The 1968 Men's National Tennis League (NTL) was the inaugural series of professional tennis tournaments founded by George McCall, among others: Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Andrés Gimeno, Pancho Gonzales and Fred Stolle.
History In 1967 two new professional tennis organizations were formed: the National Tennis League, organized by former U.S. Davis Cup captain George MacCall, and World Championship Tennis (WCT), which was founded by New Orleans promoter Dave Dixon and funded by Dallas oil and football tycoon Lamar Hunt. At the time the two professional tours signed a significant number of the world’s top players, professional and amateur.
In 1968 Men's National Tennis League offered prize money totaling US$400,000. It began in March with the opening tournament held in São Paulo, Brazil that was won by Rod Laver and ended with the final tournament held in Lima, Peru in November that was won by Fred Stolle.
Legend
Calendar This is the complete schedule of events on the 1968 National Tennis League, with player progression partially documented until the quarterfinals stage.
March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists18 Mar São Paulo Pro Championships São Paulo, BrazilClay (i)Singles Rod Laver7–5, 5–7, 6–4 Pancho Gonzales 23 Mar Buenos Aires Pro ChampionshipsBuenos Aires, ArgentinaClaySingles Rod Laver7–5, 5–7, 6–4 Pancho Gonzales Andrés Gimeno (3rd) Fred Stolle (4th)27 Mar NTL Bogotá Pro Championships Bogotà, ColombiaClay (i)Singles - Doubles Andrés Gimeno11–13, 6–3, 6–4 Fred Stolle Rod Laver (3rd) Pancho Gonzales (4th) Rod Laver Fred Stolle10–5 Andrés Gimeno Pancho Gonzales
April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists10 Apr NTL Hollywood Pro Challenge Cup Hollywood, United StatesClaySingles Roy Emerson6–1, 6–1 Ken Rosewall Pancho Gonzales (3rd) Rod Laver (4th) John Hammill Crawford Henry Rey Garrido Peter Cawthorn18 Apr BBC2 World Pro Invitation ChampionshipsWembley, Great Britain Carpet (i)Singles Rod Laver6–3, 10–8 Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Pancho Gonzales 20 Apr NTL Paris Pro Championships Paris, FranceClay Ken Rosewall6–3, 6–4 Andrés Gimeno Pancho Gonzales Rod Laver Fred Stolle Roy Emerson
May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 May NTL Wembley Invitation Wembley, Great BritainWood (i) Rod Laver6–0, 6–1, 6–0 Ken Rosewall Rod Laver Roy Emerson12–10, 6–4 Andrés Gimeno Pancho Gonzales18 May NTL Madison Square Garden Pro Championships New York City, United StatesCarpet (i)Singles - Doubles Rod Laver4–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–4 Ken Rosewall Roy Emerson Andrés Gimeno Lew Hoad Pancho Gonzales Alex Olmedo Fred Stolle
July WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists 20 Jul NTL Los Angeles Pro Championships Los Angeles, United StatesCarpet (i) Pancho Gonzales1–6, 6–3, 6–4 Rod Laver Roy Emerson Ken Rosewall 25 Jul NTL Oakland Pro ChampionshipsOakland Coliseum ArenaOakland, United StatesCarpet (i) Fred Stolle7–5, 6–3 Pancho Gonzales Roy Emerson Rosie Casals Fred Stolle7–5, 6–3 Françoise Dürr Pancho Gonzales
August WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists11 Aug NTL Masters ChampionshipsHighland Racquet & Riding ClubBinghamton, United StatesCarpet (i) Andrés Gimeno6–4, 6–1 Fred Stolle Roy Emerson Rod Laver Rod Laver Fred Stolle3–6, 6–3, 6–4 Roy Emerson Andrés Gimeno18 Aug NTL Colonial Pro ChampionshipsHighland Racquet & Riding ClubFort Worth, United States Ken Rosewall6–4, 6–2 Andrés Gimeno Mal Anderson Fred Stolle Tut Bartzen Roy Emerson Pancho Gonzales Rod Laver Ken Rosewall Fred Stolle10–8, 6–4 Roy Emerson Rod Laver
September WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists30 Sep NTL Midland ChampionshipsMidland, Texas, United StatesSingles - Doubles Pancho Gonzales 7–5, 6–3 Roy Emerson Andrés Gimeno Rod Laver Pancho Segura Fred Stolle Andrés Gimeno Pancho Gonzales6–4, 3–6, 6–4 Roy Emerson Rod Laver
October
WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists7 Oct NTL South Texas Pro ChampionshipsCorpus Christi, United StatesSingles - Doubles Rod Laver 6–2, 6–4 Andrés Gimeno Roy Emerson Fred Stolle Pancho Gonzales Pancho SeguraDoubles final cancelled due to rain
November WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists3 NovNTL Lima Pro Championships Lima, PeruClay Fred Stolle3–0 matches Andrés Gimeno Rod Laver Roy Emerson 6 NovNTL La Paz Pro Round Robin La Paz, BoliviaClay Rod Laver3–0 matches Andrés Gimeno Fred Stolle Roy Emerson 8 NovSão Paulo Pro ChampionshipsSão Paulo, BrazilClay (i)Singles Rod Laver3–0 matches Andrés Gimeno Fred Stolle Roy Emerson 10 NovNTL French TourLyon & Marseille, FranceClay Ken Rosewall(won Lyon event) Pancho Gonzales(won Marseille event)joint 1st
Prize money Men's + NTL official earnings# Player $US1 Rod Laver70,3592 Ken Rosewall61,3073 Pancho Gonzales38,9874 Andrés Gimeno36,5245 Roy Emerson 35,1886 Fred Stolle34,335
See also 1968 World Championship Tennis circuit
References
Sources