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Women's Tennis Association

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Image:WTA Tour.gif
The Women's Tennis Association, is also known as the WTA Tour, and is to women's tennis what the ATP is to men's tennis. In 2005 the WTA changed its name into The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

The Women's Tennis Association was begun in Houston, Texas when the inaugural Virginia Slims event was won on 23 September 1970. Billie Jean King was a major figure in the early days of the WTA.

Contents

[edit] Tournament categories

  1. Grand Slam Events
  2. Season-ending championships (WTA Tour Championships): with Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) prize money.
  3. Tier tournaments:
    1. Tier I (minimum prize money of $1,340,000): There are ten (10) Tier I Tournaments.
    2. Tier II (minimum prize money of $600,000): There are sixteen (16) Tier II Tournaments.
    3. Tier III (minimum prize money of $175,000): There are seventeen (17) Tournaments in this Tier.
    4. Tier IV (minimum prize money of $145,000): There are twelve (12) Tournaments in this Tier.

[edit] Ranking

The organization releases a weekly ranking of the players's performance in the tour. Players' ranking points are counted how they fare on individual rounds of a tournament (round points). The following table gives the distribution of "round points":

Description W F SF QF R16 R32 R64 R128 QLFR Q3 Q2 Q1
Grand Slam (Singles) 700 492 314 174 96 62 38 2 31 25 15 2
Grand Slam (Doubles) 700 492 314 174 96 62 2 - 22 - - -
Tour Championships 525 369 235 130 72 - - - - - - -
Tier I (128) $3,000,000 350 246 157 87 48 31 19 1 15.5 - 7.5 1
Tier I (128) $2,000,000 325 228 146 81 45 28 16 1 11 - 6.25 1
Tier I (32) $2,000,000 325 228 146 81 45 1 - - 20 - - -
Tier I (16) $1,300,000 300 210 135 75 1 - - - 19 - - -
Tier I (32) $1,300,000 300 210 135 75 42 1 - - 18.5 10.5 5.75 1
Tier I (64) $1,300,000 300 210 135 75 42 25 1 - 10.5 - 5.75 1
Tier II (16) $650,000 220 154 99 55 1 - - - 13 - - -
Tier II (32) $650,000 220 154 99 55 29 1 - - 13.25 7.75 4.5 1
Tier II (64) $650,000 220 154 99 55 29 15 1 - 7.75 - 4.5 1
Tier II (16) $585,000 195 137 88 49 1 - - - 11.75 - - -
Tier II (32) $585,000 195 137 88 49 25 1 - - 11.75 6.75 4 1
Tier II (64) $585,000 195 137 88 49 25 14 1 - 11.75 6.75 4 1
Tier II (64) $585,000 195 137 88 49 25 14 1 - 6.75 - 4 1
Tier III (16) $225,000 145 103 66 37 1 - - - 9.5 - - -
Tier III (32) $225,000 145 103 66 37 19 1 - - 8.5 4.5 2.75 1
Tier III (64) $225,000 145 103 66 37 19 10 1 - 4.5 - 2.75 1
Tier III (16) $170,000 120 85 55 30 1 - - - 7.5 - - -
Tier III (32) $170,000 120 85 55 30 16 1 - - 7.25 3.75 2.25 1
Tier III (64) $170,000 120 85 55 30 16 9 1 - 3.75 - 2.25 1
Tier IV (16) $140,000 95 67 43 24 1 - - - 6.25 - - -
Tier IV (32) $140,000 95 67 43 24 12 1 - - 5.5 3.5 2 1
Tier IV (32) $140,000 95 67 43 24 12 1 - - 3.5 - 2 1
Tier V (16) $110,000 80 56 36 20 1 - - - 5 - - -
Tier V (32) $110,000 80 56 36 20 10 1 - - 4.5 3 2 1
ITF $75,000 + H* (16) 65 46 29 16 1 - - - - - - -
ITF $75,000 + H* (32) 65 46 29 16 8 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1
ITF $75,000 (16) 55 38.5 24.5 14.5 1 - - - - - - -
ITF $75,000 (32) 55 38.5 24.5 14.5 7 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1
ITF $50,000 + H* (16) 45 31.5 20 11.5 1 - - - - - - -
ITF $50,000 + H* (32) 45 31.5 20 11.5 5.5 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1
ITF $50,000 (16) 35 24.5 15.5 8.5 1 - - - - - - -
ITF $50,000 (32) 35 24.5 15.5 8.5 5 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1
ITF $25,000 (16) 25 17 11.5 7 1 - - - - - - -
ITF $25,000 (32) 25 17 11.5 7 3.5 1 - - 1.5 - .5 .25
ITF $10,000 M** (8) 12 8 5 1 - - - - - - - -
ITF $10,000 M**(16) 12 8 5 3 1 - - - - - - -
ITF $10,000 (16) 6 4 2 1.5 - - - - - - - -
ITF $10,000 (32) 6 4 2 1.5 1 - - - .75 - - -
ITF $ 5,000 M** (8) 5 4 2 1 - - - - - - - -
ITF $ 5,000 M**(16) 5 4 2 1.5 1 - - - - - - -

(*) “+H” indicates that Hospitality is provided (**) “M” indicates a Masters event

A player's point total is calculated on a weekly basis, counting only tournaments played within the last year. The top 17 tournaments of the past year count toward a player's point total, with the lowest of the player's scores being dropped from the total. The exceptions are the four grand slam tournaments, which always count toward the player's point total, even if their score in the slam is lower than another score achieved in a non-slam tournament.

In 1996, the WTA started awarding players "quality points", which were calculated based on the rankings of players they defeated in tournaments. This would give more points to a player who beat a top ranked player than one who beat a lower ranked player. Quality points were discontinued after the 2005 season and are no longer used.

This is a list of players who have achieved the number one position in singles since the rankings' inception in 1975:

# Player Country Date Reached Weeks
1 Chris Evert Image:Flag of the United States.svg 3 November 1975 262
2 Martina Navratilova Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg / Image:Flag of the United States.svg 10 July 1978 331
3 Tracy Austin Image:Flag of the United States.svg 7 April 1980 22
4 Steffi Graf Image:Flag of Germany.svg 17 August 1987 377
5 Monica Seles Image:Flag of FR Yugoslavia.svg / Image:Flag of the United States.svg 11 March 1991 178
6 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Image:Flag of Spain.svg 6 February 1995 12
7 Martina Hingis Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg 31 March 1997 209
8 Lindsay Davenport Image:Flag of the United States.svg 12 October 1998 98
9 Jennifer Capriati Image:Flag of the United States.svg 15 October 2001 17
10 Venus Williams Image:Flag of the United States.svg 25 February 2002 11
11 Serena Williams Image:Flag of the United States.svg 8 July 2002 57
12 Kim Clijsters Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 11 August 2003 19
13 Justine Henin Hardenne Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 20 October 2003 46
14 Amélie Mauresmo Image:Flag of France.svg 13 September 2004 39
15 Maria Sharapova Image:Flag of Russia.svg 22 August 2005 7

[edit] Records

[edit] Most titles won during the open era

1. Martina Navratilova: 167
2. Chris Evert: 154
3. Steffi Graf: 107
4. Margaret Smith Court: 92
5. Evonne Goolagong Cawley: 68
6. Billie Jean King: 67
7. Virginia Wade: 55
8. Monica Seles: 53
9. Lindsay Davenport: 51
10. Martina Hingis: 42
11. Kim Clijsters: 33
11. Conchita Martinez: 33
11. Venus Williams: 33
14. Tracy Austin: 30

[edit] Most titles won in a year during the open era

Before 1990 (15 +):
 1. 21 - Margaret Smith Court (1970)
2. 18 - Margaret Smith Court (1969, 1973)
3. 17 - Billie Jean King (1971)
4. 16 - Chris Evert (1974, 1975)
4. 16 - Martina Navratilova (1983)
6. 15 - Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1970)
6. 15 - Martina Navratilova (1982)

Since 1990 (8 +):
 1. 12 - Martina Hingis (1997)
2. 10 - Monica Seles (1991, 1992)
2. 10 - Steffi Graf (1990, 1993)
4. 9 - Monica Seles (1990)
4. 9 - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (1994)
4. 9 - Steffi Graf (1995)
4. 9 - Martina Hingis (2000)
4. 9 - Kim Clijsters (2003, 2005)
9. 8 - Serena Williams (2002)
9. 8 - Steffi Graf (1992)
9. 8 - Justine Henin-Hardenne (2003)

[edit] Oldest winners of a title during the open era

  1. Billie Jean King: 39 yrs, 7 mos, 23 days (1983 Birmingham)
  2. Martina Navratilova: 37 yrs, 4 mos, 2 days (1994 Paris Indoors)
  3. Margaret Smith Court: 34 yrs, 4 mos, 26 days (1976 Melbourne)

[edit] Youngest winners of a title during the open era

  1. Tracy Austin: 14 yrs, 0 mos, 28 days (1977 Portand)
  2. Andrea Jaeger: 14 yrs, 7 mos, 14 days (1980 Las Vegas)
  3. Kathy Rinaldi: 14 yrs, 6 mos, 24 days (1981 Kyoto)

