# 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit

The 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1972. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). The circuit included twenty-three regular events, and two circuit finals, one taking place in May, counting for the second half of the 1971 season, and the first part of the 1972 season, and a smaller one taking place in November, counting for the second half of the 1972 season, from July through November.

## Schedule

This is the complete schedule of events on the 1972 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.

### Key

* WCT Finals
* Regular series

### February

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 6 Feb | Fidelity WCT Richmond, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Rod Laver 2–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 | Cliff Drysdale | Arthur Ashe John Newcombe | Robert Lutz Roy Emerson Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor |
| 6 Feb | Fidelity WCT Richmond, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–6, 7–6 | John Newcombe Tony Roche | Arthur Ashe John Newcombe | Robert Lutz Roy Emerson Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor |
| 8 Feb | U.S. Professional Indoor Philadelphia, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Rod Laver 4–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 | Ken Rosewall | Arthur Ashe Tom Okker | Marty Riessen Cliff Drysdale Jeff Borowiak Robert Lutz |
| 8 Feb | U.S. Professional Indoor Philadelphia, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 | John Newcombe Tony Roche | Arthur Ashe Tom Okker | Marty Riessen Cliff Drysdale Jeff Borowiak Robert Lutz |
| 20 Feb | Canadian Open (WCT) Toronto, Ontario, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4 | Ken Rosewall | Tom Okker Charlie Pasarell | Roger Taylor Roy Emerson Fred Stolle Marty Riessen |
| 20 Feb | Canadian Open (WCT) Toronto, Ontario, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | Tom Okker Charlie Pasarell | Roger Taylor Roy Emerson Fred Stolle Marty Riessen |

### March

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 5 Mar | Saga Bay Tennis Classic Hollywood, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Ken Rosewall 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 | Cliff Drysdale | Fred Stolle Charlie Pasarell | Roger Taylor Ismail El Shafei Mark Cox Arthur Ashe |
| 5 Mar | Saga Bay Tennis Classic Hollywood, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–5, 6–4 | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | Fred Stolle Charlie Pasarell | Roger Taylor Ismail El Shafei Mark Cox Arthur Ashe |
| 16 Mar | Kemper International Tennis Tournament Chicago, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 | Arthur Ashe | Robert Lutz Ken Rosewall | Charlie Pasarell Marty Riessen John Alexander Robert Lutz |
| 16 Mar | Kemper International Tennis Tournament Chicago, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–3 | Roy Emerson Rod Laver | Robert Lutz Ken Rosewall | Charlie Pasarell Marty Riessen John Alexander Robert Lutz |

### April

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 9 Apr | River Oaks Tennis Tournament Houston, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Rod Laver 6–2, 6–4 | Ken Rosewall | Tom Okker Roger Taylor | William Bowrey John Alexander John Newcombe Nikola Pilić |
| 9 Apr | River Oaks Tennis Tournament Houston, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–3, 6–3 | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle | Tom Okker Roger Taylor | William Bowrey John Alexander John Newcombe Nikola Pilić |
| 16 Apr | Rothmans International Quebec Quebec City, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Marty Riessen 7–5, 6–2, 7–5 | Rod Laver | Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe | Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor Roy Emerson Ken Rosewall |
| 16 Apr | Rothmans International Quebec Quebec City, Canada Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels 4–6, 6–3, 7–5 | Terry Addison John Alexander | Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe | Charlie Pasarell Roger Taylor Roy Emerson Ken Rosewall |
| 23 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Ken Rosewall 2–6, 6–2, 6–2 | Cliff Richey | Cliff Drysdale John Alexander | Mark Cox William Bowrey Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
| 23 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 | John Newcombe Tony Roche | Cliff Drysdale John Alexander | Mark Cox William Bowrey Tom Okker Marty Riessen |
| 30 Apr | United Bank Classic Denver, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S Singles | Rod Laver 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Marty Riessen | Roy Emerson Tom Okker | Robert Lutz John Newcombe Arthur Ashe John Alexander |
| 30 Apr | United Bank Classic Denver, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S Singles | Roy Emerson Rod Laver 1–6, 6–4, 6–3 | Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor | Roy Emerson Tom Okker | Robert Lutz John Newcombe Arthur Ashe John Alexander |

### May

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 1 May | Alan King Tennis Classic Las Vegas, United States Regular series $50,000 – hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe 6–3, 6–4 | Cliff Drysdale | Marty Riessen Frank Froehling | Rod Laver Roger Taylor Tom Okker Ken Rosewall |
| 1 May | Alan King Tennis Classic Las Vegas, United States Regular series $50,000 – hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Roy Emerson Rod Laver default | John Newcombe Tony Roche | Marty Riessen Frank Froehling | Rod Laver Roger Taylor Tom Okker Ken Rosewall |
| 10 May | WCT Finals Dallas, United States WCT Finals $50,000 – carpet (i) – 8S Singles | Ken Rosewall 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6 | Rod Laver | Marty Riessen Arthur Ashe | John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale Tom Okker Robert Lutz |

