Summary
The Queen of Tennis for 1972 was a King-Billie Jean King that is. In a display that one no one could question she swept all three slams she competed to stand heads and shoulders above everyone else in the world rankings.
At the first slam of the year defending champion Margaret Court was absent, having just recently given birth to her first child. Oddsmakers favoring Evonne Goolagong got a surprise. #2 seed Virginia Wade, bent on revenge over some recent losses to Evonne, served and volleyed her way to an impressive 6-4 6-4 win. Goolagong's first Aussie title would have to wait.
Meanwhile most of the top women are playing the Virginia Slims circuit. Now well established, the USTA has made peace with Gladys Heldman and officially sanctioned the very circuit it tried to kill. It draws record crowds and attention.
Chris Evert plays her first Slims events, and in her native Florida embarrasses King on clay before a partisan crowd to the tune of 6-1 6-0. Later in the year King reveals she was feeling the aftereffects of an abortion, setting off a firestorm of controversy.
Coverage reached a fever pitch for the Slims tour when Chris Evert and Evonne Goolagong both enter Dallas. Under intense media coverage the two bright young hopes of the tour lose to the "Old Lady" Billie Jean. King beat Evert 6-7 6-3 7-5 in the quarters then Goolagong 1-6 6-4 6-1 in the semis. Another vet was waiting in the final, as Nancy Richey took advantage of an exhausted King for a 7-6 6-1 win.
Billie Jean finally conquered the slow clay of Paris at the French Open. Using an exquisite drop shot to complement her net forays the wily American won all her matches in straight sets. In the final Billie Jean easily beat Evonne Goolagong 6-3 6-3. Up to now it was the only major she hadn't won.
At Wimbledon King again snuffed out the hopes of the British public, as always in favor of Goolagong in the guise of little Miss Sunshine. The score is again 6-3 6-3. King's only lost set was to Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals. Virginia had the misfortune of drawing Billie Jean in all 3 majors after the Aussie.
The semifinal was a scalper's dream and clearly the match of the year. Evonne Goolagong and Chris Evert finally met! Unlike America, where she was the adored girl next door, in England "Chrissie" played to villain. Dubbed "Ice Dolly", the seemingly unemotional Chris with her mechanical looking backhand stood in stark contrast to Evonne, who freely showed her delight. The Aussie lass came from behind for a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win showcasing what promised to be the future of women's tennis.
The US Open settled some ranking questions in the minds of many. Goolagong's coach Vic Edwards had kept her away from America in 1971. Her 1972 debut was all the more anticipated. Goolagong went down to unheralded Pam Teeguarden however. Chris Evert-always more consistent, got the semifinals again before her flaws on grass were exposed by Aussie Kerry Melville. Kerry sent sidespin forehands that slithered on the grass, topping America's sweetheart 6-4 6-2.
On the other end of the draw came the comeback kid of 1972-Margaret Court. Back from having a baby and on the tour starting in July, her limited year was so successful some ranked her #2 for the year. In a tough semi battle she goes down 6-4 6-4 to Billie Jean King. The Old Lady scored a tough 6-3 7-5 win over Melville for her 4th US crown. With 3 slams in one year how she must have regretted skipping the Australian!
Another 3 time slam winner for the year was Betty Stove, who won the French and Wimbledon with King in doubles and then the US Open with Francoise Durr. Henceforth Stove will be a force in both doubles and singles for the next 6 years.
Chris Evert closed out the year by winning the "5th major", the Virginia Slims Championship finale. Played on clay in her native Florida, it was a perfect time to win her first big title. She beat King 6-4 6-2 in the semis and got revenge over Melville 7-5 6-4 in the final. She couldn't take the winners check as an amateur, a problem she soon fixed by turning pro in 1973.
In the end it was Billie Jean King's year though. Perfectly wrapped up like a present, with only the missing Australian Open to make it one for the ages.
World Rankings (by Rino Tomassi)
1. Billie Jean King-------87 wins to 13 defeats-----.870%------Won French, Wimbledon, and US Opens and 10 of 24 events in all.
2. Evonne Goolagong
3. Chris Evert---------47 wins to 7 defeats------.87o%-------Won Virginia Slims Championships. 3-1 vs King. Won 4 events overall.
4. Margaret Court
5. Nancy Richey
6. Rosie Casals
7. Kerry Melville
8. Virginia Wade
9. Francoise Durr
10. Helga Masthoff
Commercial Union Ladies Grand Prix results (30 events)
Points Standings and bonus pool money
01 719---King----&9,000 bonus
02 400---Goolagong---&6,000
03 316---Casals-----$4,500
04 316---Gunter---&3,600
05 250---Melville--&3,000
06 234---Court--&2,600
07 225---Durr--&2,200
08 212---Evert--no bonus, not enough events
09 183---Wade--&1,800
10 145---Hunt--&1,600
11 142---Overton--$1,400
12 138---Ziegenfuss--&1,200
13 135---Masthoff--no bonus, not enough events.
