Women's tennis circuit
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)
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
|
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 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
|
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 Singles – Doubles |
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 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
|
Betsy Nagelsen Renáta Tomanová 7–5, 6–2 |
Naoko Sato Pam Whytcross
|
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
|
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 Singles – Doubles |
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 Singles – Doubles |
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 Singles – Doubles |
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 Singles – Doubles |
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
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
|
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 Singles – Doubles |
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 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
|
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 Singles – Doubles |
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
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
|
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 Singles – Doubles |
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 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
|
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) Singles – Doubles |
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
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 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
|
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
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
|
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) Singles – Doubles |
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 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
|
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 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 |
|
|
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
|
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 Singles – Doubles |
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: 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 |
|
|
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
|
Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
Ann Kiyomura Betty-Ann Stuart
|
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
|
Kathy Jordan Anne Smith 6–1, 6–0 |
Penny Johnson Paula Smith
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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: 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