Details | |
---|---|
Duration | 12 January – 10 May |
Edition | 10th |
Tournaments | 13 |
Achievements (singles) | |
Most tournament titles | Dick Stockton Jimmy Connors (3) |
Most tournament finals | Jimmy Connors (5) |
Points leader | Dick Stockton (520) |
← 1976 1982 → |
The 1977 season of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1977. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT) and consisted of a preliminary series of twelve tournaments leading up to a singles play-off in Dallas and doubles play-off in Kansas City in May. 23 players participated and the season final was played by the eight best performers. It was won by American Jimmy Connors who defeated compatriot Dick Stockton in four sets. The total prize money for the 1977 WCT circuit was $2,400,000. [1]
Additionally there were three special events that did not count towards the standings; the Aetna World Cup held in Hartford between America and Australia (10–13 March), the $320,000 Challenge Cup in Las Vegas (14–20 November) and the Tournament of Champions held in Lakeway, Texas (10–13 March, 10–13 July) and Madison Square Garden, New York (17 September). [1]
In February the WCT sued Björn Borg, as well as his management company IMG claiming that Borg had committed a breach of contract by electing to participate in the competing 1977 Grand Prix circuit instead of the WCT circuit. Borg eventually played a single WCT event, the Monte Carlo WCT, and won the tournament. [2] [3] As part of the settlement Borg committed to playing six or eight WCT events in 1978 which were then part of the Grand Prix circuit. [4]
Date | Tournament | Location | Draw | Prize Money | Surface | Winner | Finalist | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 January | Alabama WCT | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $175,000 | Carpet (i) | Jimmy Connors | Bill Scanlon | 6–3, 6–3 |
24 January | U.S. Pro Indoor | Philadelphia, U.S. | 64S / 32D | $200,000 | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton | Jimmy Connors | 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
31 January | Richmond Tennis Classic | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Tom Okker | Vitas Gerulaitis | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
7 February | Mexico City WCT | Mexico City, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Ilie Năstase | Wojciech Fibak | 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
15 February | Toronto Indoor WCT | Toronto, Canada | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton | Jimmy Connors | 5–6, ret. |
1 March | Monterrey WCT | Monterrey, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Wojciech Fibak | Vitas Gerulaitis | 6–4, 6–3 |
16 March | St. Louis WCT | St. Louis, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Hard (i) | Jimmy Connors | John Alexander | 7–6, 6–2 |
22 March | Rotterdam WCT | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton | Ilie Năstase | 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
28 March | London WCT | London, UK | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Eddie Dibbs | Vitas Gerulaitis | 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 |
5 April | Monte Carlo WCT | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Clay | Björn Borg | Corrado Barazzutti | 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 |
11 April | Houston WCT | Houston, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Har-Tru | Adriano Panatta | Vitas Gerulaitis | 7–6, 6–7, 6–1 |
18 April | Charlotte WCT | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Har-Tru | Corrado Barazzutti | Eddie Dibbs | 7–6, 6–0 |
4 May | Kansas WCT Doubles Finals | Kansas City, U.S. | 8D | $200,000 | Carpet (i) | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | Vitas Gerulaitis Adriano Panatta | 7–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–3 |
10 May | Dallas WCT Singles Finals | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | 8S | $200,000 | Carpet (i) | Jimmy Connors | Dick Stockton | 6–7, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 |
The schedule of events on the 1977 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage. [5]
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 Jan | Alabama WCT Birmingham, United States | Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–3 | Bill Scanlon | Eddie Dibbs Ray Moore | Cliff Drysdale Sandy Mayer Vitas Gerulaitis Ilie Năstase |
Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–3, 6–4 | Billy Martin Bill Scanlon | ||||
24 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, United States | Dick Stockton 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 | Jimmy Connors | Jeff Borowiak Cliff Drysdale | Ken Rosewall Vijay Amritraj Bernard Mitton Tony Roche |
Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–5, 6–3 | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker | ||||
31 Jan | Richmond WCT Richmond, United States | Tom Okker 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Corrado Barazzutti Tony Roche | Ross Case Adriano Panatta Manuel Orantes Ilie Năstase |
Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–4, 6–4 | Ross Case Tony Roche |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Feb | Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico | Ilie Năstase 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 | Wojciech Fibak | Adriano Panatta Ken Rosewall | Cliff Drysdale Jan Kodeš Vitas Gerulaitis Manuel Orantes |
Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–2, 6–3 | Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta | ||||
16 Feb | Toronto Indoor Toronto, Canada | Dick Stockton 5–6 ret. | Jimmy Connors | Eddie Dibbs Tom Okker | Rod Laver Ken Rosewall Tony Roche Ross Case |
Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–4, 6–1 | Ross Case Tony Roche | ||||
28 Feb | Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico | Wojciech Fibak 6–4, 6–3 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Cliff Drysdale Bill Scanlon | Manuel Orantes Raúl Ramírez Harold Solomon Eddie Dibbs |
Ross Case Wojciech Fibak 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Billy Martin Bill Scanlon |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 Mar | St. Louis Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States | Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–2 | John Alexander | Harold Solomon Ilie Năstase | Cliff Drysdale Raz Reid Ken Rosewall Bernard Mitton |
Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta 6–4, 3–6, 7–6 | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | ||||
