Women's Tennis Association

 

The Women's Tennis Association, formed in 1973, is the principal organizing body of women's professional tennis. It organizes the WTA Tour, the worldwide professional tennis tour for women, which has (for sponsorship reasons) been known since 2005 as The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the ATP.

The Women's Tennis Association can trace its origins back to 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.

Tournament categories

The WTA divides the main women's tournaments into several tiers:

1. Grand Slam Events (4)
2. Season-ending championships (Sony Ericsson 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.

Ranking points are also available at certain International Tennis Federation (ITF) events below Tier IV (see next section).

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" (note that these values were changed for the 2007 season):

Description	W	F	SF	QF	R16	R32	R64	R128	QLFR	Q3	Q2	Q1
Grand Slam (Singles)	1000	700	450	250	140	90	60	2	31	25	15	2
Grand Slam (Doubles)	1000	700	450	250	140	90	2	-	24	-	-	-
SE Champs (Singles)	750	525	335	185	105	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
SE Champs (Doubles)	750	525	335	185	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier I $3,000,000 (Singles)	500	350	225	125	70	45	30	1	20	-	10	1
Tier I $3,000,000 (Doubles)	500	350	225	125	70	1	-	-	15	-	10	1
Tier I $2,000,000 (Singles)	465	325	210	115	65	40	25	1	15	-	10	1
Tier I $2,000,000 (Doubles)	465	325	210	115	65	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier I $1,340,000 (56S)	430	300	195	110	60	35	1	-	15	-	10	1
Tier I $1,340,000 (28S/32D)	430	300	195	110	60	1	-	-	20	15	10	1
Tier I $1,340,000 (16D)	430	300	195	110	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier II $650,000 (28S)	300	215	140	75	40	1	-	-	15	10	5	1
Tier II $650,000 (16D)	300	215	140	75	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier II $600,000 (56S)	275	190	125	70	35	20	1	-	10	-	5	1
Tier II $600,000 (28S)	275	190	125	70	35	1	-	-	15	10	5	1
Tier II $600,000 (16D)	275	190	125	70	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier III $225,000 (32S)	165	115	75	40	20	1	-	-	5	-	3	1
Tier III $225,000 (16D)	165	115	75	40	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier III $175,000 (56S)	140	100	65	35	20	10	1	-	4	-	3	1
Tier III $175,000 (30/32S, 32Q)	140	100	65	35	20	1	-	-	8	4	3	1
Tier III $175,000 (30/32S, 16Q)	140	100	65	35	20	1	-	-	4	-	3	1
Tier III $175,000 (16D)	140	100	65	35	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tier IV $145,000 (32S, 32Q)	115	80	50	30	15	1	-	-	7	3	2	1
Tier IV $145,000 (32S, 16Q)	115	80	50	30	15	1	-	-	3	-	2	1
Tier IV $145,000 (16S, 16D)	115	80	50	30	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $100,000 + H* (32)	75	55	40	20	10	1	-	-	3	2	1	-
ITF $100,000 + H* (16)	75	55	40	20	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $100,000 (32)	70	50	35	18	9	1	-	-	3	2	1	-
ITF $100,000 (16)	70	50	35	18	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $75,000 (32) + H*	65	45	29	16	8	1	-	-	3	2	1	-
ITF $75,000 (16) + H*	65	45	29	16	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $75,000 (32)	55	39	25	15	7	1	-	-	3	2	1	-
ITF $75,000 (16)	55	39	25	15	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $50,000 + H* (32)	45	32	20	12	6	1	-	-	3	2	1	-
ITF $50,000 + H* (16)	45	32	20	12	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $50,000 (32)	35	25	16	9	5	1	-	-	3	2	1	-
ITF $50,000 (16)	35	25	16	9	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $25,000 (32)	25	17	12	7	4	1	-	-	1	-	-	-
ITF $25,000 (16)	25	17	12	7	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $10,000 (32)	6	4	3	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
ITF $10,000 (16)	6	4	3	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

(*) “+H” indicates that Hospitality is provided

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 the mandatory Tier I tournament, 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. All players who qualify by ranking for acceptance into the main draw of a Grand Slam or the mandatory Tier I tournament will be entered automatically. Any player who is accepted into one of these tournaments and subsequently withdraws will automatically receive zero points for the tournament and will have it count as one of their best 17 tournament results.

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.

