1972 World Championship Tennis circuit

Template:Short description Template:Infobox tennis circuit season 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

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
6 Feb	Fidelity WCT Richmond, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon John Newcombe	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 7–6, 7–6	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Tony Roche
8 Feb	U.S. Professional Indoor Philadelphia, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon Tom Okker	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Jeff Borowiak Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz
		Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz 6–3, 6–7, 6–3	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Tony Roche
20 Feb	Canadian Open (WCT) Toronto, Ontario, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell	Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen
		Template:Flagicon Bob Carmichael Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels 6–4, 4–6, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Rod Laver

March

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
5 Mar	Saga Bay Tennis Classic Hollywood, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall 3–6, 6–2, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell	Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei Template:Flagicon Mark Cox Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 7–5, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Rod Laver
16 Mar	Kemper International Tennis Tournament Chicago, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 4–6, 6–2, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall	Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Rod Laver

April

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
9 Apr	River Oaks Tennis Tournament Houston, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 6–2, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor	Template:Flagicon William Bowrey Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić
		Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 6–3, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle
16 Apr	Rothmans International Quebec Quebec City, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 7–5, 6–2, 7–5	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall
		Template:Flagicon Bob Carmichael Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels 4–6, 6–3, 7–5	Template:Flagicon Terry Addison Template:Flagicon John Alexander
23 Apr	Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall 2–6, 6–2, 6–2	Template:Flagicon Cliff Richey	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon John Alexander	Template:Flagicon Mark Cox Template:Flagicon William Bowrey Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 6–4, 4–6, 7–6	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Tony Roche
30 Apr	United Bank Classic Denver, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S Singles	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 4–6, 6–3, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Tom Okker	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon John Alexander
		Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 1–6, 6–4, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor

May

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 May	Alan King Tennis Classic Las Vegas, United States Regular series $50,000 – hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–3, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Frank Froehling	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall
		Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Rod Laver default	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Tony Roche
10 May	WCT Finals Dallas, United States WCT Finals $50,000 – carpet (i) – 8S Singles	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz

July

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 Jul	Holton Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–3, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell	Template:Flagicon Tony Roche Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Cliff Richey
		Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Tony Roche 7–6, 6–2	Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon Phil Dent
12 Jul	Washington Star International Washington, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Tony Roche 3–6, 7–6, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen	Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels Template:Flagicon John Newcombe	Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon Cliff Richey Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 3–6, 6–3, 6–2	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Tony Roche
29 Jul	First National Tennis Classic Louisville, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 6–4, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Mark Cox	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Tony Roche Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić
		Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon Phil Dent 6–4, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz

August

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
6 Aug	U.S. Pro Tennis Championships Boston, United States Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić Template:Flagicon Tony Roche
		Template:Flagicon Tony Roche Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–3, 1–6, 7–6	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz
13 Aug	Cleveland Classic Cleveland, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Mark Cox 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels	Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei
		Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor 7–6, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Frank Froehling Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell
20 Aug	Colonial Nat'l Invitation Tennis Tournament Fort Worth, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 5–7, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon Tony Roche Template:Flagicon Graham Stilwell Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–2	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle

September

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
11 Sep	Rothmans International Montreal, Quebec, Canada Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 7–5, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson	Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei Template:Flagicon Tom Okker	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Cliff Richey
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 6–1, 4–6, 7–6	Template:Flagicon Robert Maud Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall

October

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 Oct	Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Championships Alamo, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–1, 6–1, 7–5	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	Template:Flagicon Terry Addison Template:Flagicon Mark Cox Template:Flagicon John Alexander Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 7–6, 6–4	Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei Template:Flagicon Brian Fairlie
22 Oct	Rothmans International Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Regular series Carpet – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 7–5	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen	Template:Flagicon Mark Cox Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Brian Fairlie Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe
		Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle 7–6, 6–0	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale Template:Flagicon Allan Stone
29 Oct	Canada Dry International Essen, West Germany Regular series Carpet (i) – 32S/16D Singles	Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz	Template:Flagicon Cliff Richey Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Wilhelm Bungert Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe

November

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
5 Nov	Swedish Pro Tennis Championships Gothenburg, Sweden Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–0, 6–3, 6–1	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Mark Cox	Template:Flagicon Allan Stone Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor Template:Flagicon Haroon Rahim Template:Flagicon Jeff Borowiak
		Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 6–2, 7–6	Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei Template:Flagicon Brian Fairlie
18 Nov	Rotterdam Indoors Rotterdam, Netherlands Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–2, 6–1	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe Template:Flagicon Mark Cox	Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz Template:Flagicon Robin Drysdale Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen
		Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 6–2, 6–3	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz
26 Nov	WCT Winter Finals Rome, Italy WCT Finals Carpet (i) – $25,000 – 8S Singles	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale	Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen Template:Flagicon Mark Cox Template:Flagicon 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	Player	Finals	Regular series		All titles
		S	S	D	S	D
10	Template:Flagicon John Newcombe		6	4	6	4
	Template:Flagicon Tom Okker		1	9	1	9
	Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen		1	9	1	9
7	Template:Flagicon Rod Laver		5	2	5	2
5	Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe	1	3	1	4	1
3	Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall	1	2		3	0
	Template:Flagicon Tony Roche		1	2	1	2
	Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson			3	0	3
2	Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz		1	1	1	1
	Template:Flagicon Bob Carmichael			2	0	2
	Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels			2	0	2
1	Template:Flagicon Mark Cox		1		1	0
	Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić		1		1	0
	Template:Flagicon Stan Smith		1		1	0
	Template:Flagicon John Alexander			1	0	1
	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Connors			1	0	1
	Template:Flagicon Phil Dent			1	0	1
	Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale			1	0	1
	Template:Flagicon Pancho Gonzales			1	0	1
	Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle			1	0	1
	Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor			1	0	1

Titles won by nation

Total titles	Nation	Finals	Regular series		All titles
		S	S	D	S	D
22	Template:Flagu	1	13	8	14	8
19	Template:Flagu	1	6	12	7	12
10	Template:Flagu		1	9	1	9
2	Template:Flagu		1	1	1	1
1			1		1	0
	Template:Flagicon 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 Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 2 Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 3 Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall 4 Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale 5 Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 6 Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 7 Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 8 Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz 9 Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson 10 Template:Flagicon Andrés Gimeno 11 Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell 12 Template:Flagicon John Alexander 13 Template:Flagicon Dennis Ralston 14 Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels = Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei = Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić 17 Template:Flagicon Robert Maud 18 Template:Flagicon Mark Cox 19 Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor 20 Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle

1972 Standings (May) # Player 1 Template:Flagicon Rod Laver 2 Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall 3 Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 4 Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale 5 Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 6 Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 7 Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz 8 Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 9 Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson = Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell 11 Template:Flagicon John Alexander 12 Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor 13 Template:Flagicon Andrés Gimeno 14 Template:Flagicon Mark Cox 15 Template:Flagicon Jeff Borowiak 16 Template:Flagicon Fred Stolle = Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić 18 Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei 19 Template:Flagicon Bob Carmichael 20 Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels

1972 Standings (November) # Player 1 Template:Flagicon John Newcombe 2 Template:Flagicon Arthur Ashe 3 Template:Flagicon Tom Okker 4 Template:Flagicon Mark Cox 5 Template:Flagicon Cliff Drysdale = Template:Flagicon Marty Riessen 7 Template:Flagicon Robert Lutz = Template:Flagicon Nikola Pilić 9 Template:Flagicon Roy Emerson = Template:Flagicon Tony Roche = Template:Flagicon Ismail El Shafei 12 Template:Flagicon Cliff Richey 13 Template:Flagicon Charlie Pasarell 14 Template:Flagicon Ray Ruffels 15 Template:Flagicon Ken Rosewall = Template:Flagicon Roger Taylor 17 Template:Flagicon John Alexander 18 Template:Flagicon Bob Carmichael = Template:Flagicon Allan Stone = Template:Flagicon Haroon Rahim = Template:Flagicon Jeff Borowiak

See also

• 1972 Grand Prix circuit
• 1972 USLTA Indoor Circuit
• Association of Tennis Professionals
• International Tennis Federation

External links

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) official website
• International Tennis Federation (ITF) official website