I would like to see the source of that $10,000 per tournament and the year.
I found very different numbers.
With sources.
The structure of the old pro tour
- Thread starter urban
- Start date
I found very different numbers.
With sources.
My estimations of Lavers money numbers are very similar to No Mercys. Because i gave them from top of my head (my personal tennis library is in the basement), i had 1968 80000 instead of 70000, which is more correct. Now to the amateurs: Laver speaks in the 1966 Berlin interview, i posted above, about 400-500 $ per amateur tournament in Europe, this is far from 10000 $ per tournament. I would estimate, that Emerson got maybe 10000-20000 $ per year, Stolle and Santana maybe a bit less. I think, Pietrangeli once got some extra bonus money by the Italian tennis president Di Stefani, for not turning pro.
But the money game was still in its infancy: The ILTF have to book an extra flight in 1962, to bring in more European players to Forest Hills. For reaching the final at Wimbledon, the amateurs got a vaucher to buy some sporting goods, round about 70 or 60 pounds. Bungert told this frequently. But Wimbledon was the market place for negotiations between tournament promoters and amateur players, to play their regional tournaments in Europe and over the world. The Aussie players, who toured around the world, got certainly some extra money by Dunlop or Slazenger and other sporting goods companies. In the US, they stayed in houses of rich tennis club members. Gordon Forbes has much to tell about this life on the old amateur circuit.
But the money game was still in its infancy: The ILTF have to book an extra flight in 1962, to bring in more European players to Forest Hills. For reaching the final at Wimbledon, the amateurs got a vaucher to buy some sporting goods, round about 70 or 60 pounds. Bungert told this frequently. But Wimbledon was the market place for negotiations between tournament promoters and amateur players, to play their regional tournaments in Europe and over the world. The Aussie players, who toured around the world, got certainly some extra money by Dunlop or Slazenger and other sporting goods companies. In the US, they stayed in houses of rich tennis club members. Gordon Forbes has much to tell about this life on the old amateur circuit.
Dan, in the link, i posted in Post 91, you can find an overview on all kinds of sources, i mean real sources, documents, contracts, which George McCall, a central figure of amateur and pro tennis in the 1960s, has given to Penn State University. It contents the contracts and financial records of Laver, Emerson, Stolle, Gimeno, Ralston, Gonzalez, at least for NTL, as well as agreements between ITPA and NTL of 1967, proposals by Hunt to McCall (obviously Hunt tried to buy out McCall even in 1968), agreements with the amateur associations, financial records of tournaments like LA PSW, where McCall was director, playing and financial records of tours, you name it.
It's fun to talk about the GOAT or the alltime rankings but facing this informations is becoming more and more "divertissement".
The old champions had to do their best to survive.
$70,359 is the official one.
That number is only for tennis revenue.
As you correctly said, they were making money also with extra-tennis activity.
But also the Emmo as amateur was making money as public relations man for the Philip Morris cigarettes company, around 4000 GBP per year.
Laver finished 1970 at $714,230, so his 5 years period in the old pro tour grossed about $318,000
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It was in interview with Emmo. Very informative.
It looks like over $400,000 for Laver in 1971.
I guess you probably have misunderstood something
$292,717 the official tally (including the TCC)
No, there was no misunderstanding.I guess you probably have misunderstood something
The director of the amateur tournament met Emmo in a luxury hotel suite which was given to him, and offered Emmo $10,000 to jump over his suitcase.
This should probably be classified as a goodwill payment, not taxable.
Are you sure? I checked the list and the TCC was not included.
Give us your link.
Scott_tennis
Rookie
Urban’s original post commented on the overall structure of the 1966 tour. Here are some thoughts based on my review of various articles on 1966 events:
- IPTA
It seemed that the player’s group IPTA was the decision-making body for the tour, and the group hired Wally Dill in early 1966 to organize their circuit. Jack Kramer organized the early season indoor events in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New York (Madison Square Garden). The final event appears to be run by Kramer and Fred Podesta, who later was one of the organizers of the Tennis Champions Classic. It might be interesting to have an IPTA thread at some point to detail the history of the organization. Dill was hired by the group in early 1966 but left as tour director after Fort Worth in 1967, the final event of the US segment of the tour. It would be interesting to learn how the players selected him but then parted ways with him in the span of about 18 months.
- Influence of golf
Dill’s prior experience included being an agent for various pro golfers. In addition, Ed Carter, one of the organizers of the Forest Hills event, was involved with management of the PGA golf tour. According to Wikipedia the top 10 players on the PGA tour in 1966 earned about $840,000 from 40 tournaments. There were only about a dozen regular players on the pro tennis tour in 1966 and their total tour earnings were probably significantly less than the $840,000 earned by the golfers.
- Scoring
Some events used traditional scoring. Some used pro set scoring. Many of the summer US events involved VASSS scoring. The team series between Australia and United States also used a variety of scoring methods at the three venues. Some of the tour events were single elimination/traditional knockout and some were round robin. It seems that the variety of scoring systems were used to help attract more fans or to have more television coverage.
- Gonzales
Gonzales played only a partial year schedule and several of the events had a lack of depth in the draw. However he did win Hollywood (twice), Orlando (twice), Wembley, Birmingham and Atlanta. He did not appear in the “major” US tour events after Forest Hills. This probably hurt the tour in terms of attendance and publicity. The Madison Square Garden event drew about 36,000 fans over four days (including about 13,500 and 11,800 on the final two days). As best I can tell no other US event drew more than 5,000 fans at a single session in 1966.
- IPTA
It seemed that the player’s group IPTA was the decision-making body for the tour, and the group hired Wally Dill in early 1966 to organize their circuit. Jack Kramer organized the early season indoor events in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and New York (Madison Square Garden). The final event appears to be run by Kramer and Fred Podesta, who later was one of the organizers of the Tennis Champions Classic. It might be interesting to have an IPTA thread at some point to detail the history of the organization. Dill was hired by the group in early 1966 but left as tour director after Fort Worth in 1967, the final event of the US segment of the tour. It would be interesting to learn how the players selected him but then parted ways with him in the span of about 18 months.
- Influence of golf
Dill’s prior experience included being an agent for various pro golfers. In addition, Ed Carter, one of the organizers of the Forest Hills event, was involved with management of the PGA golf tour. According to Wikipedia the top 10 players on the PGA tour in 1966 earned about $840,000 from 40 tournaments. There were only about a dozen regular players on the pro tennis tour in 1966 and their total tour earnings were probably significantly less than the $840,000 earned by the golfers.
- Scoring
Some events used traditional scoring. Some used pro set scoring. Many of the summer US events involved VASSS scoring. The team series between Australia and United States also used a variety of scoring methods at the three venues. Some of the tour events were single elimination/traditional knockout and some were round robin. It seems that the variety of scoring systems were used to help attract more fans or to have more television coverage.
- Gonzales
Gonzales played only a partial year schedule and several of the events had a lack of depth in the draw. However he did win Hollywood (twice), Orlando (twice), Wembley, Birmingham and Atlanta. He did not appear in the “major” US tour events after Forest Hills. This probably hurt the tour in terms of attendance and publicity. The Madison Square Garden event drew about 36,000 fans over four days (including about 13,500 and 11,800 on the final two days). As best I can tell no other US event drew more than 5,000 fans at a single session in 1966.
The TCC was included on the 1970 WCT tour, but not included on the 1971 WCT tour.
What was attendance at Forest Hills? The press made fun of the odd scoring system.
Scott_tennis
Rookie
Newsday on 6/9/66: Attendance was 3,600 last night
New York Times on same date: a crowd estimated at 3,600 looked on
New York Times on 6/10/66: ....the crowd of 3,000
New York Times on 6/11/66: ....rain forced a postponement of the nine matches listed to be played last night
New York Times on 6/12/66: About 5,000 fans turned out in the afternoon and the same number for the evening program
New York Times on 6/13/66: ....final match that had the 5,000 spectators...
Sports Illustrated article by Frank Deford: Crowds throughout the Forest Hills tournament were sparse, totaling only 21,000 by charitable count, compared with the 36,000 who in March paid to see the same group play downtown at Madison Square Garden.
This is possible, even if I would like a source.
Anyway, it's one tournament.
I don't think Altamira (for example) was giving him $10,000.
In 1964 Emmo was reported to have earned between 8,000 to 10,000 GBP
There was no tour in 1970.
Wiki list is wrong.
Those tournaments were the ones organized or in collaboration with WCT and NTL.
First WCT tour is 1971
Check elsewhere on this forum for the source....use the search engine above.
Of course, the key word is "reported"....goodwill payments are not reported.
AND not taxable, unlike the paltry pro payments of those years.
Of course, there was a WCT/NTL tour in 1970. TCC was included in the 1970 tour.
BUT not in 1971.
It was not a tour.
No points, no rankings
Doesn't matter...still a tour.
Just like the old pro tournaments did not necessarily have an overall winner.
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Fine findings here by Scott-Tennis, which seem to complement my own findings. The influence of Golf seems to be very strong since 1966. I read in Laver/Collins, that also Dave Dixon of New Orleans, who was co-founder (with Lamar Hunt) of the WCT, came from Golf. He was one of the driving forces for open tennis, and in 1966 searching for the vagabond pros in Binghamton, NY. But the old pros went with McCall,not Dixon/ Hunt. Instead in 1967, the Dixon/ Hunt group signed Newcombe and Roche for 50000 $ each, plus the other Handsome Eight. Dixon later was bought out by Hunt, who took over.
One idea, which is growing inside me: Until now, all experts thought, that 1968 was a revolutionary year in tennis history, with the open game arriving at last. Certainly by reason. But it could be well more a steady transformation of the pro game since the mid 1960s, with many continuities: In 1968 the WCT still experimented with VASSS and other scoring systems, due to TV interests. I read a long article of David Gray about the WCT Kansas City event in 1968. The great part of the pro season 1968 was still played by NTL and WCT groups, with a small number of really open events. The French pro and US pro was played further in 1968, the MSG contract event with big prize money was played since 1966 and went through in 1968 and 1969. People like Podesta and McCall were still in the game. You can find other aspects as well for this continuity.
One idea, which is growing inside me: Until now, all experts thought, that 1968 was a revolutionary year in tennis history, with the open game arriving at last. Certainly by reason. But it could be well more a steady transformation of the pro game since the mid 1960s, with many continuities: In 1968 the WCT still experimented with VASSS and other scoring systems, due to TV interests. I read a long article of David Gray about the WCT Kansas City event in 1968. The great part of the pro season 1968 was still played by NTL and WCT groups, with a small number of really open events. The French pro and US pro was played further in 1968, the MSG contract event with big prize money was played since 1966 and went through in 1968 and 1969. People like Podesta and McCall were still in the game. You can find other aspects as well for this continuity.
Also, the contract guarantees, a feature of the old pro tours, for Newk and Roche...$50,000 guarantees, same as Kramer in 1947, or Rosewall at $100,000 over two years.
But much smaller than Hoad's $125,000 in 1957.
The old pro era continued way after 1967.
In 1969 and 1970 many of the events played by the contracted pros were the same played in pre 1968 : Casablanca, Hollywood, Los Angeles (indoor), Corpus Christi, Tucson, Midland, Fort Worth. Same venues and same tournaments.
And in 1968 only 4 events open to all pros : the 3 old pro Majors (as continuity to pre68) and the year end Masters at MSG with the top4 of each group playing.
PS In 1968 there is a tournament that almost nobody knows it was open : the Canadian Championships was open for the first time in 1968 with $2,000 total prize money. No contracted pro played
Buchholz and Richey played the Canadian final in 1968, I believe that Buchholz was a contract player with the WCT that season.The old pro era continued way after 1967.
In 1969 and 1970 many of the events played by the contracted pros were the same played in pre 1968 : Casablanca, Hollywood, Los Angeles (indoor), Corpus Christi, Tucson, Midland, Fort Worth. Same venues and same tournaments.
And in 1968 only 4 events open to all pros : the 3 old pro Majors (as continuity to pre68) and the year end Masters at MSG with the top4 of each group playing.
PS In 1968 there is a tournament that almost nobody knows it was open : the Canadian Championships was open for the first time in 1968 with $2,000 total prize money. No contracted pro played
The Canadian Open 1968 was won by Krishnan over Ulrich
Right...I was thinking of 1969.
