# 1976 World Championship Tennis circuit

The 1976 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional men's tennis circuits of 1976. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT) and consisted of a schedule of 25 tournaments leading up to a singles WCT Finals play-off in Dallas and a doubles play-off in Kansas City in May. A total of 54 players participated, 30 players less than in the previous three years, and the group system used in the previous editions was replaced by a single pool. The U.S. Pro Indoor was the only tournament in which all players participated, all other tournaments had a 16 men draw. The season final was played by the eight best performers and was won by the Swede Björn Borg who defeated Guillermo Vilas from Argentina in four sets. The total prize money for the 1976 WCT circuit was $2,400,000, including a $320,000 Avis Challenge Cup round–robin special event played in Hawaii in January and May.
The Aetna World Cup between teams of the US and Australia was played in March in Hartford and was won by the US 6–1.

## Overview

| Date | Tournament | Location | Draw | Prize Money | Surface | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
| 5 Jan | Monterrey WCT | Monterrey, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Eddie Dibbs | Harold Solomon | 7–6, 6–2 |
| 7 Jan | Columbus WCT | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | Andrew Pattison | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
| 12 Jan | Indianapolis WCT | Indianapolis, U.S. | 16S / 8D | | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | Vitas Gerulaitis | 6–2, 6–7, 6–4 |
| 14 Jan | Phoenix Cup | Atlanta, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Ilie Năstase | Jeff Borowiak | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 26 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor | Philadelphia, U.S. | 64S / 32D | $118,600 | Carpet (i) | Jimmy Connors | Björn Borg | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–4, 6–0 |
| 2 Feb | Barcelona WCT | Barcelona, Spain | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Eddie Dibbs | Cliff Drysdale | 6–1, 6–1 |
| 4 Feb | Richmond WCT | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | Brian Gottfried | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 9 Feb | Lagos WCT | Lagos, Nigeria | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Clay | Dick Stockton | Arthur Ashe | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 10 Feb | Toronto WCT | Toronto, Canada | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Björn Borg | Vitas Gerulaitis | 2–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 17 Feb | St. Louis WCT | St. Louis, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Guillermo Vilas | Vijay Amritraj | 4–6, 6–0, 6–4 |
| 17 Feb | Rome WCT | Rome, Italy | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | Bob Lutz | 6–2, 0–6, 6–3 |
| 23 Feb | Fort Worth WCT | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Guillermo Vilas | Phil Dent | 6–7, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 23 Feb | Rotterdam WCT | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Arthur Ashe | Bob Lutz | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 8 Mar | Memphis WCT | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Vijay Amritraj | Stan Smith | 6–2, 0–6, 6–0 |
| 8 Mar | Mexico City WCT | Mexico City, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Raúl Ramírez | Eddie Dibbs | 7–6, 6–2 |
| 15 Mar | Washington WCT | Washington, D.C., U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Harold Solomon | Onny Parun | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 15 Mar | Jackson WCT | Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Ken Rosewall | Raúl Ramírez | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 29 Mar | Caracas WCT | Caracas, Venezuela | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Clay | Raúl Ramírez | Ilie Năstase | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 29 Mar | São Paulo WCT | São Paulo, Brazil | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Björn Borg | Guillermo Vilas | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–2 |
| 5 Apr | Johannesburg WCT | Johannesburg, South Africa | 16S / 8D | | Hard | Onny Parun | Cliff Drysdale | 7–6, 6–3 |
| 5 Apr | Houston WCT | Houston, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $25,000 | Clay | Harold Solomon | Ken Rosewall | 6–1, 4–6, 6–1 |
| 12 Apr | Monte Carlo WCT | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Clay | Guillermo Vilas | Wojciech Fibak | 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 13 Apr | Charlotte WCT | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | 16S / 8D | | Clay | Tony Roche | Vitas Gerulaitis | 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 19 Apr | Stockholm WCT | Stockholm, Sweden | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Wojciech Fibak | Ilie Năstase | 6–4, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ |
| 19 Apr | Denver WCT | Denver, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $60,000 | Carpet (i) | Jimmy Connors | Ross Case | 7–6, 6–2 |
| 4 May | Dallas WCT Finals | Dallas, U.S. | 8S | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Björn Borg | Guillermo Vilas | 1–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–1 |

## Schedule

The schedule of events on the 1976 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.

