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1968 Men's National Tennis League

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1968 Men's NTL League
Laver won most title's this year
Details
Duration18 March – 2 November
Edition1st
Tournaments18
Categories(Pro)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesAustralia Rod Laver (7)
Most tournament finalsAustralia Rod Laver (8)
1969 →

The 1968 Men's National Tennis League (NTL) [1] was the inaugural series of professional tennis tournaments founded by George McCall, among others: Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Andrés Gimeno, Pancho Gonzales and Fred Stolle.

History

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In 1967 two new professional tennis organizations were formed: the National Tennis League,[2] organized by former U.S. Davis Cup captain George MacCall, and World Championship Tennis (WCT), which was founded by New Orleans promoter Dave Dixon and funded by Dallas oil and football tycoon Lamar Hunt. At the time the two professional tours signed a significant number of the world’s top players, professional and amateur.

In 1968 Men's National Tennis League offered prize money totaling $400,000 USD.[3] It began in March with the opening tournament held in São Paulo, Brazil that was won by Rod Laver and ended with the final tournament held in Lima, Peru in November that was won by Fred Stolle.

Legend

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Pro tour

Key

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Calendar

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This is the complete schedule of events on the 1968 National Tennis League, with player progression partially documented until the quarterfinals stage.

January

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No events

February

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No events

March

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Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
18 March São Paulo Pro Championships[4]
São Paulo, Brazil
Clay (i)
Singles		 Australia Rod Laver
7–5, 5–7, 6–4		 United States Pancho Gonzales
23 March Buenos Aires Pro Championships[5]
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Clay
Singles		 Australia Rod Laver
7–5, 5–7, 6–4		 United States Pancho Gonzales
3rd Place
Spain Andrés Gimeno
4th Place
Australia Fred Stolle
27 March NTL Bogotá Pro Championships[6]
Bogotà, Colombia
Clay (i)
Singles - Doubles		 Spain Andrés Gimeno
11–13, 6–3, 6–4		 Australia Fred Stolle
3rd Place
Australia Rod Laver
4th Place
United States Pancho Gonzales
Australia Rod Laver
Australia Fred Stolle
10–5		 Spain Andrés Gimeno
United States Pancho Gonzales

April

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Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
10 April NTL Hollywood Pro Challenge Cup[7]
Hollywood, United States
Clay
Singles		 Australia Roy Emerson
6–1, 6–1		 Australia Ken Rosewall
3rd
United States Pancho Gonzales
4th Place
Australia Rod Laver		 South Africa John Hammill
United States Crawford Henry
Cuba Rey Garrido
Australia Peter Cawthorn
18 April [8] BBC2 World Pro Invitation Championships
Wembley, Great Britain
Carpet (i)
Singles		 Australia Rod Laver
6–3 10-8		 Australia Ken Rosewall Australia Roy Emerson
United States Pancho Gonzales
20 April NTL Paris Pro Championships[9]
Paris, France
Clay
Singles - Doubles		 Australia Ken Rosewall
6–3 6–4		 Spain Andrés Gimeno United States Pancho Gonzales
Australia Rod Laver
Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Roy Emerson

May

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Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
29 April-5 May [10] NTL Wembley Invitation[11]
Wembley, Great Britain
Wood (i)
Singles - Doubles		 Australia Rod Laver
6–0, 6–1, 6–0		 Australia Ken Rosewall
Australia Rod Laver
Australia Roy Emerson
12-10 6–4		 Spain Andrés Gimeno
United States Pancho Gonzales
18 May NTL Madison Square Garden Pro Championships
New York City, United States
Carpet (i)
Singles - Doubles		 Australia Rod Laver
4–6, 6–3, 9–7, 6–4		 Australia Ken Rosewall Australia Roy Emerson
Spain Andrés Gimeno		 Australia Lew Hoad
United States Pancho Gonzales
Peru Alex Olmedo
Australia Fred Stolle

June

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No events

July

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Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
20 July NTL Los Angeles Pro Championships[12]
Los Angeles, United States
Carpet (i)[13]
Singles - Doubles		 United States Pancho Gonzales
1–6 6–3 6–4		 Australia Rod Laver Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Ken Rosewall

August

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Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
2 August NTL Oakland Pro Championships[14]
Oakland Coliseum Arena
Oakland, United States
Carpet (i)
Singles - Doubles		 Australia Fred Stolle
7–5, 6–3		 United States Pancho Gonzales Australia Roy Emerson
11 August NTL Masters Championships[15]
Highland Racquet & Riding Club
Binghamton, United States
Carpet (i)
Singles - Doubles		 Spain Andrés Gimeno
6–4, 6–1		 Australia Fred Stolle Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Rod Laver
18 August NTL Colonial Pro Championships[16]
Highland Racquet & Riding Club
Fort Worth, United States
Singles - Doubles		 Australia Ken Rosewall
6–4, 6–2		 Spain Andrés Gimeno Australia Mal Anderson
Australia Fred Stolle		 United States Tut Bartzen
Australia Roy Emerson
United States Pancho Gonzales
Australia Rod Laver

September

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No events

October

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No events

Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
28 Sep - 1 Oct NTL Midland Championships[17]
Midland, Texas, United States
Singles - Doubles		 United States Pancho Gonzales
7–5, 6–3		 Australia Roy Emerson Spain Andrés Gimeno
Australia Rod Laver		 United States Pancho Segura
Australia Fred Stolle
4 - 7 Oct NTL South Texas Pro Championships[18]
Corpus Christi, United States
Singles - Doubles		 Australia Rod Laver
6–2, 6–4		 Spain Andrés Gimeno Australia Roy Emerson
Australia Fred Stolle		 United States Pancho Gonzales
United States Pancho Segura

November

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Date Tournament Winner Finalist Semi Finalist Quarter Finalist
1-3 November[19] NTL Lima Pro Championships
Lima, Peru
Clay
Singles		 Australia Fred Stolle
3-0 matches
Round Robin
Spain Andrés Gimeno
Australia Rod Laver
Australia Roy Emerson
6 November[20] NTL La Paz Pro Round Robin
La Paz, Bolivia
Clay
Singles		 Australia Rod Laver
3-0 matches
Round Robin
Spain Andrés Gimeno
Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Roy Emerson
8 November[21] São Paulo Round Robin Pro Championships
São Paulo, Brasil
Clay (i)
Singles		 Australia Rod Laver
3-0 matches
Round Robin
Spain Andrés Gimeno
Australia Fred Stolle
Australia Roy Emerson
7 -10 Nov NTL French Tour[22]
Lyon & Marseille, France
Clay
Singles		 Australia Ken Rosewall
(won Lyon event)
United States Pancho Gonzales
(won Marseille event)
joint 1st

December

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No events

Prize money

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Men's

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NTL OFFICIAL EARNINGS FOR 1968[23]
# Player $US
1 Australia Rod Laver 70,359
2 Australia Ken Rosewall 61,307
3 United States Pancho Gonzales 38,987
4 Spain Andrés Gimeno 36,524
5 Australia Roy Emerson 35,188
6 Australia Fred Stolle 34,335

References

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  1. ^ Gitlin, Marty (2011). Billie Jean King: Tennis Star & Social Activist: Tennis Star & Social Activist. ABDO. p. 46. ISBN 9781617149467. National Tennis league 1968.
  2. ^ Robertson, max (1974). Encyclopaedia of Tennis. Allen & Unwin. p. 74. ISBN 9780047960420.
  3. ^ Prugh, Jeff (6 Mar 1968). "Pro Net League to Aid Minority Group Youths". The Los Angeles Times. los Angeles, California: newspapers.com. p. 26. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  4. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Sao Paulo Pro Championships 1968". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives, 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  5. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Buenos Aires Pro Championships 1968". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives 2017. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  6. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Bogota Pro Championships 1968". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Hollywood NTL 1968". thetennisbase. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ^ "BBC2 PRO Tournament Draw". thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base.
  9. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Paris Pro Championships 1968". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  10. ^ "NTL Wembley Invitation: Tournament Draw". thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  11. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Wembley Invitation 1968". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  12. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Los Angeles Professional Championships 1968". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Gonzales whips Stolle". Los Angeles Times. 18 July 1968. pp. Sports page 1.
  14. ^ Archives, Tennis. "Oakland Pros 1968". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  15. ^ McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: , Short Run Book Company. pp. 252, 253. ASIN B001EOVE56.
  16. ^ McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: , Short Run Book Company. p. 253. ASIN B001EOVE56.
  17. ^ Collins, Bud; Trabert, Tony (2000). "1968 Results". In McCauley, Joe (ed.). THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL TENNIS. Windsor, England: The Short Run Book Company Ltd. p. 253.
  18. ^ Collins, Bud; Trabert, Tony (2000). "1968 Results". In McCauley, Joe (ed.). THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL TENNIS. Windsor, England: The Short Run Book Company Ltd. p. 253.
  19. ^ "NTL LIMA PRO CH. Tournament Roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. The Tennis Base. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Tournaments: La Paz Round Robin Championships". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  21. ^ "SAO PAULO PRO Tournament Roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. Tennis Base. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  22. ^ Collins, Bud; Trabert, Tony (2000). "1968 Results". In McCauley, Joe (ed.). THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL TENNIS. Windsor, England: The Short Run Book Company Ltd. p. 255.
  23. ^ McCauley, Joe (2003). The History of Professional Tennis. Windsor, Berkshire, England: , Short Run Book Company. p. 255. ASIN B001EOVE56.

Sources

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