# 1969 South African Open – Men's singles

The 1969 South African Open – Men's singles was an event of the 1969 South African Open tennis tournament and was played on outdoor hard courts at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1 April until 12 April 1969. The draw consisted of 96 players and was played in a best-of-five sets format. Tom Okker was the reigning singles champion. Rod Laver won the singles title by defeating Tom Okker in the final, 6–3, 10–8, 6–3.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Hewitt | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Hewitt | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | Rod Laver | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Cliff Drysdale | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| Pancho Gonzales | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 5 | Cliff Drysdale | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| Cliff Drysdale | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Drysdale | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | Rod Laver | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Tom Okker | 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Tony Roche | 6 | 11 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Tom Okker | 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Ray Moore | 3 | 9 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ray Moore | 3 | 9 | 3 | | | Tony Roche | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Tom Okker | w/o | | | | | | | |
| Cliff Richey | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | | Tom Okker | w/o | | | | | | | |
| Tom Okker | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | Rod Laver | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rauty Krog | 6 | 10 | 6 | Rauty Krog | 5 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L. Badenhorst | 1 | 8 | 2 | | | | | | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
| Steve Le Roux | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Alfred Schwartz | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | | |
| Nick Pretorius | 4 | 4 | 4 | Steve Le Roux | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Alfred Schwartz | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frew McMillan | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| | | | | Julian Krinsky | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Errol Sapire | 6 | 6 | 6 | Errol Sapire | 2 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jannie De Villiers | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | Julian Krinsky | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| Hank Irvine | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | Frew McMillan | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| John Bryant | 1 | 8 | 2 | Hank Irvine | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Frew McMillan | 6 | 0 | 10 | 8 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | | Andrés Gimeno | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mel Baleson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Mel Baleson | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Robert Morrison | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | Andrés Gimeno | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Terry Rosenberg | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Derek Schroder | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | |
| Frank Weigelt | 5 | 3 | 0 | | Terry Rosenberg | 5 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Derek Schroder | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Andrés Gimeno | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bob Hewitt | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | Peter Mors | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Jeff Simpson | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | Jeff Simpson | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| Lewis Sylvester | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | Peter Mors | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | | |
| Peter Tudhope | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Bob Hewitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Alvin Gardiner | 2 | 2 | 2 | | Peter Tudhope | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Bob Hewitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | | | Pancho Gonzales | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gerrie Nel | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Gerrie Nel | 0 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Newnham | 0 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | Pancho Gonzales | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| Lennart Ploughmann | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | Albert Gaertner | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | |
| M. Senior | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | Lennart Ploughmann | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Albert Gaertner | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pancho Gonzales | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 11 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fred Stolle | 6 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 9 |
| | | | | | | Jack Saul | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| George Rudman | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | George Rudman | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Les Bowring | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | Jack Saul | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | |
| Quentin Pretorius | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Fred Stolle | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| Alfredo Vaz-Pinto | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | Quentin Pretorius | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Fred Stolle | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | | | Bob Maud | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dennis Breetzke | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | Dennis Breetzke | 0 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Arnold Saul | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | Bob Maud | 6 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | |
| Jeff Sacks | 9 | 6 | 17 | | | | | | | | John Brown | 1 | 2 | 0$^r$ | | | | | | |
| Stan Myerson | 7 | 1 | 15 | | | Jeff Sacks | 6 | 4 | 3 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | John Brown | 4 | 6 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bob Maud | 7 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cliff Drysdale | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| | | | | | | Keith Brebnor | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sidney Gordon | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | Sidney Gordon | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colin Zeeman | 2 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | Keith Brebnor | 3 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | |
| Roger Dowdeswell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Cliff Drysdale | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | |
| John De St. Croix | 4 | 1 | 3 | | | Roger Dowdeswell | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Cliff Drysdale | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | | Tony Roche | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kenny Smith | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Kenny Smith | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ian Douglas Cunningham | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | Tony Roche | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | |
| Syd Ball | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Andrew Pattison | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | |
| Jeremie Malan | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | Syd Ball | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Andrew Pattison | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tony Roche | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bob Carmichael | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| | | | | | Barry Phillips-Moore | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Abe Segal | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Abe Segal | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Basil Wheeler | 3 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | Abe Segal | 6 | 3 | 4 | 8 | | | | |
| Ricky Buwalda | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | Bob Carmichael | 4 | 6 | 6 | 10 | | | | |
| Tony Bowles | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | Ricky Buwalda | 3 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Bob Carmichael | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | | | Dennis Ralston | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| John Yuill | 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | John Yuill | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anthony Hammond | 5 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | Dennis Ralston | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Dennis Matthews | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Terry Ryan | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| Mike Styles | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | Dennis Matthews | 10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Terry Ryan | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dennis Ralston | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ray Moore | 6 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Keith Diepraam | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Peter Doerner | 11 | 6 | 6 | | | Peter Doerner | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Paul Hartopp | 9 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | Keith Diepraam | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4 | | | | | |
| Peter Gray | 6 | 6 | 2 | 13 | | | | | | | | Ray Moore | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | |
| Brian Copley | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | | Peter Gray | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ray Moore | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | | Cliff Richey | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rohan Summers | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Rohan Summers | 0 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| R. De Sa Pessoa | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | Cliff Richey | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Louis Gordon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Clive Brebnor | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| Jan Botha | 3 | 3 | 2 | | Louis Gordon | 3 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Clive Brebnor | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cliff Richey | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Roy Emerson | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| | | | | | Graydon Garner | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Andre Van der Merwe | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Andre Van der Merwe | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Theo Du Plessis | 3 | 8 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | Graydon Garner | 4 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | |
| Bokkie Niemand | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | Roy Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| Stephanus Reinach | 3 | 7 | 0 | | Bokkie Niemand | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Roy Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First Round | First Round | First Round | First Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round | Fourth Round |
| | | | | Dick Crealy | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Gordon Forbes | 7 | 6 | 6 | Gordon Forbes | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Alan McDonald | 5 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | Dick Crealy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Byron Bertram | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | Allan Stone | 1 | 4 | 2 | | | | |
| Jeremy Smith | 3 | 5 | 2 | Byron Bertram | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Allan Stone | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dick Crealy | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tom Okker | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| | | | | Jacques Thamin | 1 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Richard Hawkes | 10 | 6 | 6 | Richard Hawkes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rayno Seegers | 8 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | Richard Hawkes | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | | |
| Bill Freer | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Tom Okker | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Frank Briscoe | 6 | 2 | 3 | Bill Freer | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Tom Okker | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |