The 1972 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom.[1][2] The tournament was scheduled to be held from Monday 26 June until Saturday 8 July 1972 but rain on the final Saturday meant that the men's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles finals were played on Sunday 9 July. It was the first time in the tournament's history that finals were played on a Sunday.[3] It was the 86th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the third Grand Slam tennis event of 1972.
| 1972 Wimbledon Championships | |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 June – 9 July |
| Edition | 86th |
| Category | Grand Slam |
| Prize money | £50,330 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Location | Church Road SW19, Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom |
| Venue | All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club |
| Champions | |
| Men's singles | |
 Stan Smith | |
| Women's singles | |
| Billie Jean King | |
| Men's doubles | |
 Bob Hewitt / Frew McMillan | |
| Women's doubles | |
Billie Jean King /  Betty Stöve | |
| Mixed doubles | |
 Ilie Năstase / Rosie Casals | |
| Boys' singles | |
 Björn Borg | |
| Girls' singles | |
| Ilana Kloss | |
Due to the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) ban on World Championship Tennis (WCT) contract players competing in their tournaments, the reigning men's singles champion John Newcombe was prevented from defending his title. Other players banned from competing included Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Arthur Ashe.[4] First-seeded Stan Smith and second-seeded Billie Jean King won the men's and women's singles titles respectively.
Prize money
The total prize money for the 1972 championships was £50,330. The winner of the men's title earned £5,000 while the women's singles champion earned £2,400.[3][5]
| Event | W | F | SF | QF | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Round of 64 | Round of 128 |
| Men's singles | £5,000 | £3,000 | £1,000 | £550 | £300 | £200 | £125 | £100 |
| Women's singles | £2,400 | £1,330 | £600 | £350 | £200 | £150 | £100 | £75 |
| Men's doubles * | £1,000 | £600 | £400 | £200 | £0 | £0 | £0 | — |
| Women's doubles * | £600 | £400 | £200 | £100 | £0 | £0 | £0 | — |
| Mixed doubles * | £500 | £350 | £175 | £100 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
* per team
Champions
Seniors
Men's singles
Stan Smith defeated Ilie Năstase, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 [6]
- It was Smith's 2nd (and last) career Grand Slam title, and his only Wimbledon title.
Women's singles
Billie Jean King defeated 
Evonne Goolagong, 6–3, 6–3 [7]
- It was King's 8th career Grand Slam title (her 4th in the Open Era), and her 4th Wimbledon title.
Men's doubles
Bob Hewitt / Frew McMillan defeated Stan Smith / Erik van Dillen, 6–2, 6–2, 9–7 [8]
Women's doubles
Billie Jean King / Betty Stöve defeated 
Françoise Dürr / Judy Dalton, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 [9]
Mixed doubles
Ilie Năstase / Rosie Casals defeated Kim Warwick / Evonne Goolagong, 6–4, 6–4 [10]
Juniors
Boys' singles
Björn Borg defeated 
Buster Mottram, 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 [11]
Girls' singles
Ilana Kloss defeated Glynis Coles, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 [12]