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Until the draw of Open tennis in 1968, the usual format for the handful of playing pros (outlaws beyond the boundary of traditional amateur tourneys) was a tour of one-night stands, across the United States and sometimes other countries as well. The champion of the previous tour went head-to-head against a challenger, most often the leading amateur who had turn pro. Whoever the promoter, he lured the leading amateur with a guarantee against a percentage of gate receipts, making a similar type of deal with the champion and generally paying the others' salaries. There were tournament series with point systems in 1946, 1959 and 1960 but there were also World Championship tours in these years. The last World Championship tour was held in 1963 and from 1964 onwards a tournament series with a point system determined the number one pro. Tours continued to be held from 1964 onwards, but lacking the king-of-the hill aspect.[1]

There were important tournament series, however, which were referred to as establishing full field rankings. In 1946, there was a professional tournament series linked by a points system won by Riggs, which he relied upon as evidence of his mastery of the entire pro field.[2] In 1959/1960, Kramer established a series of 15 tournaments around the world linked by a point system which provided a comprehensive ranking of all the contract professionals, with Hoad emerging as No. 1.[3] In 1964, the pros established a world wide series of tournaments with a points system, and a world champion was named as a result, Ken Rosewall. This system continued in subsequent years.

World Championship Series

Date Pro Tour Standings Head-to-Head Results
1928 August 25 - December 7 World Tour 1)Czech Republic Karel Koželuh
2)United States Vincent Richards 		Karel Koželuh - Vincent Richards 15-4 [4]
1931 February 18 - August 16 North America Tour 1)United States Bill Tilden
2)Czech Republic Karel Koželuh 		Bill Tilden - Karel Koželuh 50-17 [5]
1932 January 4 - July 10 U. S. Tour 1)United States Bill Tilden
2)Germany Hans Nüsslein 		Bill Tilden - Hans Nüsslein 100-50 [6]
1933 January 24 - May North America Tour 1)United States Bill Tilden
2)Germany Hans Nüsslein 		Bill Tilden - Hans Nüsslein 56-22 [7]
1934 January 10 - May 13 U. S. Tour 1)United States Ellsworth Vines
2)United States Bill Tilden 		Ellsworth Vines - Bill Tilden 38-19 [8]
1935 January 9 - April 29 North America Tour

1)United States Ellsworth Vines
2)Germany Hans Nüsslein
3)United States Bill Tilden
orUnited States George Lott
orUnited States Les Stoefen

Ellsworth Vines - Les Stoefen 25-1 [9]
Ellsworth Vines - Hans Nüsslein 75% - 25%* [9]
Ellsworth Vines - Bill Tilden 9-3 [10]
Ellsworth Vines - George Lott 2-0 [11]
Bill Tilden - George Lott 35-6* [12]
1936 January 11 - June 7 North America Tour 1)United States Ellsworth Vines
2)United States Les Stoefen 		Ellsworth Vines - Les Stoefen 33-5* [13]
1937 January 6 - May 12 North America Tour 1)United States Ellsworth Vines
2)United Kingdom Fred Perry 		Ellsworth Vines - Fred Perry 32-29 [1]
1938 January 11 - May 30 North America Tour 1)United States Ellsworth Vines
2)United Kingdom Fred Perry 		Ellsworth Vines - Fred Perry 49-35 [1]
1939 January 3 - March 6 North America Tour 1)United States Don Budge
2)United States Ellsworth Vines 		Don Budge - Ellsworth Vines 22-17 [14]
1939 March 10 - May 8 North America Tour 1)United States Don Budge
2)United Kingdom Fred Perry 		Don Budge - Fred Perry 28-8 [14]
1941 January 6 - May 10 North America Tour 1)United States Don Budge
2)United States Bill Tilden 		Don Budge - Bill Tilden 47-6[15]
1942 January 1 - Abril 5 North America Tour Round Robin: [16]

1)United States Don Budge 52-18
2)United States Bobby Riggs 36-36
3)United States Frank Kovacs 25-26
4)United Kingdom Fred Perry 23-30
5)United States Les Stoefen 2-28

Don Budge - Bobby Riggs 15-10 [16]
Don Budge - Frank Kovacs 12-5 [16]
Don Budge - Fred Perry 15-3 [16]
Don Budge - Les Stoefen 10-0 [16]
1946 March 9 - June 2 North America Tour 1)United States Bobby Riggs
2)United States Don Budge 		Bobby Riggs - Don Budge 24-22 [17]
1947 December 26 - 1948 May 27 North America Tour 1)United States Jack Kramer
2)United States Bobby Riggs 		Jack Kramer - Bobby Riggs 69-20 [1]
1949 October 25 - 1950 May 21 World Tour 1)United States Jack Kramer
2)United States Pancho Gonzales 		Jack Kramer - Pancho Gonzales 94-29 [18]
1950 October 28 - 1951 March North America Tour 1)United States Jack Kramer
2)United States Pancho Segura 		Jack Kramer - Pancho Segura 64-28 [1]
1953 January 6 - June 1 North America Tour 1)United States Jack Kramer
2)Australia Frank Sedgman
Jack Kramer - Frank Sedgman 54-41 [1]
1)United States Pancho Segura
2)Australia Ken McGregor 		Pancho Segura - Ken McGregor 71-25 [19]
1954 January 3 - May 30 North America Tour Round Robin:

1)United States Pancho Gonzales
2)United States Pancho Segura
3)Australia Frank Sedgman

Pancho Gonzales - Frank Sedgman 31-20 [1]
Pancho Gonzales - Pancho Segura 31-20 [1]
Pancho Segura - Frank Sedgman 23-22 [1]
1955 December 9 - 1956 June 3 North America Tour 1)United States Pancho Gonzales
2)United States Tony Trabert 		Pancho Gonzales - Tony Trabert 74-27 [1]
1957 January - May World Tour 1)United States Pancho Gonzales
2)Australia Ken Rosewall 		Pancho Gonzales - Ken Rosewall 50-26 [1]
1958 January - May World Tour 1)United States Pancho Gonzales
2)Australia Lew Hoad 		Pancho Gonzales - Lew Hoad 51-36 [1]
1959 February 20 - May 31 North America Tour Round Robin:

1)United States Pancho Gonzales 47-15
2)Australia Lew Hoad 42-20
3)Australia Ashley Cooper 21-40
4)Australia Mal Anderson 13-48

Pancho Gonzales - Lew Hoad 13-15 [19]
Pancho Gonzales - Ashley Cooper 14-0 [19]
Pancho Gonzales - Mal Anderson 20-0 [19]
Lew Hoad - Ashley Cooper 18-2 [19]
Lew Hoad - Mal Anderson 9-5 [19]
Ashley Cooper - Mal Anderson 19-8 [19]
1960 January - June World Tour Round Robin: [19]

1)United States Pancho Gonzales 49-8
2)Australia Ken Rosewall 32-25
3)United States Pancho Segura 22-28
4)Peru Alex Olmedo 11-44

Pancho Gonzales - Ken Rosewall 20-4
Pancho Gonzales - Pancho Segura
Pancho Gonzales - Alex Olmedo
Ken Rosewall - Pancho Segura
Ken Rosewall - Alex Olmedo
Pancho Segura - Alex Olmedo
1960 December 30 - 1961 May 28 World Tour
Round Robin: [19]

1)United States Pancho Gonzales 33–14
2)Spain Andrés Gimeno 27–20
3)Australia Lew Hoad/Tony Trabert/Frank Sedgman 24–23*
4)United States Barry MacKay 22–25
5)Peru Alex Olmedo 18–29
6)United States Butch Buchholz 16–31

Finals:

1)United States Pancho Gonzales
2)Spain Andrés Gimeno
3)Australia Frank Sedgman
4)United States Barry MacKay

Pancho Gonzales - Andrés Gimeno
(Final)		 21-7 [19]
Frank Sedgman - Barry MacKay
(3rd Place)		 15-13 [19]
1963 February - May 30 North America Tour Round Robin: [19]

1)Australia Ken Rosewall 31–10
2)Australia Rod Laver 26–16
3)Australia Butch Buchholz 23–18
4)Spain Andrés Gimeno 21-20
5)United States Barry MacKay 12-29
6)Chile Luis Ayala 11-30

 Ken Rosewall - Rod Laver 5-3
Finals:

1)Australia Ken Rosewall
2)Australia Rod Laver
3)Spain Andrés Gimeno
4)United States Butch Buchholz

Ken Rosewall - Rod Laver
(Final)		 14-4 [19]
Andrés Gimeno - Butch Buchholz
(3rd Place)		 11-7 [19]

(*) = partial or incomplete result

Records

Player Tours
1. United States Pancho Gonzales 7
2. United States Ellsworth Vines 5
3. United States Jack Kramer 4
United States Don Budge 4
5. United States Bill Tilden 3
6. Czech Republic Karel Koželuh 1
United States Bobby Riggs 1
Australia Ken Rosewall 1

Other professional tours

Date Pro Tour Standings Head-to-Head Results
1931 February 18 - August 16 North America Tour 1)United StatesBill Tilden
2)United States Vincent Richards 		Bill Tilden - Vincent Richards 4-0 [1]
1932 January 4 - July 10 North America Tour 1)United States Bill Tilden
2)United States Vincent Richards 		Bill Tilden - Vincent Richards 12-1 [6]
1934 February 19 - March North America Tour 1)United States United States
2)France France 		Ellsworth Vines - Henri Cochet 10-0 [20]
Ellsworth Vines - Martin Plaa 8-2 [20]
Bill Tilden - Henri Cochet 10-0 [20]
Bill Tilden - Martin Plaa 8-2 [20]
1936 January - February U.S. Tour 1)United States Bill Tilden
2)United States Bruce Barnes 		Bill Tilden - Bruce Barnes 23-5 [13]
1936 October - November Asian Tour 1)United States Ellsworth Vines
2)United States Bill Tilden 		Ellsworth Vines - Bill Tilden 8-1* [13]
1937 January – March North America Tour 1)United States Bill Tilden
2)FranceMartin Plaa
orJapanHytaro Satoh
orUnited StatesAlfred Chapin
1937 March 24 – April 5 U.S. Tour
1)United Kingdom Fred Perry
2)United States Bill Tilden 		Fred Perry - Bill Tilden 4-1 [21]
1937 May 25 - June 15 British Isles Tour 1)United KingdomFred Perry
2)United States Ellsworth Vines 		Fred Perry - Ellsworth Vines 6-3 [21]
1937 December 19 – 1938 January 31 Southeast Asia Tour United StatesBill Tilden
FranceHenri Cochet
FranceRobert Ramillon
Republic of IrelandAlbert Burke 		Bill Tilden - Henri Cochet 7-7* [21]
Robert Ramillon - Albert Burke 1-0* [21]
1938 November 15 - November 29 Caribbean Tour United States Ellsworth Vines
United Kingdom Fred Perry 		Ellsworth Vines - Fred Perry 4-4 [22]
1939 May 16 – August 26 Europe Tour United StatesDon Budge
United StatesEllsworth Vines
United StatesBill Tilden
United StatesLester Stoefen
GermanyHans Nüsslein
FranceHenri Cochet 		Don Budge - Bill Tilden 8-2 [23][24]
Bill Tilden - Lester Stoefen 4-0* [25]
1939 August 15 - August 26 Europe Tour 1)United States Don Budge
2)United States Ellsworth Vines
3)United States Bill Tilden
orUnited States Les Stoefen 		Don Budge - Ellsworth Vines 15-5 [26]
Don Budge - Bill Tilden
Don Budge - Les Stoefen
1939 October 1939 – 1940 January U.S. & Mexico Tour

[27][28]

United Kingdom Fred Perry
United States Bill Tilden
United States Lester Stoefen
United States Ben Gorchakoff
United States Bruce Barnes
1951 January – February Australian Tour