WTA Rankings

WTA Rankings (20 October 2007)
Rk	Name	Nation	Points	+/-
1	Justine Henin	BEL	5,695	=
2	Svetlana Kuznetsova	RUS	3,750	=
3	Jelena Janković	SRB	3,475	=
4	Ana Ivanović	SRB	3,175	=
5	Maria Sharapova	RUS	2,861	=
6	Serena Williams	USA	2,767	=
7	Anna Chakvetadze	RUS	2,625	=
8	Venus Williams	USA	2,470	=
9	Marion Bartoli	FRA	2,096	+2
10	Daniela Hantuchová	SVK	2,027	-1
11	Elena Dementieva	RUS	2,022	-1
12	Nadia Petrova	RUS	1,976	=
13	Amélie Mauresmo	FRA	1,906	=
14	Nicole Vaidišová	CZE	1,904	+1
15	Dinara Safina	RUS	1,820	-1
16	Tatiana Golovin	FRA	1,777	+2
17	Patty Schnyder	SUI	1,704	=
18	Shahar Pe'er	ISR	1,675	-2
19	Martina Hingis	SUI	1,577	=
20	Ágnes Szávay	HUN	1,333.25	=
21	Sybille Bammer	AUT	1,323	=
22	Vera Zvonareva	RUS	1,156	+1
23	Alona Bondarenko	UKR	1,136	+2
24	Lucie Šafářová	CZE	1,113	-2
25	Francesca Schiavone	ITA	1,041	+7
26	Agnieszka Radwanska	POL	988.75	+5
27	Victoria Azarenka	BLR	965.5	=
28	Katarina Srebotnik	SLO	961	-4
29	Virginie Razzano	FRA	956	-1
30	Li Na	CHN	937	-1

Records

Most titles won during the open era

Pos	Player	Titles
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	52
10	Martina Hingis	43
11	Justine Henin	37
12	Venus Williams	36
13	Kim Clijsters	34
14	Conchita Martinez	33
15	Tracy Austin	30

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 - Steffi Graf (1990, 1993)
2. 10 - Monica Seles (1991, 1992)
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 - Steffi Graf (1992)
9. 8 - Serena Williams (2002)
9. 8 - Justine Henin (2003, 2007)

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)

Youngest winners of a title during the open era

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

Most matches won during the open era

Pos	Player	Wins
1	Martina Navratilova	1442
2	Chris Evert	1304
3	Steffi Graf	900
4	Virginia Wade	839
5	Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario	759
6	Lindsay Davenport	724
7	Conchita Martínez	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

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	3	0	4	5	4	1	12	4	6	21	8	35
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]

Miscellaneous

• Career money leaders (as of Oct 8, 2007)

Rank	Player	Prize Money (US$)
1.	Steffi Graf	21,895,277
2.	Lindsay Davenport*	21,823,477
3.	Martina Navratilova	21,626,089
4.	Martina Hingis*	20,130,657
5.	Venus Williams*	18,138,781
6.	Serena Williams*	18,065,113
7.	Justine Henin*	17,758,405
8.	Arantxa Sanchez Vicario	16,942,640
9.	Monica Seles	14,891,762
10.	Kim Clijsters	14,764,296
* = active player

• Singles Win-Loss Career

Rank	Player	Win	Loss	Ratio
1.	Chris Evert	1,304	144	.901
2.	Steffi Graf	900	115	.887
3.	Martina Navratilova	1,442	219	.868
4.	Monica Seles	595	122	.830
5.	Serena Williams*	352	74	.826
6.	Justine Henin*	468	103	.820
7.	Venus Williams*	475	110	.812
8.	Maria Sharapova*	269	64	.808
9.	Martina Hingis*	548	133	.805
10.	Kim Clijsters	427	104	.804
* = active player

Minimum of 25 tournaments played. The source for this table is the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) as of July 9, 2007. 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.

Miscellaneous facts

• 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.
  • 8 players have earned at least U.S. $15 million dollars since 1970.
  • 4 players have earned at least U.S. $20 million dollars since 1970.
• Venus Williams of the United States hit the fastest serve ever (in a main draw) in the first round of the 2007 U.S. Open, 129 mph.

See also

• Tennis statistics
• Grand Slam (tennis)
• WTA Tour Championships
• List of WTA number 1 ranked players
• List of female tennis players
• Association of Tennis Professionals
• WTA Awards

External links

• The official Sony Ericsson WTA Tour web site
• Unofficial WTA Tour Message Board (Forum)
• WTA and ATP tournews and players
• WTA and ATP 2007 tour schedule

WTA Tour seasons
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009

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