1979 WTA Tour

Women's tennis circuit

1979 WTA Tour
Details
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.
Duration	20 November 1978 – 8 January 1980
Edition	7th
Tournaments	57
Categories	Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships (3) Avon Championships Circuit (11) Colgate Series (32) Non-tour events (5)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles	Martina Navratilova (10)
Most tournament finals	Martina Navratilova (17)
Prize money leader	Martina Navratilova ($618,698)
Points leader	Martina Navratilova (15.748)
Awards
Player of the year	Martina Navratilova
Doubles team of the year	Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova
Most improved player of the year	Sylvia Hanika
Newcomer of the year	Kathy Jordan
← 1978 1980 →

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]

Schedule

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)

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

December (1978)

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

January

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

February

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

March

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

April

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
2 Apr	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 Singles – Doubles	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
9 Apr		Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova 6–4, 7–5	Françoise Dürr Betty Stöve	Martina Navratilova Evonne Goolagong Cawley	Mima Jaušovec Lele Forood Betty Stöve Laura duPont
30 Apr	Federation Cup Madrid, Spain Clay – 32 teams knockout	United States 3–0	Australia	Czechoslovakia Soviet Union	France Switzerland Great Britain Netherlands

May

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

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

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
16 Jul	Austrian Open Kitzbühel, Austria Colgate Series Clay – $35,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Hana Mandlíková 2–6, 7–5, 6–3	Sylvia Hanika
16 Jul		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 Singles – Doubles	Tracy Austin 6–4, 6–2	Martina Navratilova	Virginia Wade Kathy Jordan	Anne Smith Kerry Reid Marita Redondo Ann Kiyomura
30 Jul		Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–4, 6–2	Ann Kiyomura Betty-Ann Stuart	Virginia Wade Kathy Jordan	Anne Smith Kerry Reid Marita Redondo Ann Kiyomura

August

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

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 Singles – Doubles	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) Singles – Doubles	Martina Navratilova 7–6^(8–6), 6–4	Wendy Turnbull	Evonne Goolagong Cawley Tracy Austin	Virginia Wade Marise Kruger Dianne Fromholtz Chris Evert
24 Sep		Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 6–4	Ann Kiyomura Anne Smith	Evonne Goolagong Cawley Tracy Austin	Virginia Wade Marise Kruger Dianne Fromholtz Chris Evert

October

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

November

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

December

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

January (1980)

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

Rankings

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

Points system

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

Points standing

Singles
No	Player Name	Tournaments	Points
1	Martina Navratilova (USA)	7	2,500
2	Dianne Fromholtz (AUS)	8	1,660
3	Wendy Turnbull (AUS)	8	1,640
4	Chris Evert (USA)	6	1,586
5	Virginia Wade (GBR)	7	1,296
6	Tracy Austin (USA)	6	1,236
7	Greer Stevens (RSA)	7	1,156
8	Sue Barker (GBR)	9	1,062

Doubles
No	Team	Points
1	Rosemary Casals (USA) Chris Evert (USA)	1,140
2	Françoise Dürr (FRA) Betty Stöve (NED)	1,040
3	Sue Barker (GBR) Ann Kiyomura (USA)	900
4	Tracy Austin (USA) Betty Stöve (NED)	850
5	Mima Jaušovec (YUG) Virginia Ruzici (ROU)	820
6	Kerry Reid (AUS) Wendy Turnbull (AUS)	750

Prize money

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

References

^ ^a ^b "WTA Tour Finals" (PDF). www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
^ "About the WTA". www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
^ "Womens International Computer Rankings" (PDF). Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 31 December 1979.
^ John Barrett, ed. (1980). World of Tennis 1980 : a BP yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 137, 140. ISBN 9780362020120. OCLC 237184610.

External links

Women's Tennis Association (WTA) official website
International Tennis Federation (ITF) official website

WTA Tour seasons

1979

WTA Tennis Association

v t e Women's tennis seasons
Seasons (1881-1912) ILTF World Circuit (1913-72)	1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972
ILTF Independent Circuit	1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
ILTF Grand Prix Circuit	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
Virginia Slims Circuit	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975
Virginia Slims/Colgate Series	1976 1977 1978
Avon/Colgate Series	1979 1980
Avon/Toyota Series	1981 1982
Virginia Slims World Championship Series	1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
WTA Tour	1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e 1979 WTA Tour « 1978 1980 »
Grand Slam events	French Open (S, D, X) Wimbledon (S, D, X) US Open (S, D, X) Australian Open (S, D)
Avon Championships Circuit	Washington (S, D) Oakland (S, D) Houston (S, D) Hollywood (S, D) Chicago (S, D) Seattle (S, D) Los Angeles (S, D) Detroit (S, D) Dallas (S, D) Philadelphia (S, D) Boston (S, D)
Colgate Series	Christchurch (S, D) Sydney 1 (S, D) Adelaide (S, D) Sydney 2 (S, D) Hilton Head (S, D) Rome (S, D) Vienna (S, D) Berlin (S, D) Chichester (S, D) Eastbourne (S, D) Kitzbühel (S, D) San Diego (S, D) Indianapolis (S, D) Toronto (S, D) Richmond (S, D) Mahwah (S, D) Tokyo 1 (S) Pittsburgh (S, D) Atlanta (S, D) Minneapolis (S, D) Phoenix (S, D) Tampa (S, D) Stockholm (S, D) Filderstadt (S, D) Brighton (S, D) Melbourne (S, D) Sydney 3 (S, D)
Non-Tour Events	Beckenham (S, D) Tokyo 2 (S, D) Tokyo 3 (S, D)
Team events	Fed Cup Wightman Cup
Avon Championships (S, D) Bridgestone Doubles Championships (D) Colgate Series Championships (S, D)