1971 World Championship Tennis circuit explained

1971 World Championship Tennis circuit
Duration:	9 February 1971 – 19 November 1971
Edition:	4th
Tournaments:	21
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)
Previous:	1970
Next:	1972

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) and was the first edition of the circuit. 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]

Overview

Week	Tournament	Location	Draw	Prize money	Surface	Champions	Runners-up
9 Feb	U.S. Pro Indoor	Philadelphia, U.S.	32	$62,500	Carpet / indoor	John Newcombe	Rod Laver
7 Mar	Australian Open Championships	Sydney, Australia	64	$50,000	Grass / outdoor	Ken Rosewall	Arthur Ashe
22 Mar	Sportface International	Chicago, U.S.	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	John Newcombe	Arthur Ashe
29 Mar	Aventura Tennis Classic	Miami, U.S.	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	Cliff Drysdale	Rod Laver
26 Apr	Rawlings Classic	Dallas, U.S.	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	John Newcombe	Arthur Ashe
3 May		Rome, Italy	48	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Rod Laver	Jan Kodeš
10 May	Aryamehr Cup	Tehran, Iran	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Marty Riessen	John Alexander
7 Jun	W.D. & H.O. Wills	Bristol, England	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Unfinished (rain)^[2]
12 Jul		Washington, U.S.	64	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Ken Rosewall	Marty Riessen
19 July	Louisville Classic	Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Tom Okker	Cliff Drysdale
26 Jul	Rothmans International	Quebec City, Canada	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Tom Okker	Rod Laver
2 Aug	U.S. Professional Championships	Boston, U.S.	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	Ken Rosewall	Cliff Drysdale
9 Aug	Rothmans Canadian Open	Toronto, Canada	64	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	John Newcombe	Tom Okker
16 Aug	Colonial Pro Championships	Fort Worth, U.S.	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Rod Laver	Marty Riessen
27 Sep		Berkeley, U.S.	64	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	Rod Laver	Ken Rosewall
3 Oct	Rothmans International	Vancouver, Canada	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Ken Rosewall	Tom Okker
11 Oct	Profi–Tennis–Weltmeistershaft	Cologne, Germany	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Bob Lutz	Jeff Borowiak
18 Oct		Barcelona, Spain	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Manuel Orantes	Bob Lutz
30 Oct		Stockholm, Sweden	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Arthur Ashe	Jan Kodeš
8 Nov	Rothmans Open	Bologna, Italy	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Rod Laver	Arthur Ashe
19 Nov	Dallas WCT Finals	Houston/Dallas, U.S.	8	$100,000	Carpet / indoor	Ken Rosewall	Rod Laver

Schedule

The schedule of the tournaments on the 1971 WCT circuit, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage onward.^[3]

March

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

April

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
26 Apr	Rawlings 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
26 Apr	Rawlings Classic Dallas, United States Carpet (i) – 32S/16D	Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–3, 6–4		Tom Okker Marty Riessen	Mark Cox Bob Maud Cliff Drysdale Bob Lutz

May

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
3 May		Rod Laver 7–5, 6–3, 6–3	Jan Kodeš	Arthur Ashe Tom Okker	Stan Smith John Newcombe Roy Emerson Cliff Drysdale
3 May		John Newcombe Tony Roche 6–3, 6–4	Andrés Gimeno Roger Taylor	Arthur Ashe Tom Okker	Stan Smith John Newcombe Roy Emerson Cliff Drysdale
10 May	Aryamehr Cup Teheran, Iran Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Marty Riessen 6–7, 6–1, 6–3, 7–6	John Alexander	John Newcombe Arthur Ashe	Rod Laver Andrés Gimeno Tony Roche Roy Emerson
10 May	Aryamehr Cup Teheran, Iran Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	John Newcombe Tony Roche 6–4, 6–7, 6–1		John Newcombe Arthur Ashe	Rod Laver Andrés Gimeno Tony Roche Roy Emerson

June

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
7 Jun	Wills Open Bristol, England Clay – $48,000 – 32S/16D	Tournament not completed (rain)			Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Marty Riessen Roy Emerson
7 Jun	Wills Open Bristol, England Clay – $48,000 – 32S/16D	Tournament not completed (rain)			Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Marty Riessen Roy Emerson

July

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
12 Jul		Ken Rosewall 6–2, 7–5, 6–1			Dennis Ralston Ismail El Shafei Cliff Drysdale Andrés Gimeno
12 Jul		Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–6, 6–2	Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels
19 Jul	First National Tennis Classic Louisville, United States Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Tom Okker 3–6, 6–4, 6–1	Cliff Drysdale	Nikola Pilić Ray Ruffels	John Alexander Dennis Ralston Roy Emerson Ismail El Shafei
19 Jul		Roy Emerson Rod Laver Not played	Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle	Nikola Pilić Ray Ruffels	John Alexander Dennis Ralston Roy Emerson Ismail El Shafei
26 Jul		Tom Okker 6–3, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4	Rod Laver	Bob Lutz Cliff Drysdale	Charlie Pasarell Roy Emerson Arthur Ashe Ray Ruffels
26 Jul		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 7–6, 6–2		Bob Lutz Cliff Drysdale	Charlie Pasarell Roy Emerson Arthur Ashe Ray Ruffels

August

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
2 Aug	U.S. Pro Tennis Championships Boston, United States Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Ken Rosewall 6–4, 6–3, 6–0	Cliff Drysdale	Marty Riessen John Newcombe	Arthur Ashe Rod Laver Tom Okker John Alexander
2 Aug		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–4, 6–4	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	Marty Riessen John Newcombe	Arthur Ashe Rod Laver Tom Okker John Alexander
9 Aug	Rothmans Canadian Open Toronto, Canada Clay – 64S/32D	John Newcombe 7–6, 3–6, 6–2, 7–6			Roger Taylor Marcelo Lara Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
9 Aug	Rothmans Canadian Open Toronto, Canada Clay – 64S/32D	Marty Riessen Tom Okker 6–3, 6–3, 6–1	Arthur Ashe Dennis Ralston		Roger Taylor Marcelo Lara Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
16 Aug	Colonial National Invitational Fort Worth, United States 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
16 Aug		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–4, 7–5		Roy Emerson Cliff Drysdale	Charlie Pasarell Ken Rosewall John Alexander Dennis Ralston

September

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
27 Sep		Rod Laver 6–4, 6–4, 7–6	Ken Rosewall	Tom Okker Arthur Ashe	Bob Lutz Marty Riessen Cliff Richey Cliff Drysdale
27 Sep		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–3, 6–3		Tom Okker Arthur Ashe	Bob Lutz Marty Riessen Cliff Richey Cliff Drysdale

October

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
3 Oct	Rothmans International Vancouver Vancouver, Canada Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Ken Rosewall 6–2, 6–2, 6–4	Tom Okker	Roy Emerson Rod Laver
3 Oct		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 5–7, 6–7, 6–0, 7–5, 7–6	John Alexander Phil Dent	Roy Emerson Rod Laver
11 Oct	World Professional Tennis Championship Cologne, West 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
11 Oct		Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–7, 3–6, 7–6, 6–3, 6–4	Roy Emerson Rod Laver	Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale	Rod Laver Andrés Gimeno Mark Cox Ken Rosewall
18 Oct	Torneo Godó Barcelona, Spain Clay – $70,000 – 64S/32D	Manuel Orantes 6–4, 6–3, 6–4	Bob Lutz		Ken Rosewall Rod Laver John Newcombe Fred Stolle
18 Oct	Torneo Godó Barcelona, Spain Clay – $70,000 – 64S/32D	Željko Franulović Juan Gisbert 7–6, 6–2, 7–6	Cliff Drysdale Andrés Gimeno		Ken Rosewall Rod Laver John Newcombe Fred Stolle
30 Oct		Arthur Ashe 6–1, 3–6, 6–2, 1–6, 6–4	Jan Kodeš		Tom Okker Rod Laver Mark Cox John Alexander
30 Oct		Tom Gorman Stan Smith 6–3, 6–4			Tom Okker Rod Laver Mark Cox John Alexander

November

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
8 Nov		Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4, 6–4	Arthur Ashe	Charlie Pasarell Ken Rosewall	Bob Lutz Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
8 Nov		Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle 6–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3	Robert Maud Frew McMillan	Charlie Pasarell Ken Rosewall	Bob Lutz Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
19 Nov	bgcolor=#FFFFCC rowspan=1		Ken Rosewall 6–4, 1–6, 7–6^(7–3), 7–6^(7–4)	Rod Laver	Tom Okker Arthur Ashe

Standings

Key

Qualified for Tour Finals

Rk	Name	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money (USD)
1	Rod Laver	19	4	54	14	87.25	289,841
2		20	2	52	17	75	120,564
3		18	4	51	14	74	137,687
4		20	1	52	18	69.25	69,078
5		20	1	43	18	68.25	99,746
6		12	4	36	8	60	97,764
7		20	1	41	19	55	76,069
8		20	1	31	19	41	58,392
9		19	–	31	18	34	46,052
10		18	–	29	18	30	34,512

_{Source: World of Tennis '72^[1]}

External links

Notes and References

Book: World of Tennis '72. 1972. Queen Anne Press. London. 9780362001037. 86035663. 145–153, 254. John Barrett.
News: Wills Open Lawn Tennis Shortened. Schenectady Gazette. Jun 15, 1971.
News: Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) . 1971 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar.