The 1978 WTA Tour consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players. It was composed of the newly streamlined version of the Virginia Slims Circuit (which was now an 11-week tour of the US) and the Colgate Series.[1][2] The tour was administered by the Women's International Professional Tennis Council.

1978 WTA Tour
Martina Navratilova finished the year as world No. 1 for the first time in her career. She won eleven singles tournaments during the season, including a major at the Wimbledon Championships, as well as the Virginia Slims Championships.
Details
Duration14 November 1977 – 18 December 1978
Edition6th
Tournaments47
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
WTA Championships (3)
Virginia Slims Circuit (11)
Colgate International Series (23)
Non-tour events (4)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesUnited States Martina Navratilova (11)
Most tournament finalsUnited States Martina Navratilova (15)
Prize money leaderUnited States Chris Evert ($454,486)
Points leaderUnited States Martina Navratilova (15.660)
Awards
Player of the yearUnited States Martina Navratilova
Doubles team of the yearUnited States Billie Jean King
United States Martina Navratilova
Most improved
player of the year
Romania Virginia Ruzici
Newcomer of the yearUnited States Pam Shriver
1977
1979

Schedule edit

This is a calendar of all events which were part of either the Virginia Slims circuit or the Colgate Series in the year 1978, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. Also included are the Grand Slam tournaments, the 1978 Virginia Slims Championships, the 1978 Federation Cup and a number of events not affiliated with either tour.[1]

Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Virginia Slims/Colgate Series championships
Virginia Slims Circuit
Colgate International Series
Non-tour events
Team events

November (1977) edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
14 Nov Colgate International of Australia
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series (AAAA)
$100,000 – grass
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–1, 6–3
  Kerry Reid   Dianne Fromholtz
  Greer Stevens
  Terry Holladay
  Pam Teeguarden
  Jeanne Evert
  Betty Stöve
  Kerry Reid /   Greer Stevens
vs.
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley /   Betty Stöve
Cancelled
21 Nov Toyota Classic
Melbourne, Australia
Colgate Series (AA)
$75,000 – grass
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–4, 6–1
  Wendy Turnbull   Sue Barker
  Betty Stöve
  Pam Whytcross
  Kerry Melville
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Helen Gourlay Cawley
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Betty Stöve
6–3, 6–0
  Patricia Bostrom
  Kym Ruddell
28 Novr South African Open
Johannesburg, South Africa
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Linky Boshoff
6–4, 6–1
  Brigitte Cuypers   Yvonne Vermaak
  Sharon Walsh
  Niekle Scheepers
  Jeanne Evert
  Marise Kruger
  Alison McDade
  Linky Boshoff
  Ilana Kloss
5–7, 6–3, 6–3
  Brigitte Cuypers
  Marise Kruger

December (1977) edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Dec Bremar Cup
London, Great Britain
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–1
  Virginia Wade   Betty Stöve
  Virginia Ruzici
  Tanya Harford
  Sharon Walsh
  Florența Mihai
  Renáta Tomanová
  Billie Jean King
  Renáta Tomanová
6–2, 6–3
  Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
12 Dec Marlboro NSW Open
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – grass
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–2, 6–3
  Sue Barker   Kerry Reid
  Regina Maršíková
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Helen Gourlay Cawley
6–0, 6–0
  Mona Guerrant
  Kerry Reid
19 Dec
26 Dec
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam (A)
Grass – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–3, 6–0
  Helen Gourlay Cawley   Kerry Reid
  Sue Barker
  Judy Dalton
  Kathleen Harter
  Mona Guerrant
  Rayni Fox
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley /   Helen Gourlay Cawley
vs.
  Mona Guerrant /   Kerry Reid
Cancelled due to Rain

January edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Jan Virginia Slims of Washington
Washington, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–4
  Betty Stöve   Dianne Fromholtz
  JoAnne Russell
  Greer Stevens
  Kathy May
  Virginia Ruzici
  Nancy Richey
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 7–5
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
9 Jan Virginia Slims of Hollywood
Hollywood, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–2, 6–3
  Wendy Turnbull   Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
  Tracy Austin
  Marita Redondo
  Nancy Richey
  Kathy Teacher
  Rosie Casals
  Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 6–4
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
16 Jan Virginia Slims of Houston
Houston, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
1–6, 6–2, 6–2
  Billie Jean King   Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
  Yvonne Vermaak
  Sue Barker
  Rosie Casals
  Wendy Turnbull
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
7–6(5–4), 4–6, 7–6(5–4)
  Greer Stevens
  Mona Guerrant
23 Jan Virginia Slims of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–2
  Rosie Casals   Marise Kruger
  Greer Stevens
  Yvonne Vermaak
  Sue Barker
  Virginia Wade
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
6–3, 6–2
  Pam Teeguarden
  Greer Stevens
30 Jan Virginia Slims of Chicago
Chicago, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–7(4–5), 6–2, 6–2
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley   Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
  Kerry Reid
  Sue Barker
  Wendy Turnbull
  Rosie Casals
  Betty Stöve
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–1, 6–4
  Rosie Casals
  JoAnne Russell

February edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Feb Virginia Slims of Seattle
Seattle, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/15D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–1, 1–6, 6–1
  Betty Stöve   Wendy Turnbull
  Marita Redondo
  Kathy May
  Rosie Casals
  Kerry Reid
  JoAnne Russell
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 6–3
  Patricia Bostrom
  Marita Redondo
20 Feb Virginia Slims of Detroit
Detroit, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–2
  Dianne Fromholtz   Virginia Wade
  Billie Jean King
  Kerry Reid
  Greer Stevens
  Sharon Walsh
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–4
  Kerry Melville
  Wendy Turnbull
27 Feb Virginia Slims of Kansas
Kansas, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 34S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
7–5, 2–6, 6–3
  Billie Jean King   Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Kerry Reid
  Brigitte Cuypers
  Rosie Casals
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–4
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull

March edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Mar Virginia Slims of Dallas
Dallas, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/14D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
4–6, 6–0, 6–2
  Tracy Austin   Pam Shriver (3rd)
  Anne Smith (4th)
  Martina Navratilova
  Marise Kruger
  Kerry Reid
  Rosie Casals
  Martina Navratilova
  Anne Smith
6–3, 7–6(5–2)
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Betty Stöve
13 Mar Virginia Slims of Boston
Boston, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 33S/14D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
4–6, 6–1, 6–4
  Chris Evert   Martina Navratilova
  Billie Jean King
  Kerry Reid
  Marise Kruger
  Marita Redondo
  Rosie Casals
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–2
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Betty Stöve
20 Mar Virginia Slims of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/1D
SinglesDouble
  Chris Evert
6–0, 6–4
  Billie Jean King   Virginia Wade
  Virginia Ruzici
  Wendy Turnbull
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
  Kerry Melville
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 7–5
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
27 Mar Virginia Slims Championships
Los Angeles, United States
Season-end championships
Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 16S (8RR)
SingleDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
7–6(5–0), 6–4
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley   Wendy Turnbull
  Rosie Casals 4th
Round robin
  Virginia Wade
  Billie Jean King
  Betty Stöve
  Kerry Reid

April edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 Apr Bridgestone Doubles Championships
Salt Lake City, United States
$100,000 – Carpet (i) – 8D
Doubles
  Martina Navratilova
  Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–4
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
  Stöve /   Goolagong Cawley
  Reid /   Turnbull
  Stevens /   Schallau
  Bostrom /   Redondo
  Casals /   Russell
  Kemmer /   Newberry
10 Apr Family Circle Cup
Hilton Head Island, United States
Colgate Series (AAA)
Clay – $125,000 – 30S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–2, 6–0
  Kerry Reid   JoAnne Russell
  Tracy Austin
  Martina Navratilova
  Jeanne DuVall
  Rosie Casals
  Renée Richards
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 7–5
  Mona Guerrant
  Greer Stevens

May edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
15 May German Open
Hamburg, West Germany
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – clay – 64S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Mima Jaušovec
6–2, 6–3
  Virginia Ruzici   Regina Maršíková
  Sylvia Hanika
  Renáta Tomanová
  Viviana González
  Kathy May
  Laura duPont
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
6–4, 5–7, 6–0
  Katja Ebbinghaus
  Helga Niessen Masthoff
22 May Italian Open
Rome, Italy
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – clay
SinglesDoubles
  Regina Maršíková
7–5, 7–5
  Virginia Ruzici   Janet Newberry
  Michelle Tyler
  Mima Jaušovec
  Betsy Nagelsen
  Katja Ebbinghaus
  Renáta Tomanová
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
6–2, 2–6, 7–6
  Florența Mihai
  Betsy Nagelsen
Surrey Grass Courts
Guildford, Great Britain
Non-tour event
Grass
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–1, 6–1
  Winnie Wooldridge
29 May
5 June
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam (AA)
$337,000 – Clay (red) – 64S/64Q/32D/24X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Virginia Ruzici
6–2, 6–2
  Mima Jaušovec   Regina Maršíková
  Brigitte Simon
  Kathy May
  Helga Niessen Masthoff
  Mirka Bendlová
  Fiorella Bonicelli
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
5–7, 6–4, 8–6
  Lesley Turner Bowrey
  Gail Sherriff Chanfreau
  Renáta Tomanová
  Pavel Složil
7–6 ret
  Virginia Ruzici
  Patrice Dominguez

June edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Jun Kent Championships
Beckenham, Great Britain
Non-tour event
Hard
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–4, 6–2
  Laura duPont
12 Jun Keith Prowse International
Chichester, Great Britain
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – grass – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–4, 6–4
  Pam Teeguarden   Janet Wright
  Sharon Walsh
  Barbara Potter
  Diane Desfor
  Cynthia Doerner
  Tracy Austin
  Janet Wright
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
  Michelle Tyler
  Yvonne Vermaak
19 Jun Colgate International
Eastbourne, Great Britain
Colgate Series (AA)
$75,000 – grass – 64S/32D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 4–6, 9–7
  Chris Evert   Wendy Turnbull
  Billie Jean King
  Anne Hobbs
  Virginia Wade
  Betty Stöve
  Michelle Tyler
  Chris Evert
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–7, 7–5
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
26 Jun
3 Jul
Wimbledon Championships
London, Great Britain
Grand Slam (AAAA)
Grass – 96S/48D/64X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Martina Navratilova
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
  Chris Evert   Virginia Wade
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Billie Jean King
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
  Marise Kruger
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 9–8(12–10), 6–3
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
  Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan
6–2, 6-2
  Billie Jean King
  Ray Ruffels

July edit

No tournaments this month

August edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 Aug US Clay Court Championships
Indianapolis, United States
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – clay – 48S/24D
SinglesDoubles
  Dana Gilbert
6–2, 6–3
  Viviana González   Janet Wright
  Jeanne Evert
  Kate Latham
  Caroline Stoll
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
  Jeanne DuVall
  Helena Anliot
  Helle Sparre-Viragh
6–1, 6–3
  Barbara Hallquist
  Sheila McInerney
14 August Rothmans Canadian Open
Toronto, Canada
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Regina Maršíková
7–5, 6–7(9–11), 6–2
  Virginia Ruzici   Diane Desfor
  Zenda Liess
  Mima Jaušovec
  Yvonne Vermaak
  Viviana González
  Lesley Hunt
  Regina Maršíková
  Pam Teeguarden
5–7, 6–4, 6–2
  Chris O'Neil
  Paula Smith
21 Aug Bergen County Classic
Mahwah, United States
Colgate Series (AA)
$75,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
1–6, 6–1, 6–4
  Kerry Reid   Regina Maršíková
  Tracy Austin
  Mareen Louie Harper
  Lesley Hunt
  Betsy Nagelsen
  Caroline Stoll
  Ilana Kloss
  Marise Kruger
6–3, 6–1
  Barbara Potter
  Pam Whytcross
28 Aug
4 Sep
US Open
New York City, United States
Grand Slam (AAAA)
$260,000 – Hard – 96S/32D/32X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Chris Evert
7–5, 6–4
  Pam Shriver   Martina Navratilova
  Wendy Turnbull
  Virginia Ruzici
  Lesley Hunt
  Kathy May
  Tracy Austin
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
7–6, 6–4
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
  Billie Jean King
  Ray Ruffels

September edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 Sep Toray Sillook Open
Tokyo, Japan
Colgate Series (AAA)
$75,000 – carpet (i) – 32S
  Virginia Wade
6–4, 7–6(7–2)
  Betty Stöve   Marita Redondo
  Wendy Turnbull
  Jeanne DuVall
  Michelle Tyler
  Virginia Ruzici
  Carrie Meyer
Women in Tennis International
San Antonio, United States
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – hard – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Stacy Margolin
7–5, 6–1
  Yvonne Vermaak   Laura duPont
  Anna-Maria Fernandez
  Ilana Kloss
  Barbara Hallquist
  Patricia Medrado
  Cynthia Doerner
  Ilana Kloss
  Marise Kruger
6–1, 6–4
  Laura duPont
  Françoise Dürr
18 Sep World Tennis Classic
Montreal, Canada
Colgate Series (A)
$40,000 – clay – 32S/18D
SinglesDoubles
  Caroline Stoll
6–3, 6–2
  Françoise Dürr   Laura duPont
  Yvonne Vermaak
  Dana Gilbert
  Glynis Coles
  Diane Desfor
  Michelle Tyler
  Julie Anthony
  Billie Jean King
6–4, 6–4
  Ilana Kloss
  Marise Kruger
25 Sep Wyler's Classic
Atlanta, United States
Colgate Series (AAA)
$100,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
7–6(7–3), 0–6, 6–3
  Martina Navratilova   Virginia Wade
  Betty Stöve
  Carrie Meyer
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
  Zenda Liess
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
  Martina Navratilova
  Anne Smith

October edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Oct Thunderbird Classic
Phoenix, United States
Colgate Series (AA)
$75,000 – hard – 32S/16S
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–2
  Tracy Austin   Kerry Reid
  Virginia Wade
  Anne Smith
  Anna-Maria Fernandez
  Ann Kiyomura
  Jeanne DuVall
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–7, 6–2
  Martina Navratilova
  Anne Smith
9 Oct US Indoors Championships
Minneapolis, United States
Colgate Series (AAAA)
$100,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–7, 6–2, 6–4
  Virginia Wade   Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
  Barbara Potter
  Betty Stöve
  Tracy Austin
  Virginia Ruzici
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 6–3
  Lesley Hunt
  Ilana Kloss
16 Oct BMW Challenge
Brighton, Great Britain
Colgate Series (AA)
$75,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Ruzici
5–7, 6–2, 7–5
  Betty Stöve   Chris Evert
  Kerry Reid
  Sylvia Hanika
  Mima Jaušovec
  Nina Bohm
  Virginia Wade
  Betty Stöve
  Virginia Wade
6–0, 7–6
  Ilana Kloss
  JoAnne Russell
23 Oct Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Filderstadt, West Germany
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Tracy Austin
6–3, 6–3
  Betty Stöve   Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
  Sabina Simmonds
  Lesley Hunt
  Nina Bohm
  Heidi Eisterlehner
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
6–3, 6–2
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
30 Oct Rio de La Plata Championships
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Colgate Series (A)
$35,000 – clay
SinglesDoubles
  Caroline Stoll
6–3, 6–1
  Emilse Raponi   Regina Maršíková
  Ivanna Madruga
  Cynthia Doerner
  Françoise Dürr
  Elly Vessies
  Liliana Giussani
  Françoise Dürr
  Valerie Ziegenfuss
1–6, 6–4, 6–3
  Laura duPont
  Regina Maršíková
Wightman Cup
London, United Kingdom
Hard (i)
Team event
  Great Britain
4–3
  United States

November edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Nov Florida Federal Open
Oldsmar, United States
Colgate Series (AA)
$75,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Virginia Wade
6–4, 7–6(7–1)
  Anna-Maria Fernandez   Regina Maršíková
  Wendy Turnbull
  Martina Navratilova
  Kerry Reid
  Renee Blount
  Anne White
  Martina Navratilova
  Anne Smith
7–6(7–4), 6–3
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
13 Nov Colgate Series Championships
Palm Springs, United States
Colgate Series championships
$250,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–3, 6–3
  Martina Navratilova   Virginia Wade
  Virginia Ruzici
Round robin
  Regina Maršíková
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty Stöve
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–4
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
20 Nov Gunze Invitational
Tokyo, Japan
Non-tour event
Hard (i)
  Tracy Austin
6–1, 6–1
  Martina Navratilova
  Martina Navratilova
  Betty Stöve
4–6, 7–6, 6–3
  Tracy Austin
  Kathy May
27 Nov Federation Cup
Melbourne, Australia
Grass – 32 teams knockout
  United States
2–1
  Australia   Great Britain
  Soviet Union
  France
  Czechoslovakia
  Romania
  Netherlands

December edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 Dec Emeron Cup
Tokyo, Japan
Non-tour event
Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 4S
  Chris Evert
7–5, 6–2
  Martina Navratilova   Virginia Wade
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley

Colgate Series edit

Draw and seeding edit

Draw
Size
Min. Direct
Acceptances
Min.
Qualifiers
Min.
Wild Cards
Seeds
16 13 2 1 4
32 26 4 1[a] 8
48 42 4 2 8
64 52 8 4 16
96 82 8 6 16
128 112 8 8 16

Wild cards for the tournament had to be given to either local players or players who had won Wimbledon, the US Open, the Virginia Slims or Colgate Series championships or were previous winners of the tournament. All tournaments used a seeded draw with the number of seeds depending on the draw size.

Points system edit

The tournaments of the Colgate Series were divided into four groups – AAAA, AAA, AA and A – based on prize money. Points were allocated based on these groups and the finishing position of a player in a tournament.[3] The points allocation – with doubles points listed in brackets – was:

Group AAAA
Prize money at least $150,000
  • Champion: 160 (32)
  • Runner-up: 120 (24)
  • Semifinalist: 80 (16)
  • Quarterfinalist: 40 (8)
  • Round of 16: 20 (4)
  • Round of 32: 15 (3)
  • Round of 64: 10
Group AAA
Prize money at least $100,000
  • Champion: 120 (24)
  • Runner-up: 90 (18)
  • Semifinalist: 60 (12)
  • Quarterfinalist: 30 (6)
  • Round of 16: 15 (3)
  • Round of 32: 10 (2)


Group AA
Prize money at least $75,000
  • Champion: 80 (16)
  • Runner-up: 60 (12)
  • Semifinalist: 40 (8)
  • Quarterfinalist: 20 (4)
  • Round of 16: 10 (2)
  • Round of 32: 5


Group A
Prize money at least $35,000
  • Champion: 40 (8)
  • Runner-up: 30 (6)
  • Semifinalist: 20 (4)
  • Quarterfinalist: 10 (2)
  • Round of 16: 5

Points standings and bonus pool edit

No. Player name Points
Singles
Bonus
Singles
Points
Doubles
Bonus
Doubles
Total
Bonus
1   Chris Evert (USA) 740 $100,000 $100,000
2   Virginia Wade (GBR) 635 $65,000 100 $7,500 $72,500
3   Kerry Reid (AUS) 560 $45,000 201 $22,000 $67,000
4   Martina Navratilova (USA) 540 $35,000 146 $13,000 $48,000
5   Virginia Ruzici (ROU) 470 $30,000 92 $6,000 $36,000
6   Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) 450 $25,000 75 $3,800 $28,800
7   Betty Stöve (NED) 445 $22,500 142 $11,500 $34,000
8   Wendy Turnbull (AUS) 430 $20,000 168 $16,000 $36,000
9   Regina Maršíková (TCH) 370 $19,000 55 $2,500 $21,500
10   Tracy Austin (USA) 310 $17,000 $17,000

The total bonus pool for the Colgate Series was $675,000, an increase of $75,000 compared to the previous year, and was divided over singles ($540,000) and doubles ($135,000). The 35 highest points ranking singles players and the top 20 in doubles qualified to receive a share of the bonus pool. The distribution ranged from $100,000 for the first placed singles player to $3,000 for the 35th placed player. The first placed doubles player received $22,000 bonus while the 20th placed player received $2,000. In order to be eligible for a share of the respective bonus pools players had to a) participate in a minimum of seven singles or three doubles tournaments and b) accept invitation for the series championships if qualified based on merit. Players who ended on equal points were ranked in order of the number of tournaments played.[3][4]

Virginia Slims Circuit edit

Points standings and prize money edit

Combined prize money for singles and doubles events. The points, named 'Silver Ginny Points', were allocated as follows:

  • Winner: 210
  • Runner-up: 150
  • Third: 110
  • Semifinalist: 100
  • Quarterfinalist: 65
  • Round of 16: 30
  • Round of 32: 8

WTA Tour edit

Year-end rankings edit

Below are the 1978 WTA year-end rankings (December 10, 1978) in both singles and doubles competition:

Singles Year-end Ranking[5]
No. Player Name T M Points 1977 Change
1   Martina Navratilova (USA) 18 87 15.660 3   2
2   Chris Evert (USA) 10 56 15.192 1   1
3   Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) 11 48 11.688 NR NR
4   Virginia Wade (GBR) 22 92 9.879 4  
5   Billie Jean King (USA) 10 35 9.183 2   3
6   Tracy Austin (USA) 14 64 8.531 12   6
7   Wendy Turnbull (AUS) 22 79 8.171 9   2
8   Betty Stöve (NED) 21 72 7.336 7   1
9   Kerry Reid (AUS) 21 79 7.111 10   1
10   Dianne Fromholtz (AUS) 14 39 7.032 8   2
11   Rosie Casals (USA) 14 38 6.295 6   5
12   Virginia Ruzici (ROU) 28 90 6.095 16   4
13   Pam Shriver (USA) 12 45 5.967 NR NR
14   Regina Maršíková (TCH) 32 91 5.559 20   6
15   Kathy May (USA) 16 38 4.706 21   6
16   Marita Redondo (USA) 17 46 4.649 NR NR
17   Greer Stevens (RSA) 7 15 4.628 13   4
18   Marise Kruger (RSA) 17 31 4.559 25   7
19   Mima Jaušovec (YUG) 20 48 4.527 11   8
20   Anne Smith (USA) 8 28 4.161 NR NR

Prize money leaders edit

No. Player Name Prize money
1   Chris Evert (USA) $454,486
2   Martina Navratilova (USA) $450,757
3   Virginia Wade (GBR) $300,027
4   Kerry Reid (AUS) $208,766
5   Wendy Turnbull (AUS) $189,583
6   Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) $180,844
7   Betty Stöve (NED) $177,243
8   Virginia Ruzici (ROU) $151,379
9   Billie Jean King (USA) $149,492
10   Regina Maršíková (TCH) $88,840

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Two wild cards for tournaments organized outside the United States.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "WTA Tour Finals" (PDF). www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  2. ^ "About the WTA". www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  3. ^ a b John Barrett, ed. (1978). World of Tennis 1978 : a BP yearbook. London: Macdonald and Janes. pp. 139, 142–143. ISBN 9780354090391.
  4. ^ John Dolan (2011). Women's Tennis 1968–84: the Ultimate Guide. Remous. p. 511.
  5. ^ "Womens International Computer Rankings" (PDF). Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 10 December 1978.

External links edit