
Texas Tennis History
WCT in Texas
Before the dawn of the “Open Era,” tennis was a divided sport, with professional and amateur players restricted to separate events. This changed in 1968 when the British Lawn Tennis Association made the groundbreaking decision to conduct Wimbledon as an open tournament. The move marked the beginning of a new chapter in professional tennis, one that would revolutionize the sport.
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Recognizing the growing appeal of tennis and its potential as a televised sport, Lamar Hunt, an avid sports fan and visionary promoter, joined forces with his nephew, Al Hill Jr., and New Orleans sports entrepreneur Dave Dixon to create World Championship Tennis (WCT), a bold new professional men’s tennis tour. Together, they signed six of the world’s top amateurs and two pros, branding them as the “Handsome Eight.” The group included tennis luminaries such as Dennis Ralston, John Newcombe, Tony Roche, Cliff Drysdale, Earl Buchholz, Niki Pilić, Roger Taylor, and Pierre Barthès.
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WCT transformed tennis into a modern spectacle. Players were outfitted in vibrant, colorful clothing, breaking away from the sport’s traditional all-white attire. Brightly colored tennis balls made matches more visually appealing, while fans were encouraged to cheer loudly—injecting energy into an often reserved atmosphere. Innovations like the tie-breaker scoring system made matches fit neatly into television schedules, paving the way for tennis to thrive in the era of live sports broadcasting. WCT also pioneered on-tour trainers, full-time public relations professionals, and electronic linesmen, becoming the first to establish a permanent doubles championship.
As WCT grew, Lamar Hunt assumed full control and brought in former touring professional Mike Davies to expand its influence. Under their leadership, WCT signed some of the world’s most prominent players, who committed to an annual circuit of tournaments culminating in a high-profile championship in Dallas. WCT soon expanded to include two simultaneous 32-player tours competing in events across the globe, further solidifying its international reputation.
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The pinnacle of the WCT era came in 1972, during the championship final in Dallas between Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver. NBC made television history by preempting three regular programs to air over four hours of live coverage. Drawing a record 21 million viewers, the match became a watershed moment for tennis in the United States, fueling the sport's explosive growth. The drama and prestige of the Rosewall-Laver showdown showcased tennis as a global phenomenon and cemented WCT's legacy as a catalyst for professional tennis.
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Though WCT dissolved in 1990, its impact remains undeniable. Its pioneering ideas and innovations laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and shaped the sport as we know it today. WCT’s influence not only advanced professional tennis but also ensured that future generations of players would benefit from the opportunities it created.