1974 World Championship Tennis circuit

Newcombe reached 6 finals
Details
Duration	21 January 1974 – 12 May 1974
Edition	7th
Tournaments	25
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles	John Newcombe (5)
Most tournament finals	John Newcombe (6)
Prize money leader	John Newcombe ($174,085)
Points leader	John Newcombe (507)
← 1973 1975 →

The 1974 World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit was one of the two rival professional male tennis circuits of 1974, the other being the Grand Prix circuit. It was organized by World Championship Tennis (WCT). It was the fourth edition of the WCT circuit and a total of 84 players participated. All players took part in the opening U.S. Pro Indoor tournament in Philadelphia and afterwards were divided into three groups (red, blue and green) of 28 players, with each group playing eight further tournaments.^[1]

The season final was played in Dallas by the eight best performers, the top two of each group plus the next two highest point winners, and was won by Australian John Newcombe who defeated Björn Borg from Sweden in four sets, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2. Newcombe ended the season as prize money and points leader.^[2]

Overview

Week of	Tournament	Location	Draw	Prize money	Surface	Winner	Finalist
21 January	U.S. Pro Indoor	Philadelphia, US	128	$100,000	Carpet / indoor	Rod Laver	Arthur Ashe
28 January	Fidelity Tournament	Richmond, Virginia, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Ilie Năstase	Tom Gorman
4 February	St. Petersburg WCT	St. Petersburg, Florida, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	John Newcombe	Alex Metreveli
11 February	Astor Cup	Bologna, Italy	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Arthur Ashe	Mark Cox
11 February	Rothmans	Toronto, Canada	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Tom Okker	Ilie Năstase
18 February	Hempstead WCT	Hempstead, New York, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Stan Smith	John Newcombe
18 February	Rothmans	London, UK	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Björn Borg	Mark Cox
25 February	Barcelona WCT	Barcelona, Spain	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Arthur Ashe	Björn Borg
25 February	Lacosta WCT	La Costa, California, US	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	John Newcombe	Stan Smith
25 February	Saga Bay Classic	Miami, Florida, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Cliff Drysdale	Tom Gorman
11 March	São Paulo WCT	São Paulo, Brazil	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Björn Borg	Arthur Ashe
11 March	Washington WCT	Washington, D.C., US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Ilie Năstase	Tom Okker
15 March	Rotterdam	Rotterdam, Netherlands	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Tom Okker	Tom Gorman
15 March	Atlanta WCT	Atlanta, GA, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Dick Stockton	Jiří Hřebec
15 March	Palm Desert WCT	Palm Desert, California, US	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	Rod Laver	Roscoe Tanner
1 April	Munich WCT	Munich, Germany	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Frew McMillan	Niki Pilić
1 April	New Orleans WCT	New Orleans, Louisiana, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	John Newcombe	Jeff Borowiak
8 April	Monte Carlo WCT	Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Andrew Pattison	Ilie Năstase
8 April	Orlando WCT	Orlando, Florida, US	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	John Newcombe	Jaime Fillol
8 April	Tokyo WCT	Tokyo, Japan	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	Rod Laver	Juan Gisbert
15 April	Johannesburg WCT	Johannesburg, South Africa	32	$50,000	Hard / outdoor	Andrew Pattison	John Alexander
15 April	Charlotte WCT	Charlotte, US	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Jeff Borowiak	Dick Stockton
15 April	Houston WCT	Houston, Texas, US	32	$50,000	Clay / outdoor	Rod Laver	Björn Borg
22 April	Denver WCT	Denver, Colorado, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Roscoe Tanner	Arthur Ashe
22 April	St. Louis WCT	St. Louis, Missouri, US	32	$50,000	Carpet / indoor	Stan Smith	Alex Metreveli
8 May	Dallas WCT Finals	Dallas, Texas, US	8	$100,000	Carpet / indoor	John Newcombe	Björn Borg

Schedule

January

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
21 Jan	U.S. Pro Indoor Philadelphia, United States Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 128S/64D	Rod Laver 6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–4	Arthur Ashe	Jan Kodeš Tony Roche	Tom Okker Adriano Panatta Eddie Dibbs Mark Cox
		Pat Cramer Mike Estep 7–6, 6–7, 6–3	Jean-Baptiste Chanfreau Georges Goven
28 Jan	Fidelity Tournament Richmond, United States Red group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Ilie Năstase 6–2, 6–3	Tom Gorman	Niki Pilić Patrice Dominguez	Georges Goven Billy Martin Cliff Drysdale Marty Riessen
		Nikola Pilić Allan Stone 6–3, 3–6, 7–6	John Alexander Phil Dent

February

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
4 Feb	St. Petersburg WCT St. Petersburg, United States Blue group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	John Newcombe 6–0, 7–6	Alex Metreveli	Ross Case Raúl Ramírez	Dick Stockton Jiří Hřebec Stan Smith Brian Gottfried
		Owen Davidson John Newcombe 4–6, 6–3, 6–4	Clark Graebner Charlie Pasarell
11 Feb	Astor Cup Bologna, Italy Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Arthur Ashe 6–4, 7–5	Mark Cox	Roger Taylor Ion Țiriac	Graham Stilwell Adriano Panatta Rod Laver Colin Dibley
		Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg 6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2	Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner
11 Feb	Toronto Indoor Toronto, Canada Red group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Tom Okker 7–6, 6–2	Ilie Năstase	John Alexander Marty Riessen	Tony Roche Erik van Dillen Phil Dent Bob Hewitt
		Raúl Ramírez Tony Roche 6–3, 2–6, 6–4	Tom Okker Marty Riessen
15 Feb	Rothmans International London, England Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Björn Borg 6–7, 7–6, 6–4	Mark Cox	Roscoe Tanner Jan Kodeš	Arthur Ashe Stephen Warboys Rod Laver Ove Bengtson
		Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg 7–6, 6–3	Mark Farrell John Lloyd
18 Feb	Hempstead WCT Hempstead, United States Blue group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Stan Smith 6–4, 3–6, 6–3	John Newcombe	Alex Metreveli Brian Fairlie	Ismail El Shafei Jiří Hřebec Milan Holeček Cliff Richey
		Jeff Borowiak Dick Crealy 6–7, 6–4, 6–4	Ross Case Geoff Masters
25 Feb	Barcelona WCT Barcelona, Spain Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Arthur Ashe 6–4, 3–6, 6–3	Björn Borg	Eddie Dibbs Vladimír Zedník	Roger Taylor Adriano Panatta Tom Leonard Ion Țiriac
		Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner 6–3, 6–4	Tom Edlefsen Tom Leonard
25 Feb	La Costa WCT La Costa, United States Blue group Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	John Newcombe 6–2, 4–6, 6–4	Stan Smith	Patricio Cornejo Raúl Ramírez	Brian Gottfried Alex Metreveli Dick Crealy Dick Stockton
		Clark Graebner Charlie Pasarell 6–4, 6–7, 7–5	Roy Emerson Dennis Ralston
25 Feb	Miami Open Miami, United States Red group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Cliff Drysdale 6–4, 7–5	Tom Gorman	Tom Okker John Alexander	Patrick Proisy Niki Pilić Mike Estep Ilie Năstase
		John Alexander Phil Dent 4–6, 6–4, 7–5	Tom Okker Marty Riessen

March

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
11 Mar	São Paulo WCT São Paulo, Brasil Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Björn Borg 6–2, 3–6, 6–3	Arthur Ashe	Thomaz Koch Antonio Zugarelli	Ion Țiriac Harold Solomon Mark Cox Rod Laver
		Adriano Panatta Ion Țiriac 7–5, 3–6, 6–3	Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg
11 Mar	Xerox WCT Tennis Classic Washington, United States Red group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–3	Tom Okker	Cliff Drysdale Tom Gorman	Tony Roche Marty Riessen Patrick Proisy Niki Pilić
		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 7–6, 6–3	Tom Okker Marty Riessen
25 Mar	ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament Rotterdam, Netherlands Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Tom Okker 4–6, 7–6, 6–1	Tom Gorman	Cliff Drysdale Hans-Jürgen Pohmann	Marty Riessen Manuel Orantes Niki Pilić Pierre Barthès
		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 3–6, 6–4, 6–3	Pierre Barthès Ilie Năstase
25 Mar	Peachtree Corners Classic Atlanta, United States Blue group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Dick Stockton 6–2, 6–1	Jiří Hřebec	Ross Case Geoff Masters	John Newcombe Brian Gottfried Alex Metreveli Brian Fairlie
		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 6–3, 3–6, 7–6	Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton
25 Mar	Palm Desert WCT Palm Desert, United States Green group Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Rod Laver 6–4, 6–2	Roscoe Tanner	Arthur Ashe Eddie Dibbs	Dennis Ralston Harold Solomon Jan Kodeš Mark Cox
		Jan Kodeš Vladimír Zedník 6–4, 6–4	Raymond Moore Onny Parun

April

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 Apr	Munich WCT Munich, West Germany Red group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Frew McMillan 6–7, 7–6, 7–6	Niki Pilić	Tony Roche Phil Dent	Manuel Orantes Bob Maud Erik van Dillen Marty Riessen
		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 7–6	Pierre Barthès Ilie Năstase
1 Apr	New Orleans WCT New Orleans, United States Blue group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	John Newcombe 6–4, 6–2	Jeff Borowiak	Željko Franulović Jiří Hřebec	Bob Lutz Stan Smith Frank Froehling Charlie Pasarell
		Bob Lutz Stan Smith 4–6, 6–4, 7–6	Owen Davidson John Newcombe
8 Apr	Monte Carlo WCT Monte Carlo, Monaco Red group Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Andrew Pattison 5–7, 6–3, 6–4	Ilie Năstase	Bob Maud Marty Riessen	Balázs Taróczy John Alexander Mike Estep Cliff Drysdale
		John Alexander Phil Dent 7–6, 4–6, 7–6, 6–3	Manuel Orantes Tony Roche
8 Apr	Orlando WCT Orlando, United States Blue group Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	John Newcombe 6–2, 3–6, 6–3	Jaime Fillol	Buster Mottram Stan Smith	Raúl Ramírez Jeff Borowiak Raz Reid Cliff Richey
		Owen Davidson John Newcombe 7–6, 6–3	Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton
8 Apr	Tokyo WCT Tokyo, Japan Green group Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Rod Laver 5–7, 6–2, 6–0	Juan Gisbert	Björn Borg Onny Parun	Ray Moore Paul Gerken Guillermo Vilas Adriano Panatta
		Raymond Moore Onny Parun 4–6, 6–2, 6–4	Juan Gisbert Roger Taylor
15 Apr	Johannesburg Indoor Johannesburg, South Africa Red group Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Andrew Pattison 6–3, 7–5	John Alexander	Cliff Drysdale Tom Gorman	Frew McMillan John Yuill Deon Joubert Bernard Mitton
		Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 6–4, 7–6	Jim McManus Andrew Pattison
15 Apr	Charlotte WCT Charlotte, United States Blue group Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Jeff Borowiak 6–4, 5–7, 7–6(7–5)	Dick Stockton	Jaime Fillol Stan Smith	John Newcombe Alex Metreveli Sydney Ball Geoff Masters
		Buster Mottram Raúl Ramírez 6–3, 1–6, 6–3	Owen Davidson John Newcombe
15 Apr	Houston WCT Houston, United States Green group Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Rod Laver 7–6, 6–2	Björn Borg	Onny Parun Eddie Dibbs	Colin Dibley Guillermo Vilas Arthur Ashe Vladimír Zedník
		Colin Dibley Rod Laver 4–6, 7–6, 6–4	Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner
22 Apr	Holton Tennis Classic St. Louis, United States Blue group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Stan Smith 6–2, 3–6, 6–2	Alex Metreveli	Dick Crealy John Newcombe	Cliff Richey Ross Case Clark Graebner Ismail El Shafei
		Ismail El Shafei Brian Fairlie 7–6, 6–7, 7–6	Ross Case Geoff Masters
22 Apr	United Bank Classic Denver, United States Green group Carpet (i) – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Roscoe Tanner 6–2, 6–4	Arthur Ashe	Jan Kodeš Mark Cox	Paul Gerken Ray Moore Rod Laver Eddie Dibbs
		Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner 6–3, 7–6	Mark Cox Jun Kamiwazumi

May

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
2 May	WCT World Doubles Montreal, Canada WCT Finals Carpet (i) – $80,000 – 8D	Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan 6–2, 6–7(6–8), 6–1, 6–2	Owen Davidson John Newcombe
8 May	WCT Finals Dallas, United States WCT Finals Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 8S	John Newcombe 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–2	Björn Borg	Stan Smith Jan Kodeš	Rod Laver Tom Okker Ilie Năstase Arthur Ashe

Standings

Red group

Player	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money
Ilie Năstase *	11	4	37	7	457	$57,135
Tom Okker *	9	2	31	7	330	$47,750
Tom Gorman	12	0	26	12	302	$26,030
Cliff Drysdale	12	1	25	11	252	$29,560
Niki Pilić	11	0	24	11	244	$17,970
Andrew Pattison	12	2	20	10	214	$27,970
John Alexander	12	0	15	12	182	$29,170
Marty Riessen	10	0	15	10	164	$23,360
Tony Roche	9	0	16	8	160	$22,300
Frew McMillan	11	1	8	10	130	$42,725

Blue group

Player	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money
John Newcombe *	11	5	38	6	507	$174,085
Stan Smith *	12	2	35	10	390	$61,900
Alex Metreveli	12	0	28	12	292	$25,285
Dick Stockton	12	1	18	11	212	$26,985
Jiří Hřebec	12	0	21	12	189	$14,345
Jeff Borowiak	11	1	14	10	184	$23,310
Ross Case	12	0	18	12	150	$17,690
Raúl Ramírez	12	0	13	12	137	$21,250
Jaime Fillol	11	0	11	11	136	$17,035
Cliff Richey	12	0	14	12	115	$23,315

Green group

Player	Tournaments played	Tournaments won	Matches won	Matches lost	Points	Prize money
Arthur Ashe *	12	2	37	10	415	$79,175
Rod Laver *	10	4	33	6	395	$70,600
Björn Borg *	12	2	31	10	355	$76,645
Jan Kodeš *	13	1	33	12	350	$25,350
Mark Cox	12	0	23	12	237	$27,575
Roscoe Tanner	10	1	18	9	212	$39,440
Eddie Dibbs	11	0	17	11	180	$22,045
Roger Taylor	12	0	21	12	162	$13,610
Adriano Panatta	11	0	19	11	155	$18,275
Onny Parun	12	0	15	12	152	$14,925

^* Qualified for the WCT Finals. The best two players from each group qualified plus the next two players with the highest points total.