![]() Rod Laver completes the Pro Grand Slam winning all 3 Pro Majors, and Pro Tennis Tour title leader with 19 titles and overall season leader. | |
Details | |
---|---|
Duration | 2 January – 18 December |
Edition | 54th (ILTF) 41st (Pro) |
Categories | Majors (7) Pro Tennis Tour (42) ILTF World Circuit (177) Team & Games (2) |
Achievements (singles) | |
Most tournament titles | ![]() |
Most tournament finals | ![]() |
← 1966 1968 → |
The 1967 Men's tennis season was an annual series of 216 tournaments composed of two circuits the 41st Pro Tennis Tour[1] (professional) and the 54th ILTF World Circuit (amateur).[2] The season began in February in Sydney, Australia, and ended in December in Melbourne, Australia.[3]
From 1888 until 1912 Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations.[4] Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.[5] Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win,[6][7][8] at least until 1902 when the Irish Championships lost that status leaving just three major events. In 1909 the Northern Championships then loses its status a major tournament leaving just two major events Wimbledon and United States National Championships. The Australasian Championships founded in 1906 started to gain major status in 1911, but was quickly replaced following the introduction of the World Hard Court Championships in 1912.
After the formation of the ILTF in 1913 the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments.[9] Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits.[10] After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Amateur tennis players on the ILTF World Circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments world wide.[11]
After the formation of the ILTF the major amateur tennis championships, governed by the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF), were the World Hard Court Championships, World Grass Court Championships (Wimbledon), and World Covered Court Championships.[12] In 1923 the USLTA joined the ILTF on the basis of two compromises: the title 'World Championships' would be abolished, and wording would be 'for ever in the English language'.[13] The World Championships were replaced by a new category of Official Championships for the main tournaments in Australia (Australian Championships), France, (French Championships) England, (Wimbledon Championships) and the United States (U.S. National Championships); now known as the four Grand Slam events.[14]
In 1898 the first known professional tournament was held called the Paris Pro Championships.[15] it was played at the Tennis Club de Paris. In 1900 a second professional tournament was held two years later called the Paris Exhibition Pro, it was played at the Cercle des Sports, Paris, France.[16] In 1902 a few years later after the previous event another professional tournament was held called the Higgins Cup,[17] all three events were won by Irishman Thomas P. Burke one of the world’s first qualified tennis professionals, who was the father of Albert Burke.[18] Professional tennis began to get established in the early 1910s with tournaments being held in Europe. In 1911 the German Pro Championships and Wiesbaden Pro Championships were held for the first time.[19] It was followed by a World Pro Championships in 1924 and 1925.[20] However the staging of one off tournaments began to change in 1926, when promoter Charles C. Pyle signed a handful of players as professionals he paid to compete during a four-month circuit in North America.[21] Players included legendary French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen, alongside American Mary Browne, Vincent Richards, Harvey Snodgrass, and Howard Kinsey.[22] In 1927 the first permanent Professional major was established the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships, followed by the French Pro Championship in 1930, then the Wembley Professional Championships in 1934, which later became known as the London Indoor Professional Championships (these collectively became known as the three Pro Majors or Professional Majors).[23]
1967 tennis season began in January with the Manly Seaside Championships in Sydney, Australia an amateur ILTF World Circuit event won by Fred Stolle. In February the first event of the Pro Tennis Tour began with the Southern Pro Championships held in Sewanee, United States that was won by Earl Baumgardner.[24]
In the amateur majors the first of which was Australian Championships held in late January at Memorial Drive Park in Adelaide, Australia Roy Emerson defeats Arthur Ashe to take the men's singles title.[25] At the French Championships in May in Paris, the men's singles final is won by Roy Emerson who defeated Tony Roche. In June at the Wimbledon Championships John Newcombe emerges victorious against German player Wilhelm Bungert.[26] In September at the final amateur major of the season the U.S. National Championships, the men;s singles is won by Australian John Newcombe who defeats American player Clark Graebner in the final.[27]
In a seismic announcement in June 1967 the All-England Tennis Club confirmed it would host the “Wimbledon World Professional Championships,” a three-day, eight-man pro tour event that would air on the BBC in August,[28] though not a professional major it was by far biggest event on the pro tour in terms of prize money offered at a whopping $45,000 or $413,280 inflation adjusted at today's value.[29] At the professional majors the first of which was the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships held in Chestnut Hill with $25,000 prize money on offer Rod Laver wins the singles title against Andrés Gimeno.[30]
In August Rod Laver also wins the Wimbledon Pro.[24] In October in Paris at the second pro slam event of the season the French Pro Championships Rod Laver picks up a second major title defeating Andrés Gimeno again in the final played at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on indoor wood courts.[24] Later the same month Laver heads to England to compete at the third a final pro slam event of the season the $22,500 London Indoor Professional Championships event where he completes the "Professional Grand Slam", or "Pro Slam",[31][32] by defeating Ken Rosewall in the final played at the Wembley Empire Pool.