By the way, how are things progressing with your 1964 NZ stats?
I posted one week ago.
The full tour and the full report of last match
Where?
In this thread.
Page 1
Laver defeated Hoad by 10 matches to 4?Here is the fully documented 1964 NZ tour.
Urban asked about it some time ago, here is the reply
For every stop there is venue and surface.
Now updated with Gisborne.
29 Feb - Auckland
Stanley Street Courts, grass
Rosewall d. Hoad 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Laver d. Anderson 6-2, 6-4
Laver/Rosewall d. Anderson/Hoad 6-2, 3-6, 8-6
(Rosewall-Hoad match was schedule to be the only best of 5 match of the tour)
01 Mar - Hamilton East
Lugton Park Courts, clay
Rosewall d. Laver 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
Hoad d. Anderson 6-4
(Hoad-Anderson match was suspended because of heavy rain)
02 Mar - Tauranga
Memorial Sports Hall, indoor
Anderson d. Rosewall 12-10, 10-8
Hoad d. Laver 12-10, 7-5
Anderson/Laver d. Hoad/Rosewall 10-8
03 Mar - Gisborne
Y.M.C.A. Stadium, indoor
Hoad d. Anderson 6-4, 6-3
Laver d. Rosewall 6-2, 6-4
Anderson/Laver d. Hoad/Rosewall 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
04 Mar - Napier
Centennial Hall, indoor
Rosewall d. Hoad 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Anderson d. Laver 7-5, 6-4
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 6-1, 12-10
06 Mar - New Plymouth
Waiwhakaiho Courts, grass
Hoad d. Laver 6-0, 6-2
Rosewall d. Anderson 6-4, 6-4
Anderson/Laver d. Hoad/Rosewall 1-6, 6-3, 9-7
07 Mar - Wellington
Central Park, grass
Rosewall d. Hoad 6-4, 10-8
Laver d. Anderson 8-6, 6-4
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 6-2, 7-5
08 Mar - Nelson
Rutherford Park Courts, grass
Laver d. Rosewall 7-5, 6-2
Hoad d. Anderson 7-5, 7-5
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 7-5, 6-3
09 Mar - Palmerston North
Izadium Stadium, indoor
Anderson d. Rosewall 6-4, 8-10, 8-6
Hoad d. Laver 6-3, 6-8, 6-4
Anderson/Laver d. Hoad/Rosewall 6-2
10 Mar - Masterton
War Memorial Stadium, indoor
Rosewall d. Hoad 6-4, 6-2
Laver d. Anderson 6-3, 6-4
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 6-4, 6-3
12 Mar - Timaru
Technical College Courts, clay
Laver d. Hoad 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
Anderson d. Rosewall 6-3, 6-4
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 6-2, 6-3
13 Mar - Invercargill
Surrey Park Courts, indoor
Hoad d. Anderson 13-15, 6-4, 6-4
Laver d. Rosewall 6-3, 6-3
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 8-4
(After Invercargill, Rosewall had to drop out of the series because of a foot infection. He played just the doubles in the last two stops)
14 Mar - Dunedin
Drill Hall, indoor
Anderson d. Hoad 10-6
Anderson d. Laver 10-7
Hoad d. Laver 10-5
Hoad/Rosewall d. Anderson/Laver 10-8, 6-2
15 Mar - Christchurch
Wilding Park, grass
Laver d. Hoad 10-4
Anderson d. Hoad 10-4
Laver d. Anderson 11-9
Anderson/Laver d. Hoad/Rosewall 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
This is the final recap, from the Christchurch Star.
TENNIS TRIO THRILL AT PARK
Australian professionals Lew Hoad, Rod Laver and Mal Anderson thrilled a gallery of approximately 1800 spectators with brilliant tennis yesterday at Wilding Park.
The thrilling shots the touring trio turned on in the singles matches more than compensated for the fact that top-ranked Ken Rosewall had to drop out of the series because of a foot infection.
Rosewall was forced to withdraw from games at Dunedin on Saturday night for the same reason and this upset the 14-match series the troupe has been playing throughout New Zealand.
Hoad and Laver had seven wins to their credit. Rosewall had won six times and Anderson four times before Rosewall withdrew.
Anderson made a spirited effort to take singles honors yesterday. But Laver won the singles when he beat Hoad by 10 matches to 4, and after Anderson beat Hoad by the same score, the newest of the professionals snatched victory from Anderson 11-9.
The double was decided in more light-hearted, though still calculated vein. Laver and Anderson beat Hoad and out-of-touch Rosewall 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
It's games Dan, games.
A pro set match 10-4
The news report stated "10 matches to 4".
Another title for Laver!!! Wow!
Looks like terminology was different then.Yes, but they are games.
A little bit of mental elasticity no?
In 1968 there is a tournament that almost nobody knows it was open : the Canadian Championships was open for the first time in 1968 with $2,000 total prize money. No contracted pro played
What was the women's share in the total prize money of the 1968 Canadian Championships?
I don't know because it was not awarded as all the players were amateurs.
Krishnan and Ulrich were also amateurs. Does it mean no prize money was awarded at all?
You can find something here.
Like the $2,000 prize money and the 1968 being an Open tournament
http://www.tenniscanada.com/tc125-the-tournaments/
I think, the role of pomoters and tournament directors is essential in those pre open and early open years. The status of many tournaments was heavily influenced by good directors, like John Beddington for Canada, Owen Williams for Johannesburg, Ed and Marilyn Fernberger for Philadelphia (which was maybe the best organized event in those years), Jochen Grosse for Cologne and more. After Kramer left the leadership of the pros in the early 60s, and Trabert/Sedgman also went out, the players themselves were their own managers for a while, and since 1966 new promoters and managers came in, who brought in more companies like Benson and Hedges, BP and so increasing more money..
This may explain the low earnings for pros in the mid-60's, well below the level of the top amateurs.
Drob
Hall of Fame
I liked the idea of this thread, as it was introduced in several posts by Urban at the start. I guess because I was hoping to learn about the structure of the circuit in Post War leading to 1968. It looks like the focus has gone elsewhere. But to those who know and can fill in the facts, here is the little I think I know:
In 1946 or 1947, don't know which, a strong series of tournaments, maybe upwards of 30, was put together by Tilden and it turned out pretty well financially, and, competitively, I think Riggs won most of the tournaments he entered. Tilden gets busted, serves jail time, is disgraced. No one else has the ability or connections to put a tournament circuit together. It is tours and the few organic tournaments like Philadelphia, Cleveland, "Wembley". There is no leadership. Then, toward the end of his playing career, Kramer becomes the promoter and leader. But Krarmer, as he admits in his biography, did not do much to build up any system of tournaments. He talks about how he should have looked for spononsorships, and I think he mentions non-profits like the American Cancer Society. In fact, we know that by the 1960s, Volkswagen, Pepsi-Cola and who knows who were sponsoring tournaments, so coroporate sponsorship might have been available if Kramer had looked and tried. Apparently he just did not think of it, despite the Tilden example.
Who came up with the idea of the T.O.C. and/or the Masters RR? Why did they go under? Who decided that TV cameras were not allowed at pro matches or tournaments?
Kramer, as I understand it, steps out of the role around 1962 or 1963, ostensibly because he is the lighting-rod, the would-be bad guy in the narrative of the national and international tennis associations. Is that the real reason? At that point others take over, I think Urban mentions them. Is it they who start building a tournament structure? This only really comes alive in about 1964 and it is poorly organized at first, given some of the commentary that was cited and some I have seen by David Gray. There were other critics, too, like Al Laney.
But the tournament concept "worked" or was in the process of working? It looks again like there were about 30 tournaments by 1967. I think Laver at that time remarked that it was a sustainable system. Meanwhile, Kramer runs one tournament, and that is the extent of his formal involvement?
The handsome eight includes current pros, but it also means the defection of another five or amateurs in late 1967. Emerson, independently, decides to turn pro. Going into 1968, the pro tour is now not only stronger in top players, but has a depth rivaling or superior to the amateurs. The pro circuit does well financially in 1968, or not?
AND WHAT IS UP WITH KRAMER? His decision to not play a rematch tour against Gorgo in 1952 or 1953 was, he claimed, a business decision - the local promoters said there was no interest, says. Jeepers, that sounds lame. They let Lester Stoefen play a second tour! Certainly by late 1952, Gonzalez, having beaten Kramer at Philly and London, was in line for a shot just like Segura earned one with big tourney victories over Kramer in 1950. The winner then would have played Sedgman. Clearly Kramer was chary, not to say afraid, of a Gonzalez rematch. And what is the real story on the unprecedented work, expense and sweat in building up Hoad's game in the second half of 1957 to make him able to beat Big Pancho? Did Big Jake really think that the business of the pro game, the financials, required a different (blond) champion? (And if that is it, what are the racial implications of such assessment?). Or was he just as mean and nasty toward Gorgo as Gorgo was toward him? And then Kramer's behavior after the start of the "semi-Open" era, which is a little outside the parameters of this thread, perhaps. Going to work for the ILTF? Joining forces with them to attack many of the players he led previously? Then, switching back again, to the players and being a leader in the 1973 Wimbledon strike. Sounds like (A) he wasn't a particularly sharp businessman (I suspect it was he who said no television coverage), except maybe a out-smarting Gonzalez; (b) wasn't a very reliable ally, (C) he forgot in 1970 that he had been too afraid to play on the clay at Roland Garros as an amateur when he attacked the WCT players for not going, at least three four of whom were French champions.
Any facts, thoughts, insights & c are much appreciated. Thanks.
Very good and interesting questions, put on by Drob. I see a bit of ambivalence in Kramer's role. On one hand he was the key figure in pro tennis for so long, and did many good things for the evolvement of pro tennis. On the other hand, he had a big ego, and sometimes he made wrong decisions, in behalf of television for instance, which was a big factor in making pro Golf a public sport. Sometimes it seemed, that he lacked a precise vision of the pro game, instead of a stable tournament cicruit, he opted for a mix of World Series, tours, some tournaments and even experimenting with an interzonale Kramer Cup. And maybe, some sort of compromise with the amateur establishment, instead of strict confrontation curse, would have helped to bring on open tennis earlier.
treblings
Hall of Fame
i would be interested to learn more about Bobby Riggs role as a promoter in between Tilden and Kramer.
was he just trying to fill the void left by Tildens departure?
did he see Kramer as competitor or was he glad that Jack took over?
I still try to put on some aspects of pro tennis, i will post some indepth articels on the hth series of the 50s later. One aspect which is often overlooked, is the role of coaching in pro tennis. In the beginning of pro tennis were the coaches, not the touring pros. Players like Roman Najuch or Dan Maskell were club coaches. They were not banned for playing for money, but for giving tennis lessons to rich people for money. In the world of the noblemen and upper class gentlemen like Downtown Abbey, they needed some young, but middle class tennis "butlers", who worked as trainingpartners on the clubs, like Queens Club or Rot-Weiß-Berlin. I think, Hanne Nuesslein also gave lessons. and even while he was touring pro, he still coached the US Davis Cup team with Budge and Allison. Now we see former players, who coach very successfully, like Becker, Lendl, Moya or Ferrero. But Nuesslein or Tilden, who coached the German DC team 1937, coached while still playing.
In later years, Gonzalez went into semiretirement a couple of times, for giving tennis lessons to rich clients (and beautiful women) in hotels, in the 1970s he worked as a club pro for Cesars Palace, Las Vegas. In his late career, Hoad worked at Marbella in Spain on a tennis ranch and did wonders for Spanish tennis. Rosewall worked a a club pro at San rafael, California since 1966. Stolle coached the German DC team 1970. In the 1970s the tennis camps in the US grew to a completely new market. I remember old issues of World Tennis or Tennis Magazine, with all kinds of advertisements for tennis camps in Texas, Florida or California, all over the place. Laver and Emerson very very busy there, skipping big events like Wimbledon for such large coaching clinics, Newombe, who had a Tennis ranch at Austin, Texas, spent a lot of his career time there. Even today, Emerson is still giving lessons at Gstaad, Switzerland. Today it would be unthinkable, that Federer would spending time while still playing, coaching clients for money.
