# 1972 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

Stan Smith defeated Ilie Năstase in the final, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1972 Wimbledon Championships. It was his first Wimbledon singles title, and his second and last major singles title. Due to rain washing out the final Saturday when the final was due to take place, the men's singles final became the first match in Wimbledon history to take place on a Sunday. Not until ten years later in 1982 did Wimbledon men's singles finals start being deliberately scheduled for Sunday.
Two-time reigning champion John Newcombe was prevented from participating due to the International Lawn Tennis Federation ban on World Championship Tennis-contracted players competing in its tournaments.

## Seeds

    01. Stan Smith (champion)
    02. Ilie Năstase (final)
    03. Manuel Orantes (semifinals)
    04. Andrés Gimeno (second round)
    05. Jan Kodeš (semifinals)
    06. Pierre Barthès (fourth round)
    07. Bob Hewitt (first round)
    08. Alex Metreveli (quarterfinals)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

## 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 | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Stan Smith | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Alex Metreveli | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Alex Metreveli | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | Stan Smith | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Jan Kodeš | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | Onny Parun | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Jan Kodeš | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Jan Kodeš | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Jan Kodeš | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 1 | Stan Smith | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| | Colin Dibley | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| 3 | Manuel Orantes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Manuel Orantes | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | Manuel Orantes | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Jimmy Connors | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | S Smith | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H-J Plötz | 1 | 1 | 3 | | | 1 | S Smith | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | A Gardiner | 2 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 | | H Irvine | 4 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Irvine | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | 1 | S Smith | 6 | 7 | 3 | 9 | | | | | | |
| | P Cornejo | 4 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Q | A Mayer | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | |
| | T Sakai | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | T Sakai | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Matthews | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | Q | A Mayer | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | A Mayer | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | S Smith | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| | I Fletcher | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | I Fletcher | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| | J-L Rouyer | 4 | 3 | 3 | | | | I Fletcher | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Olmedo | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | A Olmedo | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Ulrich | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | I Fletcher | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Q | W Durham | 3 | 8 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | F Pála | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | F Pála | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | F Pála | 4 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Kary | 8 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 6 | | H Kary | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Szőke | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 8 | A Metreveli | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Marzano | 2 | 6 | 4 | | 8 | A Metreveli | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Simpson | 3 | 6 | 1 | 5 | | P Dominguez | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Dominguez | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | 8 | A Metreveli | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | T Ulrich | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | J Paish | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | J Clifton | 2 | 0$^r$ | | | | T Ulrich | 3 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Paish | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 | | J Paish | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | E Scott | 9 | 4 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | A Metreveli | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | P Proisy | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | P Cramer | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| | S Likhachev | 4 | 8 | 9 | 4 | | P Proisy | 3 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Cramer | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | P Cramer | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Gulyás | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | P Cramer | 9 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | |
| | J-C Barclay | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | | | | | | | Q | M Estep | 8 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | |
| Q | M Estep | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Q | M Estep | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Hutchins | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | J Kamiwazumi | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Kamiwazumi | 6 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second 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 |
| 4 | A Gimeno | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Weatherley | 1 | 2 | 4 | | | 4 | A Gimeno | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | A van der Merwe | 2 | 5 | 2 | | | | O Parun | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | O Parun | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | O Parun | 6 | 4 | 9 | 9 | | | | | |
| | J de Mendoza | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | W Bungert | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | |
| | J Cooper | 2 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | J Cooper | 7 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E di Matteo | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | W Bungert | 5 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | W Bungert | 6 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | O Parun | 8 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| | T Kakulia | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Hřebec | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0$^r$ |
| | R Keldie | 7 | 5 | 9 | 4 | | | T Kakulia | 9 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | R Knight | 8 | 8 | 4 | | | | D Lloyd | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Lloyd | 9 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | T Kakulia | 6 | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | | | |
| | G Vilas | 5 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | J Hřebec | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | |
| | J Hřebec | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | J Hřebec | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Mărmureanu | 3 | 4 | 0 | | | | S Baranyi | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Baranyi | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | 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 |
| 5 | J Kodeš | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Rodríguez | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | 5 | J Kodeš | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Doerner | 2 | 9 | 8 | 4 | | Q | G Seewagen | 0 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | G Seewagen | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | 5 | J Kodeš | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | J-P Meyer | 3 | 6 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | Q | D Bleckinger | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | M Holeček | 6 | 3 | 9 | 9 | | | M Holeček | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Schroder | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | Q | D Bleckinger | 6 | 6 | 1 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | D Bleckinger | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | J Kodeš | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | V Amritraj | 7 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | J McManus | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Q | J Austin | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | V Amritraj | 1 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Bertolucci | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | J McManus | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J McManus | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | J McManus | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | W Lloyd | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 | | | | | | | | P Hombergen | 0 | 4 | 1 | | | | | |