22 Mar | Rotterdam WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands | Dick Stockton 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Ilie Năstase | Wojciech Fibak Mark Cox | Vijay Amritraj John Alexander Corrado Barazzutti Cliff Drysdale |
Tom Okker Wojciech Fibak 6–4, 6–4 | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | ||||
28 Mar | Rothmans International London London, England | Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | Ilie Năstase Ross Case Wojciech Fibak Harold Solomon |
Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta 7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), 6–3 | Mark Cox Eddie Dibbs |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 Apr | Monte Carlo WCT Monte Carlo, Monaco | Björn Borg 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | Corrado Barazzutti | Jan Kodeš Guillermo Vilas | Balázs Taróczy Wojciech Fibak Eddie Dibbs Adriano Panatta |
François Jauffret Jan Kodeš 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker | ||||
11 Apr | Houston Open Houston, United States | Adriano Panatta 7–6, 6–7, 6–1 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Eddie Dibbs Ilie Năstase | Ken Rosewall Harold Solomon Tony Roche Ross Case |
Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta 6–3, 6–4 | John Alexander Phil Dent | ||||
18 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States | Corrado Barazzutti 7–6, 6–0 | Eddie Dibbs | Adriano Panatta John Alexander | Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Harold Solomon Tony Roche |
Tom Okker Ken Rosewall 6–1, 3–6, 7–6 | Corrado Barazzutti Adriano Panatta |
These WCT events did not count towards the standings. [1]
Week of | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 Mar | World Cup Hartford, United States | USA 7–0 | Australia | N.A. | N.A. |
25 Apr | Caesar's Palace Challenge [6] Las Vegas, United States $100,000 | Ilie Năstase 3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–5 | Jimmy Connors | N.A. | N.A. |
10 Mar – 10 Jul – 17 Sep | Shakeys Tournament of Champions Lakeway, United States New York City, United States (final) | Harold Solomon 6–5(7–5), 6–2, 2–6, 0–6, 6–3 | Ken Rosewall | Dick Stockton Eddie Dibbs | Phil Dent Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase Vijay Amritraj |
Player | Tournaments Played | Tournaments Won | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dick Stockton * | 7 | 3 | 15 | 4 | 520 |
Eddie Dibbs * | 9 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 500 |
Jimmy Connors * | 5 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 460 |
Ilie Năstase * | 8 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 440 |
Cliff Drysdale * | 9 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 420 |
Wojtek Fibak * | 9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 420 |
Vitas Gerulaitis * | 7 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 420 |
Adriano Panatta * | 9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 400 |
Corrado Barazzutti | 7 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 330 |
Ken Rosewall | 8 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 320 |
Harold Solomon | 9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 320 |
* Qualified for the WCT Finals.
Björn Rune Borg is a Swedish former world No. 1 tennis player. Between 1974 and 1981, he became the first man in the Open Era to win 11 Grand Slam singles titles with six at the French Open and five consecutively at Wimbledon.
James Scott Connors is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. He held the top Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) ranking for a then-record 160 consecutive weeks from 1974 to 1977 and a career total of 268 weeks. By virtue of his long and prolific career, Connors still holds three prominent Open Era men's singles records: 109 titles, 1,557 matches played, and 1,274 match wins. His titles include eight major singles titles and three year-end championships. In 1974, he became the second man in the Open Era to win three major titles in a calendar year, and was not permitted to participate in the fourth, the French Open. Connors finished year end number one in the ATP rankings from 1974 to 1978. In 1982, he won both Wimbledon and the US Open and was ATP Player of the Year and ITF World Champion. He retired in 1996 at the age of 43.
Kenneth Robert Rosewall is an Australian former world top-ranking professional tennis player. Rosewall won 147 singles titles, including a record 15 Pro Majors and 8 Grand Slam titles for a total 23 titles at pro and amateur majors. He also won 15 Pro Majors in doubles and 9 Grand Slam doubles titles. Rosewall achieved a Pro Slam in singles in 1963 by winning the three Pro Majors in one year and he completed the Career Grand Slam in doubles.Rosewall had a renowned backhand and enjoyed a long career at the highest levels from the early 1950s to the early 1970s. Rosewall was ranked as the world No. 1 tennis player by multiple sources from 1961 to 1964, multiple sources in 1970 and Rino Tommasi in 1971 and 1972. Rosewall was first ranked in the top 20 in 1952 and last ranked in the top 20 in 1977. Rosewall is the only player to have simultaneously held Pro Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces (1962–63). At the 1971 Australian Open, he became the first man during the Open Era to win a Grand Slam tournament without dropping a set. Rosewall won world professional championship tours in 1963, 1964, and the WCT titles in 1971 and 1972. A natural left-hander, Rosewall was taught by his father to play right-handed. He developed a powerful, effective backhand but never had anything more than an accurate but relatively soft serve. He was 1.70 m tall, weighed 67 kg (148 lb)and sarcastically was nicknamed "Muscles" by his fellow-players because of his lack of them. He was, however, fast, agile, and tireless, with a deadly volley. A father of two and grandfather of five, Rosewall lives in Sydney.
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The 1978 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix was a professional tennis circuit held that year. It consisted of four Grand Slam tournaments, the Grand Prix tournaments and the Nations Cup, a team event. In addition eight World Championship Tennis (WCT) tournaments, a separate professional tennis circuit held from 1971 through 1977, were incorporated into the Grand Prix circuit. The 28 tournaments with prize money of $175,000 or more formed the Super Series category. Jimmy Connors won 10 of the 84 tournaments which secured him the first place in the Grand Prix points ranking. However he did not play enough tournaments (13) to qualify for largest share ($300,000) of the bonus pool, which instead went to third–ranked Eddie Dibbs.
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