### January

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 5 Jan | Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–2 | Harold Solomon | Vitas Gerulaitis Raúl Ramírez | Brian Gottfried Emilio Montaño Geoff Masters Cliff Richey |
| 5 Jan | Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 | Ross Case Geoff Masters | Vitas Gerulaitis Raúl Ramírez | Brian Gottfried Emilio Montaño Geoff Masters Cliff Richey |
| 7 Jan | Columbus WCT Columbus, Ohio, US $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 | Andrew Pattison | Phil Dent Cliff Drysdale | Alex Metreveli Kevin Warwick Dick Stockton Tom Okker |
| 7 Jan | Columbus WCT Columbus, Ohio, US $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–6, 6–4 | Arthur Ashe Tom Okker | Phil Dent Cliff Drysdale | Alex Metreveli Kevin Warwick Dick Stockton Tom Okker |
| 12 Jan | Indianapolis WCT Indianapolis, US $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–7, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Ray Ruffels Stan Smith | Marty Riessen Syd Ball Cliff Drysdale Bob Lutz |
| 12 Jan | Indianapolis WCT Indianapolis, US $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–2, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis Tom Gorman | Ray Ruffels Stan Smith | Marty Riessen Syd Ball Cliff Drysdale Bob Lutz |
| 14 Jan | Phoenix Cup Atlanta, US $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | Ilie Năstase 6–2, 6–4 | Jeff Borowiak | Alex Metreveli John Alexander | Björn Borg Jan Kodeš Andrew Pattison Wojciech Fibak |
| 14 Jan | Phoenix Cup Atlanta, US $60,000 – carpet (i) – 16S/8D | John Alexander Phil Dent 6–3, 6–4 | Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler | Alex Metreveli John Alexander | Björn Borg Jan Kodeš Andrew Pattison Wojciech Fibak |
| 26 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, US $118,000 – carpet (i) – 64S/32D | Jimmy Connors 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–4, 6–0 | Björn Borg | Tom Okker Dick Stockton | Jan Kodeš Eddie Dibbs Tom Gorman Rod Laver |
| 26 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, US $118,000 – carpet (i) – 64S/32D | Rod Laver Dennis Ralston 6–3, 5–7, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan | Tom Okker Dick Stockton | Jan Kodeš Eddie Dibbs Tom Gorman Rod Laver |

### February

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 2 Feb | Barcelona WCT Barcelona, Spain Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Eddie Dibbs 6–1, 6–1 | Cliff Drysdale | Dick Crealy Mark Cox | Erik van Dillen Brian Fairlie Karl Meiler Wojciech Fibak |
| 2 Feb | Barcelona WCT Barcelona, Spain Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–3, 6–3 | Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler | Dick Crealy Mark Cox | Erik van Dillen Brian Fairlie Karl Meiler Wojciech Fibak |
| 4 Feb | United Virginia Bank Classic Richmond, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D | Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–4 | Brian Gottfried | Raúl Ramírez Tom Okker | Jiří Hřebec Billy Martin Ross Case Geoff Masters |
| 4 Feb | United Virginia Bank Classic Richmond, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 7–5 | Arthur Ashe Tom Okker | Raúl Ramírez Tom Okker | Jiří Hřebec Billy Martin Ross Case Geoff Masters |
| 9 Feb | Lagos Tennis Classic Lagos, Nigeria Clay – 16S/8D | Dick Stockton 6–3, 6–2 | Arthur Ashe | Bob Lutz Jeff Borowiak | Karl Meiler Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon Dick Crealy |
| 10 Feb | Toronto Indoor Toronto, Canada | Björn Borg 2–6, 6–3, 6–1 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Ilie Năstase Marty Riessen | Jiří Hřebec Jan Kodeš Tony Roche Vijay Amritraj |
| 10 Feb | Toronto Indoor Toronto, Canada | Jaime Fillol Frew McMillan 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 6–2, 6–3 | Alexander Metreveli Ilie Năstase | Ilie Năstase Marty Riessen | Jiří Hřebec Jan Kodeš Tony Roche Vijay Amritraj |
| 17 Feb | Rome WCT Rome, Italy Carpet | Arthur Ashe 6–2, 0–6, 6–3 | Bob Lutz | Dick Stockton Adriano Panatta | Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Mark Cox Stan Smith |
| 17 Feb | Rome WCT Rome, Italy Carpet | Robert Lutz Stan Smith 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–3, 6–4 | Dick Crealy Frew McMillan | Dick Stockton Adriano Panatta | Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Mark Cox Stan Smith |
| 17 Feb | St. Louis Tennis Classic St. Louis, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D | Guillermo Vilas 4–6, 6–0, 6–4 | Vijay Amritraj | Raúl Ramírez Billy Martin | Brian Gottfried John Alexander Ken Rosewall Manuel Orantes |
| 17 Feb | St. Louis Tennis Classic St. Louis, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–2 | John Alexander Phil Dent | Raúl Ramírez Billy Martin | Brian Gottfried John Alexander Ken Rosewall Manuel Orantes |
| 23 Feb | Rotterdam WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D | Arthur Ashe 6–3, 6–3 | Bob Lutz | Tom Okker Rod Laver | Wojciech Fibak Jan Kodeš Jiří Hřebec Stan Smith |
| 23 Feb | Rotterdam WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D | Rod Laver Frew McMillan 6–1, 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ | Arthur Ashe Tom Okker | Tom Okker Rod Laver | Wojciech Fibak Jan Kodeš Jiří Hřebec Stan Smith |
| 24 Feb | Colonial National Invitational Fort Worth, US Carpet (i) – 32S/16D | Guillermo Vilas 6–7, 6–1, 6–1 | Phil Dent | Sandy Mayer Roscoe Tanner | Harold Solomon Sherwood Stewart Tom Gorman Cliff Richey |
| 24 Feb | Colonial National Invitational Fort Worth, US Carpet (i) – 32S/16D | Vitas Gerulaitis Sandy Mayer 6–4, 7–5 | Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon | Sandy Mayer Roscoe Tanner | Harold Solomon Sherwood Stewart Tom Gorman Cliff Richey |