### July

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 1 Jul | Holton Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe 6–3, 6–3 | Nikola Pilić | Cliff Drysdale Charlie Pasarell | Tony Roche Tom Okker Marty Riessen Cliff Richey |
| 1 Jul | Holton Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe Tony Roche 7–6, 6–2 | John Alexander Phil Dent | Cliff Drysdale Charlie Pasarell | Tony Roche Tom Okker Marty Riessen Cliff Richey |
| 12 Jul | Washington Star International Washington, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tony Roche 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 | Marty Riessen | Ray Ruffels John Newcombe | John Alexander Cliff Richey Arthur Ashe Ismail El Shafei |
| 12 Jul | Washington Star International Washington, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | John Newcombe Tony Roche | Ray Ruffels John Newcombe | John Alexander Cliff Richey Arthur Ashe Ismail El Shafei |
| 29 Jul | First National Tennis Classic Louisville, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Arthur Ashe 6–4, 6–4 | Mark Cox | John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale | Marty Riessen Tony Roche Tom Okker Nikola Pilić |
| 29 Jul | First National Tennis Classic Louisville, United States Regular series Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Alexander Phil Dent 6–4, 6–3 | Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz | John Newcombe Cliff Drysdale | Marty Riessen Tony Roche Tom Okker Nikola Pilić |

### August

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 6 Aug | U.S. Pro Tennis Championships Boston, United States Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Robert Lutz 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 | Tom Okker | Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe | Rod Laver Marty Riessen Nikola Pilić Tony Roche |
| 6 Aug | U.S. Pro Tennis Championships Boston, United States Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tony Roche John Newcombe 6–3, 1–6, 7–6 | Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz | Cliff Drysdale Arthur Ashe | Rod Laver Marty Riessen Nikola Pilić Tony Roche |
| 13 Aug | Cleveland Classic Cleveland, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Mark Cox 6–3, 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Ray Ruffels | Roger Taylor Cliff Drysdale | Ken Rosewall Nikola Pilić Marty Riessen Ismail El Shafei |
| 13 Aug | Cleveland Classic Cleveland, United States Regular series Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Cliff Drysdale Roger Taylor 7–6, 6–3 | Frank Froehling Charlie Pasarell | Roger Taylor Cliff Drysdale | Ken Rosewall Nikola Pilić Marty Riessen Ismail El Shafei |
| 20 Aug | Colonial Nat'l Invitation Tennis Tournament Fort Worth, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe 5–7, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–4 | Ken Rosewall | Tom Okker Arthur Ashe | John Alexander Tony Roche Graham Stilwell Marty Riessen |
| 20 Aug | Colonial Nat'l Invitation Tennis Tournament Fort Worth, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–2, 6–2 | Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle | Tom Okker Arthur Ashe | John Alexander Tony Roche Graham Stilwell Marty Riessen |

### September

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 11 Sep | Rothmans International Montreal, Quebec, Canada Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Arthur Ashe 7–5, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 | Roy Emerson | Ismail El Shafei Tom Okker | John Newcombe Marty Riessen Cliff Drysdale Cliff Richey |
| 11 Sep | Rothmans International Montreal, Quebec, Canada Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–1, 4–6, 7–6 | Robert Maud Ken Rosewall | Ismail El Shafei Tom Okker | John Newcombe Marty Riessen Cliff Drysdale Cliff Richey |

### October

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 1 Oct | Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Championships Alamo, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe 6–1, 6–1, 7–5 | Cliff Drysdale | Tom Okker Arthur Ashe | Terry Addison Mark Cox John Alexander Roy Emerson |
| 1 Oct | Redwood Bank Pacific Coast Championships Alamo, United States Regular series Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–6, 6–4 | Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie | Tom Okker Arthur Ashe | Terry Addison Mark Cox John Alexander Roy Emerson |
| 22 Oct | Rothmans International Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Regular series Carpet – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 7–5 | Marty Riessen | Mark Cox Robert Lutz | Roy Emerson Tom Okker Brian Fairlie Arthur Ashe |
| 22 Oct | Rothmans International Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Regular series Carpet – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe Fred Stolle 7–6, 6–0 | Cliff Drysdale Allan Stone | Mark Cox Robert Lutz | Roy Emerson Tom Okker Brian Fairlie Arthur Ashe |
| 29 Oct | Canada Dry International Essen, West Germany Regular series Carpet (i) – 32S/16D Singles | Nikola Pilić 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 7–6 | Robert Lutz | Cliff Richey Ismail El Shafei | John Newcombe Wilhelm Bungert Tom Okker Arthur Ashe |

