1977 World Championship Tennis circuit

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]

1977 World Championship Tennis circuit
Connors reached most finals
Details
Duration12 January – 10 May
Edition10th
Tournaments13
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesUnited States Dick Stockton
United States Jimmy Connors (3)
Most tournament finalsUnited States Jimmy Connors (5)
Points leaderUnited States Dick Stockton (520)
1976
1982

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]

Borg lawsuit

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]

Overview

Date Tournament Location Draw Prize Money Surface Winner Finalist Score
12 January Alabama WCT Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. 16S / 8D $175,000 Carpet (i) United States Jimmy Connors United States Bill Scanlon 6–3, 6–3
24 January U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, U.S. 64S / 32D $200,000 Carpet (i) United States Dick Stockton United States 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) Netherlands Tom Okker United States Vitas Gerulaitis 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
7 February Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico 16S / 8D $100,000 Carpet (i) Romania Ilie Năstase Poland Wojciech Fibak 4–6, 6–2, 7–6
15 February Toronto Indoor WCT Toronto, Canada 16S / 8D $100,000 Carpet (i) United States Dick Stockton United States Jimmy Connors 5–6, ret.
1 March Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico 16S / 8D $100,000 Carpet (i) Poland Wojciech Fibak United States Vitas Gerulaitis 6–4, 6–3
16 March St. Louis WCT St. Louis, U.S. 16S / 8D $100,000 Hard (i) United States Jimmy Connors United States John Alexander 7–6, 6–2
22 March Rotterdam WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands 16S / 8D $100,000 Carpet (i) United States Dick Stockton Romania Ilie Năstase 2–6, 6–3, 6–3
28 March London WCT London, UK 16S / 8D $100,000 Carpet (i) United States Eddie Dibbs United States Vitas Gerulaitis 7–6, 6–7, 6–4
5 April Monte Carlo WCT Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France 16S / 8D $100,000 Clay Sweden Björn Borg Italy Corrado Barazzutti 6–3, 7–5, 6–0
11 April Houston WCT Houston, U.S. 16S / 8D $100,000 Har-Tru Italy Adriano Panatta United States Vitas Gerulaitis 7–6, 6–7, 6–1
18 April Charlotte WCT Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. 16S / 8D $100,000 Har-Tru Italy Corrado Barazzutti United States Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–0
4 May Kansas WCT Doubles Finals Kansas City, U.S. 8D $200,000 Carpet (i) India Vijay Amritraj
United States Dick Stockton
United States Vitas Gerulaitis
Italy 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) United States Jimmy Connors United States Dick Stockton 6–7, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3

Schedule

The schedule of events on the 1977 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.[5]

January

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
12 JanAlabama WCT
Birmingham, United States
United States Jimmy Connors
6–3, 6–3
United States Bill ScanlonUnited States Eddie Dibbs
South Africa Ray Moore
South Africa Cliff Drysdale
United States Sandy Mayer
United States Vitas Gerulaitis
Romania Ilie Năstase
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–3, 6–4
United States Billy Martin
United States Bill Scanlon
24 JanU.S. Pro Indoor
Philadelphia, United States
United States Dick Stockton
3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2
United States Jimmy ConnorsUnited States Jeff Borowiak
South Africa Cliff Drysdale
Australia Ken Rosewall
India Vijay Amritraj
South Africa Bernard Mitton
Australia Tony Roche
South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
7–5, 6–3
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
31 JanRichmond WCT
Richmond, United States
Netherlands Tom Okker
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
United States Vitas GerulaitisItaly Corrado Barazzutti
Australia Tony Roche
Australia Ross Case
Italy Adriano Panatta
Spain Manuel Orantes
Romania Ilie Năstase
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–4, 6–4
Australia Ross Case
Australia Tony Roche

February

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 FebMexico City WCT
Mexico City, Mexico
Romania Ilie Năstase
4–6, 6–2, 7–6
Poland Wojciech FibakItaly Adriano Panatta
Australia Ken Rosewall
South Africa Cliff Drysdale
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
United States Vitas Gerulaitis
Spain Manuel Orantes
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–2, 6–3
Romania Ilie Năstase
Italy Adriano Panatta
16 FebToronto Indoor
Toronto, Canada
United States Dick Stockton
5–6 ret.
United States Jimmy ConnorsUnited States Eddie Dibbs
Netherlands Tom Okker
Australia Rod Laver
Australia Ken Rosewall
Australia Tony Roche
Australia Ross Case
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–4, 6–1
Australia Ross Case
Australia Tony Roche
28 FebMonterrey WCT
Monterrey, Mexico
Poland Wojciech Fibak
6–4, 6–3
United States Vitas GerulaitisSouth Africa Cliff Drysdale
United States Bill Scanlon
Spain Manuel Orantes
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Harold Solomon
United States Eddie Dibbs
Australia Ross Case
Poland Wojciech Fibak
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
United States Billy Martin
United States Bill Scanlon

