 Rod Laver in 1970 | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 27 April 1970 – 9 December 1970 |
| Edition | 1st |
| Tournaments | 20 |
| Categories | Group A (3) Masters Group 1 (6) Group 2 (11) |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most titles |  Rod Laver (4) |
| Most finals | Rod Laver (7) |
| Prize money leader |  Cliff Richey ($25,000) |
| Points leader | Cliff Richey (60) |
1971 → | |
The1970 Pepsi-Cola ILTF Grand Prix was atennis circuit administered by theInternational Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) which served as a forerunner to the currentAssociation of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour and theWomen's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.[1] It was the inaugural edition of theGrand Prix circuit and consisted of men's tournaments recognised by the ILTF.[a] The creation of the Grand Prix circuit, on an experimental basis during its first year, was announced in April 1970 by the president of the ILTF, Ben Barnett.[2] It was the brainchild ofJack Kramer, former tennis promoter and winner of the Wimbledon and US championships, and was aimed at countering the influence of commercial promoters, particularlyLamar Hunt and hisWorld Championship Tennis circuit and George MacCall'sNational Tennis League.[3][4]
The tournaments were graded in one of three categories which determined the number of ranking points available: Class A, comprising the threeGrand Slam tournaments, Class 1 and Class 2. ThePepsi-Cola Masters andDavis Cup Final are included in this calendar but did not count towards the Grand Prix. In addition to the tournament prize money a bonus pool of $150,000 was available for the top 20 ranked players. The bonus pool was jointly funded by Pepsi-Cola as title sponsor and the participating tournaments which reserved 10% of their prize money.[5][6]Cliff Richey earned $25,000 bonus as the winner of the first Grand Prix circuit.[7] At the end of the season the top six ranked players qualified for aMasters round-robin tournament held in Tokyo which was won byStan Smith.
All open tennis tournaments were eligible to be included in the Grand Prix circuit provided they committed to not paying any management fees to commercial organizations with players under contract. Originally the Italian Championships, played in April in Rome, was part of the Grand Prix calendar but it was withdrawn during the tournament when it became known that they had paid management fees to the competingWorld Championship Tennis organization.[8]
| Class A tournaments |
| Grand Prix Masters |
| Group 1 tournaments |
| Group 2 tournaments |
| Team events |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr | Rothmans British Hard Court Championships Bournemouth, Great Britain Clay – $25,000 – 32S/16D/16XD Group 2 |  Mark Cox6–1, 6–2, 6–3 |  Bob Hewitt | Gerald Battrick Nikola Pilić |  Georges Goven Ismail El ShafeiFrançois Jauffret Tom Okker |
| Tom OkkerTony Roche 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 | William BowreyOwen Davidson | ||||
| Billie Jean KingBob Hewitt 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 | Virginia WadeBob Maud |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May | French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Group A Clay – 128S/101Q/72D/53XD Singles –Doubles –Mixed doubles |  Jan Kodeš6–2, 6–4, 6–0 | Željko Franulović | Cliff RicheyGeorges Goven |  Ilie NăstaseArthur AsheFrançois Jauffret Martin Mulligan |
| Ilie NăstaseIon Țiriac 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 | Arthur AsheCharlie Pasarell | ||||
| Billie Jean KingBob Hewitt 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 | Françoise DürrJean-Claude Barclay |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun | Wimbledon Championships London, Great Britain Grand Slam Group A Grass – 128S/80Q/64D/32Q/56XD/12Q Singles –Doubles –Mixed doubles | John Newcombe 5–7, 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 | Ken Rosewall | Roger Taylor Andrés Gimeno | Clark GraebnerTony RocheBob CarmichaelRoy Emerson |
| John NewcombeTony Roche 10–8, 6–3, 6–1 | Ken RosewallFred Stolle | ||||
| Rosemary CasalsIlie Năstase 6–3, 4–6, 9–7 |  Olga MorozovaAlex Metreveli |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep | US Open New York, United States Grand Slam Class A Grass – $176,000 – 108S/63D/34XD Singles –Doubles –Mixed doubles | Ken Rosewall 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(5–2), 6–3 | Tony Roche | Cliff RicheyJohn Newcombe | Dennis Ralston Brian FairlieStan SmithArthur Ashe |
