1977 World Championship Tennis circuit

Connors reached most finals

Details
Duration| 12 January – 10 May
Edition| 10th
Tournaments| 13
Achievements (singles)
Most titles|  Dick Stockton
Jimmy Connors (3)
Most finals|  Jimmy Connors (5)
Points leader|  Dick Stockton (520)

<- 1976

1982 ->

The 1977 season of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis 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 in Dallas and doubles play-off in Kansas City in May. 23 players participated and the season final was played by the eight best performers. It was won by American Jimmy Connors who defeated compatriot Dick 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 in Hartford between America and Australia (10–13 March), the $320,000 Challenge Cup in Las Vegas (14–20 November) and the Tournament of Champions held in Lakeway, Texas (10–13 March, 10–13 July) and Madison Square Garden, New York (17 September).[1]

## Borg lawsuit

[edit]

In February the WCT sued Björn Borg, as well as his management company IMG claiming that Borg had committed a breach of contract by electing to participate in the competing 1977 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 the Grand Prix circuit.[4]

## Overview

[edit]

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 Amritraj
Dick Stockton |  Vitas Gerulaitis
Adriano 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

## Schedule

[edit]

The schedule of events on the 1977 WCT circuit, with player progression documented until the quarterfinals stage.[5]

### January

[edit]

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 Drysdale
Sandy Mayer
Vitas Gerulaitis
Ilie Năstase
Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker
6–3, 6–4 |  Billy Martin
Bill 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 Borowiak
Cliff Drysdale |  Ken Rosewall
Vijay Amritraj
Bernard Mitton
Tony Roche
Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan
7–5, 6–3 |  Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker
31 Jan | Richmond WCT
Richmond, United States |  Tom Okker
3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |  Vitas Gerulaitis |  Corrado Barazzutti
Tony Roche |  Ross Case
Adriano Panatta
Manuel Orantes
Ilie Năstase
Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker
6–4, 6–4 |  Ross Case
Tony Roche

### February

[edit]

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 Panatta
Ken Rosewall |  Cliff Drysdale
Jan Kodeš
Vitas Gerulaitis
Manuel Orantes
Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker
6–2, 6–3 |  Ilie Năstase
Adriano Panatta
16 Feb | Toronto Indoor
Toronto, Canada |  Dick Stockton
5–6 ret. |  Jimmy Connors |  Eddie Dibbs
Tom Okker |  Rod Laver
Ken Rosewall
Tony Roche
Ross Case
Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker
6–4, 6–1 |  Ross Case
Tony Roche
28 Feb | Monterrey WCT
Monterrey, Mexico |  Wojciech Fibak
6–4, 6–3 |  Vitas Gerulaitis |  Cliff Drysdale
Bill Scanlon |  Manuel Orantes
Raúl Ramírez
Harold Solomon
Eddie Dibbs
Ross Case
Wojciech Fibak
3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |  Billy Martin
Bill Scanlon

### March

[edit]

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 Solomon
Ilie Năstase |  Cliff Drysdale
Raz Reid
Ken Rosewall
Bernard Mitton
Ilie Năstase
Adriano Panatta
6–4, 3–6, 7–6 |  Vijay Amritraj
Dick Stockton
22 Mar | Rotterdam WCT
Rotterdam, Netherlands |  Dick Stockton
2–6, 6–3, 6–3 |  Ilie Năstase |  Wojciech Fibak
Mark Cox |  Vijay Amritraj
John Alexander
Corrado Barazzutti
Cliff Drysdale
Tom Okker
Wojciech Fibak
6–4, 6–4 |  Vijay Amritraj
Dick Stockton
28 Mar | Rothmans International London
London, England |  Eddie Dibbs
7–6, 6–7, 6–4 |  Vitas Gerulaitis |  Vijay Amritraj
Dick Stockton |  Ilie Năstase
Ross Case
Wojciech Fibak
Harold Solomon
Ilie Năstase
Adriano Panatta
7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), 6–3 |  Mark Cox
Eddie Dibbs

### April

[edit]

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 Taróczy
Wojciech Fibak
Eddie Dibbs
Adriano Panatta
François Jauffret
Jan Kodeš
2–6, 6–3, 6–2 |  Wojciech Fibak
Tom Okker
11 Apr | Houston Open
Houston, United States |  Adriano Panatta
7–6, 6–7, 6–1 |  Vitas Gerulaitis |  Eddie Dibbs
Ilie Năstase |  Ken Rosewall
Harold Solomon
Tony Roche
Ross Case
Ilie Năstase
Adriano Panatta
6–3, 6–4 |  John Alexander
Phil Dent
18 Apr | Charlotte Tennis Classic
Charlotte, United States |  Corrado Barazzutti
7–6, 6–0 |  Eddie Dibbs |  Adriano Panatta
John Alexander |  Tom Okker
Cliff Drysdale
Harold Solomon
Tony Roche
Tom Okker
Ken Rosewall
6–1, 3–6, 7–6 |  Corrado Barazzutti
Adriano Panatta

## Special events

[edit]

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 Stockton
Eddie Dibbs |  Phil Dent
Jimmy Connors
Ilie Năstase
Vijay Amritraj

## Standings

[edit]

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 the WCT Finals.

## See also

[edit]

* 1977 Grand Prix circuit

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c John Barrett, ed. (1978). World of Tennis. London: Macdonald and Jane's. pp. 171–177\. ISBN 978-0354090391.171-177&rft.pub=Macdonald+and+Jane's&rft.date=1978&rft.isbn=978-0354090391&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:1977+World+Championship+Tennis+circuit" class="Z3988">
2. ^ "W.C.T. Sues Borg and Colgate, Alleging a Breach of Contract". The New York Times. February 4, 1977.
3. ^ "Borg Being Sued". Ludington Daily News. February 2, 1977.
4. ^ Barry Lorge (April 13, 1978). "Peace Still Eludes Men's Pro Tennis". The Washington Post.
5. ^ atpworldtour.com. "1977 Grand Prix and WCT circuits calendar". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
6. ^ "Nastase whips Connors for Challenge Cup title". Ellensburg Daily Record. UPI. April 11, 1977. p. 9.

## External links

[edit]

* ATP 1977 results archive

* v
* t
* e

World Championship Tennis seasons

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1968 | 1969

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | NH | NH

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

NH | NH | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 |  |  |  |  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

* v
* t
* e

1977 World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit

« 1976

1982 »

* Birmingham
* Philadelphia
* Richmond
* Mexico City
* Toronto
* Monterrey
* St. Louis
* Rotterdam
* London
* Monte Carlo
* Houston
* Charlotte

* WCT Finals, Dallas
* WCT Doubles Finals, Kansas City
* WCT Challenge Cup

* v
* t
* e

Men's tennis seasons

Seasons & ILTF Circuit|

* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

ILTF Independent Tour
ITF Independent Tour|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

National Tennis League|

* 1968
* 1969

WCT Circuit|

* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978–81: not held
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984

ILTF Grand Prix
ITF Grand Prix|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

ATP Tour|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

1977 in tennis

Grand Slam|

* Australian Open (January)
* French Open
* Wimbledon Championships
* US Open
* Australian Open (December)

Tours|

| Men|

* WTC circuit
* WTC Finals
* Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix
* Colgate-Palmolive Masters

|

Women|

* WTA Tour
* Virginia Slims Championships
* Colgate Series Championships

National teams|

| Men|

* Davis Cup
* World Team Cup

|

Women|

* Federation Cup
* Wightman Cup

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template