14 116---Pretouris--$1,000
15 107---Stove--&700
16 094---Gourlay--&600
Explanation
This was a series of events for men and women sponsored by the Commercial Union Bank. A minimum of 10 events entered was needed to qualify for the bonus pool. An exception was made for Margaret Court, due to her "domestic circumstances" (pregnancy) Unlike the men's series, there was no Masters event. Most events (16 of the 29) were also part of the WT (World Tennis) Pro Tour, which had Virginia Slims as it's main sponsor.
Events were organized into 5 levels-AA, A, B, C, and D
Events with an * were also part of the WT (World Tennis) Pro Tour.
Oklahoma-C*
Washington-C*
Birmingham-D*
Dallas-B*
Richmond-C*
San Juan-D*
South Africa-A
Jacksonville-D*
St. Petersburg-C*
Tuscon-C*
Italy-C
Indianapolis-C*
British Hard Courts-C
French Open-AA
Bristol-C
Wimbledon-AA
Welsh Open-D
Irish Open-D
Hoylake-D
Columbus-C*
Western-D
US Clay-C
Canadian Open-D
Denver-B*
Newport-C*
US Open-AA
Charlotte-A*
Oakland-C*
Phoenix-C*
Some missing results (per Andy T)
German Closed Indoors, Hannover, (played Jan or Feb), winner was Heide Orth
Portschach, Austria, (played August/Sept), winner Katja Burgemeister-Ebbinghaus
ACT Championships, Canberra, (played oct), winner MacNicol
The chances are that these results are buried in mags or local papers from the countries in question, though.
__________________
Sources:
Major thanks goes out to Ugarte, whose extensive results may be found at:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=438030
I will being consulting John Dolan's excellent book Women's Tennis: 1968-1984, The Ultimate Guide
http://www.womenstennisguide.co.uk/
Mick1303 has been extremely helpful in proofing posts for errors and tracking down hard to find first names. Thank you Mick.
The New York Times will be utilized for the entire year (so far have done January-June, December)
The Queen of Tennis for 1972 was a King-Billie Jean King that is. In a display that one no one could question she swept all three slams she competed to stand heads and shoulders above everyone else in the world rankings.
At the first slam of the year defending champion Margaret Court was absent, having just recently given birth to her first child. Oddsmakers favoring Evonne Goolagong got a surprise. #2 seed Virginia Wade, bent on revenge over some recent losses to Evonne, served and volleyed her way to an impressive 6-4 6-4 win. Goolagong's first Aussie title would have to wait.
Meanwhile most of the top women are playing the Virginia Slims circuit. Now well established, the USTA has made peace with Gladys Heldman and officially sanctioned the very circuit it tried to kill. It draws record crowds and attention.
Chris Evert plays her first Slims events, and in her native Florida embarrasses King on clay before a partisan crowd to the tune of 6-1 6-0. Later in the year King reveals she was feeling the aftereffects of an abortion, setting off a firestorm of controversy.
Coverage reached a fever pitch for the Slims tour when Chris Evert and Evonne Goolagong both enter Dallas. Under intense media coverage the two bright young hopes of the tour lose to the "Old Lady" Billie Jean. King beat Evert 6-7 6-3 7-5 in the quarters then Goolagong 1-6 6-4 6-1 in the semis. Another vet was waiting in the final, as Nancy Richey took advantage of an exhausted King for a 7-6 6-1 win.
Billie Jean finally conquered the slow clay of Paris at the French Open. Using an exquisite drop shot to complement her net forays the wily American won all her matches in straight sets. In the final Billie Jean easily beat Evonne Goolagong 6-3 6-3. Up to now it was the only major she hadn't won.
At Wimbledon King again snuffed out the hopes of the British public, as always in favor of Goolagong in the guise of little Miss Sunshine. The score is again 6-3 6-3. King's only lost set was to Virginia Wade in the quarterfinals. Virginia had the misfortune of drawing Billie Jean in all 3 majors after the Aussie.
The semifinal was a scalper's dream and clearly the match of the year. Evonne Goolagong and Chris Evert finally met! Unlike America, where she was the adored girl next door, in England "Chrissie" played to villain. Dubbed "Ice Dolly", the seemingly unemotional Chris with her mechanical looking backhand stood in stark contrast to Evonne, who freely showed her delight. The Aussie lass came from behind for a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win showcasing what promised to be the future of women's tennis.
The US Open settled some ranking questions in the minds of many. Goolagong's coach Vic Edwards had kept her away from America in 1971. Her 1972 debut was all the more anticipated. Goolagong went down to unheralded Pam Teeguarden however. Chris Evert-always more consistent, got the semifinals again before her flaws on grass were exposed by Aussie Kerry Melville. Kerry sent sidespin forehands that slithered on the grass, topping America's sweetheart 6-4 6-2.
On the other end of the draw came the comeback kid of 1972-Margaret Court. Back from having a baby and on the tour starting in July, her limited year was so successful some ranked her #2 for the year. In a tough semi battle she goes down 6-4 6-4 to Billie Jean King. The Old Lady scored a tough 6-3 7-5 win over Melville for her 4th US crown. With 3 slams in one year how she must have regretted skipping the Australian!
Another 3 time slam winner for the year was Betty Stove, who won the French and Wimbledon with King in doubles and then the US Open with Francoise Durr. Henceforth Stove will be a force in both doubles and singles for the next 6 years.
Chris Evert closed out the year by winning the "5th major", the Virginia Slims Championship finale. Played on clay in her native Florida, it was a perfect time to win her first big title. She beat King 6-4 6-2 in the semis and got revenge over Melville 7-5 6-4 in the final. She couldn't take the winners check as an amateur, a problem she soon fixed by turning pro in 1973.
In the end it was Billie Jean King's year though. Perfectly wrapped up like a present, with only the missing Australian Open to make it one for the ages.
World Rankings (by Rino Tomassi)
1. Billie Jean King-------87 wins to 13 defeats-----.870%------Won French, Wimbledon, and US Opens and 10 of 24 events in all.
2. Evonne Goolagong
3. Chris Evert---------47 wins to 7 defeats------.87o%-------Won Virginia Slims Championships. 3-1 vs King. Won 4 events overall.
4. Margaret Court
5. Nancy Richey
6. Rosie Casals
7. Kerry Melville
8. Virginia Wade
9. Francoise Durr
10. Helga Masthoff
Commercial Union Ladies Grand Prix results (30 events)
Points Standings and bonus pool money
01 719---King----&9,000 bonus
02 400---Goolagong---&6,000
03 316---Casals-----$4,500
04 316---Gunter---&3,600
05 250---Melville--&3,000
06 234---Court--&2,600
07 225---Durr--&2,200
08 212---Evert--no bonus, not enough events
09 183---Wade--&1,800
10 145---Hunt--&1,600
11 142---Overton--$1,400
12 138---Ziegenfuss--&1,200
13 135---Masthoff--no bonus, not enough events.
14 116---Pretouris--$1,000
15 107---Stove--&700
16 094---Gourlay--&600
Explanation
This was a series of events for men and women sponsored by the Commercial Union Bank. A minimum of 10 events entered was needed to qualify for the bonus pool. An exception was made for Margaret Court, due to her "domestic circumstances" (pregnancy) Unlike the men's series, there was no Masters event. Most events (16 of the 29) were also part of the WT (World Tennis) Pro Tour, which had Virginia Slims as it's main sponsor.
Events were organized into 5 levels-AA, A, B, C, and D
Events with an * were also part of the WT (World Tennis) Pro Tour.
Oklahoma-C*
Washington-C*
Birmingham-D*
Dallas-B*
Richmond-C*
San Juan-D*
South Africa-A
Jacksonville-D*
St. Petersburg-C*
Tuscon-C*
Italy-C
Indianapolis-C*
British Hard Courts-C
French Open-AA
Bristol-C
Wimbledon-AA
Welsh Open-D
Irish Open-D
Hoylake-D
Columbus-C*
Western-D
US Clay-C
Canadian Open-D
Denver-B*
Newport-C*
US Open-AA
Charlotte-A*
Oakland-C*
Phoenix-C*
Some missing results (per Andy T)
German Closed Indoors, Hannover, (played Jan or Feb), winner was Heide Orth
Portschach, Austria, (played August/Sept), winner Katja Burgemeister-Ebbinghaus
ACT Championships, Canberra, (played oct), winner MacNicol
The chances are that these results are buried in mags or local papers from the countries in question, though.
__________________
Sources:
Major thanks goes out to Ugarte, whose extensive results may be found at:
http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=438030
I will being consulting John Dolan's excellent book Women's Tennis: 1968-1984, The Ultimate Guide
http://www.womenstennisguide.co.uk/
Mick1303 has been extremely helpful in proofing posts for errors and tracking down hard to find first names. Thank you Mick.
The New York Times will be utilized for the entire year (so far have done January-June, December)
