1977 World Championship Tennis circuit
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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]
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Connors reached most finals | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 January – 10 May |
| Edition | 10th |
| Tournaments | 13 |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most titles |  Dick Stockton Jimmy Connors (3) |
| Most finals | Jimmy Connors (5) |
| Points leader | 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) | Jimmy Connors |
Bill Scanlon |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 24 January | U.S. Pro Indoor | Philadelphia, U.S. | 64S / 32D | $200,000 | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton |
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) |  Tom Okker |
Vitas Gerulaitis |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 7 February | Mexico City WCT | Mexico City, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) |  Ilie Năstase |
 Wojciech Fibak |
4–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
| 15 February | Toronto Indoor WCT | Toronto, Canada | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton |
Jimmy Connors |
5–6, ret. |
| 1 March | Monterrey WCT | Monterrey, Mexico | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Wojciech Fibak |
Vitas Gerulaitis |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 16 March | St. Louis WCT | St. Louis, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Hard (i) | Jimmy Connors |
John Alexander |
7–6, 6–2 |
| 22 March | Rotterdam WCT | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Dick Stockton |
Ilie Năstase |
2–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 28 March | London WCT | London, UK | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Carpet (i) | Eddie Dibbs |
Vitas Gerulaitis |
7–6, 6–7, 6–4 |
| 5 April | Monte Carlo WCT | Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Clay |  Björn Borg |
 Corrado Barazzutti |
6–3, 7–5, 6–0 |
| 11 April | Houston WCT | Houston, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Har-Tru | Adriano Panatta |
Vitas Gerulaitis |
7–6, 6–7, 6–1 |
| 18 April | Charlotte WCT | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | 16S / 8D | $100,000 | Har-Tru | Corrado Barazzutti |
Eddie Dibbs |
7–6, 6–0 |
| 4 May | Kansas WCT Doubles Finals | Kansas City, U.S. | 8D | $200,000 | Carpet (i) |  Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton |
Vitas Gerulaitis 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) | Jimmy Connors |
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 Jan | Alabama WCT Birmingham, United States Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D | Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–3 | Bill Scanlon | Eddie Dibbs Ray Moore | Cliff Drysdale Sandy Mayer Vitas Gerulaitis Ilie Năstase |
| Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–3, 6–4 | Billy Martin Bill Scanlon | ||||
| 24 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, United States Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles | Dick Stockton 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 | Jimmy Connors | Jeff Borowiak Cliff Drysdale |  Ken Rosewall Vijay Amritraj Bernard Mitton Tony Roche |
| Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–5, 6–3 | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker | ||||
| 31 Jan | Fidelity Tournament Richmond, United States Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tom Okker 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Corrado Barazzutti Tony Roche | Ross Case Adriano Panatta Manuel Orantes Ilie Năstase |
| Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–4, 6–4 | Ross Case Tony Roche |
February
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D | Ilie Năstase 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 | Wojciech Fibak | Adriano Panatta Ken Rosewall | Cliff Drysdale Jan Kodeš Vitas Gerulaitis Manuel Orantes |
| Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–2, 6–3 | Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta | ||||
| 16 Feb | Toronto Indoor Toronto, Canada | Dick Stockton 5–6 ret. | Jimmy Connors | Eddie Dibbs Tom Okker | Rod Laver Ken Rosewall Tony Roche Ross Case |
| Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker 6–4, 6–1 | Ross Case Tony Roche | ||||
| 28 Feb | Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D | Wojciech Fibak 6–4, 6–3 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Cliff Drysdale Bill Scanlon | Manuel Orantes Raúl Ramírez Harold Solomon Eddie Dibbs |
| Ross Case Wojciech Fibak 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Billy Martin Bill Scanlon |
March
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar | St. Louis Tennis Classic Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D St. Louis, United States | Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–2 | John Alexander | Harold Solomon Ilie Năstase | Cliff Drysdale Raz Reid Ken Rosewall Bernard Mitton |
| Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta 6–4, 3–6, 7–6 | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | ||||
| 22 Mar | ABN World Tennis Tournament WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D Singles | Dick Stockton 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Ilie Năstase | Wojciech Fibak  Mark Cox | Vijay Amritraj John Alexander Corrado Barazzutti Cliff Drysdale |
| Tom Okker Wojciech Fibak 6–4, 6–4 | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | ||||
| 28 Mar | Rothmans International London London, UK Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D | Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Vijay Amritraj Dick Stockton | Ilie Năstase Ross Case Wojciech Fibak Harold Solomon |
| Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta 7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), 6–3 | Mark Cox Eddie Dibbs |
April
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr | Monte Carlo WCT Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay – $100,000 – 16S/8D | Björn Borg 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | Corrado Barazzutti | Jan Kodeš Guillermo Vilas |  Balázs Taróczy Wojciech Fibak Eddie Dibbs Adriano Panatta |
 François Jauffret Jan Kodeš2–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Wojciech Fibak Tom Okker | ||||
| 11 Apr | Houston Open Houston, United States | Adriano Panatta 7–6, 6–7, 6–1 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Eddie Dibbs Ilie Năstase | Ken Rosewall Harold Solomon Tony Roche Ross Case |
| Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta 6–3, 6–4 | John Alexander Phil Dent | ||||
| 18 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States Clay – $200,000 – 16S/8D | Corrado Barazzutti 7–6, 6–0 | Eddie Dibbs | Adriano Panatta John Alexander | Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Harold Solomon Tony Roche |
| Tom Okker Ken Rosewall 6–1, 3–6, 7–6 | Corrado Barazzutti Adriano Panatta |
May
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May | WCT Finals Dallas, United States Tour Finals Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 8S Singles | Jimmy Connors 6–7, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 | Dick Stockton | Eddie Dibbs Vitas Gerulaitis | Adriano Panatta Cliff Drysdale Ilie Năstase Wojciech Fibak |
Special events
These WCT events did not count towards the standings.[1]
| Week of | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar | World Cup Hartford, United States | USA 7–0 | Australia | N.A. | N.A. |
| 25 Apr | Caesar's Palace Challenge[6] Las Vegas, United States $100,000 | Ilie Năstase 3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 7–5 | 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) | Harold Solomon 6–5(7–5), 6–2, 2–6, 0–6, 6–3 | Ken Rosewall | Dick Stockton Eddie Dibbs | Phil Dent Jimmy Connors Ilie Năstase Vijay Amritraj |
Standings
| Player | Tournaments Played | Tournaments Won | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Stockton * |
7 | 3 | 15 | 4 | 520 |
| Eddie Dibbs * |
9 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 500 |
| Jimmy Connors * |
5 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 460 |
| Ilie Năstase * |
8 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 440 |
| Cliff Drysdale * |
9 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 420 |
| Wojtek Fibak * |
9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 420 |
| Vitas Gerulaitis * |
7 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 420 |
| Adriano Panatta * |
9 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 400 |
| Corrado Barazzutti |
7 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 330 |
| Ken Rosewall |
8 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 320 |
| Harold Solomon |
9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 320 |
* Qualified for the WCT Finals.