In later years, Gonzalez went into semiretirement a couple of times, for giving tennis lessons to rich clients (and beautiful women) in hotels, in the 1970s he worked as a club pro for Cesars Palace, Las Vegas. In his late career, Hoad worked at Marbella in Spain on a tennis ranch and did wonders for Spanish tennis. Rosewall worked a a club pro at San rafael, California since 1966. Stolle coached the German DC team 1970. In the 1970s the tennis camps in the US grew to a completely new market. I remember old issues of World Tennis or Tennis Magazine, with all kinds of advertisements for tennis camps in Texas, Florida or California, all over the place. Laver and Emerson very very busy there, skipping big events like Wimbledon for such large coaching clinics, Newombe, who had a Tennis ranch at Austin, Texas, spent a lot of his career time there. Even today, Emerson is still giving lessons at Gstaad, Switzerland. Today it would be unthinkable, that Federer would spending time while still playing, coaching clients for money.
treblings
Hall of Fame
True. i think Najuch was amongst other things Davis Cup coach for Sweden in 33 and then there´s this story about Nüsslein that he would play practice matches against Budge
while coaching the U.S. team and regularly beating his pupil.
Actually, there was some sponsorship.
In 1959, Ampol and Qantas sponsored a world tournament championship in which all the pros competed, with a grand prize and trophy presented at the end.
There was a Perrier Cup in 1958 for a clay series in Europe.
But why Kramer would refuse TV coverage probably has to do with the old pro tradition of not wanting to hurt the live gate.
Only those tournaments outside Kramer's management, Wembley and RG, allowed TV coverage.
About the T.O.C. and the Masters.
They were both Jack Kramer's creations.
The first edition of the Masters was played in 1956, awarding $7,500 total prize money.
McCauley has this tournament under the name of T.O.C. but it's just one of the countless mistakes on his book (and the bad thing is that so many people follow these "old experts" sources).
Anyway...
The idea of the Masters started in June 1956.
This article is from The Los Angeles Times, 28 Jul 1956.
(...)"He didn't live long, natch, but I got to thinking about it yesterday when I bumped into Jack Kramer and Mr. Jake casually mentioned that his Masters Tournament opens tomorrow afternoon at the swank Los Angeles Tennis Club.
Jack and I originally talked about this project about six weeks ago, just before he shoved off for his tour of South America.
"Who'll be the favorite to win your first Masters?" I asked, after Kramer had told me the cast would include Frank Sedgman, Pancho Gonzales, Tony Trabert, Rex Hartwig and Pancho Segura, in addition to himself.
"Well, I suppose you'd have to say Gonzales," was his reply, and inasmuch as Jack knows umpty-nine times as much about tennis as I do I said "Gonzales" and I've been saying it ever since when anyone asks me about Kramer's racket round robin. (...)
The Masters was on TV, of course.
"Jack Kramer pro Masters tourney will be seen on Channel 2 tomorrow from the Los Angeles Tennis Club, 2pm. The featured matches bring together Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad, Tony Trabert and Ken Rosewall. I've always maintained that tennis is close to being the best sport, coverage-wise, seen on TV. The last time Hoad and Gonzales played before cameras they put on one of the most sesational displays of tennis that I can remember."
Los Angeles Times, 5 Jul 1958
The T.O.C. is one year younger, first edition in 1957 (in total 3 editions: 1957 - 1958 - 1959), $10,000 prize money (the same awarded in the Masters 1957).
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, KRAMER'S BIGGEST PROGRAM, TO OPEN SATURDAY
Forest Hills - The only man in history to put professional tennis on a sustained paying basis launches his most ambitious program at the staid West Side Tennis Club next Saturday.
Jack Kramer, once America's greatest tennis player, has come up with what he considers the best of the current crop of pros and for a week they will engage in his "tournament of champions".
"I know this is something that never has done before." said Kramer, who flew in from Buenos Aires only yesterday. "But I'm going to give it a try. I think it will work out, although we will have to gross $40,000 to break even."
He is distributing $10,000 in prize money, with the winner of the singles drawing down $2,500. All told, $6,500 of the pot will be distributed in singles and $3,500 in doubles. (The Tampa Tribune, 7 Jul 1957)
The T.O.C. was on TV, of course.
