Tennis Pro Tours

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, indoors on a portable canvas court, 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 leader 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. Although the pros grew in numbers and began leaning toward tournament format in 1964, hastening the day of the opens, tours continued into 1968, but merely as exhibitions, lacking the king-of-the hill aspect.[1]

There were important tournament series, however, which were referred to as establishing full field rankings in an objective way.

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 an official comprehensive ranking of all the contract professionals, with Hoad emerging as No. 1, and which was referred to as a world championship in the press.[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.

World Championship Series
Date Pro Tour Standings Head-to-Head Results
1928 August 25 - December 7 North America Tour 1) Karel Koželuh
2) Vincent Richards		 Karel Koželuh - Vincent Richards 15-5 [4] or 13-7 [1]
1931 February 18 - August 16 North America Tour 1) Bill Tilden
2) Karel Koželuh		 Bill Tilden - Karel Koželuh 50-17 [5] or 63-13 [1]
1932 January 4 - July 10 North America Tour 1) Bill Tilden
2) Hans Nüsslein		 Bill Tilden - Hans Nüsslein 100-50 [6]
1933 January 24 - May North America Tour 1) Bill Tilden
2) Hans Nüsslein		 Bill Tilden - Hans Nüsslein 66% - 34%* [7]
1934 January 10 - May 13 North America Tour 1) Ellsworth Vines
2) Bill Tilden		 Ellsworth Vines - Bill Tilden 47-26 [1]
1935 January 9 - April 29 North America Tour

1) Ellsworth Vines
2) Hans Nüsslein
3) Bill Tilden
or George Lott
or Les Stoefen

 Ellsworth Vines - Les Stoefen 25-1 [8]
Ellsworth Vines - Hans Nüsslein 75% - 25%* [8]
Ellsworth Vines - Bill Tilden 9-3 [9]
Ellsworth Vines - George Lott 2-0 [10]
Bill Tilden - George Lott 35-6* [11]
1936 January 11 - June 7 U.S. Tour 1) Ellsworth Vines
2) Les Stoefen		 Ellsworth Vines - Les Stoefen 33-5* [12]
1937 January 6 - May 12 North America Tour 1) Ellsworth Vines
2) Fred Perry		 Ellsworth Vines - Fred Perry 32-29 [1]
1938 January 11 - May 30 U.S. Tour 1) Ellsworth Vines
2) Fred Perry		 Ellsworth Vines - Fred Perry 49-35 [1]
1939 January 3 - March 6 North America Tour 1) Don Budge
2) Ellsworth Vines		 Don Budge - Ellsworth Vines 22-17 [13]
1939 March 10 - May 8 North America Tour 1) Don Budge
2) Fred Perry		 Don Budge - Fred Perry 28-8 [13]
1941 January 6 - May 10 North America Tour 1) Don Budge
2) Bill Tilden		 Don Budge - Bill Tilden 51-7 [1]
1942 January 1 - Abril 5 North America Tour Round Robin: [14]

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

 Don Budge - Bobby Riggs 15-10 [14]
Don Budge - Frank Kovacs 12-5 [14]
Don Budge - Fred Perry 15-3 [14]
Don Budge - Les Stoefen 10-0 [14]
1946 - 1947 North America Tour 1) Bobby Riggs
2) Don Budge		 Bobby Riggs - Don Budge 23-21 [1]
1947 December 26 - 1948 May 27 North America Tour 1) Jack Kramer
2) Bobby Riggs		 Jack Kramer - Bobby Riggs 69-20 [1]
1949 October 25 - 1950 May 21 North America Tour 1) Jack Kramer
2) Pancho Gonzales		 Jack Kramer - Pancho Gonzales 96-27 [1]
1950 October 28 - 1951 March North American Tour 1) Jack Kramer
2) Pancho Segura		 Jack Kramer - Pancho Segura 64-28 [1]
1953 January 6 - June 1 North America Tour 1) Jack Kramer
2) Frank Sedgman
Jack Kramer - Frank Sedgman 54-41 [1]
1) Pancho Segura
2) Ken McGregor		 Pancho Segura - Ken McGregor 71-25 [15]
1954 January 3 - May 30 Non-Championship North America Tour Round Robin:

1) Pancho Gonzales
2) Pancho Segura
3) 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 U.S. Tour 1) Pancho Gonzales
2) Tony Trabert		 Pancho Gonzales - Tony Trabert 74-27 [1]
1957 January - May World Tour 1) Pancho Gonzales
2) Ken Rosewall		 Pancho Gonzales - Ken Rosewall 50-26 [1]
1958 January - May World Tour 1) Pancho Gonzales
2) Lew Hoad		 Pancho Gonzales - Lew Hoad 51-36 [1]
1959 February 20 - May 31 U.S. Tour Round Robin:

1) Pancho Gonzales 47-15
2) Lew Hoad 42-20
3) Ashley Cooper 41-40
4) Mal Anderson 9-5

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

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

Pancho Gonzales - Ken Rosewall20-4
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: [15]

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

Finals:

1) Pancho Gonzales
2) Andrés Gimeno
3) Frank Sedgman
4) Barry MacKay

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

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

 Ken Rosewall - Rod Laver5-3
Finals:

1) Ken Rosewall
2) Rod Laver
3) Andrés Gimeno
4) Butch Buchholz

Ken Rosewall - Rod Laver
(Final)		14-4 [15]
Andrés Gimeno - Butch Buchholz
(3rd Place)		11-7 [15]

(*) = partial or incomplete result

Records
PlayerTours
1. Pancho Gonzales7
2. Ellsworth Vines5
3. Jack Kramer4
Don Budge4
5. Bill Tilden3
6. Karel Koželuh1
Bobby Riggs1 (plus 1946 tournament series)
Ken Rosewall1 (plus 1964 tournament series)
7. Lew Hoad0 (plus 1959 tournament series)

