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1977 World Championship Tennis circuit
USA Jimmy Connors (3) 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.
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).
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. 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.
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) | USA Jimmy Connors | USA Bill Scanlon | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 24 January | U.S. Pro Indoor | Philadelphia, U.S. | 64S / 32D | $200,000 | Carpet (i) | USA Dick Stockton | USA 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) | NED Tom Okker | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 7 February | Mexico City WCT | Mexico City, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | ROU Ilie Năstase | POL Wojciech Fibak | 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
| 15 February | Toronto Indoor WCT | Toronto, Canada | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | USA Dick Stockton | USA Jimmy Connors | 5–6, ret. |
| 1 March | Monterrey WCT | Monterrey, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | POL Wojciech Fibak | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | 6–4, 6–3 |
| 16 March | St. Louis WCT | St. Louis, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Hard (i) | USA Jimmy Connors | USA John Alexander | 7–6, 6–2 |
| 22 March | Rotterdam WCT | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | USA Dick Stockton | ROU Ilie Năstase | 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 28 March | London WCT | London, UK | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | USA Eddie Dibbs | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 |
| 5 April | Monte Carlo WCT | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Clay | SWE Björn Borg | ITA Corrado Barazzutti | 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 |
| 11 April | Houston WCT | Houston, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Har-Tru | ITA Adriano Panatta | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | 7–6, 6–7, 6–1 |
| 18 April | Charlotte WCT | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Har-Tru | ITA Corrado Barazzutti | USA Eddie Dibbs | 7–6, 6–0 |
| 4 May | Kansas WCT Doubles Finals | Kansas City, U.S. | 8D | $200,000 | Carpet (i) | IND Vijay Amritraj | ||
| USA Dick Stockton | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | |||||||
| ITA 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) | USA Jimmy Connors | USA 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.
January
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan | Alabama WCT | ||||
| Birmingham, United States | USA Jimmy Connors | ||||
| 6–3, 6–3 | USA Bill Scanlon | USA Eddie Dibbs | |||
| RSA Ray Moore | RSA Cliff Drysdale | ||||
| USA Sandy Mayer | |||||
| USA Vitas Gerulaitis | |||||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| 6–3, 6–4 | USA Billy Martin | ||||
| USA Bill Scanlon | |||||
| 24 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor | ||||
| Philadelphia, United States | USA Dick Stockton | ||||
| 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 | USA Jimmy Connors | USA Jeff Borowiak | |||
| RSA Cliff Drysdale | AUS Ken Rosewall | ||||
| IND Vijay Amritraj | |||||
| RSA Bernard Mitton | |||||
| AUS Tony Roche | |||||
| RSA Bob Hewitt | |||||
| RSA Frew McMillan | |||||
| 7–5, 6–3 | POL Wojciech Fibak | ||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| 31 Jan | Richmond WCT | ||||
| Richmond, United States | NED Tom Okker | ||||
| 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | ITA Corrado Barazzutti | |||
| AUS Tony Roche | AUS Ross Case | ||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta | |||||
| ESP Manuel Orantes | |||||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| 6–4, 6–4 | AUS Ross Case | ||||
| AUS Tony Roche |
February
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Mexico City WCT | ||||
| Mexico City, Mexico | ROU Ilie Năstase | ||||
| 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 | POL Wojciech Fibak | ITA Adriano Panatta | |||
| AUS Ken Rosewall | RSA Cliff Drysdale | ||||
| TCH Jan Kodeš | |||||
| USA Vitas Gerulaitis | |||||
| ESP Manuel Orantes | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| 6–2, 6–3 | ROU Ilie Năstase | ||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta | |||||
| 16 Feb | Toronto Indoor | ||||
| Toronto, Canada | USA Dick Stockton | ||||
| 5–6 ret. | USA Jimmy Connors | USA Eddie Dibbs | |||
| NED Tom Okker | AUS Rod Laver | ||||
| AUS Ken Rosewall | |||||
| AUS Tony Roche | |||||
| AUS Ross Case | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| 6–4, 6–1 | AUS Ross Case | ||||
| AUS Tony Roche | |||||
| 28 Feb | Monterrey WCT | ||||
| Monterrey, Mexico | POL Wojciech Fibak | ||||
| 6–4, 6–3 | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | RSA Cliff Drysdale | |||
| USA Bill Scanlon | ESP Manuel Orantes | ||||
| MEX Raúl Ramírez | |||||
| USA Harold Solomon | |||||
| USA Eddie Dibbs | |||||
| AUS Ross Case | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | USA Billy Martin | ||||
| USA Bill Scanlon |
March
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar | St. Louis Tennis Classic | ||||
| St. Louis, United States | USA Jimmy Connors | ||||
| 7–6, 6–2 | AUS John Alexander | USA Harold Solomon | |||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | RSA Cliff Drysdale | ||||
| USA Raz Reid | |||||
| AUS Ken Rosewall | |||||
| RSA Bernard Mitton | |||||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | |||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta | |||||
| 6–4, 3–6, 7–6 | IND Vijay Amritraj | ||||
| USADick Stockton | |||||
| 22 Mar | Rotterdam WCT | ||||
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | USA Dick Stockton | ||||
| 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 | ROU Ilie Năstase | POL Wojciech Fibak | |||
| GBR Mark Cox | IND Vijay Amritraj | ||||
| AUS John Alexander | |||||
| ITA Corrado Barazzutti | |||||
| RSA Cliff Drysdale | |||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| 6–4, 6–4 | IND Vijay Amritraj | ||||
| USA Dick Stockton | |||||
| 28 Mar | Rothmans International London | ||||
| London, England | USA Eddie Dibbs | ||||
| 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | IND Vijay Amritraj | |||
| USA Dick Stockton | ROU Ilie Năstase | ||||
| AUS Ross Case | |||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| USA Harold Solomon | |||||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | |||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta | |||||
| 7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), 6–3 | GBR Mark Cox | ||||
| USA Eddie Dibbs |
April
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr | Monte Carlo WCT | ||||
| Monte Carlo, Monaco | SWE Björn Borg | ||||
| 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | ITA Corrado Barazzutti | TCH Jan Kodeš | |||
| ARG Guillermo Vilas | HUN Balázs Taróczy | ||||
| POL Wojciech Fibak | |||||
| USA Eddie Dibbs | |||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta | |||||
| FRA François Jauffret | |||||
| TCH Jan Kodeš | |||||
| 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 | POL Wojciech Fibak | ||||
| NLD Tom Okker | |||||
| 11 Apr | Houston Open | ||||
| Houston, United States | ITA Adriano Panatta | ||||
| 7–6, 6–7, 6–1 | USA Vitas Gerulaitis | USA Eddie Dibbs | |||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | AUS Ken Rosewall | ||||
| USA Harold Solomon | |||||
| AUS Tony Roche | |||||
| AUS Ross Case | |||||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | |||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta | |||||
| 6–3, 6–4 | AUS John Alexander | ||||
| AUS Phil Dent | |||||
| 18 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic | ||||
| Charlotte, United States | ITA Corrado Barazzutti | ||||
| 7–6, 6–0 | USA Eddie Dibbs | ITA Adriano Panatta | |||
| AUS John Alexander | NED Tom Okker | ||||
| RSA Cliff Drysdale | |||||
| USA Harold Solomon | |||||
| AUS Tony Roche | |||||
| NED Tom Okker | |||||
| AUS Ken Rosewall | |||||
| 6–1, 3–6, 7–6 | ITA Corrado Barazzutti | ||||
| ITA Adriano Panatta |
Special events
These WCT events did not count towards the standings.
| Week of | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar | World Cup | ||||
| Hartford, United States | USA | ||||
| 7–0 | AUS Australia | N.A. | N.A. | ||
| 25 Apr | Caesar's Palace Challenge | ||||
| Las Vegas, United States | |||||
| $100,000 | ROU Ilie Năstase | ||||
| 3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–5 | USA Jimmy Connors | N.A. | N.A. | ||
| 10 Mar – | |||||
| 10 Jul – | |||||
| 17 Sep | Shakeys Tournament of Champions | ||||
| Lakeway, United States | |||||
| New York City, United States (final) | USA Harold Solomon | ||||
| 6–5(7–5), 6–2, 2–6, 0–6, 6–3 | AUS Ken Rosewall | USA Dick Stockton | |||
| USA Eddie Dibbs | AUS Phil Dent | ||||
| USA Jimmy Connors | |||||
| ROU Ilie Năstase | |||||
| IND Vijay Amritraj |
Standings
| Player | Tournaments Played | Tournaments Won | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Dick Stockton ***** | 7 | 3 | 15 | 4 | 520 |
| USA Eddie Dibbs ***** | 9 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 500 |
| USA Jimmy Connors ***** | 5 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 460 |
| ROM Ilie Năstase ***** | 8 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 440 |
| RSA Cliff Drysdale ***** | 9 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 420 |
| POL Wojtek Fibak ***** | 9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 420 |
| USA Vitas Gerulaitis ***** | 7 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 420 |
| ITA Adriano Panatta ***** | 9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 400 |
| ITA Corrado Barazzutti | 7 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 330 |
| AUS Ken Rosewall | 8 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 320 |
| USA Harold Solomon | 9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 320 |
***** Qualified for the WCT Finals.
References
References
- (1978). "World of Tennis". Macdonald and Jane's.
- (February 4, 1977). "W.C.T. Sues Borg and Colgate, Alleging a Breach of Contract". The New York Times.
- (February 2, 1977). "Borg Being Sued". Ludington Daily News.
- (April 13, 1978). "Peace Still Eludes Men's Pro Tennis".
- atpworldtour.com. "1977 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar".
- (April 11, 1977). "Nastase whips Connors for Challenge Cup title". Ellensburg Daily Record.
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