1971 World Championship Tennis circuit

The 1971 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1971. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). Points were awarded to players based on their tournament results (ten points for the tournament winner, seven points for the runner–up, four points for the semifinalists, two points for the quarterfinalists and one point for reaching the second round). The circuit included twenty regular events and a WCT circuit final taking place in Houston/Dallas in November for the eight players with the highest points total. Each tournament had a minimum prize money of $50,000.[1]

1971 World Championship Tennis circuit
Rosewall won 5 titles
Details
Duration9 February – 19 November
Edition4th
Tournaments21
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles Ken Rosewall (5)
Most tournament finals Rod Laver (8)
Prize money leader Rod Laver ($289,841)
Points leader Rod Laver (87.25)
1970
1972

Overview

Week of Tournament Location Draw Prize Money Surface Winner Finalist
9 February U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, PA, U.S. 32 $62,500 Carpet / indoor John Newcombe Rod Laver
7 March Australian Open Championships Sydney, Australia 64 $50,000 Grass / outdoor Ken Rosewall Arthur Ashe
22 March Sportface International Chicago, U.S. 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor John Newcombe Arthur Ashe
29 March Aventura Classic Miami, U.S. 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor Cliff Drysdale Rod Laver
26 April Rawlings Classic Dallas, U.S. 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor John Newcombe Arthur Ashe
3 May Italian Open [lower-alpha 1] Rome, Italy 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor Rod Laver Jan Kodeš
10 May Aryamehr Cup Tehran, Iran 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor Marty Riessen John Alexander
7 June W.D. & H.O. Wills Bristol, England 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor Unfinished (rain)[3]
12 July Washington Star Open International [lower-alpha 2] Washington, U.S. 64 $50,000 Clay / outdoor Ken Rosewall Marty Riessen
19 July Louisville Classic Louisville, U.S. 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale
26 July Rothmans International Quebec City, Canada 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor Tom Okker Rod Laver
2 August U.S. Professional Championships Boston, U.S. 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor Ken Rosewall Cliff Drysdale
9 August Rothmans Canadian Open Toronto, Canada 64 $50,000 Hard / outdoor John Newcombe Tom Okker
16 August Colonial Pro Championships Fort Worth, U.S. 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor Rod Laver Marty Riessen
27 September Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Open [lower-alpha 2] Berkeley, USA 64 $50,000 Hard / outdoor Rod Laver Ken Rosewall
3 October Rothmans International Vancouver, Canada 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor Ken Rosewall Tom Okker
11 October Profi–Tennis–Weltmeistershaft Cologne, Germany 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor Bob Lutz Jeff Borowiak
18 October Spanish Open [lower-alpha 1] Barcelona, Spain 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor Manuel Orantes Bob Lutz
30 October Stockholm Open Indoors [lower-alpha 1] Stockholm, Sweden 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor Arthur Ashe Jan Kodeš
8 November Rothmans Open Bologna, Italy 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor Rod Laver Arthur Ashe
19 November Dallas WCT Finals Houston/Dallas, U.S. 8 $100,000 Carpet / indoor Ken Rosewall Rod Laver

Schedule

The complete schedule of events on the 1971 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.[4]

February

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
9 FebU.S. Pro Indoor
Philadelphia, PA, United States
$62,500 - Carpet (i) - 32S/16D
John Newcombe
7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–1), 6–4
Rod Laver Arthur Ashe
Cliff Drysdale
Brian Fairlie
Dennis Ralston
Tom Okker
Roy Emerson

March

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 MarAustralian Open
Sydney, Australia
Grand Slam
$50,000 - Grass - 64S/32D
Ken Rosewall
6–1, 7–5, 6–3
Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz
Tom Okker
Mark Cox
Cliff Drysdale
Marty Riessen
Roy Emerson
John Newcombe
Tony Roche
6–2, 7–6
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
22 MarSportface International
Chicago, USA
$50,000 - Carpet (i) - 32S/16D
John Newcombe
4–6, 7–6 6–2, 6–3
Arthur Ashe Tom Okker
Ken Rosewall
Ray Ruffels
Charlie Pasarell
Cliff Drysdale
Andrés Gimeno
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
7–6, 4–6, 7–6
John Newcombe
Tony Roche
29 MarAventura Classic
Miami, USA
$50,000 - Hard - 32S/16D
Cliff Drysdale
6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Rod Laver Tony Roche
Roy Emerson
Nikola Pilić
Dennis Ralston
Tom Okker
John Newcombe
John Newcombe
Tony Roche
7–6, 7–6
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver

April

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
26 AprRawlings Classic
Dallas, United States
Carpet (i) - 32S/16D
John Newcombe
7–6, 6–4
Arthur Ashe Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
Mark Cox
Bob Maud
Cliff Drysdale
Bob Lutz
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
6–3, 6–4
Bob Lutz
Charlie Pasarell

May

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 MayItalian Open
Rome, Italy
Clay - 64S/32D
Rod Laver
7–5, 6–3, 6–3
Jan Kodeš Arthur Ashe
Tom Okker
Stan Smith
John Newcombe
Roy Emerson
Cliff Drysdale
John Newcombe
Tony Roche
6–3, 6–4
Andrés Gimeno
Roger Taylor
10 MayAryamehr Cup
Teheran, Iran
Clay
Marty Riessen
6–7, 6–1, 6–3, 7–6
John Alexander John Newcombe
Arthur Ashe
Rod Laver
Andrés Gimeno
Tony Roche
Roy Emerson
John Newcombe
Tony Roche
6–4, 6–7, 6–1
Bob Carmichael
Ray Ruffels