Other professional tours
Date Pro Tour Standings Head-to-Head Results
1931 February 18 - August 16 North America Tour 1)Bill Tilden
2) Vincent Richards		 Bill Tilden - Vincent Richards 4-0 [1]
1932 January 4 - July 10 North America Tour 1) Bill Tilden
2) Vincent Richards		 Bill Tilden - Vincent Richards 12-1 [6]
1934 February 19 - March North America Tour 1) United States
2) France		 Ellsworth Vines - Henri Cochet 10-0 [16]
Ellsworth Vines - Martin Plaa 8-2 [16]
Bill Tilden - Henri Cochet 10-0 [16]
Bill Tilden - Martin Plaa 8-2 [16]
1936 January - February U.S. Tour 1) Bill Tilden
2) Bruce Barnes		 Bill Tilden - Bruce Barnes 23-5 [12]
1936 October - November Asian Tour 1) Ellsworth Vines
2) Bill Tilden		 Ellsworth Vines - Bill Tilden 8-1* [12]
1937 January – March North America Tour 1) Bill Tilden
2)Martin Plaa
orHytaro Satoh
orAlfred Chapin
1937 March 24 – April 5 U.S. Tour
1) Fred Perry
2) Bill Tilden		 Fred Perry - Bill Tilden 4-1 [17]
1937 May 25 - June 15 British Isles Tour 1)Fred Perry
2) Ellsworth Vines		 Fred Perry - Ellsworth Vines 6-3 [17]
1937 December 19 – 1938 January 31 Southeast Asia Tour Bill Tilden
Henri Cochet
Robert Ramillon
Albert Burke		 Bill Tilden - Henri Cochet 7-7* [17]
Robert Ramillon - Albert Burke 1-0* [17]
1938 November 15 - November 29 Caribbean Tour Ellsworth Vines
Fred Perry		 Ellsworth Vines - Fred Perry 4-4 [18]
1939 May 16 – August 26 Europe Tour Don Budge
Ellsworth Vines
Bill Tilden
Lester Stoefen
Hans Nüsslein
Henri Cochet		 Don Budge - Bill Tilden 8-2 [19][20]
Bill Tilden - Lester Stoefen 4-0* [21]
1939 August 15 - August 26 Europe Tour 1) Don Budge
2) Ellsworth Vines
3) Bill Tilden
or Les Stoefen		 Don Budge - Ellsworth Vines 15-5 [22]
Don Budge - Bill Tilden
Don Budge - Les Stoefen
1939 October 1939 – 1940 January U.S. & Mexico Tour

[23][24]

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

1) Pancho Gonzales 36–6
2) Dinny Pails 27–15
3) Frank Parker 14–28
4) Don Budge 9–33
1954 November – December Australian Tour

1) Pancho Gonzales
2) Frank Sedgman
or Pancho Segura
4) Ken McGregor

 Pancho Gonzales - Frank Sedgman16-9
Pancho Gonzales - Pancho Segura4-2
Pancho Gonzales - Ken McGregor15-0
1956 November – December South African Tour

1) Pancho Gonzales 9–4
2) Frank Sedgman 7–6
3) Tony Trabert 6–7
4) Rex Hartwig 4–9
1957 November – December Australian Tour 1)Ken Rosewall
2)Lew Hoad
orFrank Sedgman
orPancho Segura
1958 2 August – 25 October Perrier Trophy Tour 1)Ken Rosewall
2)Lew Hoad
orTony Trabert
orPancho Segura
1958 November South African Tour

1)Ken Rosewall 12–2
2)Pancho Segura 9–5
3)Ashley Cooper 7–7
4)Malcolm Anderson 4–10
5)Mervyn Rose 3–11
1962 March New Zealand Tour 1)Ken Rosewall
2)Andrés Gimeno
3)Frank Sedgman
4)Luis Ayala		 Ken Rosewall - Luis Ayala4–1
Andrés Gimeno - Frank Sedgman3-2
1963 January Australasian Tour 1)Ken Rosewall
2)Rod Laver
3)Lew Hoad		 Ken Rosewall - Rod Laver11-2
Lew Hoad - Rod Laver8-0 or 13-0

(*) = partial or incomplete result

References
  1. 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. The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. Canada: New Chapter Press. 2008. p. 47. ISBN 978-0942257410.
  7. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter IV by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  8. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter VI by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. Kieran, John (April 29, 1935). "Sports of the Times". New York Times.
  10. "Some Highlights on Tilden Troupers". American Lawn Tennis. March 20, 1935.
  11. Currie, George (April 15, 1935). "Tilden Troupe of Net Stars Due Here Soon". Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
  12. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter VII by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  13. The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book. Canada: New Chapter Press. 2008. p. 66. ISBN 978-0942257410.
  14. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter XII by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  15. Joe McCauley (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. London: The Short Run Book Company Limited.
  16. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter V by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  17. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter VIII by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  18. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter IX by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  19. Tilden II, William T (September 20, 1939). "Pro Tourists—and the War". American Lawn Tennis.
  20. Parrott, Harold (March 7, 1940). "Riggs Mediocre Champ—Tilden". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52679023/.CS1 maint: location (link)
  21. 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.CS1 maint: location (link)
  22. "History of the Pro Tennis Wars, Chapter X by Ray Bowers". The Tennis Server. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  23. "Tilden, Perry, Stoefen Slate Matches Here". Arizona Independent Republic. December 5, 1939. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  24. "Perry Beats Tilden in Five-Set Match". The Times (San Mateo, California). January 18, 1940. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
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