World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis (WCT) was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1968 (the first players signed a contract at the end of 1967) and lasted until the emergence of the ATP Tour in 1990. A number of tennis tournaments around the world were affiliated with WCT and players were ranked in a special WCT ranking according to their results in those tournaments.
The WCT had an important impact on the commercial development of tennis. It instituted a
History
World Championship Tennis was founded in September 1967 by sports promoter David Dixon, who earlier witnessed the dreary conditions of the professional circuit before the open era when he visited a poorly promoted match between Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.[1] In August of that year, he had presented his idea of a pro tennis tour to Lamar Hunt and Al Hill Jr., who agreed to invest.[2][3] WCT became the major professional tennis tour of players under contract of the early seventies.
After starting with the "Handsome Eight", the original eight players (
By early 1970, the WCT had signed other players (
In 1971, the WCT circuit grew to 21 tournaments around the globe.
In April 1972 an agreement was reached between the ILTF and WCT that divided the 1973 tour in a WCT circuit that ran from January through May and a Grand Prix circuit that was scheduled for the rest of the year. Under this agreement WCT players were again allowed to play the Grand Prix tournaments.[11]
The WCT tour was merged into the Grand Prix tennis circuit in 1978. On 30 April 1981 WCT announced its withdrawal from the Grand Prix circuit and the establishment of its own full calendar season for 1982. According to Lamar Hunt the reasons for the withdrawal were the restrictions placed on them by the Men's Professional Council, the administrators of the Grand Prix circuit.[12] In January 1983, WCT sued the Men's International Professional Tennis Council (MIPTC), the Association of Tennis Professionals and the ITF, claiming unfair restriction of trade.[13] In November 1983 a settlement resulted in WCT's reincorporation into the Grand Prix with effect from 1985.[14]
1989 was the last season of WCT. The ATP established its own tennis circuit from 1990. On August 28, 1990, after the Tournament of Champions event at Forest Hills, WCT announced its dissolution.[15]
WCT also built and operated tennis clubs in the United States; WCT Lakeway World of Tennis in Lakeway (metro Austin), Texas and WCT Peachtree World of Tennis in Peachtree Corners (metro Atlanta), Georgia.[citation needed]
WCT by year
WCT 1968
WCT 1969
WCT 1970
WCT 1971
WCT 1972
WCT 1973
WCT 1974
WCT 1975
WCT 1976
WCT 1977
WCT 1982
WCT 1983
WCT 1984
WCT 1985
WCT tournaments returned to the Grand Prix stage after a three-year absence during 1982–84. There were only four events. The titles were split between Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe, winning two each. While McEnroe entered into all four, Lendl played just two and won both. McEnroe won the WCT Houston title, beating Kevin Curren in the final.
The
In Atlanta, McEnroe won the final over Paul Annacone in three sets. The WCT Tournament of Champions in Forest Hills ended with much anticipated final between Lendl and McEnroe. Despite winning only two of his last 12 matches over McEnroe in ATP tournaments, Lendl beat McEnroe 6–3 6–3.
Date | Location | Tournament | Prize Money/ Surface |
Final | Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mar 3 | Houston, USA | WCT Houston Shoot-Out | $300,000 Carpet |
John McEnroe d. Kevin Curren, 7–5, 6–1, 7–6 | John McEnroe d. Peter Fleming, 6–4, 6–0 Kevin Curren d. Shahar Perkiss, 6–2, 6–2 |
April 14 | Dallas, USA | Buick WCT Finals | $500,000 Carpet |
Ivan Lendl d. Tim Mayotte, 7–6, 6–4, 6–1 | Ivan Lendl d. Jimmy Connors, 6–3, 2–1 ret. Tim Mayotte d. Joakim Nyström, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
April 28 | Atlanta, USA | WCT Atlanta | $300,000 Carpet |
John McEnroe d. Paul Annacone, 7–6, 7–6, 6–2 | John McEnroe d. Mike Leach, 6–3, 6–3 Paul Annacone d. Kevin Curren, walkover |
May 12 | Forest Hills, USA | Shearson Lehman Brothers Tournament of Champions | $500,000 Clay (Har-Tru) |
Ivan Lendl d. John McEnroe, 6–3, 6–3 | Ivan Lendl d. Aaron Krickstein, 6–1, 2–6, 6–1 John McEnroe d. Henrik Sundström, 6–2, 3–6, 6–2 |
WCT 1986
The WCT Atlanta tournament was marked by early exits of top seeds Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker in the first round. Edberg lost to Mikael Pernfors, and Becker lost to Tim Wilkison. In Dallas, Anders Järryd was the unexpected winner, having replaced the injured Ivan Lendl in the 12-player draw.
Date | Location | Tournament | Prize Money/ Surface |
Final | Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 6 | Atlanta, USA | WCT Atlanta | $220,000 Carpet |
Kevin Curren d. Tim Wilkison, 7–6, 7–6 | Kevin Curren d. Brian Teacher, 6–4, 6–2 Tim Wilkison d. David Pate, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
Apr 13 | Dallas, USA | Buick WCT Finals | $500,000 Carpet |
Anders Järryd d. Boris Becker, 6–7, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 | Anders Järryd d. Mats Wilander, 6–4, 7–5, 6–3 Boris Becker d. Stefan Edberg 7–6, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6 |
May 11 | Forest Hills, Queens, USA | Shearson Lehman Brothers Tournament of Champions | $500,000 Clay (Har-Tru) |
Yannick Noah d. Guillermo Vilas, 7–6, 6–0 | Yannick Noah d. Ivan Lendl, 6–3, 7–5 Guillermo Vilas d. Martín Jaite, 6–3, 6–3 |
Oct 12 | Scottsdale, USA | WCT Scottsdale Open | $220,000 Hard |
John McEnroe d. Kevin Curren, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | John McEnroe d. David Pate, 6–3, 6–3 Kevin Curren d. Todd Witsken, 7–5, 6–7, 6–4 |
Nov 23 | Houston, USA | WCT Houston Shoot-Out | $220,000 Carpet |
Slobodan Živojinović d. Scott Davis, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 | Slobodan Živojinović d. Derrick Rostagno, 6–4, 6–4 Scott Davis d. Eliot Teltscher, 7–5, 6–4 |
WCT 1987
Date | Location | Tournament | Prize Money/ Surface |
Final | Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 12 | Dallas, USA | WCT Finals | $500,000 Carpet |
Miloslav Mečíř d. John McEnroe, 6–0, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 | Miloslav Mečíř d. Andrés Gómez, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4, 6–2 John McEnroe d. Stefan Edberg, 7–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–4 |
May 10 | Forest Hills, USA | Shearson Lehman Brothers Tournament of Champions | $500,000 Clay (Har-Tru) |
Andrés Gómez d. Yannick Noah, 6–4, 7–6, 7–6 | Andrés Gómez d. Boris Becker, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 Yannick Noah d. Slobodan Živojinović, 6–3, 7–5 |
Oct 11 | Scottsdale, USA | WCT Scottsdale Open | $232,000 Hard |
Brad Gilbert d. Eliot Teltscher, 6–2, 6–2 | Brad Gilbert d. Michael Chang 6–3, 6–4 Eliot Teltscher d. David Pate 7–6, 7–5 |
WCT 1988
Date | Location | Tournament | Prize Money/ Surface |
Final | Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 3 | Dallas, USA | WCT Finals | $500,000 Carpet |
Boris Becker d. Stefan Edberg, 6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 | Boris Becker d. Brad Gilbert, 6–4, 6–2, 6–1 Stefan Edberg d. Yannick Noah, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
May 8 | Forest Hills, USA | Eagle Tournament of Champions | $485,000 Clay (Har-Tru) |
Andre Agassi d. Slobodan Živojinović, 7–5, 7–6, 7–5 | Andre Agassi d. Aaron Krickstein, 6–3, 6–3 Slobodan Živojinović d. Luiz Mattar, 7–6, 6–3 |
Oct 9 | Scottsdale, USA | WCT Eagle Classic | $297,000 Hard |
Mikael Pernfors d. Glenn Layendecker, 6–2, 6–4 | Mikael Pernfors d. Kevin Curren, 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 Glenn Layendecker d. Jim Pugh, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
WCT 1989
1989 was the final year of the WCT tour. Only three events were organized, all of them were incorporated into the
At the 19th (and last) WCT Finals in Reunion Arena, John McEnroe won his fifth Dallas title. His semifinal with Ivan Lendl produced the best match of the tournament, and McEnroe beat Lendl for the first time in over three years. The tournament was negatively impacted by the withdrawals of Boris Becker (who did not appear at all) and Andre Agassi (walking off the court during a second set match with McEnroe). Brad Gilbert entered the event to fill the gap for Becker and surprisingly made it to the final. Later in spring, Lendl captured last two WCT titles in Scottsdale and Forest Hills[16] to close the WCT era.