[edit] Most matches won during the open era

  1. Martina Navratilova: 1442
  2. Chris Evert: 1304
  3. Steffi Graf: 900
  4. Virginia Wade: 839
  5. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario: 759
  6. Lindsay Davenport: 716
  7. Conchita Martinez: 711
  8. Evonne Goolagong Cawley: 704
  9. Billie Jean King: 695
  10. Gabriela Sabatini: 632
  11. Pam Shriver: 625
  12. Helena Sukova: 614
  13. Nathalie Tauziat: 606

[edit] Longest winning streaks during the open era

  1. 74 - Martina Navratilova (1984)
  2. 66 - Steffi Graf (1989-90)
  3. 58 - Martina Navratilova (1986-87)
  4. 57 - Margaret Smith Court (1972-73)
  5. 55 - Chris Evert (1974)
  6. 54 - Martina Navratilova (1983-84)

[edit] Calendar-year Grand Slams

  • Maureen Connolly Brinker (United States) in 1953
  • Margaret Smith Court (Australia) in 1970
  • Steffi Graf (Germany) in 1988
    • It should also be noted that Graf won the Olympic gold medal in tennis that same year. Her overall achievement has been dubbed the "Golden Slam."

[edit] Non calendar-year Grand Slams

(does not include any tournaments that were part of a player's calendar year Grand Slam and if a player won five, six, or seven consecutive Grand Slam singles tournaments, only the first four are listed)

[edit] Career Grand Slams in singles

(year indicates first victory in a particular Grand Slam event)

[edit] Grand Slam title leaders

Player Australia France Wimbledon United States Overall Total
S D MD S D MD S D MD S D MD S D MD
Margaret Smith Court 11 8 2 5 4 4 3 2 5 5 5 8 24 19 19 62
Martina Navratilova 3 8 1 2 7 2 9 7 4 4 9 3 18 31 10 59
Billie Jean King 1 0 1 1 1 2 6 10 4 4 5 4 12 16 11 39
Margaret Osborne duPont A A A 2 3 0 1 5 1 3 13 9 6 21 10 37
Louise Brough Clapp 1 1 0 0 5 0 4 5 4 1 11 4 6 22 8 36
Doris Hart 1 1 2 2 5 3 1 4 5 2 4 5 6 14 15 35

[S=Singles; D=Doubles; MD= Mixed Doubles; A = never played in the event]

[edit] Miscellaneous

  • Career money leaders (as of November 20, 2006)
Rank Player Prize Money (US$)
1. Image:Flag of Germany.svg Steffi Graf 21,895,277
2. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Lindsay Davenport* 21,763,653
3. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova 21,626,089
4. Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Martina Hingis* 19,505,362
5. Image:Flag of Spain.svg Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 16,942,640
6. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Venus Williams* 16,295,594
7. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Serena Williams* 16,006,592
8. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Monica Seles 14,891,762
9. Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kim Clijsters* 14,350,137
10. Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Justine Henin-Hardenne* 13,573,319
* = active player
  • Singles Win-Loss Career
Rank Player Win Loss Ratio
1. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Chris Evert 1,304 144 .901
2. Image:Flag of Germany.svg Steffi Graf 900 115 .887
3. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Martina Navratilova 1,442 219 .868
4. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Monica Seles 595 122 .830
5. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Serena Williams 320 67 .827
6. Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Martina Hingis 524 120 .814
7. Image:Flag of the United States.svg Venus Williams 425 100 .810
8. Image:Flag of Russia (bordered).svg Maria Sharapova 233 55 .809
9. Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Justine Henin Hardenne 414 99 .807
10. Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kim Clijsters 413 100 .805

Minimum of 25 tournaments played. The source for this table is the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) as of November 20, 2006. For reasons that the WTA does not explain, the list omits players such as Billie Jean King (.818 win ratio in 850 matches), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (.810 win ratio in 869 matches), and Margaret Smith Court.

[edit] Other trivia

  • As of November 20, 2006
    • 174 players have earned at least U.S. $1 million since 1970.
    • 33 players have earned at least U.S. $5 million since 1970.
    • 14 players have earned at least U.S. $10 million since 1970.
    • 7 players have earned at least U.S. $15 million dollars since 1970.
    • 3 players have earned at least U.S. $20 million dollars since 1970.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

de:Women's Tennis Association es:WTA fr:WTA Tour it:Women's Tennis Association he:הסבב העולמי לנשים (WTA) nl:Women's Tennis Association ja:女子テニス協会 pl:Women's Tennis Association ru:WTA scn:Women's Tennis Association sr:Женска тениска асоцијација sh:Ženska teniska asocijacija fi:Women's Tennis Association sv:WTA-touren tr:WTA zh:女子网球联合会

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