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]
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
This is the complete schedule of events on the 1975 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.[ 2]
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 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4) Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen 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 Fred McNair Hans Kary 7–6(8–6) , 5–7, 7–6(8–6) Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta
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 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–4 Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner 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 Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 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 Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen 6–4, 7–5, 6–1 Vijay Amritraj Ashok Amritraj 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 Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–7, 7–6, 6–3 John Alexander Phil Dent 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 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 7–5, 6–4 Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner 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 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 7–5, 6–1 Paolo Bertolucci Adriano Panatta 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 John Alexander Phil Dent 7–6, 4–6, 6–4 Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale 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 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 6–2 José Higueras Balázs Taróczy
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 Mike Estep Jeff Simpson 7–6, 6–3 Vijay Amritraj Ashok Amritraj 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 Ross Case Geoff Masters 6–7, 7–6, 7–6 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 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 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–3, 6–4 Corrado Barazzutti Antonio Zugarelli 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 Dick Stockton Erik van Dillen 1–6, 7–5, 6–4 Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale 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 Ross Case Geoff Masters 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 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 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–3, 6–2 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 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 Vijay Amritraj Ashok Amritraj 6–3, 6–2 Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale 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 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–4 Colin Dibley Ray Ruffels
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 Colin Dibley Ray Ruffels 6–4, 6–4 Ross Case Geoff Masters 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 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 6–3, 6–2 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 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 Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–4, 6–7(6–8) , 6–2 John Alexander Phil Dent 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 Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–2, 3–6, 7–5 Bob Carmichael Allan Stone 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 Bob Lutz Stan Smith 7–5, 7–6 Mike Estep Russell Simpson 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 Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 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 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker 6–3, 7–6 Patrice Dominguez Kevin Warwick
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
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
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.