The 1979 WTA Tour consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players. It was composed of the newly streamlined version of the Avon Championships (which was now an 11-week tour of the US) and the Colgate Series. The year 1979 also saw the creation of the first official ranking system and these rankings were used to determine acceptance into the tournaments.[1][2]

1979 WTA Tour
Martina Navratilova finished the year as world No. 1 for the second time in her career. She won ten singles tournaments during the season, including a major at the Wimbledon Championships, as well as the Avon Championships.
Details
Duration20 November 1978 – 8 January 1980
Edition7th
Tournaments57
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
WTA Championships (3)
Avon Championships Circuit (11)
Colgate Series (32)
Non-tour events (5)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titlesUnited States Martina Navratilova (10)
Most tournament finalsUnited States Martina Navratilova (17)
Prize money leaderUnited States Martina Navratilova ($618,698)
Points leaderUnited States Martina Navratilova (15.748)
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
West Germany Sylvia Hanika
Newcomer of the yearUnited States Kathy Jordan
1978
1980

Schedule edit

This is a calendar of all events which were part of either the Avon Championships circuit or the Colgate Series in the year 1979, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. Also included are the Grand Slam tournaments, the 1979 Avon Championships, the 1979 Federation Cup and a number of events not affiliated with either tour.[1]

Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Avon/Colgate Series championships
Avon Championships Circuit
Colgate Series
Non-tour events
Team events

November (1978) edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
20 Nov Colgate International
Christchurch, New Zealand
Colgate Series
Grass – $35,000 – 48S/28D
SinglesDoubles
  Regina Maršíková
6–2, 6–1
  Sylvia Hanika   Lea Antonoplis
  Mimmi Wikstedt
  Anne Hobbs
  Naoko Sato
  Jane Stratton
  Lesley Hunt
  Lesley Hunt
  Sharon Walsh
6–1, 7–5
  Katja Ebbinghaus
  Sylvia Hanika

December (1978) edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 Dec Toyota Women's Classic
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $75,000 – 64S/32D
SinglesDoubles
  Dianne Fromholtz
6–1, 1–6, 6–4
  Kerry Reid   Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Regina Maršíková
  Lesley Hunt
  Hana Mandlíková
  Lesley Hunt
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 4–6, 6–2
  Judy Chaloner
  Anne Hobbs
11 Dec Adelaide International
Adelaide, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $50,000 – 64S/32D
SinglesDoubles
  Kerry Reid
7–5, 6–7, 6–1
  Beth Norton   Hana Mandlíková
  Ilana Kloss
  Lesley Hunt
  Anne Hobbs
  Chris O'Neil
  Birgitte Hermansen
  Lesley Hunt
  Sharon Walsh
6–2, 6–2
  Ilana Kloss
  Marise Kruger
18 Dec New South Wales Open
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $75,000 – 32S
SinglesDoubles
  Dianne Fromholtz
6–2, 7–5
  Wendy Turnbull   Renáta Tomanová
  Lea Antonoplis
  Lesley Hunt
  Ilana Kloss
  Sharon Walsh
  Elisabeth Ekblom
  Lesley Hunt
  Sharon Walsh
6–2, 6–1
  Ilana Kloss
  Marise Kruger
25 Dec
1 Jan
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
Grass – 64S/32D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris O'Neil
6–3, 7–6(7–3)
  Betsy Nagelsen   Dianne Evers
  Christine Matison
  Sue Barker
  Dorte Ekner
  Mary Sawyer
  Renáta Tomanová
  Betsy Nagelsen
  Renáta Tomanová
7–5, 6–2
  Naoko Sato
  Pam Whytcross

January edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Jan Avon Championships of Washington
Washington, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Tracy Austin
6–3, 6–2
  Martina Navratilova   Dianne Fromholtz
  Ilana Kloss
  Ann Kiyomura
  Pam Teeguarden
  Anne Smith
  Pam Shriver
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
  Renée Richards
  Sharon Walsh
8 Jan Avon Championships of California
Oakland, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
7–5, 7–5
  Chris Evert   Ann Kiyomura
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Kathy May
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
  Marita Redondo
  Chris Evert
  Rosie Casals
3–6, 6–4, 6–3
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
15 Jan Avon Championships of Houston
Houston, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–2
  Virginia Wade   Dianne Fromholtz
  Wendy Turnbull
  Virginia Ruzici
  Stacy Margolin
  Rosie Casals
  Kathy Jordan
  Martina Navratilova
  Janet Newberry
4–6, 6–4, 6–2
  Pam Shriver
  Betty Stöve
22 Jan Avon Championships of Florida
Hollywood, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Hard – $150,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Greer Stevens
6–4, 2–6, 6–4
  Dianne Fromholtz   Marise Kruger
  Virginia Wade
  Carrie Meyer
  Terry Holladay
  Sue Barker
  Virginia Ruzici
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
6–2, 2–6, 6–2
  Rosie Casals
  Wendy Turnbull
29 Jan Avon Championships of Chicago
Chicago, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–4
  Tracy Austin   Kerry Reid
  Greer Stevens
  Anne Smith
  Marise Kruger
  Mima Jaušovec
  Sue Barker
  Rosie Casals
  Betty-Ann Stuart
3–6, 7–5, 7–5
  Ilana Kloss
  Greer Stevens

February edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Feb Avon Championships of Seattle
Seattle, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/15D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–1, 3–6, 6–1
  Renée Richards   Kerry Reid
  Jeanne DuVall
  Kathy Jordan
  Wendy Turnbull
  Virginia Ruzici
  Betty Stöve
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–4
  Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
12 Feb Avon Championships of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–3, 6–4
  Martina Navratilova   Tracy Austin
  Greer Stevens
  Barbara Potter
  Ann Kiyomura
  Wendy Turnbull
  Virginia Ruzici
  Rosie Casals
  Chris Evert
6–4, 1–6, 6–3
  Martina Navratilova
  Anne Smith
19 Feb Avon Championships of Detroit
Detroit, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Wendy Turnbull
7–5, 1–6, 7–6(7–4)
  Virginia Ruzici   Martina Navratilova
  Rosie Casals
  Anne Smith
  Mima Jaušovec
  Ann Kiyomura
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
  Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
26 Feb Avon Championships of Dallas
Dallas, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 32S/14D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–4
  Chris Evert   Tracy Austin
  Virginia Wade
  Stacy Margolin
  Renáta Tomanová
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Sue Barker
  Martina Navratilova
  Anne Smith
7–6, 6–2
  Rosie Casals
  Chris Evert

March edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Mar Avon Championships of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/1D
SinglesDoubles
  Wendy Turnbull
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
  Virginia Wade   Rosie Casals
  Sue Barker
  Terry Holladay
  Pam Shriver
  Greer Stevens
  Kathy Teacher
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–2
  Renée Richards
  Virginia Wade
12 Mar Avon Championships of Boston
Boston, United States
Avon Championships Circuit
Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 34S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Dianne Fromholtz
6–2, 7–6(7–4)
  Sue Barker   Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Chris Evert
  Greer Stevens
  Kerry Reid
  Marita Redondo
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 6–2
  Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
19 Mar Avon Championships
New York City, United States
Season-end championships
Carpet (i) – $275,000 – 8S/4D
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 3–6, 6–2
  Tracy Austin   Sue Barker
  Dianne Fromholtz
Round robin
  Greer Stevens
  Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Chris Evert
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–3)
  Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
26 Mar WTA La Costa Classic
Carlsbad, United States
Non-tour event
$35,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Kerry Reid
7–6, 3–6, 6–2
  Sue Barker
  Marcie Louie
  Regina Maršíková
6–2, 2–6, 6–4
  Mareen Louie
  Marita Redondo

April edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Apr Bridgestone Doubles Championships
Tokyo, Japan
Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 8D
Doubles
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
7–5, 7–6(9–7)
  Sue Barker
  Ann Kiyomura
  Melville /   Turnbull
  Hunt /   Walsh
  Acker /   Carillo
  Wade /   Newberry
  Casals /   Smith
  Meyer /   Teeguarden
Clairol Crown
Carlsbad United States
Non-tour event
Grass – $200,000 – 4S
  Chris Evert
3–6, 6–3, 6–1
  Dianne Fromholtz   Tracy Austin (3rd)
  Martina Navratilova (4th)
9 Apr Family Circle Cup
Amelia Island, United States
Colgate Series
Clay – $150,000 – 30S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Tracy Austin
7–6(7–3), 7–6(9–7)
  Kerry Reid   Martina Navratilova
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Mima Jaušovec
  Lele Forood
  Betty Stöve
  Laura duPont
  Rosie Casals
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 7–5
  Françoise Dürr
  Betty Stöve
30 Apr Federation Cup
Madrid, Spain
Clay – 32 teams knockout
  United States
3–0
  Australia   Czechoslovakia
  Soviet Union
  France
   Switzerland
  Great Britain
  Netherlands

May edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 May Italian Open
Rome, Italy
Colgate Series
$100,000 – clay
SinglesDoubles
  Tracy Austin
6–4, 1–6, 6–3
  Sylvia Hanika   Chris Evert
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Ivanna Madruga
  Virginia Ruzici
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Iris Riedel-Kuhn
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty Stöve
6–3, 6–4
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Kerry Reid
14 May Bancroft Trophy
Vienna, Austria
Colgate Series
$75,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–1, 6–1
  Caroline Stoll   Regina Maršíková
  Virginia Ruzici
  Yvonne Vermaak
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Marise Kruger
  Dianne Fromholtz
3–6, 6–4, 6–1
  Ilana Kloss
  Betty-Ann Stuart
21 May German Open
West Berlin, West Germany
Colgate Series
Clay – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Caroline Stoll
7–6(7–4), 6–0
  Regina Maršíková   Virginia Ruzici
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Mima Jaušovec
  Sylvia Hanika
  Renáta Tomanová
  Kerry Reid
  Rosie Casals
  Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 7–5
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Kerry Reid
28 May
4 Jun
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
Clay – $375,000 – 64S/64Q/32D/28X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Chris Evert
6–2, 6–0
  Wendy Turnbull   Dianne Fromholtz
  Regina Maršíková
  Ruta Gerulaitis
  Virginia Ruzici
  Hana Mandlíková
  Renáta Tomanová
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
3–6, 7–5, 6–4
  Françoise Dürr
  Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Bob Hewitt
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
  Virginia Ruzici
  Ion Țiriac

June edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 Jun Kentish Times
Beckenham, Great Britain
Non-tour event
Hard
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–3, 6–2
  Pam Shriver
  Jo Durie
  Debbie Jevans
  Elizabeth Little
  Nicole Pratt
11 Jun Crossley Carpets Trophy
Chichester, Great Britain
Colgate Series
Grass – $35,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–1, 6–4
  Sue Barker   Billie Jean King
  Tanya Harford
  Martina Navratilova
  Pam Teeguarden
  Kate Latham
  Pam Shriver
  Greer Stevens
  Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 1–6, 7–5
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
18 Jun Colgate International
Eastbourne, Great Britain
Colgate Series
Grass – $100,000 – 64S/32D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
7–5, 5–7, 13–11
  Martina Navratilova   Tracy Austin
  Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Ilana Kloss
  Bettina Bunge
  Kerry Reid
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 6–2
  Ilana Kloss
  Betty-Ann Stuart
25 Jun
2 July
Wimbledon Championships
London, Great Britain
Grand Slam
Grass – 96S/48D/48X
Draws: SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–4
  Chris Evert   Tracy Austin
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Billie Jean King
  Virginia Wade
  Wendy Turnbull
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
5–7, 6–3, 6–2
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
  Greer Stevens
  Bob Hewitt
7–5, 7–6(9–7)
  Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan

July edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
16 Jul Austrian Open
Kitzbühel, Austria
Colgate Series
Clay – $35,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Hana Mandlíková
2–6, 7–5, 6–3
  Sylvia Hanika
  Helena Anliot
  Dianne Evers
6–0, 6–4
  Virginia Ruzici
  Elly Vessies
30 Jul Wells Fargo Open
Wells Fargo, United States
Colgate Series
Hard – $75,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Tracy Austin
6–4, 6–2
  Martina Navratilova   Virginia Wade
  Kathy Jordan
  Anne Smith
  Kerry Reid
  Marita Redondo
  Ann Kiyomura
  Rosie Casals
  Martina Navratilova
3–6, 6–4, 6–2
  Ann Kiyomura
  Betty-Ann Stuart

August edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Aug U.S. Clay Court Championships
Indianapolis, United States
Colgate Series
Clay – $100,000 – 48S/24D
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–4, 6–3
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley   Renée Richards
  Regina Maršíková
  Mima Jaušovec
  Virginia Ruzici
  Anne Smith
  Jeanne DuVall
  Kathy Jordan
  Anne Smith
6–1, 6–0
  Penny Johnson
  Paula Smith
13 Aug Rothmans Canadian Open
Toronto, Canada
Colgate Series
$35,000 – hard
SinglesDoubles
  Laura duPont
6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–1
  Brigitte Cuypers   Diane Desfor
  Pam Teeguarden
  Chris O'Neil
  Lea Antonoplis
  Kay McDaniel
  Mary Carillo
  Lea Antonoplis
  Dianne Evers
2–6, 6–1, 6–3
  Chris O'Neil
  Mimmi Wikstedt
Central Fidelity Banks International
Richmond, United States
Colgate Series
$100,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–1, 6–3
  Kathy Jordan   Wendy Turnbull
  Virginia Wade
  Anne Smith
  Kerry Reid
  Kate Latham
  Greer Stevens
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
6–1, 6–4
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
20 Aug Volvo Tennis Cup
Mahwah, United States
Colgate Series
$75,000 – clay
SinglesDoubles
  Chris Evert
6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–1
  Tracy Austin   Betty Stöve
  Virginia Ruzici
  Sue Barker
  Ivanna Madruga
  Terry Holladay
  Regina Maršíková
  Tracy Austin
  Betty Stöve
7–6(7–4), 2–6, 6–4
  Mima Jaušovec
  Regina Maršíková
27 Aug
3 Sep
US Open
New York City, United States
Grand Slam
Hard – $300,000 – 96S/32D/32X
Draw: SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
  Tracy Austin
6–3, 6–4
  Chris Evert   Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Virginia Wade
  Sylvia Hanika
  Kerry Reid
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
7–5, 6–3
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
  Greer Stevens
  Bob Hewitt
6–3, 7–5
  Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan

September edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
10 Sep Toray Sillook Open
Tokyo, Japan
Colgate Series
Hard – $150,000 – 32S
  Billie Jean King
6–4, 7–5
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley   Dianne Fromholtz (3rd)
  Ann Kiyomura (4th)
  Terry Holladay
  Kerry Reid
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty Stöve
Greater Pittsburgh Open
Pittsburgh, United States
Colgate Series
Hard – $35,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Sue Barker
6–3, 6–1
  Renée Richards
  Sue Barker
  Candy Reynolds
6–3, 6–2
  Bunny Bruning
  Jane Stratton
24 Sep Davison's Tennis Classic
Atlanta, United States
Colgate Series
$100,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
7–6(8–6), 6–4
  Wendy Turnbull   Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Tracy Austin
  Virginia Wade
  Marise Kruger
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Chris Evert
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 6–4
  Ann Kiyomura
  Anne Smith

October edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Oct US Indoors Championships
Minneapolis, United States
Colgate Series
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–3, 6–4
  Dianne Fromholtz   Martina Navratilova
  Tracy Austin
  Ann Kiyomura
  Billie Jean King
  Virginia Wade
  Kerry Reid
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 7–6(9–7)
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
8 Oct Thunderbird Classic
Phoenix, United States
Colgate Series
Hard – $100,000 – 32S/16S
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–1, 6–3
  Chris Evert   Kate Latham
  Wendy Turnbull
  Laura duPont
  Kerry Reid
  Caroline Stoll
  Ann Kiyomura
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 7–6(7–4)
  Rosie Casals
  Chris Evert
15 Oct Borden Classic
Kyoto, Japan
Colgate Series
$35,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Betsy Nagelsen
6–3, 6–4
  Naoko Sato
  Chen Chuan
  Yu Li-Qiao
6–0, 7–6
  Sue Saliba
  Mary Sawyer
22 Oct Florida Federal Open
Tampa, USA
Colgate Series
Hard – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6–0, 6–3
  Virginia Wade   Chris Evert
  Tracy Austin
  Virginia Ruzici
  Regina Maršíková
  Wendy Turnbull
  Kerry Reid
  Anne Smith
  Virginia Ruzici
7–5, 4–6, 7–5
  Ilana Kloss
  Betty-Ann Stuart
Hit Union Japan Open
Tokyo, Japan
Colgate Series
$35,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Betsy Nagelsen
6–1, 3–6, 6–3
  Naoko Sato
  Betsy Nagelsen
  Penny Johnson
3–6, 6–4, 7–6
  Chen Chuan
  Yu Li-Qiao
29 Oct Stockholm Open
Stockholm, Sweden
Colgate Series
$35,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–7, 7–5
  Betty Stöve   Virginia Ruzici
  Lena Sandin
  Hana Mandlíková
  Brigitte Cuypers
  Anne Smith
  Mima Jaušovec
  Betty Stöve
  Wendy Turnbull
7–5, 7–6
  Billie Jean King
  Ilana Kloss
Wightman Cup
West Palm Beach, United States
Hard (i)
Team event
  United States
7–0
  Great Britain

November edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 Nov Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Filderstadt, West Germany
Colgate Series
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Tracy Austin
6–2, 6–0
  Martina Navratilova   Mima Jaušovec
  Chris Evert
  Kerry Reid
  Nina Bohm
  Regina Maršíková
  Wendy Turnbull
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–3
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty Stöve
19 Nov Daihatsu Challenge
Brighton, Great Britain
Colgate Series
$75,000 – carpet (i)
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–3, 6–3
  Chris Evert   Billie Jean King
  Sylvia Hanika
  Ilana Kloss
  Glynis Coles
  Virginia Wade
  Virginia Ruzici
  Ann Kiyomura
  Anne Smith
6–2, 6–1
  Ilana Kloss
  Laura duPont
26 Nov Toyota Classic
Melbourne, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Hana Mandlíková
6–3, 6–2
  Wendy Turnbull   Renee Blount
  Virginia Ruzici
  Mimmi Wikstedt
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Sue Barker
  Billie Jean King
  Wendy Turnbull
  Billie Jean King
6–3, 6–3
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Anne Smith

December edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 Dec NSW Building Society Women's Classic
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Sue Barker
6–0, 7–5
  Rosalyn Fairbank   Diane Desfor
  Regina Maršíková
  Virginia Ruzici
  Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
  Betty-Ann Stuart
  Wendy Turnbull
  Billie Jean King
7–5, 6–4
  Pam Shriver
  Sue Barker
10 Dec Berri Fruit Juices
Adelaide, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $100,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Hana Mandlíková
7–5, 2–2 ret.
  Virginia Ruzici   Sue Barker
  Betty-Ann Stuart
  Pam Shriver
  Susan Leo
  Roberta McCallum
  Diane Desfor
  Hana Mandlíková
  Virginia Ruzici
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
  Pam Shriver
  Sue Barker
15 Dec Emeron Lion Cup
Tokyo, Japan
Non-tour event
Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 4S
  Tracy Austin
6–2, 6–1
  Martina Navratilova   Billie Jean King (3rd)
  Dianne Fromholtz (4th)
17 Dec Nabisco NSW
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $50,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
  Hana Mandlíková
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
  Bettina Bunge   Sue Barker
  Renáta Tomanová
  Rosalyn Fairbank
  Diane Morrison
  Janet Newberry
  Leanne Harrison
  Diane Desfor
  Barbara Hallquist
4–6, 6–2, 6–2
  Barbara Jordan
  Kym Ruddell
24 Dec
31 Dec
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
Grass – $350,000 – 64S/32D
SinglesDoubles
  Barbara Jordan
6–3, 6–3
  Sharon Walsh   Mary Sawyer
  Renáta Tomanová
  Janet Newberry
  Michele Gurdal
  Cynthia Doerner
  Hana Mandlíková
  Judy Connor Chaloner
  Dianne Evers Brown
6–1, 3–6, 6–0
  Leanne Harrison
  Marcella Mesker

January (1980) edit

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Jan Colgate Series Championships
Landover, United States
Colgate Series championships
$250,000 – grass
SinglesDoubles
  Martina Navratilova
6–2, 6–1
  Tracy Austin   Chris Evert
  Wendy Turnbull
Round robin
  Dianne Fromholtz
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Regina Maršíková
  Kerry Reid
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–3
  Rosie Casals
  Chris Evert

Rankings edit

Below are the 1979 WTA year-end rankings (December 31, 1979) in both singles and doubles competition:

Singles Year-end Ranking[3]
No Player Name Points 1978 Change
1   Martina Navratilova (USA) 15.748 1  
2   Chris Evert (USA) 14.111 2  
3   Tracy Austin (USA) 14.004 6   3
4   Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) 11.814 3   1
5   Billie Jean King (USA) 8.857 5  
6   Dianne Fromholtz (AUS) 8.375 10   4
7   Wendy Turnbull (AUS) 8.214 7  
8   Virginia Wade (GBR) 7.959 4   4
9   Kerry Reid (AUS) 6.645 9  
10   Sue Barker (GBR) 6.618 24   14
11   Kathy Jordan (USA) 6.555 NR NR
12   Greer Stevens (RSA) 6.336 17   5
13   Virginia Ruzici (ROU) 6.149 12   1
14   Regina Maršíková (TCH) 6.013 14  
15   Ann Kiyomura (USA) 5.457 39   24
16   Sylvia Hanika (FRG) 5.010 35   19
17   Hana Mandlíková (TCH) 4.952 45   28
18   Caroline Stoll (USA) 4.951 26   8
19   Kathy May (USA) 4.768 15   4
20   Mima Jaušovec (YUG) 4.270 19   1

Colgate Series edit

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.[4] 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

Avon Championships Circuit edit

Points standing edit

Prize money edit

Combined prize money for singles and doubles events.

No Player Name Prize money
1   Martina Navratilova (USA) $271,500
2   Tracy Austin (USA) $123,250
3   Chris Evert (USA) $115,875
4   Wendy Turnbull (AUS) $103,425
5   Dianne Fromholtz (AUS) $93,250
6   Sue Barker (GBR) $84,775
7   Greer Stevens (RSA) $73,050
8   Virginia Wade (GBR) $70,500
9   Rosemary Casals (USA) $55,425
10   Betty Stöve (NED) $45,100

See also edit

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. ^ "Womens International Computer Rankings" (PDF). Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 31 December 1979.
  4. ^ John Barrett, ed. (1980). World of Tennis 1980 : a BP yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 137, 140. ISBN 9780362020120. OCLC 237184610.

External links edit