%2c_Bestanddeelnr_929-6576.jpg) Connors reached most finals | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 January – 10 May |
| Edition | 10th |
| Tournaments | 13 |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most titles |  Dick StocktonJimmy Connors (3) |
| Most finals | Jimmy Connors (5) |
| Points leader | Dick Stockton (520) |
←1976 1982 → | |
The 1977 season of theWorld Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit was one of the two rival professional maletennis 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 inDallas and doubles play-off inKansas City in May. 23 players participated and the season final was played by the eight best performers. It was won by AmericanJimmy Connors who defeated compatriotDick Stockton in four sets. The total prize money for the 1977 WCT circuit was $2,400,000.[1]
Additionally there were three special events that did not count towards the standings; the Aetna World Cup held inHartford between America and Australia (10–13 March), the $320,000 Challenge Cup in Las Vegas (14–20 November) and theTournament of Champions held inLakeway, Texas (10–13 March, 10–13 July) andMadison Square Garden, New York (17 September).[1]
In February the WCT suedBjörn Borg, as well as his management companyIMG claiming that Borg had committed a breach of contract by electing to participate in the competing1977 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 theGrand Prix circuit.[4]
| 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 AmritrajDick Stockton | Vitas GerulaitisAdriano 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 |
The schedule of events on the 1977 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.[5]
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan | Alabama WCT Birmingham, United States | Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–3 | Bill Scanlon | Eddie Dibbs Ray Moore | Cliff DrysdaleSandy MayerVitas GerulaitisIlie Năstase |
| Wojciech FibakTom Okker 6–3, 6–4 | Billy MartinBill Scanlon | ||||
| 24 Jan | U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, United States | Dick Stockton 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 | Jimmy Connors | Jeff BorowiakCliff Drysdale |  Ken RosewallVijay AmritrajBernard MittonTony Roche |
| Bob HewittFrew McMillan 7–5, 6–3 | Wojciech FibakTom Okker | ||||
| 31 Jan | Richmond WCT Richmond, United States | Tom Okker 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Corrado BarazzuttiTony Roche | Ross CaseAdriano Panatta Manuel OrantesIlie Năstase |
| Wojciech FibakTom Okker 6–4, 6–4 | Ross CaseTony Roche |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico | Ilie Năstase 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 | Wojciech Fibak | Adriano PanattaKen Rosewall | Cliff Drysdale Jan KodešVitas GerulaitisManuel Orantes |
| Wojciech FibakTom Okker 6–2, 6–3 | Ilie NăstaseAdriano Panatta | ||||
| 16 Feb | Toronto Indoor Toronto, Canada | Dick Stockton 5–6 ret. | Jimmy Connors | Eddie DibbsTom Okker | Rod LaverKen RosewallTony RocheRoss Case |
| Wojciech FibakTom Okker 6–4, 6–1 | Ross CaseTony Roche | ||||
| 28 Feb | Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico | Wojciech Fibak 6–4, 6–3 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Cliff DrysdaleBill Scanlon | Manuel Orantes Raúl RamírezHarold SolomonEddie Dibbs |
| Ross CaseWojciech Fibak 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Billy MartinBill Scanlon |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar | St. Louis Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States | Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–2 | John Alexander | Harold SolomonIlie Năstase | Cliff DrysdaleRaz ReidKen RosewallBernard Mitton |
| Ilie NăstaseAdriano Panatta 6–4, 3–6, 7–6 | Vijay AmritrajDick Stockton | ||||
| 22 Mar | Rotterdam WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands | Dick Stockton 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Ilie Năstase | Wojciech Fibak Mark Cox | Vijay AmritrajJohn AlexanderCorrado BarazzuttiCliff Drysdale |
| Tom OkkerWojciech Fibak 6–4, 6–4 | Vijay AmritrajDick Stockton | ||||
| 28 Mar | Rothmans International London London, England | Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Vijay AmritrajDick Stockton | Ilie NăstaseRoss CaseWojciech FibakHarold Solomon |
| Ilie NăstaseAdriano Panatta 7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), 6–3 | Mark CoxEddie Dibbs |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr | Monte Carlo WCT Monte Carlo,Monaco | Björn Borg 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | Corrado Barazzutti | Jan Kodeš Guillermo Vilas |  Balázs TaróczyWojciech FibakEddie DibbsAdriano Panatta |
 François JauffretJan Kodeš2–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Wojciech FibakTom Okker | ||||
| 11 Apr | Houston Open Houston, United States | Adriano Panatta 7–6, 6–7, 6–1 | Vitas Gerulaitis | Eddie DibbsIlie Năstase | Ken RosewallHarold SolomonTony RocheRoss Case |
| Ilie NăstaseAdriano Panatta 6–3, 6–4 | John AlexanderPhil Dent | ||||
| 18 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, United States | Corrado Barazzutti 7–6, 6–0 | Eddie Dibbs | Adriano PanattaJohn Alexander | Tom OkkerCliff DrysdaleHarold SolomonTony Roche |
| Tom OkkerKen Rosewall 6–1, 3–6, 7–6 | Corrado BarazzuttiAdriano Panatta |
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 StocktonEddie Dibbs | Phil DentJimmy ConnorsIlie NăstaseVijay Amritraj |
| 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 theWCT Finals.