1972 Wimbledon Championships


The 1972 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England [Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club] in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament was scheduled to be held from Monday 26 June until Saturday 8 July 1972 but rain on the final Saturday meant that the men's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles finals were played on Sunday 9 July. It was the first time in the tournament's history that finals were played on a Sunday. It was the 86th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the third Grand Slam tennis event of 1972.
Due to the International Lawn Tennis Federation ban on World Championship Tennis contract players competing in their tournaments, the reigning men's singles champion John Newcombe was prevented from defending his title. Other players banned from competing included Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Arthur Ashe. First-seeded Stan Smith and second-seeded Billie Jean King won the men's and women's singles titles respectively.

Prize money

The total prize money for the 1972 championships was £50,330. The winner of the men's title earned £5,000 while the women's singles champion earned £2,400.
EventWFSFQFRound of 16Round of 32Round of 64Round of 128
Men's singles£5,000£3,000£1,000£550£300£200£125£100
Women's singles£2,400£1,330£600£350£200£150£100£75
Men's doubles *£1,000£600£400£200£0£0£0
Women's doubles *£600£400£200£100£0£0£0
Mixed doubles *£500£350£175£100£0£0£0£0

* per team

Champions

Seniors

Men's singles

defeated Ilie Năstase, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5
  • It was Smith's 2nd career Grand Slam title, and his only Wimbledon title.

    Women's singles

defeated Evonne Goolagong, 6–3, 6–3
  • It was King's 8th career Grand Slam title, and her 4th Wimbledon title.

    Men's doubles

/ Frew McMillan defeated Stan Smith / Erik van Dillen, 6–2, 6–2, 9–7

Women's doubles

/ Betty Stöve defeated Françoise Dürr / Judy Dalton, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3

Mixed doubles

/ Rosie Casals defeated Kim Warwick / Evonne Goolagong, 6–4, 6–4

Juniors

Boys' singles

defeated Buster Mottram, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5

Girls' singles

defeated Glynis Coles, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4

Singles seeds

Men's singles

  1. Stan Smith
  2. Ilie Năstase '
  3. Manuel Orantes '
  4. Andrés Gimeno '
  5. Jan Kodeš '
  6. Pierre Barthès '
  7. Bob Hewitt '
  8. Alex Metreveli ''''

    Women's singles

  9. Evonne Goolagong '
  10. Billie Jean King
  11. Nancy Richey '
  12. Chris Evert '
  13. Kerry Melville '
  14. Rosie Casals '
  15. Virginia Wade '
  16. Françoise Dürr ''''