In November the final event of the men's Pro Tennis Tour was the Belfast Pro Championships that was won by Ken Rosewall who defeats Lew Hoad in the final. In late December the final event of the amateur ILTF World Circuit is held the Copa Faulcombridge in Valencia, Spain that is won by Chilean player Ernesto Aguirre who defeats Spanish player Juan Gisbert Sr.. This would be the last full season of two seperate tennis circuits one for amateurs one for professionals. On 20 March, 1968, at the Automobile Club in Paris, the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) votes to approve Open tennis.[33] This then moves tennis into a full-fledged professional sport, offering prize money through sponsorship arrangements.[34] In April 1968 the Open Era of tennis began.
Key
ILTF Grand Slam |
ILTF World Circuit |
Pro Slam |
Pro Tennis Tour |
Team & Games |
Week | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 Jun | Madison Square Garden Pro Championships[24] New York, USA $25000 - Wood (i) - 13S Singles |
![]() 6-4 6-4 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 6-4 6-4 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Long Island Championships Great Neck, United States Singles - Doubles |
![]() 9-7 6-4 7-9 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
Lowther Championships[76] Lowther LTC Barnes, England Grass - 32S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 9-7 6-4 7-9 6-2 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Northern Championships Northern LTC Manchester, England Grass - 48S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 6-8 6-4 |
![]() |
|||
Saltsjöbaden International Saltsjöbaden, Sweden Clay - 16S Singles - Doubles |
![]() |
![]() |
|||
West of Scotland Championships[77] Whitecraigs Tennis&Sports Club Glasgow, Scotland Grass - 32S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 6-8 6-4 |
![]() |
|||
12 Jun | U.S. Pro Hard Court Championships[24] St. Louis, United States $19000 - Hard - 16S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 6-4 |
![]() |
||
Blue Gray Invitation Montgomery Country Club Montgomery, United States Clay - 24S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 9-11 7-5 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
Trofeo Conde de Godó Real Club de Tenis Barcelona Barcelona, Spain Singles - Doubles |
![]() 5-7 7-5 6-4 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
![]() ![]() 6-2 6-4 8-6 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Kent Championships[78] Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club Beckenham, England Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 3-6 6-2 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
West of England Championships Bristol, England Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 5-7 8-6 |
![]() |
|||
U.S. National Intercollegiate Championships SIU Courts Carbondale, USA Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-0 6-0 8-10 2-6 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
Nottinghamshire Championships[79] Nottingham Castle LTC Nottingham, England Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 7-5 |
![]() |
|||
Lys International Grass Court Championships Club du Lys Chantilly Lys-Chantilly, France Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 5-7 9-7 6-3 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
Merseyside Open[80][81] Vagabonds LTC West Derby, England Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 3-6 6-3 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
19 Jun | Newport Beach Pro Championships[24] Newport Beach, United States $25000 - Hard - 12S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 6-3 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Liberation Cup[82] Ostrava, Czechoslovakia Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 6-1 |
![]() |
|||
Southern Championships Birmingham, United States Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 6-1 |
![]() |
|||
London Grass Court Championships Queen's Club, West Kensington, England Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 7-5 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
26 Jun | World Pro Championships[24] Oklahoma City, USA $15000 - Hard - 12S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 3-6 6-4 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 10-8 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Tennessee Valley Invitational[83] Chattanooga, United States Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 4-6 7-5 |
![]() |
|||
New York State Championships[84] North Shore Tennis & Racquet Club Queens, NY United States Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 0-6 3-6 6-2, retd. |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Sep | Transvaal Pro Championships[24] Pretoria, South Africa $14000 - Hard - 10S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 6-2 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 6-2 6-4 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Natal Pro Championships[24] Durban, South Africa $12500 - Hard - 10S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
![]() ![]() 6-2 7-5 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Heart of America Championships[129] Rockhill Tennis Club Kansas City, United States Hard - 36S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 6-1 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
Malaysian International Championships Bukit Kiara Sports Complex Clay - 36S Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
11 Sep | Border Pro Championships[24] East London South Africa $12500 - Hard - 10S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 |
![]() |
||
Eastern Province Pro Championships[24] Port Elizabeth, South Africa $15000 - Hard - 10S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 10-0 |
![]() |
|||
Western Province Pro Championships[24] Cape Town, South Africa $15000 - Hard - 10S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 3-6 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
![]() ![]() 8-6 6-3 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
South of England Championships Devonshire Park LTC Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 6-4 |
