| 1985 Virginia Slims World Championship Series | |
| Duration: | March 25, 1985 – March 23, 1986 |
| Edition: | 13th |
| Tournaments: | 53 |
| Categories: | Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships Tour Events (48) |
| Most Tournament Titles: |  Martina Navratilova (13) |
| Most Tournament Finals: | Martina Navratilova (15) |
| Prize Money Leader: | Martina Navratilova $1,328,829 |
| Points Leader: | Martina Navratilova 191.32 |
| Player Of The Year: | Martina Navratilova |
| Doubles Team Of The Year: | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
| Newcomer Of The Year: |  Gabriela Sabatini |
| Previous: | 1984 |
| Next: | 1986 |
The 1985 Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the 13th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced in March 1985, and concluded in March 1986 after 52 events.
The Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the elite tour for professional women's tennis organised by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). It was held in place of the WTA Tour from 1983 until 1987 and featured tournaments that had previously been part of the Toyota Series and the Avon Series. It included the four Grand Slam tournaments and a series of other events.[1] ITF tournaments were not part of the tour, although they awarded points for the WTA World Ranking.
The season was dominated by Martina Navratilova, who won 13 tournaments and reached the finals of the four Grand Slam events. She defeated Chris Evert at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Navratilova also won the Virginia Slims Championships in March and ended the year at world Number 1. Evert, the winner of ten titles in 1985, emerged victorious at Roland-Garros, while Hana Mandlíková won the U.S. Open. Newcomer of the Year Gabriela Sabatini won the first title of her career in Tokyo. In doubles, the pairing of Navratilova and Pam Shriver won the title at Roland-Garros and the Australian Open, Jordan and Smylie won the Wimbledon title and Kohde-Kilsch–Suková were victorious at the US Open.
The table below shows the 1985 Virginia Slims World Championship Series schedule.
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar | Kathleen Horvath 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Tine Scheuer-Larsen Gabriela Sabatini Beth Herr Shawn Foltz | |||
| Anne Smith JoAnne Russell 1–6, 6–1, 7–6 |  Laura Gildemeister Gabriela Sabatini |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun | Pam Shriver 6–1, 6–0 | Elise Burgin Susan Mascarin |  Anne Hobbs Robin White Alycia Moulton Ann Henricksson | ||
| Terry Holladay Sharon Walsh , 6–2, 6–4 | Elise Burgin Alycia Moulton | ||||
| 17 Jun | Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–3 | Bettina Bunge Kathy Rinaldi Barbara Potter Pascale Paradis | |||
| Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–5, 6–4 | Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie | ||||
| 24 Jun | Martina Navratilova 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Barbara Potter Helena Suková Molly Van Nostrand Pam Shriver | |||
| Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | ||||
| Martina Navratilova Paul McNamee 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 | Elizabeth Smylie John Fitzgerald |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 6–1 | Gigi Fernández  Belinda Cordwell Elizabeth Smylie Lea Antonoplis | |||
| 6–4, 7–6 | |||||
 Virginia Ruzici6–2, 6–3 | Petra Keppeler Angelikí Kanellopoúlou | Regina Maršíková Andrea Betzner Isabel Cueto  Petra Huber | |||
6–2, 6–3 | |||||
| 22 Jul |  Andrea Temesvári7–6, 6–3 | Manuela Maleeva  Raffaella Reggi Debbie Spence Anna Ivan | |||
| Steffi Graf Gabriela Sabatini 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Katerina Maleeva Manuela Maleeva | ||||
| 29 Jul | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 6–2, 6–4 |  Carling Bassett Zina Garrison | Hana Mandlíková Eva Pfaff Bettina Bunge Beth Herr | ||
| Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 6–4, 6–2 | Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–2, 6–4 | Molly Van Nostrand Gabriela Sabatini Carling Bassett Martina Navratilova | |||
| Gigi Fernández Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–0 | Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis | ||||
| 12 Aug | Kathy Rinaldi 6–4, 3–6. 6–4 | Pam Shriver Kathy Jordan Helena Suková Kathy Rinaldi | |||
| Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie 7–6, 6–3 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | ||||
| 19 Aug | Barbara Potter 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Debbie Spence Virginia Ruzici Jo Durie Sandra Cecchini | |||
| Mercedes Paz Gabriela Sabatini 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 | Andrea Holíková Kateřina Skronská | ||||
| 26 Aug | Hana Mandlíková 7–6(7–3), 1–6, 7–6(7–2) | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková Pam Shriver Zina Garrison | |||
| Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3 | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver | ||||
| Martina Navratilova Heinz Günthardt 6–3, 6–4 | Elizabeth Smylie John Fitzgerald |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep | Stephanie Rehe 6–2, 6–4 | Laura Arraya Caroline Kuhlman | Rosalyn Nideffer Patty Fendick Janine Thompson Emilse Raponi-Longo | ||
| Svetlana Cherneva Larisa Savchenko 7–5, 6–2 | Rosalyn Nideffer Beverly Mould | ||||
| 16 Sep | Bonnie Gadusek 6–1, 6–3 | Kathy Jordan Wendy Turnbull | Pam Shriver Susan Mascarin Barbara Potter Elise Burgin | ||
| Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie 6–2, 6–2 | Elise Burgin JoAnne Russell | ||||
| 23 Sep | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 7–5 | Kim Shaefer Candy Reynolds Peanut Louie Wendy Turnbull | |||
| Chris Evert-Lloyd Wendy Turnbull 6–1, 6–2 | Mary Lou Piatek Anne White | ||||
| 30 Sep | Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–1 | ||||
| Gigi Fernández Robin White 6–2, 7–5 | Rosalyn Nideffer Beverly Mould |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct | Federation Cup Nagoya, Japan Team event Hard | 2–1 | | | |
| Bonnie Gadusek 6–0, 6–3 | Melissa Gurney Candy Reynolds Helen Kelesi Mary Lou Piatek | ||||
6–1, 6–0 | Penny Barg Sandy Collins | ||||
| 14 Oct | Pam Shriver 6–1, 7–6 | Iva Budařová Lisa Bonder Raffaella Reggi Barbara Gerken | |||
| Hana Mandlíková Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–1 |  Carina KarlssonTine Scheuer-Larsen | ||||
| Gabriela Sabatini 6–3, 6–4 | Andrea Holíková Angeliki Kanellopoulou Amy Holton Myriam Schropp | ||||
| Belinda Cordwell Julie Richardson 6–4, 6–4 | Laura Arraya Beth Herr | ||||
| 21 Oct | Chris Evert-Lloyd 7–5, 6–3 | Catarina Lindqvist Terry Phelps Barbara Potter Christiane Jolissaint | |||
| Lori McNeil Catherine Suire 4–6, 7–6, 6–4 | Barbara Potter Helena Suková | ||||
| 28 Oct | Zina Garrison 6–1, 6–3 | Catherine Tanvier Christiane Jolissaint Sandra CecchiniManuela Maleeva | |||
| Hana Mandlíková Andrea Temesvári 6–4, 3–6, 7–5 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Stephanie Rehe 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 7–5 | Lisa Bonder Pam Casale Grace Kim Michelle Torres | |||
| Carling Bassett Gabriela Sabatini 6–0, 6–0 | Lisa Bonder Laura Gildemeister | ||||
| Katerina Maleeva 6–3, 6–2 | Nathalie Herreman Virginia Ruzici Petra Huber Catherine Tanvier | ||||
| Marcella Mesker Catherine Tanvier 6–2, 6–2 | Sandra Cecchini Sabrina Goleš | ||||
| 11 Nov | Martina Navratilova 6–3, 7–5 | Sara Gomer Wendy Turnbull Elise Burgin Larisa Savchenko | |||
| Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–4, 6–7(6–8), 6–1 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | ||||
| Chris Evert 7–5, 6–0 | |||||
| 18 Nov | Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–1, 6–3 | Wendy Turnbull Dianne Balestrat Christiane Jolissaint Svetlana Cherneva | |||
| Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 3–6, 7–6, 6–4 | Rosalyn Fairbank Candy Reynolds | ||||
| 25 Nov | Martina Navratilova 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Hana Mandlíková | Manuela Maleeva Catarina Lindqvist Zina Garrison Helena Suková | ||
| Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–4 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec | Pan Pacific Open Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) – $250,000 – 28S/16D/29Q Singles – Doubles | Manuela Maleeva 7–6, 3–6, 7–5 | |||
| Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 6–0, 6–4 | Marcella Mesker Elizabeth Smylie | ||||
| Anne Hobbs 6–3, 6–1 | Stephanie Faulkner Lea Antonoplis Julie Richardson Candy Reynolds | ||||
| Anne Hobbs Candy Reynolds 6–1, 6–3 | Lea Antonoplis Adriana Villagrán |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan | Martina Navratilova 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 | Bonnie Gadusek Helena Suková Jo Durie Helen Kelesi | |||
| Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–5, 6–3 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | ||||
| 13 Jan | Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–4 | Zina Garrison Bettina Bunge Helena Suková Bonnie Gadusek | |||
| Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–4 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | ||||
| 20 Jan | Wendy White 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 6–2 | Ann Henricksson Marcella Mesker |  Akiko Kijimuta Kate Gompert Camille Benjamin Anne Smith | ||
| Kathy Jordan Candy Reynolds 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3 | JoAnne Russell Anne Smith | ||||
| 27 Jan | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–3, 6–1 | Stephanie Rehe Gabriela Sabatini Kathleen Horvath Wendy Turnbull | |||
| Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie 7–6, 2–6, 6–2 | Betsy Nagelsen Barbara Potter |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 6–2 | Kathy Rinaldi Helena Suková | Terry Phelps Carling Bassett Barbara Potter Zina Garrison | ||
| Pam Shriver Helena Suková 6–2, 6–3 | Chris Evert-Lloyd Wendy Turnbull | ||||
| 24 Feb | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–2, 6–4 | Martina Navratilova Helena Suková | |||
| Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 7–6(7–5), 6–1 | Bonnie Gadusek Helena Suková | ||||
| Marcella Mesker 6–4, 4–6, 6–3 | Beth Herr Candy Reynolds | Kathleen Horvath Laura Gildemeister Nathalie Herreman Hu Na | |||
| Marcella Mesker Pascale Paradis 2–6, 7–6(7–1), 6–1 | Lori McNeil Catherine Suire |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–0, 7–6 | Pam Shriver Hana Mandlíková | Alycia Moulton Dianne Balestrat Terry Phelps Kathy Jordan | ||
| Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie 7–5, 6–2 | Hana Mandlíková Helena Suková | ||||
| Janine Thompson 6–1, 6–4 | Andrea Betzner Anne Minter Svetlana Cherneva Lori McNeil | ||||
| Candy Reynolds Anne Smith 7–6, 6–1 | Sandy Collins Kim Sands | ||||
| 10 Mar | Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–1 | Helena Suková Robin White Stephanie Rehe Zina Garrison | |||
| Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 4–6, 7–5, 6–4 | Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull | ||||
| 17 Mar | Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 6–2 | Steffi Graf Chris Evert-Lloyd | Bonnie Gadusek Pam Shriver Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková | ||
| Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková |
These tables present the number of singles (S), doubles (D), and mixed doubles (X) titles won by each player and each nation during the season, within all the tournament categories of the 1985 Virginia Slims World Championship Series: the Grand Slam tournaments, the Year-end championships and regular events. The players/nations are sorted by:
The winners of the 1985 WTA Awards were announced in 1986.[2]
