1974 World Championship Tennis circuit

1974 World Championship Tennis circuit
	Newcombe reached 6 finals
Details
Duration	21 January 1974 – 12 May 1974
Edition	7th
Tournaments	26
Achievements (singles)
Most titles	John Newcombe (5)
Most finals	John Newcombe (6)
Prize money ; leader	John Newcombe ($174,085)
Points leader	John Newcombe (507)
	← 1973 1975 →

Last updated July 03, 2025

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]

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

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	La Costa 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

January

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
21 Jan		Pat Cramer Mike Estep 7–6, 6–7, 6–3	Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau Georges Goven	Jan Kodeš Tony Roche	Tom Okker Adriano Panatta Eddie Dibbs Mark Cox
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
28 Jan		Nikola Pilić Allan Stone 6–3, 3–6, 7–6	John Alexander Phil Dent	Niki Pilić Patrice Dominguez	Georges Goven Billy Martin Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen

February

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
4 Feb		Owen Davidson John Newcombe 4–6, 6–3, 6–4	Clark Graebner Charlie Pasarell	Ross Case Raúl Ramírez	Dick Stockton Jiří Hřebec Stan Smith Brian Gottfried
11 Feb	Astor Cup Bologna, Italy Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Arthur Ashe 6–4, 7–5	Mark Cox	Roger Taylor Ion Țiriac	Graham Stilwell Adriano Panatta Rod Laver Colin Dibley
11 Feb		Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg 6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2	Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner	Roger Taylor Ion Țiriac	Graham Stilwell Adriano Panatta Rod Laver Colin Dibley
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
11 Feb		Raúl Ramírez Tony Roche 6–3, 2–6, 6–4	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	John Alexander Marty Riessen	Tony Roche Erik van Dillen Phil Dent Bob Hewitt
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
15 Feb		Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg 7–6, 6–3	Mark Farrell John Lloyd	Roscoe Tanner Jan Kodeš	Arthur Ashe Stephen Warboys Rod Laver Ove Bengtson
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
18 Feb		Jeff Borowiak Dick Crealy 6–7, 6–4, 6–4	Ross Case Geoff Masters	Alex Metreveli Brian Fairlie	Ismail El Shafei Jiří Hřebec Milan Holeček Cliff Richey
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
25 Feb		Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner 6–3, 6–4	Tom Edlefsen Tom Leonard	Eddie Dibbs Vladimír Zedník	Roger Taylor Adriano Panatta Tom Leonard Ion Țiriac
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
25 Feb		Clark Graebner Charlie Pasarell 6–4, 6–7, 7–5	Roy Emerson Dennis Ralston	Patricio Cornejo Raúl Ramírez	Brian Gottfried Alex Metreveli Dick Crealy Dick Stockton
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
25 Feb		John Alexander Phil Dent 4–6, 6–4, 7–5	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	Tom Okker John Alexander	Patrick Proisy Niki Pilić Mike Estep Ilie Năstase

March

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
11 Mar		Adriano Panatta Ion Țiriac 7–5, 3–6, 6–3	Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg	Thomaz Koch Antonio Zugarelli	Ion Țiriac Harold Solomon Mark Cox Rod Laver
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
11 Mar		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–6, 6–3	Tom Okker Marty Riessen	Cliff Drysdale Tom Gorman	Tony Roche Marty Riessen Patrick Proisy Niki Pilić
25 Mar	ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament Rotterdam, Netherlands Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Tom Okker 4–6, 7–6, 6–1	Tom Gorman	Cliff Drysdale Hans-Jürgen Pohmann	Marty Riessen Manuel Orantes Niki Pilić Pierre Barthès
25 Mar		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 3–6, 6–4, 6–3	Pierre Barthès Ilie Năstase	Cliff Drysdale Hans-Jürgen Pohmann	Marty Riessen Manuel Orantes Niki Pilić Pierre Barthès
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
25 Mar		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–3, 3–6, 7–6	Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton	Ross Case Geoff Masters	John Newcombe Brian Gottfried Alex Metreveli Brian Fairlie
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
25 Mar		Jan Kodeš Vladimír Zedník 6–4, 6–4	Raymond Moore Onny Parun	Arthur Ashe Eddie Dibbs	Dennis Ralston Harold Solomon Jan Kodeš Mark Cox

April

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
1 Apr		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 7–6	Pierre Barthès Ilie Năstase	Tony Roche Phil Dent	Manuel Orantes Bob Maud Erik van Dillen Marty Riessen
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
1 Apr		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 4–6, 6–4, 7–6	Owen Davidson John Newcombe	Željko Franulović Jiří Hřebec	Bob Lutz Stan Smith Frank Froehling Charlie Pasarell
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
8 Apr		John Alexander Phil Dent 7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3	Manuel Orantes Tony Roche	Bob Maud Marty Riessen	Balázs Taróczy John Alexander Mike Estep Cliff Drysdale
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
8 Apr		Owen Davidson John Newcombe 7–6, 6–3	Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton	Buster Mottram Stan Smith	Raúl Ramírez Jeff Borowiak Raz Reid Cliff Richey
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
8 Apr	Tokyo WCT Tokyo, Japan Green group Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Raymond Moore Onny Parun 4–6, 6–2, 6–4	Juan Gisbert Roger Taylor	Björn Borg Onny Parun	Ray Moore Paul Gerken Guillermo Vilas Adriano Panatta
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
15 Apr		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 6–4, 7–6	Jim McManus Andrew Pattison	Cliff Drysdale Tom Gorman	Frew McMillan John Yuill Deon Joubert Bernard Mitton
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
15 Apr		Buster Mottram Raúl Ramírez 6–3, 1–6, 6–3	Owen Davidson John Newcombe	Jaime Fillol Stan Smith	John Newcombe Alex Metreveli Sydney Ball Geoff Masters
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
15 Apr		Colin Dibley Rod Laver 4–6, 7–6, 6–4	Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner	Onny Parun Eddie Dibbs	Colin Dibley Guillermo Vilas Arthur Ashe Vladimír Zedník
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
22 Apr		Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 7–6, 6–7, 7–6	Ross Case Geoff Masters	Dick Crealy John Newcombe	Cliff Richey Ross Case Clark Graebner Ismail El Shafei
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
22 Apr		Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner 6–3, 7–6	Mark Cox Jun Kamiwazumi	Jan Kodeš Mark Cox	Paul Gerken Ray Moore Rod Laver Eddie Dibbs

May

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

Red group

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

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

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.

References

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

External links

ATP 1974 results archive

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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.

[1]

[2]

v t e Men's tennis seasons
Seasons & World Circuit	1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
ILTF World Circuit ITF World Circuit	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
National Tennis League	1968 1969
WCT Circuit	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978–81: not held 1982 1983 1984
ILTF Grand Prix ITF Grand Prix	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
ATP Tour	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025