1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament – Singles

Singles
1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament
Champion	Rod Laver
Runner-up	Ken Rosewall
Score	6–2, 6–4
Draw	31
Seeds	12

The 1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament – Singles was an event of the 1972 River Oaks Tennis Tournament men's tennis tournament and was held at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston, Texas in the United States from April 3 through April 9, 1972. Cliff Richey was the defending champion but did not compete in this edition. First-seeded Rod Laver won the singles title, defeating second-seeded Ken Rosewall in the final, 6–2, 6–4.

Seeds

1. Rod Laver (champion)
2. Ken Rosewall (finals
3. Tom Okker (semifinals)
4. Cliff Drysdale (first round)
5. Arthur Ashe (second round)
6. Bob Lutz (second round)
7. Marty Riessen (second round)
8. Charlie Pasarell (second round)
9. John Newcombe (quarterfinals)
10. Roy Emerson (first round)
11. John Alexander (quarterfinals)
12. Roger Taylor (semifinals)

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• Alt = Alternate
• SE = Special exempt
• PR = Protected ranking
• ITF = ITF entry
• JE = Junior exempt
• w/o = Walkover
• r = Retired
• d = Defaulted
• SR = Special ranking

Finals

	Semifinals							Final
	1	Rod Laver	6	6
	3	Tom Okker	2	1
								1	Rod Laver	6	6
								2	Ken Rosewall	2	4
	12	Roger Taylor	6	3	4
	2	Ken Rosewall	4	6	6

Top half

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	1	Rod Laver	6	7
		Fred Stolle	1	5				1	Rod Laver	6	6
		Bob Maud	w	o					Bob Maud	3	2
		Frank Froehling													1	Rod Laver	6	7
																Bill Bowrey	2	5
									Bill Bowrey	6	3	6
	7	Marty Riessen	6	6				7	Marty Riessen	2	6	4
		Ray Ruffels	4	1																		1	Rod Laver	6	6
	6	Bob Lutz	3	6	6																	3	Tom Okker	2	1
		Allan Stone	6	3	3			6	Bob Lutz	7	4	2
	11	John Alexander	6	6				11	John Alexander	6	6	6
		Brian Fairlie	0	0											11	John Alexander	6	4
	10	Roy Emerson	3	1											3	Tom Okker	7	6
		Tony Roche	6	6					Tony Roche	4	7	6
	3	Tom Okker	6	6				3	Tom Okker	6	5	7
		Bob Carmichael	1	0

Bottom half

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	4	Cliff Drysdale	3	2
		Mark Cox	6	6					Mark Cox	6	4	4
	12	Roger Taylor	6	6				12	Roger Taylor	1	6	6
		Roy Barth	3	1											12	Roger Taylor	6	6
	9	John Newcombe	6	7											9	John Newcombe	4	3
		Jeff Borowiak	2	5				9	John Newcombe	6	7
	8	Charlie Pasarell	5	6	6			8	Charlie Pasarell	3	5
		Tom Leonard	7	4	3																	12	Roger Taylor	6	3	4
	5	Arthur Ashe	6	7																		2	Ken Rosewall	4	6	6
		Ismail El Shafei	3	6				5	Arthur Ashe	3	4
		Niki Pilić	6	7					Niki Pilić	6	6
		Owen Davidson	2	6												Niki Pilić	3	5
		Graham Stilwell	w	o											2	Ken Rosewall	6	7
		Phil Dent							Graham Stilwell	4	4
		Terry Addison	4	1				2	Ken Rosewall	6	6
	2	Ken Rosewall	6	6

See also

• Laver–Rosewall rivalry

External links

• ITF tournament edition details