title: 1972 Commercial Union Assurance Masters – Singles
text: # 1972 Commercial Union Assurance Masters – Singles
  
  Defending champion Ilie Năstase successfully defended his title, defeating Stan Smith in the final, 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3 to win the singles title at the 1972 Commercial Union Assurance Masters.
  
  ## 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 | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | Jimmy Connors | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | |
  | Jimmy Connors | 2 | 3 | 2 | | Ilie Năstase | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
  | | | | | | Stan Smith | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
  | Tom Gorman | 7 | 5 | 7 | $5^r$ | Stan Smith | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
  | Stan Smith | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | |
  
  ### Group A
  
  | | Năstase | Gorman | Orantes | Hewitt | RR W–L | Set W–L | Game W–L | Standings |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Ilie Năstase | | 6–2, 6–3 | 6–3, 6–4 | 6–4, 6–4 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 36–20 | 1 |
  | Tom Gorman | 2–6, 3–6 | | 6–3, 6–4 | 6–4, 6–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 29–25 | 2 |
  | Manuel Orantes | 3–6, 4–6 | 3–6, 4–6 | | 6–3, 6–3 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 26–30 | 3 |
  | Bob Hewitt | 4–6, 4–6 | 3–6, 4–6 | 3–6, 3–6 | | 0–3 | 0–6 | 20–36 | 4 |
  
  Standings are determined by: 1. number of wins; 2. number of matches; 3. in two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4. in three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5. steering-committee decision.
  
  ### Group B
  
  | | Smith | Connors | Kodeš | Gimeno | RR W–L | Set W–L | Game W–L | Standings |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Stan Smith | | 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 | 6–1, 6–0 | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | 3–0 | 6–2 | 43–25 | 1 |
  | Jimmy Connors | 6–3, 2–6, 5–7 | | 6–4, 6–3 | 6–3, 6–7, 6–2 | 2–1 | 5–3 | 43–35 | 2 |
  | Jan Kodeš | 1–6, 0–6 | 4–6, 3–6 | | 6–3, 6–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 20–29 | 3 |
  | Andrés Gimeno | 2–6, 6–3, 3–6 | 3–6, 7–6, 2–6 | 3–6, 2–6 | | 0–3 | 2–6 | 28–45 | 4 |
  
  Standings are determined by: 1. number of wins; 2. number of matches; 3. in two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4. in three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5. steering-committee decision.
  
  