KRAMER FEELS TELECASTS BIG HELP IN SELLING GAME
Arguments, pro and con, regarding the affect television has on various sports are plentiful, but make no mistake about it, television definitely boosts tennis.
Jack Kramer, the man who turned a smashing serve into golden touch, says so. And who can argue with the world's only first-rate tennis promoter?
For those interested in what tennis is doing for TV, CBS carried an hour and 15 minutes of Kramer's Tournament of Champions today, and will have two hours (2.30 to 4.30 pm E.D.T., with the New York area blacked out) more of the same tomorrow from the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills. (...)
"The pro tennis fan is definitely a different type than amateur fan, and we're out to make more pro fans. TV can help us greatly."
More tomorrow, time to sleep now.
They were both Jack Kramer's creations.
The first edition of the Masters was played in 1956, awarding $7,500 total prize money.
McCauley has this tournament under the name of T.O.C. but it's just one of the countless mistakes on his book (and the bad thing is that so many people follow these "old experts" sources).
Anyway...
The idea of the Masters started in June 1956.
This article is from The Los Angeles Times, 28 Jul 1956.
(...)"He didn't live long, natch, but I got to thinking about it yesterday when I bumped into Jack Kramer and Mr. Jake casually mentioned that his Masters Tournament opens tomorrow afternoon at the swank Los Angeles Tennis Club.
Jack and I originally talked about this project about six weeks ago, just before he shoved off for his tour of South America.
"Who'll be the favorite to win your first Masters?" I asked, after Kramer had told me the cast would include Frank Sedgman, Pancho Gonzales, Tony Trabert, Rex Hartwig and Pancho Segura, in addition to himself.
"Well, I suppose you'd have to say Gonzales," was his reply, and inasmuch as Jack knows umpty-nine times as much about tennis as I do I said "Gonzales" and I've been saying it ever since when anyone asks me about Kramer's racket round robin. (...)
The Masters was on TV, of course.
"Jack Kramer pro Masters tourney will be seen on Channel 2 tomorrow from the Los Angeles Tennis Club, 2pm. The featured matches bring together Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad, Tony Trabert and Ken Rosewall. I've always maintained that tennis is close to being the best sport, coverage-wise, seen on TV. The last time Hoad and Gonzales played before cameras they put on one of the most sesational displays of tennis that I can remember."
Los Angeles Times, 5 Jul 1958
The T.O.C. is one year younger, first edition in 1957 (in total 3 editions: 1957 - 1958 - 1959), $10,000 prize money (the same awarded in the Masters 1957).
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, KRAMER'S BIGGEST PROGRAM, TO OPEN SATURDAY
Forest Hills - The only man in history to put professional tennis on a sustained paying basis launches his most ambitious program at the staid West Side Tennis Club next Saturday.
Jack Kramer, once America's greatest tennis player, has come up with what he considers the best of the current crop of pros and for a week they will engage in his "tournament of champions".
"I know this is something that never has done before." said Kramer, who flew in from Buenos Aires only yesterday. "But I'm going to give it a try. I think it will work out, although we will have to gross $40,000 to break even."
He is distributing $10,000 in prize money, with the winner of the singles drawing down $2,500. All told, $6,500 of the pot will be distributed in singles and $3,500 in doubles. (The Tampa Tribune, 7 Jul 1957)
The T.O.C. was on TV, of course.
KRAMER FEELS TELECASTS BIG HELP IN SELLING GAME
Arguments, pro and con, regarding the affect television has on various sports are plentiful, but make no mistake about it, television definitely boosts tennis.
Jack Kramer, the man who turned a smashing serve into golden touch, says so. And who can argue with the world's only first-rate tennis promoter?
For those interested in what tennis is doing for TV, CBS carried an hour and 15 minutes of Kramer's Tournament of Champions today, and will have two hours (2.30 to 4.30 pm E.D.T., with the New York area blacked out) more of the same tomorrow from the West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills. (...)
"The pro tennis fan is definitely a different type than amateur fan, and we're out to make more pro fans. TV can help us greatly."
More tomorrow, time to sleep now.
