1975 World Championship Tennis circuit

1975 World Championship Tennis circuit
	Ashe left with President Reagan in July 1982
Details
Duration	20 January 1975 – 7 May 1975
Edition	8th
Tournaments	26
Achievements (singles)
Most titles	Arthur Ashe (5)
Most finals	Arthur Ashe (7)
Points leader	Arthur Ashe (760)
	← 1974 1976 →

The 1975 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1975. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). The 1975 circuit divided the players in three groups, Red, Blue and Green who played 24 tournaments in 12 countries. The first tournament, U.S. Professional Indoor Championships, was a combined event as was the season's final which was played in Dallas by the eight best performers and was won by American Arthur Ashe who defeated Björn Borg from Sweden in four sets.^[1]

Additionally there were three special non–ranking events; the CBS Classic (Puerto Rico, 13–19 January), the Aetna World Cup team contest between Australia and America (Hartford, 6–9 March) and the Rothmans International Trophy an eight-nation contest between 16 players (London, 4–8 March).

The total prize money for the 1975 WCT circuit was $2,068,500 which included $100,000 bonus money.^[1]

Overview

Week	Tournament	Location	Champions	Runners-up	Score
20 Jan	U.S. Pro Indoor	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.	Marty Riessen	Vitas Gerulaitis	7–6^(7–1), 5–7, 6–2, 6–7^(0–7), 6–3
27 Jan	Fidelity Tournament	Richmond, Virginia, U.S.	Björn Borg	Arthur Ashe	4–6, 6–4, 6–4
3 Feb	St. Petersburg WCT	St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.	Raúl Ramírez	Roscoe Tanner	6–0, 1–6, 6–2
6 Feb	WCT International	Bologna, Italy	Björn Borg	Arthur Ashe	7–6^(7–4), 4–6, 7–6^(7–4)
10 Feb	Rothmans Toronto WCT	Toronto, Canada	Harold Solomon	Stan Smith	6–4, 6–1
17 Feb	Fort Worth WCT	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.	John Alexander	Dick Stockton	7–6, 4–6, 6–3
17 Feb	La Costa WCT	La Costa, California, U.S.	Rod Laver	Allan Stone	6–2, 6–2
17 Feb	Barcelona WCT	Barcelona, Spain	Arthur Ashe	Björn Borg	7–6, 6–3
23 Feb	San Antonio WCT	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.	Dick Stockton	Stan Smith	7–5, 2–6, 7–6
25 Feb	Rotterdam WTT	Rotterdam, Netherlands	Arthur Ashe	Tom Okker	3–6, 6–2, 6–4
10 Mar	Washington WCT	Washington, D.C., U.S.	Mark Cox	Dick Stockton	6–2, 7–6
10 Mar	São Paulo WCT	São Paulo, Brazil	Rod Laver	Charlie Pasarell	6–4, 6–4
10 Mar	Munich WCT	Munich, West Germany	Arthur Ashe	Björn Borg	6–4, 7–6
17 Mar	Memphis WCT	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.	Harold Solomon	Jiří Hřebec	2–6, 6–1, 6–4
17 Mar	Caracas WCT	Caracas, Venezuela	Rod Laver	Raúl Ramírez	7–6, 6–2
23 Mar	Monte Carlo WCT	Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France	Manuel Orantes	Bob Hewitt	6–2, 6–4
24 Mar	Atlanta WCT	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.	Mark Cox	John Alexander	6–3, 7–6
24 Mar	Orlando WCT	Orlando, Florida, U.S.	Rod Laver	Vitas Gerulaitis	6–3, 6–4
7 Apr	St. Louis WCT	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.	Vitas Gerulaitis	Roscoe Tanner	2–6, 6–2, 6–3
11 Apr	Johannesburg WCT	Johannesburg, South Africa	Buster Mottram	Tom Okker	6–4, 6–2
14 Apr	Tokyo WCT	Tokyo, Japan	Bob Lutz	Stan Smith	6–4, 6–4
14 Apr	Denver WCT	Denver, Colorado, U.S.	Jimmy Connors	Brian Gottfried	6–3, 6–4
21 Apr	Houston	Houston, Texas, U.S.	Ken Rosewall	Cliff Drysdale	6–3, 3–6, 6–1
21 Apr	Charlotte WCT	Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.	Raúl Ramírez	Roscoe Tanner	3–6, 6–4, 6–3
21 Apr	Stockholm WCT	Stockholm, Sweden	Arthur Ashe	Tom Okker	6–4, 6–2
7 May	Dallas WCT Finals	Dallas, Texas, U.S.	Arthur Ashe	Björn Borg	3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0

Schedule

This is the complete schedule of events on the 1975 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.^[2]

January

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
20 Jan	U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, United States Carpet (i) – $115,000 – 128S/64D Singles – Doubles	Marty Riessen 7–6^(7–1), 5–7, 6–2, 6–7^(0–7), 6–3	Vitas Gerulaitis	Jaime Fillol John Alexander	Tony Roche Paul Gerken Arthur Ashe Cliff Richey
20 Jan		Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 3–6, 6–3, 7–6^(7–4)	Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen	Jaime Fillol John Alexander	Tony Roche Paul Gerken Arthur Ashe Cliff Richey
27 Jan	Fidelity Tournament Richmond, United States Green group Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Björn Borg 4–6, 6–4, 6–4	Arthur Ashe	Kim Warwick Tom Okker	Jeff Borowiak Adriano Panatta Onny Parun Bob Giltinan
27 Jan		Fred McNair Hans Kary 7–6^(8–6), 5–7, 7–6^(8–6)	Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta	Kim Warwick Tom Okker	Jeff Borowiak Adriano Panatta Onny Parun Bob Giltinan

February

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
3 Feb	Havatampa–Raymond James Classic St. Petersburg, United States Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Raúl Ramírez 6–0, 1–6, 6–2	Roscoe Tanner	Rod Laver Geoff Masters	Jaime Fillol Sandy Mayer Brian Gottfried Andrew Pattison
3 Feb		Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–4	Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner	Rod Laver Geoff Masters	Jaime Fillol Sandy Mayer Brian Gottfried Andrew Pattison
6 Feb	WCT International Bologna, Italy Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group Singles – Doubles	Björn Borg 7–6^(7–4), 4–6, 7–6^(7–4)	Arthur Ashe	Tom Okker Bob Hewitt	Niki Pilić Onny Parun Bob Giltinan Adriano Panatta
6 Feb		Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta 6–3, 3–6, 6–3	Arthur Ashe Tom Okker	Tom Okker Bob Hewitt	Niki Pilić Onny Parun Bob Giltinan Adriano Panatta
10 Feb	Rothmans Toronto WCT Toronto, Canada Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Harold Solomon 6–4, 6–1	Stan Smith	Erik van Dillen Marty Riessen	Paul Gerken Cliff Richey Bob Lutz Phil Dent
10 Feb		Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen 6–4, 7–5, 6–1	Vijay Amritraj Ashok Amritraj	Erik van Dillen Marty Riessen	Paul Gerken Cliff Richey Bob Lutz Phil Dent
17 Feb	Fort Worth WCT Fort Worth, United States Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	John Alexander 7–6^(7–2), 4–6, 6–3	Dick Stockton	Cliff Drysdale Vijay Amritraj	Harold Solomon Mark Cox Jiří Hřebec Milan Holeček
17 Feb		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–7, 7–6, 6–3	John Alexander Phil Dent	Cliff Drysdale Vijay Amritraj	Harold Solomon Mark Cox Jiří Hřebec Milan Holeček
17 Feb	Carlsbad WCT Carlsbad, United States Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Rod Laver 6–2, 6–2	Allan Stone	Roscoe Tanner Alex Metreveli	Ismail El Shafei Ross Case Geoff Masters Raymond Moore
17 Feb		Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 7–5, 6–4	Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner	Roscoe Tanner Alex Metreveli	Ismail El Shafei Ross Case Geoff Masters Raymond Moore
17 Feb	Barcelona WCT Barcelona, Spain Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group	Arthur Ashe 7–6, 6–3	Björn Borg	Onny Parun José Higueras	Steve Krulevitz Bob Hewitt Kjell Johansson Kevin Warwick
17 Feb		Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 7–5, 6–1	Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta	Onny Parun José Higueras	Steve Krulevitz Bob Hewitt Kjell Johansson Kevin Warwick
23 Feb	San Antonio WCT San Antonio, United States Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Dick Stockton 7–5, 2–6, 7–6	Stan Smith	John Alexander Bob Lutz	Paul Gerken Mike Estep Marty Riessen Phil Dent
23 Feb		John Alexander Phil Dent 7–6, 4–6, 6–4	Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale	John Alexander Bob Lutz	Paul Gerken Mike Estep Marty Riessen Phil Dent
24 Feb	Rotterdam WTT Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group Singles – Doubles	Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–2, 6–4	Tom Okker	Patrice Dominguez Björn Borg	Bob Hewitt Steve Krulevitz Kevin Warwick Frew McMillan
24 Feb		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 6–2	José Higueras Balázs Taróczy	Patrice Dominguez Björn Borg	Bob Hewitt Steve Krulevitz Kevin Warwick Frew McMillan

March

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
10 Mar	Xerox Tennis Classic Washington, D.C., United States Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Mark Cox 6–2, 7–6	Dick Stockton	Stan Smith Haroon Rahim	John Alexander Bob Lutz Phil Dent Eddie Dibbs
10 Mar		Mike Estep Jeff Simpson 7–6, 6–3	Vijay Amritraj Ashok Amritraj	Stan Smith Haroon Rahim	John Alexander Bob Lutz Phil Dent Eddie Dibbs
10 Mar	São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brazil Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Rod Laver 6–4, 6–4	Charlie Pasarell	Thomas Koch Roscoe Tanner	Vitas Gerulaitis Alex Metreveli Ray Ruffels Brian Fairlie
10 Mar		Ross Case Geoff Masters 6–7, 7–6, 7–6	Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez	Thomas Koch Roscoe Tanner	Vitas Gerulaitis Alex Metreveli Ray Ruffels Brian Fairlie
10 Mar	Munich WCT Munich, West Germany Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group Singles	Arthur Ashe 6–4, 7–6	Björn Borg	Niki Pilić Buster Mottram	Kjell Johansson Balázs Taróczy Corrado Barazzutti Bob Hewitt
10 Mar		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–3, 6–4	Corrado Barazzutti Antonio Zugarelli	Niki Pilić Buster Mottram
17 Mar	Memphis WCT Memphis, United States Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Harold Solomon 2–6, 6–1, 6–4	Jiří Hřebec	John Alexander Mark Cox	Cliff Richey Vijay Amritraj Bob Lutz Phil Dent
17 Mar		Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen 1–6, 7–5, 6–4	Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale	John Alexander Mark Cox	Cliff Richey Vijay Amritraj Bob Lutz Phil Dent
17 Mar	Caracas WCT Caracas, Venezuela Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Rod Laver 7–6, 6–2	Raúl Ramírez	Jeff Borowiak Roscoe Tanner	Ismail El Shafei Allan Stone Raymond Moore Roy Emerson
17 Mar		Ross Case Geoff Masters 7–5, 4–6, 6–2	Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez	Jeff Borowiak Roscoe Tanner	Ismail El Shafei Allan Stone Raymond Moore Roy Emerson
23 Mar	Monte Carlo WCT Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group	Manuel Orantes 6–2, 6–4	Bob Hewitt	José Higueras John Lloyd	Dick Crealy Adriano Panatta Buster Mottram Björn Borg
23 Mar		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–3, 6–2	Arthur Ashe Tom Okker	José Higueras John Lloyd	Dick Crealy Adriano Panatta Buster Mottram Björn Borg
24 Mar	First National Bank Classic Atlanta, United States Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Mark Cox 6–3, 7–6^(7–3)	John Alexander	Cliff Richey Harold Solomon	Stan Smith Phil Dent Dick Stockton Milan Holeček
24 Mar		Vijay Amritraj Ashok Amritraj 6–3, 6–2	Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale	Cliff Richey Harold Solomon	Stan Smith Phil Dent Dick Stockton Milan Holeček
24 Mar	Orlando WCT Orlando, United States Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4	Vitas Gerulaitis	Brian Gottfried Andrew Pattison	Jeff Borowiak Roscoe Tanner Raúl Ramírez Allan Stone
24 Mar		Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–4	Colin Dibley Ray Ruffels	Brian Gottfried Andrew Pattison	Jeff Borowiak Roscoe Tanner Raúl Ramírez Allan Stone

