The 1970 Pepsi-Cola ILTF Grand Prix was a tennis circuit administered by the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) which served as a forerunner to the current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. It was the inaugural edition of the Grand Prix circuit and consisted of men's tournaments recognised by the ILTF. 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. It was the brainchild of Jack Kramer, former tennis promoter and winner of the Wimbledon and US championships, and was aimed at countering the influence of commercial promoters, particularly Lamar Hunt and his World Championship Tennis circuit and George MacCall's National Tennis League.
The tournaments were graded in one of three categories which determined the number of ranking points available: Class A, comprising the three Grand Slam tournaments, Class 1 and Class 2. The Pepsi-Cola Masters and Davis 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. Cliff Richey earned $25,000 bonus as the winner of the first Grand Prix circuit. At the end of the season the top six ranked players qualified for a Masters round-robin tournament held in Tokyo which was won by Stan 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 Originally the Italian Championships, played in April in Rome, was part of the Grand Prix calendar but it was withdrawn during the tournament when it became known that they had paid management fees to the competing World Championship Tennis organization.
Schedule Key Class A tournaments Grand Prix Masters Group 1 tournaments Group 2 tournaments Team events
April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 27 Apr Rothmans British Hard Court Championships Bournemouth, Great Britain Clay – $25,000 – 32S/16D/16XD Group 2 Mark Cox 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 Bob Hewitt Gerald Battrick Nikola Pilić Georges Goven Ismail El Shafei François Jauffret Tom Okker Tom Okker Tony Roche 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 William Bowrey Owen Davidson Billie Jean King Bob Hewitt 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 Virginia Wade Bob Maud
May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists25 May French OpenParis, France Grand Slam Group A Clay – 128S/101Q/72D/53XD Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Jan Kodeš 6–2, 6–4, 6–0 Željko Franulović Cliff Richey Georges Goven Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe François Jauffret Martin Mulligan Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 Arthur Ashe Charlie Pasarell Billie Jean King Bob Hewitt 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 Françoise Dürr Jean-Claude Barclay
June WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists22 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 Graebner Tony Roche Bob Carmichael Roy Emerson John Newcombe Tony Roche 10–8, 6–3, 6–1 Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle Rosemary Casals Ilie Năstase 6–3, 4–6, 9–7 Olga Morozova Alex Metreveli
July WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 6 Jul Swedish Championships Båstad, Sweden Clay – 32S/21D Group 1 Dick Crealy 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 Georges Goven Željko Franulović Bob Carmichael Per Jemsby Clark Graebner John Alexander Patricio Rodríguez Dick Crealy Allan Stone 6–2, 2–6, 12–12 RET. Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš 13 Jul Washington Star International Washington, United States Clay – $35,000 – 64S/32D Group 2 Cliff Richey 7–5, 6–2, 6–1 Arthur Ashe Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac Bob Hewitt Georges Goven Dick Crealy Stan Smith Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–5, 6–0 Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac 20 Jul Western Championships Cincinnati, United States Clay – $25,000 – 64S/32D Group 2 Ken Rosewall 7–9, 9–7, 8–6 Cliff Richey Ilie Năstase Jan Kodeš Clark Graebner Ion Țiriac Stan Smith Bob Hewitt Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac 6–3, 6–4 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 27 Jul U.S. Clay Court Championships Indianapolis, United States Clay – $50,000 – 64S/32D Group 1 Cliff Richey 6–2, 10–8, 3–6, 6–1 Stan Smith Željko Franulović Arthur Ashe Frew McMillan Clark Graebner Allan Stone Jaime Fillol Arthur Ashe Clark Graebner 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac
August WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 3 Aug First National Bank Classic Louisville, United States Group 2 Clay – $25,000 – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles Rod Laver 6–3, 6–3 John Newcombe Tony Roche Ken Rosewall Cliff Drysdale Andrés Gimeno Roy Emerson Dennis Ralston John Newcombe Tony Roche 8–6, 5–7, 6–4 Roy Emerson Rod Laver 3 Aug Bavarian Open Championships Munich, West Germany Group 2 24S/8D Ion Țiriac 2–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–4 Niki Pilić Christian Kunke Ilie Năstase Bob Hewitt Harald Elschenbroich John Alexander Barry Phillips-Moore Owen Davidson Niki Pilić 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 10 Aug U.S. Professional Tennis Championships Boston, United States Group 1 Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles Tony Roche 3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2 Rod Laver Roy Emerson Cliff Drysdale Jaime Fillol Arthur Ashe Jan Kodeš Ray Ruffels Roy Emerson Rod Laver 6–1, 7–6 Ismail El Shafei Torben Ulrich 24 Aug Pennsylvania Championships Merion, United States Group 2 Grass – 64S/32D Ray Ruffels 6–3, 7–6, 6–3 Jaime Fillol Dick Crealy Brian Fairlie Bob Carmichael Haroon Rahim William Bowrey Cliff Drysdale William Bowrey Ray Ruffels 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 Jim McManus Jim Osborne Davis Cup Final Cleveland, United States – hard (i) 5–0 31 Aug Marlboro Open South Orange, United States Group 2 Grass – $25,000 – 42S/19D Rod Laver 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 Bob Carmichael Ken Rosewall Alex Metreveli Andrés Gimeno Brian Fairlie Dick Stockton Onny Parun Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol 3–6, 7–6, 7–6 Andrés Gimeno Rod Laver
September WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 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 Richey John Newcombe Dennis Ralston Brian Fairlie Stan Smith Arthur Ashe Pierre Barthès Nikola Pilić 6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6 Roy Emerson Rod Laver Margaret Court Marty Riessen 6–4, 6–4 Judy Tegart Frew 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 Ashe Tom Gorman Stan Smith Clark Graebner Marty Riessen Pancho Gonzales Tom Okker Marty Riessen 7–6, 6–2 Bob Lutz Stan 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 Smith Dennis Ralston Bob Carmichael Jan Kodeš Jaime Fillol Thomaz Koch Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 Roy Barth Tom Gorman
October WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 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 Pasarell Jan Kodeš Frank Froehling Tom Edlefsen Dick Crealy Ray Ruffels 7–6, 6–3 Jan Kodeš Charlie Pasarell
November WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 1 Nov Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden Group 2 Hard (i) – $35,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles Stan Smith 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 Arthur Ashe Ken Rosewall Cliff Richey Mark Cox Georges Goven Dennis Ralston Roy Emerson Arthur Ashe Stan Smith 6–0, 5–7, 7–5 Bob Carmichael Owen Davidson 8 Nov South American Championships Buenos Aires, Argentina Group 1 Clay – 32S/8D Željko Franulović 6–4, 6–2, 6–0 Manuel Orantes Jan Kodeš Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels Jan Kukal Dick Crealy Cliff Richey Bob Carmichael Ray Ruffels 7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3 Željko Franulović Jan Kodeš Paris Open Paris, France Group 2 Carpet – $31,000 – 32S/8D Singles Arthur Ashe 7–6, 6–4, 6–3 Marty Riessen Stan Smith Georges Goven Pancho Gonzales Dennis Ralston Roger Taylor Ken Rosewall Pancho Gonzales Ken Rosewall 6–4, 7–6, 7–6 Tom Okker Marty Riessen 16 Nov Embassy British Indoor Championships London, England Group 1 Carpet – 32S/16D Singles Rod Laver 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 Cliff Richey Cliff Drysdale Ken Rosewall Ilie Năstase Dennis Ralston Roger Taylor Pancho Gonzales Ken Rosewall Stan Smith 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac
December WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 9 Dec Pepsi-Cola Masters Tokyo, Japan Hard (i) – $50,000 – 6S/3D (round robin) Singles – Doubles Stan Smith Rod Laver NA NA Arthur Ashe Stan Smith Jan Kodeš Rod Laver
Grand Prix point system The tournaments listed above were divided into three categories. Class A consisted of the Grand Slams while the other tournaments were divided into Class 1 and Class 2. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament. Ties were settled by the number of tournaments played. The points allocation is listed below:
+ Class A Champion: 15 Runner-up: 10 Semifinalist: 7 Quarterfinalist: 5 9th – 16th: 3 17th – 32nd: 2 + Class 1 Champion: 11 Runner-up: 7 Semifinalist: 5 5th – 8th: 3 9th – 16th: 1 + Class 2 Champion: 8 Runner-up: 6 Semifinalist: 4 5th – 8th: 2 9th – 16th: 1
Grand Prix rankings Position Name Nation Points Prize money (US$) 1 Cliff Richey 60 25,000 2 Arthur Ashe 55 17,000 3 Ken Rosewall 53 15,000 4 Rod Laver 51 12,000 5 Stan Smith 47 10,500 6 Željko Franulović 35 9,500 7 John Newcombe 35 8,500 8 Jan Kodeš 33 7,500 9 Tony Roche 32 6,500 10 Bob Carmichael 31 6,000 11 Georges Goven 25 5,500 12 Ilie Năstase 25 5,000 13 Dick Crealy 24 4,500 14 Ray Ruffels 22 4,000 15 Clark Graebner 22 3,500 16 Dennis Ralston 22 3,000 17 Jaime Fillol 20 2,500 18 Ion Țiriac 19 2,000 19 Cliff Drysdale 19 1,500 20 Roy Emerson 19 1,000
List of tournament winners 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 Indoor Mark Cox (1) Bournemouth Dick Crealy (1) Båstad Željko Franulović (1) Buenos Aires Jan Kodeš (1) French Open Rod Laver (4) Louisville, South Orange, Los Angeles, Wembley John Newcombe (1) Wimbledon Cliff Richey (2) Washington, Indianapolis Tony Roche (2) Gstaad, Boston Ray Ruffels (1) Merion Ken Rosewall (2) Cincinnati, US Open Manuel Santana (1) Barcelona Stan Smith (3) Phoenix, Stockholm, Pepsi-Cola Masters
The 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 Masters Pierre Barthès (2) Munich, US Open William Bowrey (1) Merion Bob Carmichael (1) Buenos Aires Patricio Cornejo (1) South Orange Dick Crealy (2) Båstad, Phoenix Owen Davidson (1) Munich Roy Emerson (1) Boston Jaime Fillol (1) South Orange Clark Graebner (1) Indianapolis Bob Hewitt (1) Washington Rod Laver (1) Boston Bob Lutz (2) Australian Open, Berkeley Frew McMillan (1) Washington Ilie Năstase (2) French Open, Cincinnati John Newcombe (2) Wimbledon, Louisville Tom Okker (2) Bournemouth, Los Angeles Nikola Pilić (1) US Open Marty Riessen (1) Los Angeles Tony Roche (3) Bournemouth, Wimbledon, Louisville Ken Rosewall (1) London Ray Ruffels (3) Merion, Phoenix, Buenos Aires Stan Smith (5) Australian Open, Berkeley, London, Stockholm, Pepsi-Cola Masters Allan Stone (1) Båstad Ion Țiriac (2) French Open, Cincinnati
The 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 Open