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1972 World Championship Tennis Finals – Singles

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Singles
1972 World Championship Tennis Finals
Final
ChampionAustralia Ken Rosewall
Runner-upAustralia Rod Laver
Score4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–5)
Events
Singles
← 1971 · World Championship Tennis Finals · 1973 →

In the 1972 World Championship Tennis Finals - Singles, Ken Rosewall was the defending champion, having previously won the tennis competition, and won in the final 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–5) against Rod Laver.[1] Of particular note, the final is credited as the "match that made tennis in the United States" because its unprecedented domestic television audience of 23 million fueled a massive increase in the sport's popularity.[2][3]

Seeds

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A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.

  1. Australia Rod Laver (final)
  2. Australia Ken Rosewall (champion)
  3. United States Arthur Ashe (semifinals)
  4. South Africa Cliff Drysdale (quarterfinals)
  5. United States Marty Riessen (semifinals)
  6. Netherlands Tom Okker (quarterfinals)
  7. United States Robert Lutz (quarterfinals)
  8. Australia John Newcombe (quarterfinals)

Draw

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Key

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                     
1 Australia Rod Laver 6 6 6    
8 Australia John Newcombe 4 4 4    
1 Australia Rod Laver 4 4 6 6 6
5 United States Marty Riessen 6 6 1 2 0
4 South Africa Cliff Drysdale 7 6 2 5 3
5 United States Marty Riessen 5 4 6 7 6
1 Australia Rod Laver 6 0 3 7 65
2 Australia Ken Rosewall 4 6 6 6 77
6 Netherlands Tom Okker 4 1 3    
3 United States Arthur Ashe 6 6 6    
3 United States Arthur Ashe 4 2 6    
2 Australia Ken Rosewall 6 6 7    
7 United States Robert Lutz 1 6 3 6 1
2 Australia Ken Rosewall 6 3 6 4 6

References

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  1. ^ "ATP – 1972 Dallas WCT Men's Singles Draw". ATP.
  2. ^ "1972: The Rod Laver vs. Ken Rosewall WCT Final in Dallas". tennis.com.
  3. ^ Only one match has since had a larger U.S. TV audience: the legendary Battle of the Sexes the following year, signifying how popular tennis had become during this boom period.