April

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
7 Apr	St. Louis Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Vitas Gerulaitis 2–6, 6–2, 6–3	Roscoe Tanner	Rod Laver Brian Gottfried	Jeff Borowiak Brian Fairlie Jaime Fillol Raúl Ramírez
7 Apr		Colin Dibley Ray Ruffels 6–4, 6–4	Ross Case Geoff Masters	Rod Laver Brian Gottfried	Jeff Borowiak Brian Fairlie Jaime Fillol Raúl Ramírez
11 Apr	Johannesburg WCT Johannesburg, South Africa Hard – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group	Buster Mottram 6–4, 6–2	Tom Okker	Björn Borg Frew McMillan	Bob Hewitt Onny Parun Kevin Warwick Arthur Ashe
11 Apr		Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 6–3, 6–2	Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan	Björn Borg Frew McMillan	Bob Hewitt Onny Parun Kevin Warwick Arthur Ashe
14 Apr	Tokyo WCT Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Bob Lutz 6–4, 6–4	Stan Smith	John Alexander Mark Cox	Harold Solomon Dick Stockton Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
14 Apr		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–4, 6–7^(6–8), 6–2	John Alexander Phil Dent	John Alexander Mark Cox	Harold Solomon Dick Stockton Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
14 Apr	Denver WCT Denver, United States Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–4	Brian Gottfried	Sandy Mayer Ismail El Shafei	Thomas Koch Raúl Ramírez Vitas Gerulaitis Jaime Fillol
14 Apr		Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–2, 3–6, 7–5	Bob Carmichael Allan Stone	Sandy Mayer Ismail El Shafei	Thomas Koch Raúl Ramírez Vitas Gerulaitis Jaime Fillol
21 Apr	Houston WCT Houston, United States Clay – $60,000 – 32S/16D Red group	Ken Rosewall 6–3, 3–6, 6–1	Cliff Drysdale	Harold Solomon Vijay Amritraj	John Alexander Phil Dent Bob Lutz Eddie Dibbs
21 Apr		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 7–5, 7–6	Mike Estep Russell Simpson	Harold Solomon Vijay Amritraj	John Alexander Phil Dent Bob Lutz Eddie Dibbs
21 Apr	Charlotte WCT Charlotte, United States Clay – $60,000 – 32S/16D Blue group	Raúl Ramírez 3–6, 6–4, 6–3	Roscoe Tanner	Rod Laver Andrew Pattison	Iván Molina Jaime Fillol Brian Fairlie Brian Gottfried
21 Apr		Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol 6–3, 5–7, 6–4	Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie	Rod Laver Andrew Pattison	Iván Molina Jaime Fillol Brian Fairlie Brian Gottfried
21 Apr	Stockholm WCT Stockholm, Sweden Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Green group	Arthur Ashe 6–4, 6–2	Tom Okker	Onny Parun Fred McNair	Buster Mottram José Higueras Corrado Barazzutti Tenny Svensson
21 Apr		Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 6–3, 7–6	Patrice Dominguez Kevin Warwick	Onny Parun Fred McNair

May

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
7 May	WCT Finals Dallas, United States WCT Finals Carpet – $100,000 – 8S Singles	Arthur Ashe 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0	Björn Borg	John Alexander Rod Laver	Mark Cox Raúl Ramírez Roscoe Tanner Harold Solomon

Standings

Blue group

Player	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money
Rod Laver ^*	9	4	30	5	700	$109,731
Roscoe Tanner ^*	9	0	25	9	590	$52,962
Raúl Ramírez ^*	9	2	22	7	550	$86,680
Brian Gottfried	9	0	19	9	450	$68,300
Vitas Gerulaitis	6	1	19	5	420	$40,300
Jaime Fillol	9	0	14	9	390	$22,200
Allan Stone	9	0	10	9	350	$19,000
Andrew Pattison	9	0	11	9	420	$26,328
Jeff Borowiak	9	0	11	9	330	$22,610
Ismail El Shafei	9	0	11	9	330	$15,600

Green group

Player	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money
Arthur Ashe ^*	9	4	35	5	760	$177,161
Björn Borg ^*	9	2	27	7	640	$78,140
Tom Okker	8	0	19	8	470	$41,292
Buster Mottram	9	1	15	8	400	$27,250
Bob Hewitt	8	0	15	8	395	$33,370
Onny Parun	8	0	13	8	350	$18,250
Kim Warwick	8	0	12	8	340	$18,700
José Higueras	9	0	9	9	330	$16,750
Patrice Dominguez	9	0	9	9	290	$13,350
Bob Giltinan	9	0	8	9	280	$11,930

Red group

Player	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money
John Alexander ^*	9	1	26	8	610	$94,075
Harold Solomon ^*	9	2	22	7	540	$46,950
Mark Cox ^*	9	2	22	7	520	$75,822
Stan Smith	9	0	19	9	500	$46,189
Dick Stockton	9	1	19	8	490	$60,275
Bob Lutz	9	1	19	7	470	$41,647
Phil Dent	9	0	14	9	390	$25,200
Cliff Drysdale	9	0	14	9	390	$40,408
Vijay Amritraj	9	0	11	9	350	$25,750
Marty Riessen	9	0	8	9	350	$42,259

^* Qualified for the WCT Finals. The best two players from each group qualified plus the next two players with the highest points total.

References

^ ^a ^b John Barrett, ed. (1977). World of Tennis '76. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 141–152. ISBN 0362002754.
^ "1975 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

External links

ATP 1975 results archive

[wot76-1] John Barrett, ed. (1977). World of Tennis '76. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 141–152. ISBN 0362002754.

[ATPCalendar-2] "1975 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

[1]

[2]

v t e Men's tennis seasons
Seasons & World Circuit	1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
ILTF World Circuit ITF World Circuit	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
National Tennis League	1968 1969
WCT Circuit	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978–81: not held 1982 1983 1984
ILTF Grand Prix ITF Grand Prix	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
ATP Tour	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025