June

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 JunWills Open
Bristol, England
$48,000 – Clay – 32S/16D
Tournament not completed (rain)[3] Arthur Ashe
Cliff Drysdale
Rod Laver
Bob Maud
Ken Rosewall
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
Roy Emerson
Tournament not completed (rain)

July

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
12 JulWashington Star International
Washington, United States
Clay – 64S / 32D
Ken Rosewall
6–2, 7–5, 6–1
Marty Riessen Stan Smith
John Newcombe
Dennis Ralston
Ismail El Shafei
Cliff Drysdale
Andres Gimeno
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
7–6, 6–2
Bob Carmichael
Ray Ruffels
19 JulFirst National Tennis Classic
Louisville, United States
Tom Okker
3–6, 6–4, 6–1
Cliff Drysdale Nikola Pilić
Ray Ruffels
John Alexander
Dennis Ralston
Roy Emerson
Ismail El Shafei
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
Not played
Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle
26 JulQuebec WCT
Quebec City, Canada
Carpet (i) – 32S / 16D
Tom Okker
6–3, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
Rod Laver Bob Lutz
Cliff Drysdale
Charlie Pasarell
Roy Emerson
Arthur Ashe
Ray Ruffels
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
7–6, 6–2
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen

August

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 AugU.S. Pro Tennis Championships
Boston, USA
Ken Rosewall
6–4, 6–3, 6–0
Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
John Newcombe
Arthur Ashe
Rod Laver
Tom Okker
John Alexander
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
6–4, 6–4
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
9 AugRothmans Canadian Open
Toronto, Canada
Clay - 64S/32D
John Newcombe
7–6, 3–6, 6–2, 7–6
Tom Okker Ken Rosewall
Andrés Gimeno
Roger Taylor
Marcello Lara
Cliff Drysdale
Marty Riessen
Marty Riessen
Tom Okker
6–3, 6–3, 6–1
Arthur Ashe
Dennis Ralston
16 AugColonial National Invitational
Fort Worth, USA
Hard - 32S/16D
Rod Laver
2–6, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–3
Marty Riessen Roy Emerson
Cliff Drysdale
Charlie Pasarell
Ken Rosewall
John Alexander
Dennis Ralston
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
6–4, 7–5
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen

September

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
27 Sep1971 Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Open
San Francisco, USA
Rod Laver
6–4, 6–4, 7–6
Ken Rosewall Tom Okker
Arthur Ashe
Bob Lutz
Marty Riessen
Cliff Richey
Cliff Drysdale
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
6–0, 6–3
Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle

October

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 OctVancouver WCT
Vancouver, Canada
Ken Rosewall
6–2, 6–2, 6–4
Tom Okker Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
Marty Riessen
Nikola Pilić
Bob Carmichael
Andrés Gimeno
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
5–7, 6–7, 6–0, 7–5, 7–6
John Alexander
Phil Dent
11 OctProfi–Tennis–Weltmeistershaft
Cologne, Germany
Bob Lutz
6–3, 6–7, 6–3, 6–1
Jeff Borowiak Tom Okker
Cliff Drysdale
Rod Laver
Andrés Gimeno
Mark Cox
Ken Rosewall
Tom Okker
Marty Riessen
6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–4
Roy Emerson
Rod Laver
18 OctTorneo Godó
Barcelona, Spain
Manuel Orantes
6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Bob Lutz Marty Riessen
Martin Mulligan
Ken Rosewall
Rod Laver
John Newcombe
Fred Stolle
Željko Franulović
Juan Gisbert
7–6, 6–2, 7–6
Cliff Drysdale
Andrés Gimeno
30 OctStockholm Open
Stockholm, Sweden
Arthur Ashe
6–1, 3–6, 6–2, 1–6, 6–4
Jan Kodeš Andrés Gimeno
Cliff Drysdale
Tom Okker
Rod Laver
Mark Cox
John Alexander
Tom Gorman
Stan Smith
6–3, 6–4
Arthur Ashe
Bob Lutz

November

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
8 NovBologna Indoor
Bologna, Italia
Rod Laver
6–3, 6–4, 6–4
Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell
Ken Rosewall
Bob Lutz
Tom Okker
Cliff Drysdale
Marty Riessen
Ken Rosewall
Fred Stolle
6–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3
Robert Maud
Frew McMillan
19 NovWCT Finals
Dallas, United States
Ken Rosewall
6–4, 1–6, 7–6, 7–6
Rod Laver Tom Okker
Arthur Ashe
John Newcombe
Bob Lutz
Cliff Drysdale
Marty Riessen
John Newcombe

Standings

Key
Qualified for Tour Finals
Rk Name Country Tournaments Played Tournaments Won Matches Played Matches Won Points Prize Money (USD)
1Rod Laver AUS194541487.25289,841
2Tom Okker NED202521775120,564
3Ken Rosewall AUS184511474137,687
4Cliff Drysdale RSA201521869.2569,078
5Arthur Ashe USA201431868.2599,746
6John Newcombe AUS1243686097,764
7Marty Riessen USA20141195576,069
8Bob Lutz USA20131194158,392
9Roy Emerson AUS1931183446,052
10Andrés Gimeno ESP1829183034,512

See also

Notes

  1. Tournament was also open to non-WCT players.[2]
  2. Tournament was also part of the Grand Prix circuit.[1]

References

  1. John Barrett, ed. (1972). World of Tennis '72. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 145–153, 254. ISBN 9780362001037. OCLC 86035663.
  2. Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-0942257700.
  3. "Wills Open Lawn Tennis Shortened". Schenectady Gazette. Jun 15, 1971.
  4. atpworldtour.com. "1971 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar".
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