| 1979 WTA Tour | |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 |
| Previous: | 1978 |
| Next: | 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]
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]
| Grand Slam tournaments | |
| Avon/Colgate Series championships | |
| Avon Championships Circuit | |
| Colgate Series | |
| Non-tour events | |
| Team events |
| 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 |  Anne Hobbs Naoko Sato Jane Stratton Lesley Hunt | ||
| Lesley Hunt Sharon Walsh 6–1, 7–5 | Katja Ebbinghaus Sylvia Hanika |
| 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 | Ann Kiyomura Pam Teeguarden Anne Smith Pam Shriver | ||
Mima Jaušovec  Virginia Ruzici4–6, 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 | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | Kathy Jordan Wendy Turnbull Virginia Ruzici Betty Stöve | |
 Françoise DürrBetty 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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) | Chris Evert Greer Stevens Kerry Reid Marita Redondo | ||
| Kerry Reid Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 6–2 | Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura | ||||
| 19 Mar | Martina Navratilova 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | 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 |
| 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) | Melville / Turnbull Hunt / Walsh | Acker / Carillo Wade / Newberry Casals / Smith Meyer / Teeguarden | ||
| 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) | 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 | 3–0 |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun | Crossley Carpets Trophy Chichester, Great Britain Colgate Series Grass – $35,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–1, 6–4 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | |||
 Helena Anliot Dianne Evers6–0, 6–4 | Virginia Ruzici Elly Vessies | ||||
| 30 Jul | Wells Fargo Open San Diego, United States Colgate Series Hard – $75,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Tracy Austin 6–4, 6–2 | Anne Smith Kerry Reid Marita Redondo Ann Kiyomura | ||
| Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 | Ann Kiyomura Betty-Ann Stuart |
| 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 | 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 | ||||
| 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 | Virginia Wade Marise Kruger Dianne Fromholtz Chris Evert | ||
| Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 6–4 | Ann Kiyomura Anne Smith |
| 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 | Martina Navratilova Tracy Austin | Ann Kiyomura Billie Jean King Virginia Wade Kerry Reid | |
| Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 6–4, 7–6(9–7) | Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull | ||||
| 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 |
| Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 7–6(7–4) | Rosie Casals Chris Evert | ||||
| 15 Oct | Borden Classic Kyoto, Japan Colgate Series Carpet (i) – $35,000 – 32S/16S Singles – Doubles | Betsy Nagelsen 6–3, 6–4 | |||
 Chen Chuan Yu Li-Qiao6–0, 7–6 | Sue Saliba Mary Sawyer | ||||
| 22 Oct | Florida Federal Open Tampa, United States Colgate Series Hard – $100,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–0, 6–3 | Virginia Ruzici Regina Maršíková Wendy Turnbull Kerry Reid | ||
| Anne Smith Virginia Ruzici 7–5, 4–6, 7–5 | Ilana Kloss Betty-Ann Stuart | ||||
| Hit Union Japan Open Tokyo, Japan Colgate Series $35,000 – carpet (i) Singles – Doubles | Betsy Nagelsen 6–1, 3–6, 6–3 | ||||
| Betsy Nagelsen Penny Johnson 3–6, 6–4, 7–6 | Chen Chuan Yu Li-Qiao | ||||
| 29 Oct | Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden Colgate Series Carpet (i) – $35,000 – 32S/16S Singles – Doubles | Billie Jean King 6–3, 6–7, 7–5 | Hana Mandlíková Brigitte Cuypers Anne SmithMima Jaušovec | ||
| Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 7–5, 7–6 | Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss | ||||
| Wightman Cup West Palm Beach, United States Hard (i) Team event |
| ||||
| 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 | Mima Jaušovec Chris Evert | Kerry Reid Nina Bohm Regina Maršíková Wendy Turnbull | |
| Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–3 | Wendy Turnbull Betty Stöve | ||||
| 19 Nov | Daihatsu Challenge Brighton, Great Britain Colgate Series $75,000 – carpet (i) Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–3 | Billie Jean King Sylvia Hanika | Ilana Kloss Glynis Coles Virginia Wade Virginia Ruzici | |
| Ann Kiyomura Anne Smith 6–2, 6–1 | Ilana Kloss Laura duPont | ||||
| 26 Nov | Toyota Classic Melbourne, Australia Colgate Series Grass – $100,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Hana Mandlíková 6–3, 6–2 | Wendy Turnbull | Mimmi Wikstedt Dianne Fromholtz Sue Barker Billie Jean King | |
| Wendy Turnbull Billie Jean King 6–3, 6–3 | Dianne Fromholtz Anne Smith |
| 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 | Chris Evert Wendy Turnbull | Round robin Dianne Fromholtz Evonne Goolagong Cawley Regina Maršíková Kerry Reid | |
| Billie Jean King Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–3 | Rosie Casals Chris Evert |
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 | 15.748 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 14.111 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 14.004 | 6 | 3 | |
| 4 | 11.814 | 3 | 1 | |
| 5 | 8.857 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 8.375 | 10 | 4 | |
| 7 | 8.214 | 7 | ||
| 8 | 7.959 | 4 | 4 | |
| 9 | 6.645 | 9 | ||
| 10 | 6.618 | 24 | 14 | |
| 11 | 6.555 | NR | NR | |
| 12 | 6.336 | 17 | 5 | |
| 13 | 6.149 | 12 | 1 | |
| 14 | 6.013 | 14 | ||
| 15 | 5.457 | 39 | 24 | |
| 16 | 5.010 | 35 | 19 | |
| 17 | 4.952 | 45 | 28 | |
| 18 | 4.951 | 26 | 8 | |
| 19 | 4.768 | 15 | 4 | |
| 20 | 4.270 | 19 | 1 | |
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:
| Singles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Player Name | Tournaments | Points | |
| 1 | 7 | 2,500 | ||
| 2 | 8 | 1,660 | ||
| 3 | 8 | 1,640 | ||
| 4 | 6 | 1,586 | ||
| 5 | 7 | 1,296 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 1,236 | ||
| 7 | 7 | 1,156 | ||
| 8 | 9 | 1,062 | ||
| Doubles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No | Team | Points | |
| 1 | | 1,140 | |
| 2 | | 1,040 | |
| 3 | | 900 | |
| 4 | | 850 | |
| 5 | | 820 | |
| 6 | | 750 | |
Combined prize money for singles and doubles events.
| No | Player Name | Prize money | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $271,500 | ||
| 2 | $123,250 | ||
| 3 | $115,875 | ||
| 4 | $103,425 | ||
| 5 | $93,250 | ||
| 6 | $84,775 | ||
| 7 | $73,050 | ||
| 8 | $70,500 | ||
| 9 | $55,425 | ||
| 10 | $45,100 |