### November

| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
| 5 Nov | Swedish Pro Tennis Championships Gothenburg, Sweden Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | John Newcombe 6–0, 6–3, 6–1 | Roy Emerson | Tom Okker Mark Cox | Allan Stone Roger Taylor Haroon Rahim Jeff Borowiak |
| 5 Nov | Swedish Pro Tennis Championships Gothenburg, Sweden Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker Marty Riessen 6–2, 7–6 | Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie | Tom Okker Mark Cox | Allan Stone Roger Taylor Haroon Rahim Jeff Borowiak |
| 18 Nov | Rotterdam Indoors Rotterdam, Netherlands Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–2, 6–1 | Tom Okker | John Newcombe Mark Cox | Charlie Pasarell Robert Lutz Robin Drysdale Marty Riessen |
| 18 Nov | Rotterdam Indoors Rotterdam, Netherlands Regular series Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Roy Emerson John Newcombe 6–2, 6–3 | Arthur Ashe Robert Lutz | John Newcombe Mark Cox | Charlie Pasarell Robert Lutz Robin Drysdale Marty Riessen |
| 26 Nov | WCT Winter Finals Rome, Italy WCT Finals Carpet (i) – $25,000 – 8S Singles | Arthur Ashe 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 | Robert Lutz | Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale | Nikola Pilić Marty Riessen Mark Cox John Newcombe |

## Statistical information

These tables present the number of singles (S), and doubles (D) titles won by each player and each nation during the season, within all the tournament categories of the 1972 WCT circuit: the WCT Finals, and the regular series tournaments. The players/nations are sorted by: 1) total number of titles (a doubles title won by two players representing the same nation counts as only one win for the nation); 2) importance of those titles (a WCT Finals win equalling two regular tournaments wins); 3) a singles > doubles hierarchy; 4) alphabetical order (by family names for players).

### Titles won by player

| Total titles | Player | Finals | Regular series | Regular series | All titles | All titles |
| Total titles | Player | S | S | D | S | D |
| 10 | John Newcombe | | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 10 | Tom Okker | | 1 | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| 10 | Marty Riessen | | 1 | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| 7 | Rod Laver | | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| 5 | Arthur Ashe | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | Ken Rosewall | 1 | 2 | | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | Tony Roche | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Roy Emerson | | | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Robert Lutz | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Bob Carmichael | | | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Ray Ruffels | | | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | Mark Cox | | 1 | | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | Nikola Pilić | | 1 | | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | Stan Smith | | 1 | | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | John Alexander | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Jimmy Connors | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Phil Dent | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Cliff Drysdale | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Pancho Gonzales | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Fred Stolle | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Roger Taylor | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |

### Titles won by nation

| Total titles | Nation | Finals | Regular series | Regular series | All titles | All titles |
| Total titles | Nation | S | S | D | S | D |
| 22 | Australia | 1 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 8 |
| 19 | United States | 1 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 12 |
| 10 | Netherlands | | 1 | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | United Kingdom | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | Yugoslavia | | 1 | | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | South Africa | | | 1 | 0 | 1 |

## Standings

These are the standings of the top twenty singles players on the WCT circuit, at the end of the 1971 World Championship Tennis circuit, and after each edition of the WCT Finals in the 1972 season.
1971 Standings :
| # | Player |
| 1 | Rod Laver |
| 2 | Tom Okker |
| 3 | Ken Rosewall |
| 4 | Cliff Drysdale |
| 5 | Arthur Ashe |
| 6 | John Newcombe |
| 7 | Marty Riessen |
| 8 | Robert Lutz |
| 9 | Roy Emerson |
| 10 | Andrés Gimeno |
| 11 | Charlie Pasarell |
| 12 | John Alexander |
| 13 | Dennis Ralston |
| 14 | Ray Ruffels |
| = | Ismail El Shafei |
| = | Nikola Pilić |
| 17 | Robert Maud |
| 18 | Mark Cox |
| 19 | Roger Taylor |
| 20 | Fred Stolle |
1972 Standings (May) :
| # | Player |
| 1 | Rod Laver |
| 2 | Ken Rosewall |
| 3 | Tom Okker |
| 4 | Cliff Drysdale |
| 5 | Marty Riessen |
| 6 | Arthur Ashe |
| 7 | Robert Lutz |
| 8 | John Newcombe |
| 9 | Roy Emerson |
| = | Charlie Pasarell |
| 11 | John Alexander |
| 12 | Roger Taylor |
| 13 | Andrés Gimeno |
| 14 | Mark Cox |
| 15 | Jeff Borowiak |
| 16 | Fred Stolle |
| = | Nikola Pilić |
| 18 | Ismail El Shafei |
| 19 | Bob Carmichael |
| 20 | Ray Ruffels |
1972 Standings (November) :
| # | Player |
| 1 | John Newcombe |
| 2 | Arthur Ashe |
| 3 | Tom Okker |
| 4 | Mark Cox |
| 5 | Cliff Drysdale |
| = | Marty Riessen |
| 7 | Robert Lutz |
| = | Nikola Pilić |
| 9 | Roy Emerson |
| = | Tony Roche |
| = | Ismail El Shafei |
| 12 | Cliff Richey |
| 13 | Charlie Pasarell |
| 14 | Ray Ruffels |
| 15 | Ken Rosewall |
| = | Roger Taylor |
| 17 | John Alexander |
| 18 | Bob Carmichael |
| = | Allan Stone |
| = | Haroon Rahim |
| = | Jeff Borowiak |