March

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
16 MarSt. Louis Tennis Classic
St. Louis, United States
United States Jimmy Connors
7–6, 6–2
Australia John AlexanderUnited States Harold Solomon
Romania Ilie Năstase
South Africa Cliff Drysdale
United States Raz Reid
Australia Ken Rosewall
South Africa Bernard Mitton
Romania Ilie Năstase
Italy Adriano Panatta
6–4, 3–6, 7–6
India Vijay Amritraj
United StatesDick Stockton
22 MarRotterdam WCT
Rotterdam, Netherlands
United States Dick Stockton
2–6, 6–3, 6–3
Romania Ilie NăstasePoland Wojciech Fibak
United Kingdom Mark Cox
India Vijay Amritraj
Australia John Alexander
Italy Corrado Barazzutti
South Africa Cliff Drysdale
Netherlands Tom Okker
Poland Wojciech Fibak
6–4, 6–4
India Vijay Amritraj
United States Dick Stockton
28 MarRothmans International London
London, England
United States Eddie Dibbs
7–6, 6–7, 6–4
United States Vitas GerulaitisIndia Vijay Amritraj
United States Dick Stockton
Romania Ilie Năstase
Australia Ross Case
Poland Wojciech Fibak
United States Harold Solomon
Romania Ilie Năstase
Italy Adriano Panatta
7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), 6–3
United Kingdom Mark Cox
United States Eddie Dibbs

April

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 AprMonte Carlo WCT
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Sweden Björn Borg
6–3, 7–5, 6–0
Italy Corrado BarazzuttiCzechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
Argentina Guillermo Vilas
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
Poland Wojciech Fibak
United States Eddie Dibbs
Italy Adriano Panatta
France François Jauffret
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
2–6, 6–3, 6–2
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
11 AprHouston Open
Houston, United States
Italy Adriano Panatta
7–6, 6–7, 6–1
United States Vitas GerulaitisUnited States Eddie Dibbs
Romania Ilie Năstase
Australia Ken Rosewall
United States Harold Solomon
Australia Tony Roche
Australia Ross Case
Romania Ilie Năstase
Italy Adriano Panatta
6–3, 6–4
Australia John Alexander
Australia Phil Dent
18 AprCharlotte Tennis Classic
Charlotte, United States
Italy Corrado Barazzutti
7–6, 6–0
United States Eddie DibbsItaly Adriano Panatta
Australia John Alexander
Netherlands Tom Okker
South Africa Cliff Drysdale
United States Harold Solomon
Australia Tony Roche
Netherlands Tom Okker
Australia Ken Rosewall
6–1, 3–6, 7–6
Italy Corrado Barazzutti
Italy Adriano Panatta

Special events

These WCT events did not count towards the standings.[1]

Week of Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
10 MarWorld Cup
Hartford, USA
 USA
7–0
Australia AustraliaN.A.N.A.
25 AprCaesar's Palace Challenge[6]
Las Vegas, U.S.
$100,000
Romania Ilie Năstase
3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–5
United States Jimmy ConnorsN.A.N.A.
10 Mar –
10 Jul –
17 Sep
Shakeys Tournament of Champions
Lakeway, USA
New York City, U.S. (final)
United States Harold Solomon
7–6, 6–2, 2–6, 0–6, 6–3
Australia Ken RosewallUnited States Dick Stockton
United States Eddie Dibbs
Australia Phil Dent
United States Jimmy Connors
Romania Ilie Năstase
India Vijay Amritraj

Standings

Player Tournaments Played Tournaments Won Matches Won Matches Lost Points
United States Dick Stockton * 7 3 15 4 520
United States Eddie Dibbs * 9 1 17 8 500
United States Jimmy Connors * 5 2 12 3 460
Romania Ilie Năstase * 8 1 15 7 440
South Africa Cliff Drysdale * 9 0 10 8 420
Poland Wojtek Fibak * 9 1 11 8 420
United States Vitas Gerulaitis * 7 0 15 7 420
Italy Adriano Panatta * 9 1 11 8 400
Italy Corrado Barazzutti 7 1 10 6 330
Australia Ken Rosewall 8 0 7 8 320
United States Harold Solomon 9 0 7 8 320

* Qualified for the WCT Finals.

See also

References

  1. John Barrett, ed. (1978). World of Tennis. London: Macdonald and Jane's. pp. 171–177. ISBN 978-0354090391.
  2. "W.C.T. Sues Borg and Colgate, Alleging a Breach of Contract". The New York Times. February 4, 1977.
  3. "Borg Being Sued". Ludington Daily News. February 2, 1977.
  4. Barry Lorge (April 13, 1978). "Peace Still Eludes Men's Pro Tennis". The Washington Post.
  5. atpworldtour.com. "1977 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  6. "Nastase whips Connors for Challenge Cup title". Ellensburg Daily Record. UPI. April 11, 1977. p. 9.
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