### March

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 8 Mar | U.S. Indoor National Championships Memphis, US | Vijay Amritraj 6–2, 0–6, 6–0 | Stan Smith | Bob Lutz Björn Borg | Cliff Drysdale John Newcombe Roscoe Tanner Marty Riessen |
| 8 Mar | U.S. Indoor National Championships Memphis, US | Vijay Amritraj Anand Amritraj 6–3, 6–4 | Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner | Bob Lutz Björn Borg | Cliff Drysdale John Newcombe Roscoe Tanner Marty Riessen |
| 8 Mar | Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Raúl Ramírez 7–6, 6–2 | Eddie Dibbs | Guillermo Vilas Marcelo Lara | Brian Gottfried Ken Rosewall Tom Gorman Syd Ball |
| 8 Mar | Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ | Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie | Guillermo Vilas Marcelo Lara | Brian Gottfried Ken Rosewall Tom Gorman Syd Ball |
| 15 Mar | Washington Indoor Washington, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Harold Solomon 6–3, 6–1 | Onny Parun | John Newcombe Charlie Pasarell | Eddie Dibbs Ray Moore Mark Cox Allan Stone |
| 15 Mar | Washington Indoor Washington, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon 6–4, 7–5 | Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale | John Newcombe Charlie Pasarell | Eddie Dibbs Ray Moore Mark Cox Allan Stone |
| 15 Mar | Tennis South Invitational Jackson, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Ken Rosewall 6–3, 6–3 | Raúl Ramírez | Vijay Amritraj Ross Case | Tom Gorman Dick Stockton Billy Martin Phil Dent |
| 15 Mar | Tennis South Invitational Jackson, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 7–5, 4–6, 6–0 | Ross Case Geoff Masters | Vijay Amritraj Ross Case | Tom Gorman Dick Stockton Billy Martin Phil Dent |
| 29 Mar | Caracas WCT Caracas, Venezuela | Raúl Ramírez 6–3, 6–4 | Ilie Năstase | Arthur Ashe Jeff Borowiak | Ray Moore Dick Stockton Brian Gottfried Erik van Dillen |
| 29 Mar | Caracas WCT Caracas, Venezuela | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 7–5, 6–4 | Jeff Borowiak Ilie Năstase | Arthur Ashe Jeff Borowiak | Ray Moore Dick Stockton Brian Gottfried Erik van Dillen |
| 29 Mar | São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brasil Carpet (i) – $60,000 | Björn Borg 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–2 | Guillermo Vilas | Andrew Pattison Thomaz Koch | Jaime Fillol Phil Dent Ross Case Geoff Masters |
| 29 Mar | São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brasil Carpet (i) – $60,000 | Ross Case Geoff Masters 7–5, 6–1 | Charlie Pasarell Allan Stone | Andrew Pattison Thomaz Koch | Jaime Fillol Phil Dent Ross Case Geoff Masters |

