1974 World Championship Tennis circuit

The 1974 World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1974, the other being the Grand Prix circuit. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). It was the fourth edition of the WCT circuit and a total of 84 players participated. All players took part in the opening U.S. Pro Indoor tournament in Philadelphia and afterwards were divided into three groups (red, blue and green) of 28 players, with each group playing eight further tournaments.[1]

1974 World Championship Tennis circuit
Newcombe reached 6 finals
Details
Duration21 January 1974 – 12 May 1974
Edition7th
Tournaments26
Achievements (singles)
Most titlesAustralia John Newcombe (5)
Most finalsAustralia John Newcombe (6)
Prize money
leader
Australia John Newcombe ($174,085)
Points leaderAustralia John Newcombe (507)
1973
1975

The season final was played in Dallas by the eight best performers, the top two of each group plus the next two highest point winners, and was won by Australian John Newcombe who defeated Björn Borg from Sweden in four sets, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2. Newcombe ended the season as prize money and points leader.[2]

Overview

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Week of Tournament Location Draw Prize money Surface Winner Finalist
21 January U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US 128 $100,000 Carpet / indoor   Rod Laver   Arthur Ashe
28 January Fidelity Tournament Richmond, Virginia, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Ilie Năstase   Tom Gorman
4 February St. Petersburg WCT St. Petersburg, Florida, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   John Newcombe   Alex Metreveli
11 February Astor Cup Bologna, Italy 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Arthur Ashe   Mark Cox
11 February Rothmans Toronto, Canada 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Tom Okker   Ilie Năstase
18 February Hempstead WCT Hempstead, New York, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Stan Smith   John Newcombe
18 February Rothmans London, UK 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Björn Borg   Mark Cox
25 February Barcelona WCT Barcelona, Spain 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Arthur Ashe   Björn Borg
25 February Lacosta WCT La Costa, California, US 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor   John Newcombe   Stan Smith
25 February Saga Bay Classic Miami, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Cliff Drysdale   Tom Gorman
11 March São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brazil 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Björn Borg   Arthur Ashe
11 March Washington WCT Washington, D.C., US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Ilie Năstase   Tom Okker
15 March Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Tom Okker   Tom Gorman
15 March Atlanta WCT Atlanta Georgia, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Dick Stockton   Jiří Hřebec
15 March Palm Desert WCT Palm Desert, California, US 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor   Rod Laver   Roscoe Tanner
1 April Munich WCT Munich, Germany 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Frew McMillan   Niki Pilić
1 April New Orleans WCT New Orleans, Louisiana, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   John Newcombe   Jeff Borowiak
8 April Monte Carlo WCT Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor   Andrew Pattison   Ilie Năstase
8 April Orlando WCT Orlando, Florida, US 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor   John Newcombe   Jaime Fillol
8 April Tokyo WCT Tokyo, Japan 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor   Rod Laver   Juan Gisbert
15 April Johannesburg WCT Johannesburg, South Africa 32 $50,000 Hard / outdoor   Andrew Pattison   John Alexander
15 April Charlotte WCT Charlotte, North Carolina, US 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor   Jeff Borowiak   Dick Stockton
15 April Houston WCT Houston, Texas, US 32 $50,000 Clay / outdoor   Rod Laver   Björn Borg
22 April Denver WCT Denver, Colorado, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Roscoe Tanner   Arthur Ashe
22 April St. Louis WCT St. Louis, Missouri, US 32 $50,000 Carpet / indoor   Stan Smith   Alex Metreveli
8 May Dallas WCT Finals Dallas, Texas, US 8 $100,000 Carpet / indoor   John Newcombe   Björn Borg

