1976 World Championship Tennis circuit

The 1976 World Championship Tennis circuit was one of the two rival professional men's tennis circuits of 1976. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT) and consisted of a schedule of 25 tournaments leading up to a singles WCT Finals play-off in Dallas and a doubles play-off in Kansas City in May. A total of 54 players participated, 30 players less than in the previous three years, and the group system used in the previous editions was replaced by a single pool. The U.S. Pro Indoor was the only tournament in which all players participated, all other tournaments had a 16 men draw. The season final was played by the eight best performers and was won by the Swede Björn Borg who defeated Guillermo Vilas from Argentina in four sets. The total prize money for the 1976 WCT circuit was $2,400,000, including a $320,000 Avis Challenge Cup round–robin special event played in Hawaii in January and May.

The Aetna World Cup between teams of the US and Australia was played in March in Hartford and was won by the US 6–1.

Overview DateTournamentLocationDrawPrize MoneySurfaceChampionRunner-upScore 5 Jan Monterrey WCT Monterrey, Mexico 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon 7–6, 6–2 7 Jan Columbus WCT Columbus, Ohio, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Andrew Pattison 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 12 Jan Indianapolis WCT Indianapolis, U.S. 16S / 8D Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Vitas Gerulaitis 6–2, 6–7, 6–4 14 Jan Phoenix Cup Atlanta, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Ilie Năstase Jeff Borowiak 6–2, 6–4 26 Jan U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, U.S. 64S / 32D $118,600 Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors Björn Borg 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 6–0 2 Feb Barcelona WCT Barcelona, Spain 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Eddie Dibbs Cliff Drysdale 6–1, 6–1 4 Feb Richmond WCT Richmond, Virginia, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Brian Gottfried 6–2, 6–4 9 Feb Lagos WCT Lagos, Nigeria 16S / 8D $60,000 Clay Dick Stockton Arthur Ashe 6–3, 6–2 10 Feb Toronto WCT Toronto, Canada 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Björn Borg Vitas Gerulaitis 2–6, 6–3, 6–1 17 Feb St. Louis WCT St. Louis, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Guillermo Vilas Vijay Amritraj 4–6, 6–0, 6–4 17 Feb Rome WCT Rome, Italy 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz 6–2, 0–6, 6–3 23 Feb Fort Worth WCT Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Guillermo Vilas Phil Dent 6–7, 6–1, 6–1 23 Feb Rotterdam WCT Rotterdam, Netherlands 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz 6–3, 6–3 8 Mar Memphis WCT Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Vijay Amritraj Stan Smith 6–2, 0–6, 6–0 8 Mar Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Raúl Ramírez Eddie Dibbs 7–6, 6–2 15 Mar Washington WCT Washington, D.C., U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Harold Solomon Onny Parun 6–3, 6–1 15 Mar Jackson WCT Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Ken Rosewall Raúl Ramírez 6–3, 6–3 29 Mar Caracas WCT Caracas, Venezuela 16S / 8D $60,000 Clay Raúl Ramírez Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–4 29 Mar São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brazil 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Björn Borg Guillermo Vilas 7–6(7–4), 6–2 5 Apr Johannesburg WCT Johannesburg, South Africa 16S / 8D Hard Onny Parun Cliff Drysdale 7–6, 6–3 5 Apr Houston WCT Houston, U.S. 16S / 8D $25,000 Clay Harold Solomon Ken Rosewall 6–1, 4–6, 6–1 12 Apr Monte Carlo WCT Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France 16S / 8D $60,000 Clay Guillermo Vilas Wojciech Fibak 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 13 Apr Charlotte WCT Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. 16S / 8D Clay Tony Roche Vitas Gerulaitis 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 19 Apr Stockholm WCT Stockholm, Sweden 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Wojciech Fibak Ilie Năstase 6–4, 7–6(8–6) 19 Apr Denver WCT Denver, U.S. 16S / 8D $60,000 Carpet (i) Jimmy Connors Ross Case 7–6, 6–2 4 May Dallas WCT Finals Dallas, U.S. 8S $100,000 Carpet (i) Björn Borg Guillermo Vilas 1–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–1

Schedule The schedule of events on the 1976 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.

January WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 Jan Monterrey WCT Monterrey, MexicoCarpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Eddie Dibbs7–6, 6–2 Harold Solomon Vitas Gerulaitis Raúl Ramírez Brian Gottfried Emilio Montaño Geoff Masters Cliff Richey Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–2, 4–6, 6–3 Ross Case Geoff Masters7 Jan Columbus WCT Columbus, Ohio, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Arthur Ashe3–6, 6–3, 7–6 Andrew Pattison Phil Dent Cliff Drysdale Alex Metreveli Kevin Warwick Dick Stockton Tom Okker Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan7–6, 6–4 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker12 Jan Indianapolis WCT Indianapolis, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Arthur Ashe6–2, 6–7, 6–4 Vitas Gerulaitis Ray Ruffels Stan Smith Marty Riessen Syd Ball Cliff Drysdale Bob Lutz Robert Lutz Stan Smith6–2, 6–4 Vitas Gerulaitis Tom Gorman14 Jan Phoenix Cup Atlanta, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Ilie Năstase6–2, 6–4 Jeff Borowiak Alex Metreveli John Alexander Björn Borg Jan Kodeš Andrew Pattison Wojciech Fibak John Alexander Phil Dent6–3, 6–4 Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler26 Jan U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, US Carpet (i) – $118,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles Jimmy Connors7–6(7–5), 6–4, 6–0 Björn Borg Tom Okker Dick Stockton Jan Kodeš Eddie Dibbs Tom Gorman Rod Laver Rod Laver Dennis Ralston6–3, 5–7, 7–6(7–5) Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan

February

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists2 Feb Barcelona WCTBarcelona, Spain Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Eddie Dibbs6–1, 6–1 Cliff Drysdale Dick Crealy Mark Cox Erik van Dillen Brian Fairlie Karl Meiler Wojciech Fibak Robert Lutz Stan Smith6–3, 6–3 Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler4 Feb United Virginia Bank ClassicRichmond, USCarpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Arthur Ashe6–2, 6–4 Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez Tom Okker Jiří Hřebec Billy Martin Ross Case Geoff Masters Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–4, 7–5 Arthur Ashe Tom Okker9 Feb Lagos Tennis ClassicLagos, NigeriaClay – 16S/8D Dick Stockton6–3, 6–2 Arthur Ashe Bob Lutz Jeff Borowiak Karl Meiler Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon Dick Crealy 10 Feb Toronto IndoorToronto, Canada Björn Borg2–6, 6–3, 6–1 Vitas Gerulaitis Ilie Năstase Marty Riessen Jiří Hřebec Jan Kodeš Tony Roche Vijay Amritraj Jaime Fillol Frew McMillan6–7(3–7), 6–2, 6–3 Alexander Metreveli Ilie Năstase17 Feb Rome WCTRome, ItalyCarpet Arthur Ashe6–2, 0–6, 6–3 Bob Lutz Dick Stockton Adriano Panatta Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale Mark Cox Stan Smith Robert Lutz Stan Smith6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–4 Dick Crealy Frew McMillan17 Feb St. Louis Tennis ClassicSt. Louis, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Guillermo Vilas4–6, 6–0, 6–4 Vijay Amritraj Raúl Ramírez Billy Martin Brian Gottfried John Alexander Ken Rosewall Manuel Orantes Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–4, 6–2 John Alexander Phil Dent23 Feb Rotterdam WCTRotterdam, NetherlandsCarpet (i) – $60,000 – 32S/16D Arthur Ashe6–3, 6–3 Bob Lutz Tom Okker Rod Laver Wojciech Fibak Jan Kodeš Jiří Hřebec Stan Smith Rod Laver Frew McMillan6–1, 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5) Arthur Ashe Tom Okker24 Feb Colonial National InvitationalFort Worth, USCarpet (i) – 32S/16D Guillermo Vilas6–7, 6–1, 6–1 Phil Dent Sandy Mayer Roscoe Tanner Harold Solomon Sherwood Stewart Tom Gorman Cliff Richey Vitas Gerulaitis Sandy Mayer6–4, 7–5 Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon

March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists8 Mar U.S. Indoor National Championships Memphis, US Vijay Amritraj6–2, 0–6, 6–0 Stan Smith Bob Lutz Björn Borg Cliff Drysdale John Newcombe Roscoe Tanner Marty Riessen Vijay Amritraj Anand Amritraj6–3, 6–4 Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner8 Mar Mexico City WCT Mexico City, Mexico Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Raúl Ramírez7–6, 6–2 Eddie Dibbs Guillermo Vilas Marcelo Lara Brian Gottfried Ken Rosewall Tom Gorman Syd Ball Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–4, 7–6(7–4) Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie15 Mar Washington Indoor Washington, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Harold Solomon6–3, 6–1 Onny Parun John Newcombe Charlie Pasarell Eddie Dibbs Ray Moore Mark Cox Allan Stone Eddie Dibbs Harold Solomon6–4, 7–5 Mark Cox Cliff Drysdale15 Mar Tennis South Invitational Jackson, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Ken Rosewall6–3, 6–3 Raúl Ramírez Vijay Amritraj Ross Case Tom Gorman Dick Stockton Billy Martin Phil Dent Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez7–5, 4–6, 6–0 Ross Case Geoff Masters29 Mar Caracas WCTCaracas, Venezuela Raúl Ramírez6–3, 6–4 Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe Jeff Borowiak Ray Moore Dick Stockton Brian Gottfried Erik van Dillen Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez7–5, 6–4 Jeff Borowiak Ilie Năstase29 Mar São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brasil Carpet (i) – $60,000 Björn Borg7–6(7–4), 6–2 Guillermo Vilas Andrew Pattison Thomaz Koch Jaime Fillol Phil Dent Ross Case Geoff Masters Ross Case Geoff Masters7–5, 6–1 Charlie Pasarell Allan Stone

April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 Apr Johannesburg IndoorJohannesburg, South Africa Onny Parun7–6, 6–3 Cliff Drysdale Ross Case Tom Okker Guillermo Vilas Kim Warwick Geoff Masters Ray Moore Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner6–2, 7–5 Frew McMillan Tom Okker5 Apr Houston OpenHouston, US Harold Solomon6–4, 1–6, 6–1 Ken Rosewall Eddie Dibbs Vitas Gerulaitis Bob Lutz Phil Dent Ilie Năstase John Alexander Rod Laver Ken Rosewall6–4, 6–2 Charlie Pasarell Allan Stone12 Apr Monte Carlo Open Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay – $60,000 – 16S/8D Guillermo Vilas6–1, 6–1, 6–4 Wojciech Fibak François Jauffret Karl Meiler Ray Moore Adriano Panatta Alex Metreveli Björn Borg Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler7–6, 6–1 Björn Borg Guillermo Vilas13 Apr Charlotte Tennis Classic Charlotte, US Clay – $60,000 – 16S/8D Tony Roche6–3, 3–6, 6–1 Vitas Gerulaitis Eddie Dibbs Ken Rosewall Cliff Richey Ross Case Dick Stockton Geoff Masters John Newcombe Tony Roche6–3, 7–5 Vitas Gerulaitis Gene Mayer19 Apr United Bank Tennis Classic Denver, US Carpet (i) – $60,000 – 16S/8D Jimmy Connors7–6, 6–2 Ross Case Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez Billy Martin Geoff Masters Charlie Pasarell John Alexander John Alexander Phil Dent6–7, 6–2, 7–5 Jimmy Connors Billy Martin19 Apr Stockholm WCT Stockholm, Sweden Wojciech Fibak6–4, 7–6 Ilie Năstase Adriano Panatta Tom Okker Björn Borg Mark Edmondson Alex Metreveli Guillermo Vilas Alexander Metreveli Ilie Năstase6–4, 7–5 Tom Okker Adriano Panatta28 Apr Masters Doubles WCT Kansas City, US Wojciech Fibak Karl Meiler6–2, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 Bob Lutz Stan Smith

May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists4 May WCT Finals Dallas, United StatesTour FinalsCarpet (i) – $100,000 – 8SSingles Björn Borg1–6, 6–1, 7–5, 6–1 Guillermo Vilas Harold Solomon Dick Stockton Eddie Dibbs Robert Lutz Arthur Ashe Raúl Ramírez

Standings

PlayerTournaments PlayedTournaments WonMatches WonMatches LostPointsPrize Money Arthur Ashe * 8 5 26 3 860 $253,013 Raúl Ramírez * 8 2 18 6 705 $104,700 Guillermo Vilas * 7 3 19 4 695 $99,163 Eddie Dibbs * 8 2 19 6 675 $79,538 Björn Borg * 8 2 17 6 650 $135,838 Dick Stockton * 8 1 17 5 595 $62,475 Bob Lutz * 8 0 15 9 585 $69,013 Harold Solomon * 8 2 16 7 565 $75,038 Vitas Gerulaitis 8 0 12 10 540 $40,900 Brian Gottfried 8 0 14 8 535 $54,600 * Qualified for the WCT Finals.

See also 1976 Grand Prix circuit

Notes

References

External links ATP 1976 results archive