### April

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 5 Apr | Johannesburg Indoor Johannesburg, South Africa | Onny Parun 7–6, 6–3 | Cliff Drysdale | Ross Case Tom Okker | Guillermo Vilas Kim Warwick Geoff Masters Ray Moore |
| 5 Apr | Johannesburg Indoor Johannesburg, South Africa | Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner 6–2, 7–5 | Frew McMillan Tom Okker | Ross Case Tom Okker | Guillermo Vilas Kim Warwick Geoff Masters Ray Moore |
| 5 Apr | Houston Open Houston, US | Harold Solomon 6–4, 1–6, 6–1 | Ken Rosewall | Eddie Dibbs Vitas Gerulaitis | Bob Lutz Phil Dent Ilie Năstase John Alexander |
| 5 Apr | Houston Open Houston, US | Rod Laver Ken Rosewall 6–4, 6–2 | Charlie Pasarell Allan Stone | Eddie Dibbs Vitas Gerulaitis | Bob Lutz Phil Dent Ilie Năstase John Alexander |
| 12 Apr | Monte Carlo Open Monte Carlo, Monaco $60,000 – 16S/8D – clay | Guillermo Vilas 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 | Wojciech Fibak | François Jauffret Karl Meiler | Ray Moore Adriano Panatta Alex Metreveli Björn Borg |
| 12 Apr | Monte Carlo Open Monte Carlo, Monaco $60,000 – 16S/8D – clay | Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler 7–6, 6–1 | Björn Borg Guillermo Vilas | François Jauffret Karl Meiler | Ray Moore Adriano Panatta Alex Metreveli Björn Borg |
| 13 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, US $60,000 – 16S/8D – clay | Tony Roche 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Eddie Dibbs Ken Rosewall | Cliff Richey Ross Case Dick Stockton Geoff Masters |
| 13 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, US $60,000 – 16S/8D – clay | John Newcombe Tony Roche 6–3, 7–5 | Vitas Gerulaitis Gene Mayer | Eddie Dibbs Ken Rosewall | Cliff Richey Ross Case Dick Stockton Geoff Masters |
| 19 Apr | United Bank Tennis Classic Denver, US $60,000 – 16S/8D – carpet (i) | Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–2 | Ross Case | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez | Billy Martin Geoff Masters Charlie Pasarell John Alexander |
| 19 Apr | United Bank Tennis Classic Denver, US $60,000 – 16S/8D – carpet (i) | John Alexander Phil Dent 6–7, 6–2, 7–5 | Jimmy Connors Billy Martin | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez | Billy Martin Geoff Masters Charlie Pasarell John Alexander |
| 19 Apr | Stockholm WCT Stockholm, Sweden | Wojciech Fibak 6–4, 7–6 | Ilie Năstase | Adriano Panatta Tom Okker | Björn Borg Mark Edmondson Alex Metreveli Guillermo Vilas |
| 19 Apr | Stockholm WCT Stockholm, Sweden | Alexander Metreveli Ilie Năstase 6–4, 7–5 | Tom Okker Adriano Panatta | Adriano Panatta Tom Okker | Björn Borg Mark Edmondson Alex Metreveli Guillermo Vilas |
| 28 Apr | Masters Doubles WCT Kansas City, US | Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler 6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Bob Lutz Stan Smith | | |

### May

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 4 May | WCT Finals Dallas, United States Tour Finals $100,000 – carpet – 8S Singles | Björn Borg 1–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–1 | Guillermo Vilas | Harold Solomon Dick Stockton | Eddie Dibbs Robert Lutz Arthur Ashe Raúl Ramírez |

## Standings

| Player | Tournaments Played | Tournaments Won | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Points | Prize Money |
| Arthur Ashe $^*$ | 8 | 5 | 26 | 3 | 860 | $253,013 |
| Raúl Ramírez $^*$ | 8 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 705 | $104,700 |
| Guillermo Vilas $^*$ | 7 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 695 | $99,163 |
| Eddie Dibbs $^*$ | 8 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 675 | $79,538 |
| Björn Borg $^*$ | 8 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 650 | $135,838 |
| Dick Stockton $^*$ | 8 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 595 | $62,475 |
| Bob Lutz $^*$ | 8 | 0 | 15 | 9 | 585 | $69,013 |
| Harold Solomon $^*$ | 8 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 565 | $75,038 |
| Vitas Gerulaitis | 8 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 540 | $40,900 |
| Brian Gottfried | 8 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 535 | $54,600 |
$^*$ Qualified for the WCT Finals.