Schedule

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January

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
21 Jan U.S. Pro Indoor
Philadelphia, United States
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 128S/64D
  Rod Laver
6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4
  Arthur Ashe   Jan Kodeš
  Tony Roche
  Tom Okker
  Adriano Panatta
  Eddie Dibbs
  Mark Cox
  Pat Cramer
  Mike Estep
7–6, 6–7, 6–3
  Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau
  Georges Goven
28 Jan Fidelity Tournament
Richmond, United States
Red group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Ilie Năstase
6–2, 6–3
  Tom Gorman   Niki Pilić
  Patrice Dominguez
  Georges Goven
  Billy Martin
  Cliff Drysdale
  Marty Riessen
  Nikola Pilić
  Allan Stone
6–3, 3–6, 7–6
  John Alexander
  Phil Dent

February

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 Feb St. Petersburg WCT
St. Petersburg, United States
Blue group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  John Newcombe
6–0, 7–6(7–3)
  Alex Metreveli   Ross Case
  Raúl Ramírez
  Dick Stockton
  Jiří Hřebec
  Stan Smith
  Brian Gottfried
  Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
  Clark Graebner
  Charlie Pasarell
11 Feb Astor Cup
Bologna, Italy
Green group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Arthur Ashe
6–4, 7–5
  Mark Cox   Roger Taylor
  Ion Țiriac
  Graham Stilwell
  Adriano Panatta
  Rod Laver
  Colin Dibley
  Ove Nils Bengtson
  Björn Borg
6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2
  Arthur Ashe
  Roscoe Tanner
11 Feb Toronto Indoor
Toronto, Canada
Red group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Tom Okker
7–6, 6–2
  Ilie Năstase   John Alexander
  Marty Riessen
  Tony Roche
  Erik van Dillen
  Phil Dent
  Bob Hewitt
  Raúl Ramírez
  Tony Roche
6–3, 2–6, 6–4
  Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen
15 Feb Rothmans International
London, England
Green group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Björn Borg
6–7, 7–6, 6–4
  Mark Cox   Roscoe Tanner
  Jan Kodeš
  Arthur Ashe
  Stephen Warboys
  Rod Laver
  Ove Bengtson
  Ove Nils Bengtson
  Björn Borg
7–6, 6–3
  Mark Farrell
  John Lloyd
18 Feb Hempstead WCT
Hempstead, United States
Blue group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Stan Smith
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
  John Newcombe   Alex Metreveli
  Brian Fairlie
  Ismail El Shafei
  Jiří Hřebec
  Milan Holeček
  Cliff Richey
  Jeff Borowiak
  Dick Crealy
6–7, 6–4, 6–4
  Ross Case
  Geoff Masters
25 Feb Barcelona WCT
Barcelona, Spain
Green group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Arthur Ashe
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
  Björn Borg   Eddie Dibbs
  Vladimír Zedník
  Roger Taylor
  Adriano Panatta
  Tom Leonard
  Ion Țiriac
  Arthur Ashe
  Roscoe Tanner
6–3, 6–4
  Tom Edlefsen
  Tom Leonard
25 Feb La Costa WCT
La Costa, United States
Blue group
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  John Newcombe
6–2, 4–6, 6–4
  Stan Smith   Patricio Cornejo
  Raúl Ramírez
  Brian Gottfried
  Alex Metreveli
  Dick Crealy
  Dick Stockton
  Clark Graebner
  Charlie Pasarell
6–4, 6–7, 7–5
  Roy Emerson
  Dennis Ralston
25 Feb Miami Open
Miami, United States
Red group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Cliff Drysdale
6–4, 7–5
  Tom Gorman   Tom Okker
  John Alexander
  Patrick Proisy
  Niki Pilić
  Mike Estep
  Ilie Năstase
  John Alexander
  Phil Dent
4–6, 6–4, 7–5
  Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen

March

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 Mar São Paulo WCT
São Paulo, Brasil
Green group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Björn Borg
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
  Arthur Ashe   Thomaz Koch
  Antonio Zugarelli
  Ion Țiriac
  Harold Solomon
  Mark Cox
  Rod Laver
  Adriano Panatta
  Ion Țiriac
7–5, 3–6, 6–3
  Ove Nils Bengtson
  Björn Borg
11 Mar Xerox WCT Tennis Classic
Washington, United States
Red group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Ilie Năstase
6–3, 6–3
  Tom Okker   Cliff Drysdale
  Tom Gorman
  Tony Roche
  Marty Riessen
  Patrick Proisy
  Niki Pilić
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
7–6, 6–3
  Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen
25 Mar ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Green group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Tom Okker
4–6, 7–6, 6–1
  Tom Gorman   Cliff Drysdale
  Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
  Marty Riessen
  Manuel Orantes
  Niki Pilić
  Pierre Barthès
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
  Pierre Barthès
  Ilie Năstase
25 Mar Peachtree Corners Classic
Atlanta, United States
Blue group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Dick Stockton
6–2, 6–1
  Jiří Hřebec   Ross Case
  Geoff Masters
  John Newcombe
  Brian Gottfried
  Alex Metreveli
  Brian Fairlie
  Bob Lutz
  Stan Smith
6–3, 3–6, 7–6
  Brian Gottfried
  Dick Stockton
25 Mar Palm Desert WCT
Palm Desert, United States
Green group
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Rod Laver
6–4, 6–2
  Roscoe Tanner   Arthur Ashe
  Eddie Dibbs
  Dennis Ralston
  Harold Solomon
  Jan Kodeš
  Mark Cox
  Jan Kodeš
  Vladimír Zedník
6–4, 6–4
  Raymond Moore
  Onny Parun

April

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Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Apr Munich WCT
Munich, West Germany
Red group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Frew McMillan
6–7, 7–6, 7–6
  Niki Pilić   Tony Roche
  Phil Dent
  Manuel Orantes
  Bob Maud
  Erik van Dillen
  Marty Riessen
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
6–2, 7–6
  Pierre Barthès
  Ilie Năstase
1 Apr New Orleans WCT
New Orleans, United States
Blue group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  John Newcombe
6–4, 6–2
  Jeff Borowiak   Željko Franulović
  Jiří Hřebec
  Bob Lutz
  Stan Smith
  Frank Froehling
  Charlie Pasarell
  Bob Lutz
  Stan Smith
4–6, 6–4, 7–6
  Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe
8 Apr Monte Carlo WCT
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Red group
Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Andrew Pattison
5–7, 6–3, 6–4
  Ilie Năstase   Bob Maud
  Marty Riessen
  Balázs Taróczy
  John Alexander
  Mike Estep
  Cliff Drysdale
  John Alexander
  Phil Dent
7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3
  Manuel Orantes
  Tony Roche
8 Apr Orlando WCT
Orlando, United States
Blue group
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  John Newcombe
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
  Jaime Fillol   Buster Mottram
  Stan Smith
  Raúl Ramírez
  Jeff Borowiak
  Raz Reid
  Cliff Richey
  Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe
7–6, 6–3
  Brian Gottfried
  Dick Stockton
8 Apr Tokyo WCT
Tokyo, Japan
Green group
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Rod Laver
5–7, 6–2, 6–0
  Juan Gisbert   Björn Borg
  Onny Parun
  Ray Moore
  Paul Gerken
  Guillermo Vilas
  Adriano Panatta
  Raymond Moore
  Onny Parun
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
  Juan Gisbert
  Roger Taylor
15 Apr Johannesburg Indoor
Johannesburg, South Africa
Red group
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Andrew Pattison
6–3, 7–5
  John Alexander   Cliff Drysdale
  Tom Gorman
  Frew McMillan
  John Yuill
  Deon Joubert
  Bernard Mitton
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
6–2, 6–4, 7–6
  Jim McManus
  Andrew Pattison
15 Apr Charlotte WCT
Charlotte, United States
Blue group
Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Jeff Borowiak
6–4, 5–7, 7–6(7–5)
  Dick Stockton   Jaime Fillol
  Stan Smith
  John Newcombe
  Alex Metreveli
  Sydney Ball
  Geoff Masters
  Buster Mottram
  Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
  Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe
15 Apr Houston WCT
Houston, United States
Green group
Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Rod Laver
7–6, 6–2
  Björn Borg   Onny Parun
  Eddie Dibbs
  Colin Dibley
  Guillermo Vilas
  Arthur Ashe
  Vladimír Zedník
  Colin Dibley
  Rod Laver
4–6, 7–6, 6–4
  Arthur Ashe
  Roscoe Tanner
22 Apr Holton Tennis Classic
St. Louis, United States
Blue group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Stan Smith
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
  Alex Metreveli   Dick Crealy
  John Newcombe
  Cliff Richey
  Ross Case
  Clark Graebner
  Ismail El Shafei
  Ismail El Shafei
  Brian Fairlie
7–6, 6–7, 7–6
  Ross Case
  Geoff Masters
22 Apr United Bank Classic
Denver, United States
Green group
Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D
  Roscoe Tanner
6–2, 6–4
  Arthur Ashe   Jan Kodeš
  Mark Cox
  Paul Gerken
  Ray Moore
  Rod Laver
  Eddie Dibbs
  Arthur Ashe
  Roscoe Tanner
6–3, 7–6
  Mark Cox
  Jun Kamiwazumi
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 May WCT World Doubles
Montreal, Canada
WCT Finals
Carpet (i) – $80,000 – 8D
  Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
6–2, 6–7(6–8), 6–1, 6–2
  Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe
8 May WCT Finals
Dallas, United States
WCT Finals
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 8S
  John Newcombe
4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
  Björn Borg   Stan Smith
  Jan Kodeš
  Rod Laver
  Tom Okker
  Ilie Năstase
  Arthur Ashe

Standings

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Red group

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Player Tournaments played Tournaments won Matches won Matches lost Points Prize money
  Ilie Năstase * 11 4 37 7 457 $57,135
  Tom Okker * 9 2 31 7 330 $47,750
  Tom Gorman 12 0 26 12 302 $26,030
  Cliff Drysdale 12 1 25 11 252 $29,560
  Niki Pilić 11 0 24 11 244 $17,970
  Andrew Pattison 12 2 20 10 214 $27,970
  John Alexander 12 0 15 12 182 $29,170
  Marty Riessen 10 0 15 10 164 $23,360
  Tony Roche 9 0 16 8 160 $22,300
  Frew McMillan 11 1 8 10 130 $42,725

Blue group

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Player Tournaments played Tournaments won Matches won Matches lost Points Prize money
  John Newcombe * 11 5 38 6 507 $174,085
  Stan Smith * 12 2 35 10 390 $61,900
  Alex Metreveli 12 0 28 12 292 $25,285
  Dick Stockton 12 1 18 11 212 $26,985
  Jiří Hřebec 12 0 21 12 189 $14,345
  Jeff Borowiak 11 1 14 10 184 $23,310
  Ross Case 12 0 18 12 150 $17,690
  Raúl Ramírez 12 0 13 12 137 $21,250
  Jaime Fillol 11 0 11 11 136 $17,035
  Cliff Richey 12 0 14 12 115 $23,315

Green group

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Player Tournaments played Tournaments won Matches won Matches lost Points Prize money
  Arthur Ashe * 12 2 37 10 415 $79,175
  Rod Laver * 10 4 33 6 395 $70,600
  Björn Borg * 12 2 31 10 355 $76,645
  Jan Kodeš * 13 1 33 12 350 $25,350
  Mark Cox 12 0 23 12 237 $27,575
  Roscoe Tanner 10 1 18 9 212 $39,440
  Eddie Dibbs 11 0 17 11 180 $22,045
  Roger Taylor 12 0 21 12 162 $13,610
  Adriano Panatta 11 0 19 11 155 $18,275
  Onny Parun 12 0 15 12 152 $14,925

* Qualified for the WCT Finals. The best two players from each group qualified plus the next two players with the highest points total.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1975). World of Tennis 75 : a BP and Commercial Union yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 135–137. ISBN 0362002177.
  2. ^ "Newcombe Tops Borg". Reading Eagle. May 13, 1974. p. 22.
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