| Pierre BarthèsNikola Pilić 6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6 | Roy EmersonRod Laver | ||||
| Margaret CourtMarty Riessen 6–4, 6–4 | Judy TegartFrew McMillan | ||||
| 21 Sep | Pepsi Pacific Southwest Open Los Angeles, United States Group 1 Hard – $65,000 – 64S/32D Singles –Doubles | Rod Laver 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–5) | John Newcombe | Arthur AsheTom Gorman | Stan SmithClark GraebnerMarty RiessenPancho Gonzales |
| Tom OkkerMarty Riessen 7–6, 6–2 | Bob LutzStan Smith | ||||
| 28 Sep | Pacific Coast Championships Berkeley, United States Group 2 Hard – 64S/32D | Arthur Ashe 6–4, 6–2, 6–4 | Cliff Richey | Stan SmithDennis Ralston | Bob CarmichaelJan Kodeš Jaime Fillol Thomaz Koch |
| Bob LutzStan Smith 6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 | Roy BarthTom Gorman |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct | Phoenix Thunderbird Open Phoenix, United States Hard – 31S/16D Group 2 | Stan Smith 6–3, 6–7, 6–1 | Jim Osborne | Barry MacKay (tennis)Bob Carmichael | Charlie PasarellJan KodešFrank FroehlingTom Edlefsen |
| Dick CrealyRay Ruffels 7–6, 6–3 | Jan KodešCharlie Pasarell |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec | Pepsi-Cola Masters Tokyo, Japan Hard (i) – $50,000 – 6S/3D (round robin) Singles –Doubles | Stan Smith | Rod Laver | NA | NA |
| Arthur AsheStan Smith | Jan KodešRod Laver |
The tournaments listed above were divided into three categories. Class A consisted of the Grand Slams while the other tournaments were divided into Class 1 and Class 2. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament. Ties were settled by the number of tournaments played. The points allocation is listed below:
|
|
|
| Position | Name | Nation | Points | Prize money (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cliff Richey | USA | 60 | 25,000 |
| 2 | Arthur Ashe | USA | 55 | 17,000 |
| 3 | Ken Rosewall | AUS | 53 | 15,000 |
| 4 | Rod Laver | AUS | 51 | 12,000 |
| 5 | Stan Smith | USA | 47 | 10,500 |
| 6 | Željko Franulović | YUG | 35 | 9,500 |
| 7 | John Newcombe | AUS | 35 | 8,500 |
| 8 | Jan Kodeš | CSK | 33 | 7,500 |
| 9 | Tony Roche | AUS | 32 | 6,500 |
| 10 | Bob Carmichael | AUS | 31 | 6,000 |
| 11 | Georges Goven | FRA | 25 | 5,500 |
| 12 | Ilie Năstase | ROM | 25 | 5,000 |
| 13 | Dick Crealy | AUS | 24 | 4,500 |
| 14 | Ray Ruffels | AUS | 22 | 4,000 |
| 15 | Clark Graebner | USA | 22 | 3,500 |
| 16 | Dennis Ralston | USA | 22 | 3,000 |
| 17 | Jaime Fillol | CHI | 20 | 2,500 |
| 18 | Ion Țiriac | ROM | 19 | 2,000 |
| 19 | Cliff Drysdale | RSA | 19 | 1,500 |
| 20 | Roy Emerson | AUS | 19 | 1,000 |
The list of winners and number of singles titles won (Grand Slams and Masters in bold text), alphabetically by last name:
Arthur Ashe (3)Australian Open, Berkeley, Paris IndoorMark Cox (1) BournemouthDick Crealy (1) BåstadŽeljko Franulović (1) Buenos AiresJan Kodeš (1)French OpenRod Laver (4) Louisville, South Orange, Los Angeles, WembleyJohn Newcombe (1)WimbledonCliff Richey (2) Washington, IndianapolisTony Roche (2) Gstaad, BostonRay Ruffels (1) MerionKen Rosewall (2) Cincinnati,US OpenManuel Santana (1) BarcelonaStan Smith (3) Phoenix, Stockholm, Pepsi-Cola MastersThe list of winners and number of doubles titles won (Grand Slams and Masters in bold text), last name alphabetically:
Arthur Ashe (3) Indianapolis, Stockholm,Pepsi-Cola MastersPierre Barthès (2) Munich,US OpenWilliam Bowrey (1) MerionBob Carmichael (1) Buenos AiresPatricio Cornejo (1) South OrangeDick Crealy (2) Båstad, PhoenixOwen Davidson (1) MunichRoy Emerson (1) BostonJaime Fillol (1) South OrangeClark Graebner (1) IndianapolisBob Hewitt (1) WashingtonRod Laver (1) BostonBob Lutz (2)Australian Open, BerkeleyFrew McMillan (1) WashingtonIlie Năstase (2)French Open, CincinnatiJohn Newcombe (2)Wimbledon, LouisvilleTom Okker (2) Bournemouth, Los AngelesNikola Pilić (1)US OpenMarty Riessen (1) Los AngelesTony Roche (3) Bournemouth,Wimbledon, LouisvilleKen Rosewall (1) LondonRay Ruffels (3) Merion, Phoenix, Buenos AiresStan Smith (5)Australian Open, Berkeley, London, Stockholm,Pepsi-Cola MastersAllan Stone (1) BåstadIon Țiriac (2)French Open, CincinnatiThe list of winners and number of mixed doubles titles won (Grand Slams and Masters in bold text), alphabetically by last name:
Bob Hewitt (2) Bournemouth,French OpenIlie Năstase (1)WimbledonMarty Riessen (1)US OpenThe following players won their first singles title in 1970:
Dick Crealy BåstadJan KodešFrench Open
