker United Kingdom Mark CoxAustralia Allan Stone United Kingdom Roger Taylor Pakistan Haroon Rahim United States Jeff Borowiak
Netherlands Tom Okker United States Marty Riessen 6–2, 7–6Egypt Ismail El Shafei New Zealand Brian Fairlie
18 NovRotterdam Indoors Rotterdam, Netherlands Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D SinglesDoublesUnited States Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–2, 6–1Netherlands Tom OkkerAustralia John Newcombe United Kingdom Mark CoxUnited States Charlie Pasarell United States Robert Lutz United Kingdom Robin Drysdale United States Marty Riessen
Australia Roy Emerson Australia John Newcombe 6–2, 6–3United States Arthur Ashe United States Robert Lutz
26 NovWCT Winter Finals Rome, Italy WCT Finals Carpet (i) – $25,000 – 8S SinglesUnited States Arthur Ashe 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6United States Robert LutzNetherlands Tom Okker South Africa Cliff DrysdaleSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić United States Marty Riessen United Kingdom Mark Cox Australia 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 titlesPlayerFinalsRegular seriesAll titles
SSDSD
10Australia John Newcombe6464
Netherlands Tom Okker1919
United States Marty Riessen1919
7Australia Rod Laver5252
5United States Arthur Ashe13141
3Australia Ken Rosewall1230
Australia Tony Roche1212
Australia Roy Emerson303
2United States Robert Lutz1111
Australia Bob Carmichael202
Australia Ray Ruffels202
1United Kingdom Mark Cox110
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić110
United States Stan Smith110
Australia John Alexander101
United States Jimmy Connors101
United States Phil Dent101
South Africa Cliff Drysdale101
United States Pancho Gonzales101
Australia Fred Stolle101
United Kingdom Roger Taylor101

Titles won by nation

Total titlesNationFinalsRegular seriesAll titles
SSDSD
22Australia1138148
19United States1612712
10Netherlands1919
2United Kingdom1111
1Yugoslavia110
South Africa South Africa101

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
1971 Standings # Player 1 Australia Rod Laver 2 Netherlands Tom Okker 3 Australia Ken Rosewall 4 South Africa Cliff Drysdale 5 United States Arthur Ashe 6 Australia John Newcombe 7 United States Marty Riessen 8 United States Robert Lutz 9 Australia Roy Emerson 10 Spain Andrés Gimeno 11 United States Charlie Pasarell 12 Australia John Alexander 13 United States Dennis Ralston 14 Australia Ray Ruffels = Egypt Ismail El Shafei = Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić 17 South Africa Robert Maud 18 United Kingdom Mark Cox 19 United Kingdom Roger Taylor 20 Australia Fred Stolle1972 Standings (May) # Player 1 Australia Rod Laver 2 Australia Ken Rosewall 3 Netherlands Tom Okker 4 South Africa Cliff Drysdale 5 United States Marty Riessen 6 United States Arthur Ashe 7 United States Robert Lutz 8 Australia John Newcombe 9 Australia Roy Emerson = United States Charlie Pasarell 11 Australia John Alexander 12 United Kingdom Roger Taylor 13 Spain Andrés Gimeno 14 United Kingdom Mark Cox 15 United States Jeff Borowiak 16 Australia Fred Stolle = Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić 18 Egypt Ismail El Shafei 19 Australia Bob Carmichael 20 Australia Ray Ruffels1972 Standings (November) # Player 1 Australia John Newcombe 2 United States Arthur Ashe 3 Netherlands Tom Okker 4 United Kingdom Mark Cox 5 South Africa Cliff Drysdale = United States Marty Riessen 7 United States Robert Lutz = Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić 9 Australia Roy Emerson = Australia Tony Roche = Egypt Ismail El Shafei 12 United States Cliff Richey 13 United States Charlie Pasarell 14 Australia Ray Ruffels 15 Australia Ken Rosewall = United Kingdom Roger Taylor 17 Australia John Alexander 18 Australia Bob Carmichael = Australia Allan Stone = Pakistan Haroon Rahim = United States Jeff Borowiak
#Player
1Australia Rod Laver
2Netherlands Tom Okker
3Australia Ken Rosewall
4South Africa Cliff Drysdale
5United States Arthur Ashe
6Australia John Newcombe
7United States Marty Riessen
8United States Robert Lutz
9Australia Roy Emerson
10Spain Andrés Gimeno
11United States Charlie Pasarell
12Australia John Alexander
13United States Dennis Ralston
14Australia Ray Ruffels
=Egypt Ismail El Shafei
=Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
17South Africa Robert Maud
18United Kingdom Mark Cox
19United Kingdom Roger Taylor
20Australia Fred Stolle
1972 Standings (May)
#Player
1Australia Rod Laver
2Australia Ken Rosewall
3Netherlands Tom Okker
4South Africa Cliff Drysdale
5United States Marty Riessen
6United States Arthur Ashe
7United States Robert Lutz
8Australia John Newcombe
9Australia Roy Emerson
=United States Charlie Pasarell
11Australia John Alexander
12United Kingdom Roger Taylor
13Spain Andrés Gimeno
14United Kingdom Mark Cox
15United States Jeff Borowiak
16Australia Fred Stolle
=Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
18Egypt Ismail El Shafei
19Australia Bob Carmichael
20Australia Ray Ruffels
1972 Standings (November)
#Player
1Australia John Newcombe
2United States Arthur Ashe
3Netherlands Tom Okker
4United Kingdom Mark Cox
5South Africa Cliff Drysdale
=United States Marty Riessen
7United States Robert Lutz
=Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
9Australia Roy Emerson
=Australia Tony Roche
=Egypt Ismail El Shafei
12United States Cliff Richey
13United States Charlie Pasarell
14Australia Ray Ruffels
15Australia Ken Rosewall
=United Kingdom Roger Taylor
17Australia John Alexander
18Australia Bob Carmichael
=Australia Allan Stone
=Pakistan Haroon Rahim
=United States Jeff Borowiak

See also

External links