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1970 Grand Prix (tennis)

Tennis circuit


Tennis circuit

Masters Group 1 (6) Group 2 (11)

The 1970 Pepsi-Cola ILTF Grand Prix was a tennis circuit administered by the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) which served as a forerunner to the current Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. It was the inaugural edition of the Grand Prix circuit and consisted of men's tournaments recognised by the ILTF. The creation of the Grand Prix circuit, on an experimental basis during its first year, was announced in April 1970 by the president of the ILTF, Ben Barnett. It was the brainchild of Jack Kramer, former tennis promoter and winner of the Wimbledon and US championships, and was aimed at countering the influence of commercial promoters, particularly Lamar Hunt and his World Championship Tennis circuit and George MacCall's National Tennis League.

The tournaments were graded in one of three categories which determined the number of ranking points available: Class A, comprising the three Grand Slam tournaments, Class 1 and Class 2. The Pepsi-Cola Masters and Davis Cup Final are included in this calendar but did not count towards the Grand Prix. In addition to the tournament prize money a bonus pool of $150,000 was available for the top 20 ranked players. The bonus pool was jointly funded by Pepsi-Cola as title sponsor and the participating tournaments which reserved 10% of their prize money. Cliff Richey earned $25,000 bonus as the winner of the first Grand Prix circuit. At the end of the season the top six ranked players qualified for a Masters round-robin tournament held in Tokyo which was won by Stan Smith.

All open tennis tournaments were eligible to be included in the Grand Prix circuit provided they committed to not paying any management fees to commercial organizations with players under contract. Originally the Italian Championships, played in April in Rome, was part of the Grand Prix calendar but it was withdrawn during the tournament when it became known that they had paid management fees to the competing World Championship Tennis organization.

Schedule

;Key

Team events

April

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
27 Apr[Rothmans British Hard Court Championships](1970-british-hard-court-championships)
Bournemouth, Great Britain
Clay – $25,000 – 32S/16D/16XD
Group 2GBR Mark Cox
6–1, 6–2, 6–3RSA Bob HewittGBR Gerald Battrick
SFR Yugoslavia Nikola PilićFRA Georges Goven
EGY Ismail El Shafei
FRA François Jauffret
NED Tom Okker
NED Tom Okker
AUS Tony Roche
2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4AUS William Bowrey
AUS Owen Davidson
USA Billie Jean King
RSA Bob Hewitt
6–2, 3–6, 6–1GBR Virginia Wade
RSA Bob Maud

May

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
25 May[French Open](1970-french-open)
Paris, France
Grand Slam
Group A
Clay – 128S/101Q/72D/53XD
[Singles](1970-french-open-men-s-singles) – [Doubles](1970-french-open-men-s-doubles) – [Mixed doubles](1970-french-open-mixed-doubles)CSK Jan Kodeš
6–2, 6–4, 6–0SFR Yugoslavia Željko FranulovićUSA Cliff Richey
FRA Georges GovenROM Ilie Năstase
USA Arthur Ashe
FRA François Jauffret
ITA Martin Mulligan
ROM Ilie Năstase
ROM Ion Țiriac
6–2, 6–4, 6–3USA Arthur Ashe
USA Charlie Pasarell
USA Billie Jean King
RSA Bob Hewitt
3–6, 6–4, 6–2FRA Françoise Dürr
FRA Jean-Claude Barclay

June

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
22 Jun[Wimbledon Championships](1970-wimbledon-championships)
London, Great Britain
Grand Slam
Group A
Grass – 128S/80Q/64D/32Q/56XD/12Q
[Singles](1970-wimbledon-championships-men-s-singles) – [Doubles](1970-wimbledon-championships-men-s-doubles) – [Mixed doubles](1970-wimbledon-championships-mixed-doubles)AUS John Newcombe
5–7, 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1AUS Ken RosewallGBR Roger Taylor
ESP Andrés GimenoUSA Clark Graebner
AUS Tony Roche
AUS Bob Carmichael
AUS Roy Emerson
AUS John Newcombe
AUS Tony Roche
10–8, 6–3, 6–1AUS Ken Rosewall
AUS Fred Stolle
USA Rosemary Casals
ROM Ilie Năstase
6–3, 4–6, 9–7URS Olga Morozova
URS Alex Metreveli

July

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
6 Jul[Swedish Championships](1970-swedish-open)
Båstad, Sweden
Clay – 32S/21D
Group 1AUS Dick Crealy
6–3, 6–1, 6–1FRA Georges GovenSFR Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
AUS Bob CarmichaelSWE Per Jemsby
USA Clark Graebner
AUS John Alexander
CHI Patricio Rodríguez
AUS Dick Crealy
AUS Allan Stone
6–2, 2–6, 12–12 RET.SFR Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
CSK Jan Kodeš
13 Jul[Washington Star International](1970-washington-star-international)
Washington, United States
Clay – $35,000 – 64S/32D
Group 2USA Cliff Richey
7–5, 6–2, 6–1USA Arthur AsheROM Ilie Năstase
ROM Ion ȚiriacRSA Bob Hewitt
FRA Georges Goven
AUS Dick Crealy
USA Stan Smith
RSA Bob Hewitt
RSA Frew McMillan
7–5, 6–0ROM Ilie Năstase
ROM Ion Țiriac
20 Jul[Western Championships](1970-cincinnati-open)
Cincinnati, United States
Clay – $25,000 – 64S/32D
Group 2AUS Ken Rosewall
7–9, 9–7, 8–6USA Cliff RicheyROM Ilie Năstase
CSK Jan KodešUSA Clark Graebner
ROM Ion Țiriac
USA Stan Smith
RSA Bob Hewitt
ROM Ilie Năstase
ROM Ion Țiriac
6–3, 6–4RSA Bob Hewitt
RSA Frew McMillan
27 Jul[U.S. Clay Court Championships](1970-u-s-men-s-clay-court-championships)
Indianapolis, United States
Clay – $50,000 – 64S/32D
Group 1USA Cliff Richey
6–2, 10–8, 3–6, 6–1USA Stan SmithSFR Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
USA Arthur AsheRSA Frew McMillan
USA Clark Graebner
AUS Allan Stone
CHI Jaime Fillol
USA Arthur Ashe
USA Clark Graebner
2–6, 6–4, 6–4ROM Ilie Năstase
ROM Ion Țiriac

August

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
3 Aug[First National Bank Classic](1970-first-national-tennis-classic)
Louisville, United States
Group 2
Clay – $25,000 – 16S/8D
[Singles](1970-first-national-tennis-classic-singles) – [Doubles](1970-first-national-tennis-classic-doubles)AUS Rod Laver
6–3, 6–3AUS John NewcombeAUS Tony Roche
AUS Ken RosewallRSA Cliff Drysdale
ESP Andrés Gimeno
AUS Roy Emerson
USA Dennis Ralston
AUS John Newcombe
AUS Tony Roche
8–6, 5–7, 6–4AUS Roy Emerson
AUS Rod Laver
3 AugBavarian Open Championships
Munich, West Germany
Group 2
24S/8DROM Ion Țiriac
2–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–4YUG Niki PilićFRG Christian Kunke
ROM Ilie NăstaseRSA Bob Hewitt
FRG Harald Elschenbroich
AUS John Alexander
AUSBarry Phillips-Moore
AUS Owen Davidson
YUG Niki Pilić
6–4, 7–5, 6–4RSA Bob Hewitt
RSA Frew McMillan
10 Aug[U.S. Professional Tennis Championships](1970-u-s-pro-tennis-championships)
Boston, United States
Group 1
Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D
[Singles](1970-u-s-pro-tennis-championships-singles) – [Doubles](1970-u-s-pro-tennis-championships-doubles)AUS Tony Roche
3–6, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2AUS Rod LaverAUS Roy Emerson
RSA Cliff DrysdaleCHI Jaime Fillol
USA Arthur Ashe
CSK Jan Kodeš
AUS Ray Ruffels
AUS Roy Emerson
AUS Rod Laver
6–1, 7–6EGY Ismail El Shafei
DEN Torben Ulrich
24 AugPennsylvania Championships
Merion, United States
Group 2
Grass – 64S/32DAUS Ray Ruffels
6–3, 7–6, 6–3CHI Jaime FillolAUS Dick Crealy
NZL Brian FairlieAUS Bob Carmichael
PAK Haroon Rahim
AUS William Bowrey
RSA Cliff Drysdale
AUS William Bowrey
AUS Ray Ruffels
3–6, 6–2, 7–5USA Jim McManus
USA Jim Osborne
[Davis Cup Final](1970-davis-cup)
Cleveland, United States – hard (i)
5–0
31 AugMarlboro Open
South Orange, United States
Group 2
Grass – $25,000 – 42S/19DAUS Rod Laver
6–4, 6–2, 6–2AUS Bob CarmichaelAUS Ken Rosewall
URS Alex MetreveliESP Andrés Gimeno
NZL Brian Fairlie
USA Dick Stockton
NZL Onny Parun
CHI Patricio Cornejo
CHI Jaime Fillol
3–6, 7–6, 7–6ESP Andrés Gimeno
AUS Rod Laver

September

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
7 Sep[US Open](1970-us-open-tennis)
New York, United States
Grand Slam
Class A
Grass – $176,000 – 108S/63D/34XD
[Singles](1970-us-open-men-s-singles) – [Doubles](1970-us-open-men-s-doubles) – [Mixed doubles](1970-us-open-mixed-doubles)AUS Ken Rosewall
2–6, 6–4, 7–6(5–2), 6–3AUS Tony RocheUSA Cliff Richey
AUS John NewcombeUSA Dennis Ralston
NZL Brian Fairlie
USA Stan Smith
USA Arthur Ashe
FRA Pierre Barthès
SFR Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić
6–3, 7–6, 4–6, 7–6AUS Roy Emerson
AUS Rod Laver
AUS Margaret Court
USA Marty Riessen
6–4, 6–4AUS Judy Tegart
RSA Frew McMillan
21 Sep[Pepsi Pacific Southwest Open](1970-pacific-southwest-open)
Los Angeles, United States
Group 1
Hard – $65,000 – 64S/32D
[Singles](1970-pacific-southwest-open-men-s-singles) – [Doubles](1970-pacific-southwest-open-men-s-doubles)AUS Rod Laver
4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–5)AUS John NewcombeUSA Arthur Ashe
USA Tom GormanUSA Stan Smith
USA Clark Graebner
USA Marty Riessen
USA Pancho Gonzales
NED Tom Okker
USA Marty Riessen
7–6, 6–2USA Bob Lutz
USA Stan Smith
28 Sep[Pacific Coast Championships](1970-pacific-coast-international-open)
Berkeley, United States
Group 2
Hard – 64S/32DUSA Arthur Ashe
6–4, 6–2, 6–4USA Cliff RicheyUSA Stan Smith
USA Dennis RalstonAUS Bob Carmichael
CSK Jan Kodeš
CHI Jaime Fillol
BRA Thomaz Koch
USA Bob Lutz
USA Stan Smith
6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2USA Roy Barth
USA Tom Gorman

October

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
18 OctPhoenix Thunderbird Open
Phoenix, United States
Hard – 31S/16D
Group 2USA Stan Smith
6–3, 6–7, 6–1USA Jim OsborneUSA Barry MacKay (tennis)
AUS Bob CarmichaelUSA Charlie Pasarell
CSK Jan Kodeš
USA Frank Froehling
USA Tom Edlefsen
AUS Dick Crealy
AUS Ray Ruffels
7–6, 6–3CSK Jan Kodeš
USA Charlie Pasarell

November

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
1 Nov[Stockholm Open](1970-stockholm-open)
Stockholm, Sweden
Group 2
Hard (i) – $35,000 – 32S/16D
[Singles](1970-stockholm-open-singles) – [Doubles](1970-stockholm-open-doubles)USA Stan Smith
5–7, 6–4, 6–4USA Arthur AsheAUS Ken Rosewall
USA Cliff RicheyGBR Mark Cox
FRA Georges Goven
USA Dennis Ralston
AUS Roy Emerson
USA Arthur Ashe
USA Stan Smith
6–0, 5–7, 7–5AUS Bob Carmichael
AUS Owen Davidson
8 Nov[South American Championships](1970-buenos-aires-grand-prix-tennis)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Group 1
Clay – 32S/8DSFR Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
6–4, 6–2, 6–0ESP Manuel OrantesCSK Jan Kodeš
AUS Bob CarmichaelAUS Ray Ruffels
CSK Jan Kukal
AUS Dick Crealy
USA Cliff Richey
AUS Bob Carmichael
AUS Ray Ruffels
7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–7, 6–3SFR Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
CSK Jan Kodeš
[Paris Open](1970-paris-open)
Paris, France
Group 2
Carpet – $31,000 – 32S/8D
[Singles](1970-paris-open-singles)USA Arthur Ashe
7–6, 6–4, 6–3USA Marty RiessenUSA Stan Smith
FRA Georges GovenUSA Pancho Gonzales
USA Dennis Ralston
GBR Roger Taylor
AUS Ken Rosewall
USA Pancho Gonzales
AUS Ken Rosewall
6–4, 7–6, 7–6NED Tom Okker
USA Marty Riessen
16 Nov[Embassy British Indoor Championships](1970-embassy-british-indoor-championships)
London, England
Group 1
Carpet – 32S/16D
[Singles](1970-embassy-british-indoor-championships-men-s-singles)AUS Rod Laver
6–3, 6–4, 6–4USA Cliff RicheyRSA Cliff Drysdale
AUS Ken RosewallROM Ilie Năstase
USA Dennis Ralston
GBR Roger Taylor
USA Pancho Gonzales
AUS Ken Rosewall
USA Stan Smith
6–4, 6–3, 6–2ROM Ilie Năstase
ROM Ion Țiriac

December

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists
9 Dec[Pepsi-Cola Masters](1970-pepsi-cola-masters)
Tokyo, Japan
Hard (i) – $50,000 – 6S/3D (round robin)
[Singles](1970-pepsi-cola-masters-singles) – [Doubles](1970-pepsi-cola-masters-doubles)USA Stan SmithAUS Rod LaverNANA
USA Arthur Ashe
USA Stan SmithCSK Jan Kodeš
AUS Rod Laver

Grand Prix point system

The tournaments listed above were divided into three categories. Class A consisted of the Grand Slams while the other tournaments were divided into Class 1 and Class 2. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament. Ties were settled by the number of tournaments played. The points allocation is listed below:

Grand Prix rankings

PositionNameNationPointsPrize money (US$)
1Cliff RicheyUSA6025,000
2Arthur AsheUSA5517,000
3Ken RosewallAUS5315,000
4Rod LaverAUS5112,000
5Stan SmithUSA4710,500
6Željko FranulovićYUG359,500
7John NewcombeAUS358,500
8Jan KodešCSK337,500
9Tony RocheAUS326,500
10Bob CarmichaelAUS316,000
11Georges GovenFRA255,500
12Ilie NăstaseROM255,000
13Dick CrealyAUS244,500
14Ray RuffelsAUS224,000
15Clark GraebnerUSA223,500
16Dennis RalstonUSA223,000
17Jaime FillolCHI202,500
18Ion ȚiriacROM192,000
19Cliff DrysdaleRSA191,500
20Roy EmersonAUS191,000

List of tournament winners

The list of winners and number of singles titles won (Grand Slams and Masters in bold text), alphabetically by last name:

  • USA Arthur Ashe (3) Australian Open, Berkeley, Paris Indoor
  • GBR Mark Cox (1) Bournemouth
  • AUS Dick Crealy (1) Båstad
  • SFR Yugoslavia Željko Franulović (1) Buenos Aires
  • CSK Jan Kodeš (1) French Open
  • AUS Rod Laver (4) Louisville, South Orange, Los Angeles, Wembley
  • AUS John Newcombe (1) Wimbledon
  • USA Cliff Richey (2) Washington, Indianapolis
  • AUS Tony Roche (2) Gstaad, Boston
  • AUS Ray Ruffels (1) Merion
  • AUS Ken Rosewall (2) Cincinnati, US Open
  • ESP Manuel Santana (1) Barcelona
  • USA Stan Smith (3) Phoenix, Stockholm, Pepsi-Cola Masters

The list of winners and number of doubles titles won (Grand Slams and Masters in bold text), last name alphabetically:

  • USA Arthur Ashe (3) Indianapolis, Stockholm, Pepsi-Cola Masters
  • FRA Pierre Barthès (2) Munich, US Open
  • AUS William Bowrey (1) Merion
  • AUS Bob Carmichael (1) Buenos Aires
  • CHI Patricio Cornejo (1) South Orange
  • AUS Dick Crealy (2) Båstad, Phoenix
  • AUS Owen Davidson (1) Munich
  • AUS Roy Emerson (1) Boston
  • CHI Jaime Fillol (1) South Orange
  • USA Clark Graebner (1) Indianapolis
  • RSA Bob Hewitt (1) Washington
  • AUS Rod Laver (1) Boston
  • USA Bob Lutz (2) Australian Open, Berkeley
  • RSA Frew McMillan (1) Washington
  • ROM Ilie Năstase (2) French Open, Cincinnati
  • AUS John Newcombe (2) Wimbledon, Louisville
  • NED Tom Okker (2) Bournemouth, Los Angeles
  • SFR Yugoslavia Nikola Pilić (1) US Open
  • USA Marty Riessen (1) Los Angeles
  • AUS Tony Roche (3) Bournemouth, Wimbledon, Louisville
  • AUS Ken Rosewall (1) London
  • AUS Ray Ruffels (3) Merion, Phoenix, Buenos Aires
  • USA Stan Smith (5) Australian Open, Berkeley, London, Stockholm, Pepsi-Cola Masters
  • AUS Allan Stone (1) Båstad
  • ROM Ion Țiriac (2) French Open, Cincinnati

The list of winners and number of mixed doubles titles won (Grand Slams and Masters in bold text), alphabetically by last name:

  • RSA Bob Hewitt (2) Bournemouth, French Open
  • ROM Ilie Năstase (1) Wimbledon
  • USA Marty Riessen (1) US Open

The following players won their first singles title in 1970:

  • AUS Dick Crealy Båstad
  • CSK Jan Kodeš French Open

Notes

References

;General

;Specific

References

  1. "How it All Began". ATPWorldTour.com.
  2. (Apr 9, 1970). "Tennis Gets A Grand Prix". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. (Apr 9, 1970). "Grand Prix Experiment In Tennis Is Planned". The Morning Record.
  4. (14 Sep 2009). "Obituaries – Jack Kramer". The Daily Telegraph.
  5. (Jun 23, 1970). "Tennis Assn. Ponders $200,000 Grand Prix".
  6. (Aug 14, 1970). "Tennis Grand Prix picks up more money". Ellensburg Daily Record.
  7. (Nov 25, 1970). "Richey Clinches Grand Prix Title". The New York Times.
  8. (1971). "World of Tennis '71". Queen Anne Press.
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