1)United States Pancho Gonzales 36–6
2)Australia Dinny Pails 27–15
3)United States Frank Parker 14–28
4)United States Don Budge 9–33

1954 November – December Australian Tour

1)United States Pancho Gonzales
2)Australia Frank Sedgman
orUnited States Pancho Segura
4)Australia Ken McGregor

Pancho Gonzales - Frank Sedgman 16-9
Pancho Gonzales - Pancho Segura 4-2
Pancho Gonzales - Ken McGregor 15-0
1956 November – December South African Tour

1)United States Pancho Gonzales 9–4
2)Australia Frank Sedgman 7–6
3)United States Tony Trabert 6–7
4)Australia Rex Hartwig 4–9

1957 November – December Australian Tour 1)AustraliaKen Rosewall
2)AustraliaLew Hoad
orAustraliaFrank Sedgman
orUnited StatesPancho Segura
1958 2 August – 25 October Perrier Trophy Tour 1)AustraliaKen Rosewall
2)AustraliaLew Hoad
orUnited StatesTony Trabert
orUnited StatesPancho Segura
1958 November South African Tour

1)AustraliaKen Rosewall 12–2
2)United StatesPancho Segura 9–5
3)AustraliaAshley Cooper 7–7
4)AustraliaMalcolm Anderson 4–10
5)AustraliaMervyn Rose 3–11

1962 March New Zealand Tour 1)AustraliaKen Rosewall
2)SpainAndrés Gimeno
3)AustraliaFrank Sedgman
4)ChileLuis Ayala 		Ken Rosewall - Luis Ayala 4–1
Andrés Gimeno - Frank Sedgman 3-2
1963 January Australasian Tour 1)AustraliaKen Rosewall
2)AustraliaRod Laver
3)AustraliaLew Hoad 		Ken Rosewall - Rod Laver 11-2
Lew Hoad - Rod Laver 8-0 or 13-0

(*) = partial or incomplete result

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. Canada: New Chapter Press. 2008. p. 740. ISBN 978-0942257410.
  2. ^ McCauley, p.41
  3. ^ McCauley, p.97
  4. ^ "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter II by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. ^ "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter III by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. Canada: New Chapter Press. 2008. p. 47. ISBN 978-0942257410.
  7. ^ Tennis base 1933 World Tour
  8. ^ Tennis base 1934 World tour
  9. ^ a b "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter VI by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  10. ^ Kieran, John (April 29, 1935). "Sports of the Times". New York Times.
  11. ^ "Some Highlights on Tilden Troupers". American Lawn Tennis. March 20, 1935.
  12. ^ Currie, George (April 15, 1935). "Tilden Troupe of Net Stars Due Here Soon". Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
  13. ^ a b c "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter VII by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  14. ^ a b The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. Canada: New Chapter Press. 2008. p. 66. ISBN 978-0942257410.
  15. ^ Tennis Base 1941 World Tour
  16. ^ a b c d e "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter XII by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  17. ^ Don Budge: A Tennis Memoir (1969), p.145
  18. ^ Tennis Base 1949-50 World Tour
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Joe McCauley (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. London: The Short Run Book Company Limited.
  20. ^ a b c d "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter V by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  21. ^ a b c d "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter VIII by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  22. ^ "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter IX by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  23. ^ Tilden II, William T (September 20, 1939). "Pro Tourists—and the War". American Lawn Tennis.
  24. ^ Parrott, Harold (March 7, 1940). "Riggs Mediocre Champ—Tilden". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52679023/. {{cite news}}: External link in |location= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  25. ^ Considine, Bob (September 27, 1939). "Budge To Quit Pro Tennis To Play Piano". The Deseret News. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19390927&id=Z4MqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bVYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4150,5853832. {{cite news}}: External link in |location= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  26. ^ "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter X by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Tilden, Perry, Stoefen Slate Matches Here". Arizona Independent Republic. December 5, 1939. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  28. ^ "Perry Beats Tilden in Five-Set Match". The Times (San Mateo, California). January 18, 1940. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
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