The 1972 United Bank Classic, also known as the Denver WCT, was a men's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts in Denver, Colorado in the United States that was part of the 1972 World Championship Tennis circuit. It was the inaugural edition of the tournament and took place from April 24 through April 30, 1972. First-seeded Rod Laver won the first edition of both the doubles and singles competition.[3] There was criticism by players, including Arthur Ashe, that the playing conditions on the Sporface carpet courts were too fast.[4]
| 1972 United Bank Classic | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 24–30 |
| Edition | 1st |
| Category | World Championship Tennis |
| Draw | 31S / 8D |
| Prize money | $50,000 |
| Surface | Carpet / indoor |
| Location | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Champions | |
| Singles | |
 Rod Laver[1] | |
| Doubles | |
| Roy Emerson / Rod Laver[2] | |
Finals
editSingles
edit Rod Laver defeated 
Marty Riessen, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Doubles
edit Roy Emerson / Rod Laver defeated 
Cliff Drysdale / 
Roger Taylor, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3
Prize money
edit| Event | W | F | SF | QF | Round of 16 | Round of 32 |
| Singles [5] | $10,000 | $5,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $750 | $500 |
|---|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "1972 Denver – Singles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
- ^ "1972 Denver – Doubles draw". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
- ^ "Sports In Short. Canada Gets Own Little League Deal". Calgary Herald. May 1, 1972.
- ^ "Surface fast, action slow in Denver tennis". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 25, 1972. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
We have been asked to bear with it just this year", Ashe said of Denver. "At sea level it works okay, but in Denver the ball flies just too fast[...]. [Roger] Taylor [...] said the surface was "entirely too fast and it's time we got rid of it.
- ^ "31-man field prepares for Denver tennis". Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. April 24, 1972. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.