1973 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

Men's singles
Men's singles
1973 Wimbledon Championships
Champion	Jan Kodeš
Runner-up	Alex Metreveli
Score	6–1, 9–8(7–5), 6–3
Draw	128 (32 Q )
Seeds	8

Jan Kodeš defeated Alex Metreveli in the final, 6–1, 9–8^(7–5), 6–3 to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships.^[1] It was his first Wimbledon title and third and last major singles title overall. The final included a tie-break played at 8–8 in the second set; it was the first ever Wimbledon singles final to feature a tie-break.

81 of the top Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) players, including reigning champion Stan Smith, boycotted Wimbledon in 1973 in protest against the suspension of Nikola Pilić by the Yugoslav Tennis Association, supported by the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF).^[2] This resulted in numerous qualifiers and lucky losers playing the tournament; of the 16 players originally seeded at the tournament, only four (Ilie Năstase, Metreveli, Kodeš, and Roger Taylor) participated.

The 1973 Wimbledon men's final was the first Grand Slam singles final reached by a Soviet player, and as of 2025, it remains the only Wimbledon men's final to feature a player from the USSR or any former Soviet country.

Seeds

1.

Ilie Năstase (fourth round)

2.

Jan Kodeš (champion)

3.

Roger Taylor (semifinals)

4.

Alex Metreveli (final)

5.

Jimmy Connors (quarterfinals)

6.

Björn Borg (quarterfinals)

7.

Owen Davidson (fourth round)

8.

Jürgen Fassbender (quarterfinals)

Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

The original seeding list before the boycott was:

Qualifying

Draw

Key

Q = Qualifier
WC = Wild card
LL = Lucky loser
Alt = Alternate
ITF = ITF entry
PR = Protected ranking
SR = Special ranking
SE = Special exempt
JE = Junior exempt
JR = Junior Accelerator Programme entrant
CO = College Accelerator Programme entrant
NG = Next Gen Accelerator Program entrant
w/o = Walkover
r = Retired
d = Defaulted

Finals

Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final

	Sandy Mayer	3	4	6	6	6

8	Jürgen Fassbender	6	6	3	4	4
								Sandy Mayer	3	6	3	4

							4	Alex Metreveli	6	3	6	6
4	Alex Metreveli	8	6	5	6

5	Jimmy Connors	6	2	7	4
														4	Alex Metreveli	1	8⁵	3

														2	Jan Kodeš	6	9⁷	6
6	Björn Borg	1	8	6	3	5

3	Roger Taylor	6	6	3	6	7
							3	Roger Taylor	9	7	7	4	5

							2	Jan Kodeš	8	9	5	6	7
	Vijay Amritraj	4	6	6	3	5

2	Jan Kodeš	6	3	4	6	7

Top half

Section 1

First round							Second round						Third round					Fourth round

1	Ilie Năstase	6	7	6
Q	Hans-Joachim Plötz	3	5	2			1	I Năstase	6	7	7	6
	Iván Molina	6	9	8	6			I Molina	2	9	5	1
LL	Bill Brown	4	7	9	3								1	I Năstase	7	6	6
LL	Phil Siviter	4	9	1	2								Q	T Sakai	5	2	4
	Hans Kary	6	7	6	6			H Kary	1	3	6	3
Q	Toshiro Sakai	6	3	9	6		Q	T Sakai	6	6	3	6
LL	Ken McMillan	1	6	8	4													1	I Năstase	4	6	8	4
Q	Ionel Sânteiu	7	6	4	5	5													A Mayer	6	8	6	6
LL	Roberto Chávez	5	4	6	7	7	LL	R Chávez	9	1	7	2
	Sandy Mayer	7	6	6				A Mayer	7	6	9	6
LL	Richard Lewis	5	4	3										A Mayer	8	7	6
Q	Steve Messmer	5	2	4									LL	V Zedník	6	5	0
LL	Clay Iles	7	6	6			LL	C Iles	3	3	6	2
Q	Gaurav Misra	4	4	1			LL	V Zedník	6	6	4	6
LL	Vladimír Zedník	6	6	6

Section 2

First round						Second round							Third round							Fourth round

8	Jürgen Fassbender	8	6	6	6
	István Gulyás	6	8	3	3	8	J Fassbender	6	6	6
LL	José Moreno	6	6	6		LL	J Moreno	3	4	4
LL	Michael Collins	4	3	3									8	J Fassbender	6	5	4	7	15
	Ray Keldie	7	6	4	6									R Keldie	2	7	6	5	13
LL	Dick Bohrnstedt	5	3	6	3		R Keldie	6	8	6	6
Q	Frank Gebert	8	8	5	7	Q	T Svensson	4	9	0	4
Q	Tenny Svensson	6	9	7	9															8	J Fassbender	6	7	6
	Nicola Pietrangeli	6	6	5	2																H-J Pohmann	2	5	3
LL	Jeff Simpson	8	2	7	6	LL	J Simpson	8	6	8	6
	Neale Fraser	4	5	6		LL	J Hagey	6	4	9	3
LL	James "Chico" Hagey	6	7	8									LL	J Simpson	6	5	3	4
	John Paish	7	4	5	2									H-J Pohmann	4	7	6	6
Q	Marcelo Lara	5	6	7	6	Q	M Lara	6	5	6	1	5
LL	Colin McHugo	3	4	4			H-J Pohmann	2	7	2	6	7
	Hans-Jürgen Pohmann	6	6	6

Section 3

First round							Second round							Third round					Fourth round

4	Alex Metreveli	6	6	9
LL	Stanley Matthews	3	4	8			4	A Metreveli	6	6	7
Q	Bob Giltinan	6	6	6			Q	R Giltinan	4	2	5
LL	Róbert Machán	3	4	3										4	A Metreveli	6	6	6
LL	Greg Braun	4	4	2											J Cooper	2	3	1
Q	Allan McDonald	6	6	6			Q	A McDonald	4	6	6	5	7
	John Cooper	6	8	6	9			J Cooper	6	4	4	7	9
	Herb Fitzgibbon	3	9	3	7														4	A Metreveli	8	6	6
LL	Pancho Walthall	6	3	6	6	6														J Feaver	6	4	1
	Tadeusz Nowicki	4	6	8	3	2	LL	F Walthall	3	6	6	9
LL	Chiradip Mukerjea	6	7	8	6		LL	C Mukerjea	6	1	1	8
Q	Hans Engert	4	5	9	4									LL	F Walthall	5	1	8
Q	Gene Scott	9	3	8	4	4									J Feaver	7	6	9
	John Feaver	8	6	6	6	6		J Feaver	9	6	9
LL	Cliff Letcher	5	6	6	6		LL	C Letcher	8	4	8
LL	Robert Stock	7	4	3	1

Section 4

First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round

5	Jimmy Connors	6	6	6
LL	Mark Farrell	4	3	4			5	J Connors	6	6	5	6
	David Lloyd	6	0	6	6			D Lloyd	4	3	7	2
	Corrado Barazzutti	2	6	1	1									5	J Connors	6	6	6
	Sergei Likhachev	3	4	6	4									LL	R Simpson	2	1	2
Q	Bill Durham	6	6	3	6		Q	W Durham	8	9	5	6	2
LL	Thomas Karp	4	6	3			LL	R Simpson	9	7	7	3	6
LL	Russell Simpson	6	8	6																	5	J Connors	6	6	6
Q	John Clifton	4	6	6	4	3															LL	B Mitton	3	3	2
	Jaime Pinto Bravo	6	3	2	6	6		J Pinto Bravo	6	2	2	6	3
Q	Colin Dowdeswell	3	6	4	5		LL	D Joubert	4	6	6	2	6
LL	Deon Joubert	6	4	6	7									LL	D Joubert	6	9	4	1	7
LL	Thierry Bernasconi	6	1	3										LL	B Mitton	4	8	6	6	9
LL	Bernard Mitton	8	6	6			LL	B Mitton	7	2	4	7	7
Q	Jan Hordijk	7	2	2				A Guerry	5	6	6	5	5
	Zan Guerry	9	6	6

Bottom half

Section 5

First round							Second round					Third round							Fourth round

	Boro Jovanović	5	6	3
Q	Syd Ball	7	8	6			Q	S Ball	0^r
	Jean-Loup Rouyer	0	2	2				S Baranyi	1
	Szabolcs Baranyi	6	6	6									S Baranyi	2	5	6	6	6
LL	Kiyoshi Tanabe	4	3	4									J Austin	6	7	3	4	4
LL	Petr Kanderal	6	6	6			LL	P Kanderal	8	3	3
	Teimuraz Kakulia	6	6	3	0	4		J Austin	9	6	6
	Jeff Austin	3	4	6	6	6														S Baranyi	3	2	8	7	1
LL	Greg Peebles	7	4	2															6	B Borg	6	6	6	5	6
	Karl Meiler	9	6	6				K Meiler	6	6	9
LL	Jasjit Singh	3	7	6	3		Q	W Martin	1	4	8
Q	Billy Martin	6	9	2	6								K Meiler	4	4	6	6	3
	Patrick Hombergen	6	6	6								6	B Borg	6	6	3	2	6
	Stephen Myers	3	3	1				P Hombergen	4	2	4
Q	Premjit Lall	3	4	8¹⁸			6	B Borg	6	6	6
6	Björn Borg	6	6	9²⁰

Section 6

First round							Second round							Third round						Fourth round

	František Pála	6	1	6	7
LL	Dan Bleckinger	3	6	3	5			F Pála	6	6	0	6	5
LL	Doug Crawford	4	2	4			LL	N Holmes	8	2	6	1	7
LL	Norman Holmes	6	6	6										LL	N Holmes	2	6	5	5
	Robert McKinley	6	6	6											R McKinley	6	3	7	7
LL	Paul McNamee	4	1	0				R McKinley	6	3	6	6
Q	Eugene Russo	6	2	9	4	7	LL	J Kuki	4	6	2	2
LL	Jun Kuki	1	6	8	6	9															R McKinley	1	5	8	5
	Jiří Hřebec	6	6	7																3	R Taylor	6	7	6	7
	Frank Sedgman	0	4	5				J Hřebec	7	1	4	7	6
	Antonio Zugarelli	6	6	6				A Zugarelli	5	6	6	5	2
LL	Dragan Stojović	3	2	4											J Hřebec	1	7	4	2
LL	John James	7	2	6	6	2								3	R Taylor	6	5	6	6
	Harald Elschenbroich	5	6	3	8	6		H Elschenbroich	3	2	2
Q	Jean-Louis Haillet	2	3	3			3	R Taylor	6	6	6
3	Roger Taylor	6	6	6

Section 7

First round							Second round					Third round							Fourth round

	John Lloyd	8	4	6	6	6
LL	Jean-François Caujolle	9	6	3	4	3		J Lloyd	7	6	6
LL	Paul Kronk	7	5	4	6	4	Q	K Hancock	5	4	4
Q	Keith Hancock	5	7	6	3	6							J Lloyd	5	4	6	6	5
	Bernard Mignot	6	6	6									V Amritraj	7	6	3	2	7
Q	Peter Pokorny	1	1	3				B Mignot	1	1	2
	Vijay Amritraj	6	6	6				V Amritraj	6	6	6
LL	Harold Turnbull	4	2	4																V Amritraj	7	8	6	6
LL	Konstantin Pugaev	6	1	5	8														7	O Davidson	5	9	3	4
LL	Ernie Ewert	3	6	7	9		LL	E Ewert	7	6	6
	Mike Machette	3	6	6	6			M Machette	5	2	3
Q	Tony Parun	6	4	3	1							LL	E Ewert	1	4	6	3
	Barry Phillips-Moore	6	9	7								7	O Davidson	6	6	3	6
Q	Robin Drysdale	3	7	5				B Phillips-Moore	3	4	3
LL	Pierre Joly	4	4	4			7	O Davidson	6	6	6
7	Owen Davidson	6	6	6

Section 8

First round							Second round							Third round					Fourth round

	Anand Amritraj	6	6	9
LL	Saeed Meer	4	4	8				A Amritraj	6	3	2	4
LL	Jaidip Mukerjea	7	6	6			LL	J Mukerjea	3	6	6	6
LL	Eduardo Zuleta	5	1	3										LL	J Mukerjea	9	6	6
Q	Richard Buwalda	5	6	6	6									LL	G Perkins	8	4	3
Q	Munawar Iqbal	7	3	2	4		Q	R Buwalda	6	3	6	1	8
LL	Greg Perkins	6	6	3	9		LL	G Perkins	4	6	3	6	10
	Jun Kamiwazumi	4	4	6	7														LL	J Mukerjea	4	6	4	3
	Stephen Warboys	2	6	7	6	4													2	J Kodeš	6	3	6	6
Q	John Yuill	6	4	9	4	6	Q	J Yuill	4	6	1	6	6
LL	Peter Curtis	6	6	6			LL	P Curtis	6	3	6	2	3
Q	Graeme Thomson	4	4	2										Q	J Yuill	1	5	2
LL	Pietro Marzano	6	6	2	6									2	J Kodeš	6	7	6
	Raúl Ramírez	3	4	6	2		LL	P Marzano	0	4	3
LL	Kenichi Hirai	6	4	1	3		2	J Kodeš	6	6	6
2	Jan Kodeš	4	6	6	6

References

^ Barrett, John (2014). Wimbledon: The Official History (4th ed.). Vision Sports Publishing. ISBN 9-781909-534230.
^ John Barrett, ed. (1974). World of Tennis '74. London: Queen Anne. pp. 15–17, 45–47. ISBN 978-0362001686.

External links

Source for the draw at Wimbledon.com
"Wimbledon 1973 – Singles Draw". atpworldtour.com. ATP World Tour. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
1973 Wimbledon Championships – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation

[Barrett-1] Barrett, John (2014). Wimbledon: The Official History (4th ed.). Vision Sports Publishing. ISBN 9-781909-534230.

[2] John Barrett, ed. (1974). World of Tennis '74. London: Queen Anne. pp. 15–17, 45–47. ISBN 978-0362001686.

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