1973 World Championship Tennis circuit

1973 World Championship Tennis circuit
Smith won 7 titles
Details
Duration15 January 1973 – 9 May 1973
Edition6th
Tournaments23
Achievements (singles)
Most titles Stan Smith (7)
Most finals Stan Smith (8)
Points leader Stan Smith (75)
1972
1974

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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
15 Jan Saga Bay Classic
Miami, United States
Group A
Hard – $50,000 – 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 Jan Rothmans International
Deeside and London, Great Britain
Group B
Hard (i) – $50,000 – 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 Jan Michelob Pro–Celebrity
La Costa, United States
Group A
Hard – $50,000 – 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 Jan Astor Cup Professional Championships
Milan, Italy
Group B
Carpet – $50,000 – 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
Carpet – $50,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Feb U.S. Professional Indoor
Philadelphia, United States
Group A
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Feb Rothmans International
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Group A
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Feb Professional Championships
Copenhagen, Denmark
Group B
Carpet – $50,000 – 32S/16D
Roger Taylor
6–2, 6–3, 7–6(7–1)
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 Feb World Professional Championships
Cologne, West Germany
Group B
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Feb Kemper International
Chicago, United States
Group B
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
19 Mar Peachtree Corners Classic
Atlanta, United States
Group A
Carpet – $50,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
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
Carpet – $50,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
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 Mar Holton Tennis Classic
St. Louis, United States
Group A
Carpet – $50,000 – 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
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Barthès
Roger Taylor
5–7, 6–3, 7–6
Tom Gorman
Erik van Dillen

April

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Apr River Oaks International Tennis Tournament
Houston, United States
Group B
Clay – $50,000 – 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
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Apr Brussels WCT
Brussels, Belgium
Group A
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Tennis Classic
Cleveland, United States
Group B
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Apr Carolinas International Tennis Tournament
Charlotte, United States
Group B
Clay – $50,000 – 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
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
Brian Gottfried
W/O[a]
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 Apr United Bank Classic
Denver, United States
Group B
Carpet – $50,000 – 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
Carpet – $50,000 – 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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 May Masters Doubles WCT
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tour Finals
Carpet – $200,000 – 8D
Robert Lutz
Stan Smith
6–2, 7–6(7–1), 6–0
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
Emerson / Laver
Rosewall / Stolle
Addison / Dibley
Pilić / Stone
Cox / Stilwell
Ashe / Tanner
9 May WCT Finals
Dallas, United States
Tour Finals
Carpet – $100,000 – 8S
Singles
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  Stan Smith (USA) 1 1 6 2 7 3
8  Rod Laver (AUS) 3 5 3 5
6  Marty Riessen (USA) 1 5 1 5
6  Tom Okker (NED) 1 5 1 5
5  Ken Rosewall (AUS) 3 2 3 2
5  Roy Emerson (AUS) 5 5
3  Robert Lutz (USA) 1 2 3
2  Roger Taylor (GBR) 1 1 1 1
2  Arthur Ashe (USA) 1 1 1 1
2  Tom Gorman (USA) 1 1 1 1
2  Brian Gottfried (USA) 1 1 1 1
2  Mark Cox (GBR) 1 1 1 1
2  Fred Stolle (AUS) 2 2
1  Brian Fairlie (AUS) 1 1
1  Colin Dibley (AUS) 1 1
1  Jan Kodeš (TCH) 1 1
1  Dick Stockton (USA) 1 1
1  John Alexander (AUS) 1 1
1  Phil Dent (AUS) 1 1
1  Erik Van Dillen (USA) 1 1
1  Graham Stilwell (GBR) 1 1
1  Pierre Barthès (FRA) 1 1
1  Ove Bengtson (SWE) 1 1
1  Jim McManus (USA) 1 1
1  Nikola Pilić (YUG) 1 1
1  Allan Stone (AUS) 1 1
1  Roscoe Tanner (USA) 1 1

Titles won by nation

Key
Tour Finals
Group A Tournaments
Group B Tournaments
All titles
Total Nation  Singles   Doubles   Singles   Doubles   Singles   Doubles   Singles   Doubles 
23  United States (USA) 1 1 7 4 3 7 11 12
17  Australia (AUS) 4 7 4 2 8 9
6  Netherlands (NED) 1 5 1 5
4  Great Britain (GBR) 2 2 2 2
1  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1 1
1  France (FRA) 1 1
1  Sweden (SWE) 1 1
1  Yugoslavia (YUG) 1 1

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

  1. ^ Fillol defaulted before the final due to illness (flu).[3]

References

  1. ^ *Collins Bud History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book (2nd ed.). USA: New Chapter Press. 2010. ISBN 0-942257-70-7.
  2. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1974). World of Tennis '74. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780362001679.
  3. ^ "Gottfried wins". Star-News. Apr 24, 1973.