| | W N'Godrella | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 11 | | W N'Godrella | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Hombergen | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | P Hombergen | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | R Bohrnstedt | 7 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| First round | 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 | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | T Ryan | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Dibley | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | C Dibley | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Muñoz | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | | R Gonzales | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Gonzales | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | C Dibley | 9 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | |
| | R Tanner | 6 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | R Tanner | 8 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | |
| | J Velasco | 3 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 | | R Tanner | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Pinto Bravo | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | A McDonald | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A McDonald | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Dibley | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | J Osborne | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | P Barthès | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| | C Mottram | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | | C Mottram | 8 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Koch | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | | R Stockton | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Stockton | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | R Stockton | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | J Gisbert | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 6 | P Barthès | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | H Solomon | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | J Gisbert | 4 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J-B Chanfreau | 5 | 8 | 3 | | | 6 | P Barthès | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | P Barthès | 7 | 9 | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | J Loyo Mayo | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Phillips-Moore | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | B Phillips-Moore | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Ball | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | | S Ball | 8 | 1 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | F McMillan | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | B Phillips-Moore | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | I Țiriac | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | I Țiriac | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | A Zugarelli | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | | I Țiriac | 6 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Zedník | 2 | 2 | 7 | | | B Gottfried | 4 | 7 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Gottfried | 6 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | I Țiriac | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Q | R Stock | 4 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | M Orantes | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| | N Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | N Pietrangeli | 2 | 8 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Molina | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | I Molina | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Pattison | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | N Pietrangeli | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | R Crealy | 9 | 6 | 1 | 7 | | | | | | | 3 | M Orantes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | N Špear | 7 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | R Crealy | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Goven | 6 | 5 | 4 | | 3 | M Orantes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | M Orantes | 8 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | 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 |
| | JE Mandarino | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Meiler | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | K Meiler | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | E van Dillen | 7 | 8 | 6 | | | E van Dillen | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | S Stewart | 5 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | E van Dillen | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
| | F Jauffret | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | F Jauffret | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | O Bengtson | 6 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 5 | F Jauffret | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Barazzutti | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | J Feaver | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Feaver | 4 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | F Jauffret | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| | J Kukal | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | J Connors | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Q | M Vázquez | 6 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 | J Kukal | 8 | 9 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Panatta | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | A Panatta | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Fraser | 4 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | A Panatta | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | |
| | S Warboys | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | J Connors | 6 | 0 | 6 | 8 | | | | |
| | N Kalogeropoulos | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | N Kalogeropoulos | 3 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Connors | 6 | 9 | 7 | | | J Connors | 6 | 7 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | R Hewitt | 3 | 7 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First round | 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 | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| LL | R Clarke | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Moore | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | R Moore | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Mignot | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | T Gorman | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Gorman | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | T Gorman | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | |
| | K Warwick | 0 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | J Fillol | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | J Fillol | 6 | 9 | 4 | 6 | | | J Fillol | 4 | 8 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Masters | 8 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 12 | | G Masters | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Amritraj | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | T Gorman | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| | J Fassbender | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | I Năstase | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 |
| | L Hoad | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | | | J Fassbender | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Lall | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | P Lall | 4 | 8 | 7 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Gerken | 7 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | J Fassbender | 8 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | C Graebner | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | 2 | I Năstase | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | J Mukerjea | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | C Graebner | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Bartlett | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | 2 | I Năstase | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | I Năstase | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |