1971 World Championship Tennis circuit

1971 World Championship Tennis circuit
	Rosewall won five titles
Details
Duration	9 February 1971 – 19 November 1971
Edition	4th
Tournaments	21
Achievements (singles)
Most titles	Ken Rosewall (5)
Most finals	Rod Laver (8)
Prize money ; leader	Rod Laver ($289,841)
Points leader	Rod Laver (87.25)
	← 1970 1972 →

Last updated June 11, 2025

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	Italian Open ^[a]	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)^[3]
12 Jul	Washington Star Open International ^[b]	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	Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Open ^[b]	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	Spanish Open ^[a]	Barcelona, Spain	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Manuel Orantes	Bob Lutz
30 Oct	Stockholm Open Indoors ^[a]	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.^[4]

February

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
9 Feb	U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, United States Carpet (i) – $62,500 – 32S/16D Singles	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 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	Roy Emerson Rod Laver	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	Bob Lutz Charlie Pasarell	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	Mark Cox Bob Maud Cliff Drysdale Bob Lutz

May

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
3 May	Italian Open Rome, Italy Clay – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles	Rod Laver 7–5, 6–3, 6–3	Jan Kodeš	Arthur Ashe Tom Okker	Stan Smith John Newcombe Roy Emerson Cliff Drysdale
3 May	Italian Open Rome, Italy Clay – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles	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	Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels	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)^[3]		Arthur Ashe Cliff Drysdale Rod Laver Bob Maud	Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Marty Riessen Roy Emerson
7 Jun	Wills Open Bristol, England Clay – $48,000 – 32S/16D	Tournament not completed (rain)		Arthur Ashe Cliff Drysdale Rod Laver Bob Maud	Ken Rosewall Tom Okker Marty Riessen Roy Emerson

July

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
12 Jul	Washington Star International Washington, United States Clay – $50,000 – 64S / 32D Singles – Doubles	Ken Rosewall 6–2, 7–5, 6–1	Marty Riessen	Stan Smith John Newcombe	Dennis Ralston Ismail El Shafei Cliff Drysdale Andrés Gimeno
12 Jul		Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–6, 6–2	Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels	Stan Smith John Newcombe
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	Rothmans International Quebec Quebec City, Canada Carpet (i) – 32S / 16D Singles – Doubles	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	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	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	Tom Okker	Ken Rosewall Andrés Gimeno	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	Ken Rosewall Andrés Gimeno	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	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	Roy Emerson Cliff Drysdale	Charlie Pasarell Ken Rosewall John Alexander Dennis Ralston

September

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
27 Sep	Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Open San Francisco, United States Hard – $50,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles	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	Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle	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	Marty Riessen Nikola Pilić Bob Carmichael Andrés Gimeno
3 Oct		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 5–7, 6–7, 6–0, 7–5, 7–6	John Alexander Phil Dent	Roy Emerson Rod Laver	Marty Riessen Nikola Pilić Bob Carmichael Andrés Gimeno
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	Marty Riessen Martin Mulligan	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	Marty Riessen Martin Mulligan	Ken Rosewall Rod Laver John Newcombe Fred Stolle
30 Oct	Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden Hard – $50,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles	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
30 Oct		Tom Gorman Stan Smith 6–3, 6–4	Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz	Andrés Gimeno Cliff Drysdale	Tom Okker Rod Laver Mark Cox John Alexander

November

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
8 Nov	Bologna Indoor Bologna, Italy Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 41S/16D Doubles	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	WCT Finals Dallas, United States Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 8S Singles	Ken Rosewall 6–4, 1–6, 7–6^(7–3), 7–6^(7–4)	Rod Laver	Tom Okker Arthur Ashe	John Newcombe Bob Lutz Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen

Standings

Key

Qualified for Tour Finals

Rk	Name	Country	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money (USD)
1	Rod Laver	AUS	19	4	54	14	87.25	289,841
2	Tom Okker	NED	20	2	52	17	75	120,564
3	Ken Rosewall	AUS	18	4	51	14	74	137,687
4	Cliff Drysdale	RSA	20	1	52	18	69.25	69,078
5	Arthur Ashe	USA	20	1	43	18	68.25	99,746
6	John Newcombe	AUS	12	4	36	8	60	97,764
7	Marty Riessen	USA	20	1	41	19	55	76,069
8	Bob Lutz	USA	20	1	31	19	41	58,392
9	Roy Emerson	AUS	19	–	31	18	34	46,052
10	Andrés Gimeno	ESP	18	–	29	18	30	34,512

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

Notes

1 2 3 Tournament was also open to non-WCT players.^[2]
1 2 Tournament was also part of the Grand Prix circuit.^[1]

References

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

External links

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[joint-3] 1 2 3 Tournament was also open to non-WCT players.^[2]

[grandprix-5] 1 2 Tournament was also part of the Grand Prix circuit.^[1]

[wot1972-1] 1 2 3 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.

[shortened-4] 1 2 "Wills Open Lawn Tennis Shortened". Schenectady Gazette. Jun 15, 1971.

[atpcalendar-6] "1971 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

[1]

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[3]

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[4]

[2]

v t e Men's tennis seasons
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