Women's tennis circuit
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.
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 – grassSingles – Doubles 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 – grassSingles – Doubles 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 – hardSingles – Doubles 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 – hardSingles – Doubles 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 – grassSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/15DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 6 Mar Virginia Slims of Dallas Dallas , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/14DSingles – Doubles 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/14DSingles – Doubles 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/1DSingles – Double 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)Single – Doubles 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
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 15 May German Open Hamburg , West Germany Colgate Series (A) $35,000 – clay – 64S/16DSingles – Doubles 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 – claySingles – Doubles 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/24XSingles – Doubles – Mixed 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
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 5 Jun Kent Championships Beckenham , Great Britain Non-tour event HardSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–4, 6–2 Laura duPont 12 Jun Keith Prowse International Chichester , Great Britain Colgate Series (A) $35,000 – grass – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles 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/32DSingles – Doubles 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/64XSingles – Doubles – Mixed 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
No tournaments this month
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 7 Aug US Clay Court Championships Indianapolis , United States Colgate Series (A) $35,000 – clay – 48S/24DSingles – Doubles 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 – hardSingles – Doubles 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 – hardSingles – Doubles 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/32XSingles – Doubles – Mixed 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/16DSingles – Doubles 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/18DSingles – Doubles 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)Singles – Doubles 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/16SSingles – Doubles 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)Singles – Doubles 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)Singles – Doubles 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)Singles – Doubles 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 – claySingles – Doubles 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 Britain4–3 United States
November [ edit ] Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 6 Nov Florida Federal Open Oldsmar , United States Colgate Series (AA) $75,000 – hardSingles – Doubles 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 – hardSingles – Doubles 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 ] 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 ] No. Player name Prize money 1 Martina Navratilova (USA ) 9 $214,350 2 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS ) 6 $114,450 3 Billie Jean King (USA ) 9 $68,025 4 Betty Stöve (NED ) 7 $67,000 5 Wendy Turnbull (USA ) 9 $63,300 6 Virginia Wade (GBR ) 9 $58,900 7 Rosemary Casals (USA ) 10 $52,300 8 Kerry Reid (AUS ) 7 $36,700 9 Chris Evert (USA ) 2 $30,500 10 Dianne Fromholtz (AUS ) 8 $22,450
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:
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 ] ^ Two wild cards for tournaments organized outside the United States. References [ edit ] External links [ edit ]