Date | Location | Tournament | Prize Money/ Surface |
Final | Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mar 5 | Dallas, USA | WCT Finals | $500,000 Carpet |
John McEnroe d. Brad Gilbert, 6–3, 6–3, 7–6 | John McEnroe d. Ivan Lendl, 6–7, 7–6, 6–2, 7–5 Brad Gilbert d. Mikael Pernfors, 6–3, 6–7, 6–3, 6–3 |
Mar 12 | Scottsdale, USA | WCT Eagle Classic | $297,000 Hard |
Ivan Lendl d. Stefan Edberg, 6–2, 6–3 | Ivan Lendl d. Emilio Sánchez, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 Stefan Edberg d. Amos Mansdorf, 6–7, 6–4, 6–1 |
May 8 | Forest Hills, USA | Eagle Tournament of Champions | $485,000 Clay (Har-Tru) |
Ivan Lendl d. Jaime Yzaga, 6–2, 6–1 | Ivan Lendl d. Andre Agassi, 6–2, 6–3 Jaime Yzaga d. Michael Chang, 6–4, 6–3 |
WCT 1990
There was no WCT tour in 1990, when the ATP established its own circuit named the ATP Tour, however there was one (final) tournament sanctioned by WCT.[15] The Forest Hills WCT at West Side Tennis Club was moved from green clay to hardcourts and run as special non-ATP Tour event. Ivan Lendl stamped his WCT dominance winning the last title.
Date | Location | Tournament | Prize Money/ Surface |
Final | Semifinals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aug 26 | Forest Hills, USA | WCT Tournament of Champions | $500,000 Hard |
Ivan Lendl d. Aaron Krickstein, 6–4, 6–7, 6–3 | Ivan Lendl d. Henri Leconte, 6–7, 6–3, 6–1, |
WCT Year-end Championship Finals
The WCT Finals were usually held in Dallas. The 1971 quarterfinals and semifinals were played in Houston, and the final was played at the
The first edition of the WCT Finals in 1971 was played in November, just a few days before
A decade later there were three editions of the WCT Finals; the most important one in Dallas, and the others in autumn in Naples, Italy, and in winter (in January 1983) in Detroit, Michigan.
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | Ken Rosewall | Rod Laver | 6–4, 1–6, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–4) |
1972 | Ken Rosewall | Rod Laver | 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6 |
1972 winter (Rome) | Arthur Ashe | Bob Lutz |
6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 |
1973 | Stan Smith | Arthur Ashe | 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
1974 | John Newcombe | Björn Borg | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 |
1975 | Arthur Ashe | Björn Borg | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0 |
1976 | Björn Borg | Guillermo Vilas | 1–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–1 |
1977 | Jimmy Connors | Dick Stockton | 6–7, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 |
1978 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Eddie Dibbs | 6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
1979 | John McEnroe | Björn Borg | 7–5, 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
1980 | Jimmy Connors | John McEnroe | 2–6, 7–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
1981 | John McEnroe | Johan Kriek | 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 |
1982 | Ivan Lendl | John McEnroe | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
1982 fall (Naples) | Ivan Lendl | Wojciech Fibak | 6–4, 6–2, 6–1 |
1982 winter (Detroit) | Ivan Lendl | Guillermo Vilas | 7–5, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 |
1983 | John McEnroe | Ivan Lendl | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–7, 7–6 |
1984 | John McEnroe | Jimmy Connors | 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 |
1985 | Ivan Lendl | Tim Mayotte | 7–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
1986 | Anders Järryd | Boris Becker | 6–7, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 |
1987 | Miloslav Mečíř | John McEnroe | 6–0, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
1988 | Boris Becker | Stefan Edberg | 6–4, 1–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
1989 | John McEnroe | Brad Gilbert | 6–3, 6–3, 7–6 |
WCT final rankings by year
1971
- R. Laver
- T. Okker
- K. Rosewall
- C. Drysdale
- A. Ashe
- J. Newcombe
- M. Riessen
- B. Lutz
- R. Emerson
- A. Gimeno
1972
One ranking was issued for the second part of 1971 and first part of 1972, and another for the second part of 1972 final standings. The first eight players in the second ranking played the 1972 autumn-winter WCT Finals held in Rome.
Second part of 1971/first part of 1972
|
Second part of 1972
|
1973
The players were separated into two groups, A & B, with each group playing certain tournaments. The top 4 from each group qualified for the final at the end of the season.[17]
Group A
|
Group B
|
1974
The group was divided into three groups, Red, Blue, and Green and the top 8 points winners qualified for the final (marked with*): 2 players by group plus the other two players having most points. Each group played separate tournaments except the Philadelphia tournament at the start of the season.
Red group
|
Blue group
|
Green group
|
1975
The group was divided into three groups again, Red, Blue, and Green and the top 8 points winners qualified for the final (marked with *). Each group played separate tournaments except the Philadelphia tournament at the start of the season.
Red group
|
Blue group
|
Green group
|
1976–1983: All the players were put back together and played the same tournaments.
1976 |
1977
|
1978
|
1979
|
1980
|
1981
|
1982
WCT expanded from the previous year and broke away from the Grand Prix for the year. There were three finals, Spring (Dallas) the most important one, Fall (Naples, Italy) and Winter (Detroit) and therefore three different points tables for each season:[21]
Spring
|
Summer/Fall |
Winter
|
1983
There were only 9 tournaments and the WCT were back with the Grand Prix circuit.
- I. Lendl
- J. McEnroe
- G. Vilas
- V. Gerulaitis
- J. L. Clerc
- P. McNamee
- T. Šmíd
- W. Fibak
- B. Taróczy
- B. Scanlon
WCT Challenge Cup
Some special events such as the Aetna World Cup (where the Australian pros and the US pros faced in a team event because in 1970, at the start of this event, contract pro players weren't allowed to enter the Davis Cup) or the Challenge Cup (an 8-man tournament) were held by the WCT organization.
List of WCT Challenge Cup winners
- 1976 – Honolulu – Ilie Năstase defeated Arthur Ashe, 6–3, 1–6, 6–7, 6–3, 6–1
- 1976/7 – Las Vegas – Ilie Năstase defeated Jimmy Connors, 3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–5
- 1977 – Las Vegas – Jimmy Connors defeated Roscoe Tanner, 6–2, 5–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–5
- 1978 – Montego Bay – Ilie Năstase defeated Peter Fleming, 2–6, 5–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–4
- 1979 – Montreal – Björn Borg defeated Jimmy Connors, 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4
- 1980 – Montreal – John McEnroe defeated Vijay Amritraj, 6–1, 6–2, 6–
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0362000917.
- ^ "Hunt gains breakthrough with TV tennis contract". The Windsor Star. November 4, 1971 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ a b Tom Koch (March 1988). "It Was 20 Years Ago Today". D Magazine.
- ^ "Roche at Top Form in Final" Sydney Morning Herald, January 26, 1968. Page 12
- ^ Frank Deford (February 12, 1968). "Now Tennis Goes Mod". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 28, no. 6. pp. 12–15.
- ^ "Tennis Amateur Says Wage Runs About $9,600 a Year". Lawrence Journal-World. AP. January 4, 1968. p. Eleven.
- Bob Briner; Frank Deford (April 19, 1971). "But It Looked Like A Great New Racket". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 34, no. 16. pp. 56–64.
- ^ "Lamar Hunt obtains six pro tennis stars". Eugene Register-Guard. July 29, 1970. p. 2D – via Google News Archive.
- ISBN 0525111409.
- ISBN 978-0942257700.
- ^ "ITF – History". International Tennis Federation (ITF).
- ISBN 0356085961.
- ^ Curry Kirkpatrick (May 16, 1983). "And Suddenly He's A Man Of Clay". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 58, no. 20. pp. 40–47.
- ISBN 9780002181228.
- ^ a b "W.C.T. Out of Business". The New York Times. August 28, 1990.
- ^ "Some Changes At Forest Hills". The New York Times. April 29, 1989.
- ISBN 978-0362001679.
- ISBN 978-0-354-09010-0.)
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: CS1 maint: others (link - ISBN 9780362020120.
- ISBN 978-0-356-08596-8.
- ISBN 978-0-356-09383-3.)
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: CS1 maint: others (link
External links
- WorldChampionshipTennis.com: The official website of World Championship Tennis, LLC, owner of the historical archives of World Championship Tennis.
- The $35,000 Racquet Dave Cody, Commonwealth Times 1981-02-17, pages 1,12-13,24, Description of 1981 Richmond WCT.