![]() |
|||
Torneo di San Sebastian 1967![]() Clay Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 4-6 2-6 6-1 6-1 6-1 |
![]() |
|||
18 Sep | Johannesburg Pro Championships[24] Ellis Park Tennis Center Johannesburg, South Africa $19500 - Cemento - 10S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 8-6 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 6-3 6-3 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Pacific Southwest Championships 1967[130]![]() Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 12-14 6-3 6-4 |
![]() |
|||
Oviedo International 1967[131]![]() Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-0 |
![]() |
|||
25 Sep | Fresno Pro Championships[24]![]() Terra rossa - 19S Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 7-5 6-2 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 6-3 6-1 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
French Pro Closed Championships[24] Parigi, Francia Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-1 |
![]() |
|||
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Real Madrid International 1967[132]![]() Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 7-5 6-3 2-6 12-10 |
![]() |
|||
ACT Championships 1967![]() Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 6-1 6-1 |
![]() |
|||
Pacific Coast Championships 1967![]() Singolare - Doppio |
![]() 7-5 8-6 |
![]() |
|||
Week | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Oct | Marseille Pros Autumn Championships[24] Marseille, France Wood (i) - 4S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 2-6 9-7 11-9 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 8-5 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Barcelona Pro Championships[24] Barcelona, Spain Wood (i) - 4S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 6-4 |
![]() |
|||
Victorian Hard Court Championships Melbourne, Australia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
Spanish National Championships Murcia, Spain Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 6-4 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
9 Oct | French Pro Championships[24] Stade Pierre de Coubertin Paris, France Pro Slam Wood (i) - 16S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 8-6 4-6 6-2 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 6-3 6-4 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Stalybridge Covered Courts Stalybridge Sports Stadium Stalybridge, England Carpet (i) Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 7-5 |
![]() |
|||
Sydney Metropolitan Grass Court Championships Sydney, Australia Grass Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-3 6-0 |
![]() |
|||
16 Oct | Prague Pro Championships[24] Prague, Czechoslovakia Wood (i) - 4S Singles |
![]() 7-5 6-1 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
|
Australian Hard Court Championships Sydney, Australia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 5-7 7-5 6-2 6-2 |
![]() |
|||
23 Oct | London Indoor Professional Championships[24] Wembley Empire Pool Wembley, London, England Pro Slam $22500 - Wood (i) - 16S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 2-6 6-1 1-6 8-6 6-2 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 7-5 6-3 6-4 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
30 Oct | South American Championships[g] Buenos Aires LTC Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 7-5 6-8 6-3 6-3 |
![]() |
||
Queensland Hard Court Championships> Ingham, Australia Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 12-10 |
![]() |
|||
Week | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Nov | Abidjan Pro Championships[24] Abidjan, Ivory Coast Hard - 4S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 2-6 8-6 6-3 |
![]() |
||
Dakar Pro Championships[24] Dakar, Senegal Hard - 4S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 7-5 1-6 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
Torneio Porto Alegre Porto Alegre, Brazil Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 3-6 6-3 8-6 |
![]() |
|||
13 Nov | Queensland Championships Brisbane, Australia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 9-7 4-6 6-4 4-6 7-5 |
![]() |
||
20 Nov | U.S.P.L.T.A. Championships[24] Boca Raton, United States Clay - 30S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-2 4-6 6-3 |
![]() |
||
![]() ![]() 6-4 6-3 |
![]() ![]() | ||||
Belfast Pro Championships[24] Belfast, Northern Ireland Wood (i)- 4S Singles - Doubles |
![]() 3-6 6-2 7-5 |
![]() |
|||
Brazil International Championships Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 11-9 3-6 6-3 |
![]() |
|||
27 Nov | Victorian Championships Melbourne, Australia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 7-5 6-3 6-4 |
![]() |
||
Week | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi finalist | Quarter finalist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Dec | Crystal Palace Trophy Indoor London, Great Britain Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 6-3 |
![]() |
||
New South Wales Championships Sydney, Australia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 8-6 6-1 8-6 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
11 Dec | South Australian Championships Adelaide, Australia Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-4 6-3 3-6 11-9 |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
18 Dec | Border Championships East London, South Africa Singles - Doubles |
![]() 9-7 7-5 |
![]() |
||
25 Dec | Copa Faulcombridge Club de Tenis València Valencia, Spain Clay Singles - Doubles |
![]() 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-2 |
![]() |
||
Davis Cup Milton Courts Brisbane, Australia Grass 48 teams knockout Played 25/03/67 – 28/12/67 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Challenge Round![]() | |||||
Lance Tingay[133] | Ulrich Kaiser[134] (panel of 13 experts) |
Joseph McCauley[135] | Martini and Rossi[136] |
---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
This is a list of professional winners by the total number of singles titles won for 1967 major titles in bold:
This is a list of amateur winners by the total number of singles titles won for 1967 major titles in bold: