| 1987 Virginia Slims World Championship Series | |
| Duration: | 1 December 1986 – 22 November 1987 |
| Edition: | 17th |
| Tournaments: | 56 |
| Categories: | Grand Slam (4) Virginia Slims Championships (1) Category 4 Category 3 Category 2 Category 1+ Category 1 |
| Most Tournament Titles: | Steffi Graf (11) |
| Most Tournament Finals: | Steffi Graf (13) |
| Prize Money Leader: | Steffi Graf $1,063,785 |
| Points Leader: | Steffi Graf 280.2080 |
| Previous: | 1986 |
| Next: | 1988 |
The 1987 Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the 15th season of the tennis circuit since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced in January 1987, and concluded in December 1987 after 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. ITF tournaments were not part of the tour, although they awarded points for the WTA World Ranking.
The table below shows the 1987 Virginia Slims World Championship Series schedule.
| Grand Slam tournaments | |
| Year-end championships | |
| Category 4 events | |
| Category 3 events | |
| Category 2, Category 1+ and 1 events | |
| Team events |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | Argentinian Open Buenos Aires, Argentina Category 1 $50,000 – clay -56S/28D/32Q Singles – Doubles |  Gabriela Sabatini 6–1, 6–1 | Patricia Tarabini  Laura Golarsa Bettina Fulco Nicole Muns-Jagerman | ||
| 6–1, 2–6, 6–1 | Nicole Muns-Jagerman Manon Bollegraf | ||||
| 8 Dec | Brazilian Open São Paulo, Brazil Category 1 $50,000 – clay -56S/28D/32Q Singles – Doubles |  Vicki Nelson-Dunbar 6–2, 7–6(7–1) | Kathrin Keil Amy Schwartz | Nicole Muns-Jagerman Adriana Villagrán Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Caterina Nozzoli | |
| 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(8–6) |  Laura Arraya Petra Huber | ||||
| 29 Dec | Jason 2000 Classic Brisbane, Australia Category 2 Grass – $100,000 – 56S/32D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Hana Mandlíková 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 | Helena Suková Betsy Nagelsen |  Helen KelesiRosalyn Fairbank  Elizabeth SmylieEva Pfaff | |
6–4, 6–2 |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan | Zina Garrison 6–2, 6–4 | Pam Shriver | Wendy Turnbull | Manuela Maleeva | Lori McNeil Helena Suková  Etsuko Inoue Catarina Lindqvist | |
| Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie 6–7(5–7), 7–5, 6–1 | Jenny Byrne Janine Tremelling | |||||
| 12 Jan 19 Jan | Hana Mandlíková 7–5, 7–6(7–1) | Zina Garrison Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie Lori McNeil | ||||
| 6–1, 6–0 | ||||||
| 3–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–3 |  Andrew Castle Anne Hobbs | |||||
| 26 Jan | Bridgestone Doubles Championships Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) – $175,000 – 8D Doubles | 6–1, 7–6(7–5) | Herr / Moulton Byrne / Thompson Nagelsen / Smylie Reynolds / Smith | |||
| Gretchen Magers 6–2, 6–3 | Elizabeth Minter Kathrin Keil | Anna-Maria Fernandez Michelle Jaggard Ann Devries Nicole Provis | ||||
| Anna-Maria Fernandez Julie Richardson 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 | Gretchen Magers Elizabeth Minter |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jun | Dow Chemical Classic Birmingham, Great Britain Category 2 Grass – $125,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles | Pam Shriver 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 | Etsuko Inoue Eva Pfaff |  Nathalie Tauziat Carling Bassett Elizabeth SmylieRosalyn Fairbank | |
| 15 Jun | Pilkington Glass Ladies Championships Eastbourne, Great Britain Category 4 Grass – $200,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles | Helena Suková 7–6(7–5), 6–3 | Pam Shriver Chris Evert | Isabelle Demongeot Gabriela Sabatini Rosalyn Fairbank Larisa Savchenko | |
| Svetlana Parkhomenko Larisa Savchenko 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 7–5 | Rosalyn Fairbank Elizabeth Smylie | ||||
| 22 Jun 29 Jun | Martina Navratilova 7–5, 6–3 | Chris Evert Pam Shriver | Dianne Balestrat Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková Gabriela Sabatini | ||
| Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Helena Suková 7–5, 7–5 | Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie | ||||
| Jo Durie Jeremy Bates 7–6(12–10), 6–3 | Nicole Provis Darren Cahill | ||||
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jul | Volvo Ladies Open Båstad, Sweden Category 1+ Clay – $75,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Sandra Cecchini 6–4, 6–4 | Adriana Villagrán Carina Karlsson  Amy Jönsson Tine Scheuer-Larsen | ||
6–1, 6–2 | |||||
| Belgian Ladies Open Knokke-Le-Zoute, Belgium Category 1+ Clay – $75,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Kathleen Horvath 6–1, 7–6(7–5) | Federica Bonsignori Ann Devries Mercedes Paz Isabel Cueto | |||
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |||||
| 13 Jul | Virginia Slims of Newport Newport, United States Category 3 Grass – $150,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–4 | Gigi Fernández Terry Phelps Heather Ludloff Lori McNeil | ||
| 20 Jul | Fed Cup Vancouver, Canada Team event Hard | 2–1 | | | |
| 27 Jul | Women's California State Championships Aptos, United States Category 1 Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Elly Hakami 6–3, 6–4 | Penny Barg Susan Mascarin Kathy Jordan Cammy MacGregor | ||
6–1, 6–0 |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug | Virginia Slims of San Diego San Diego, United States Category 1+ Hard – $75,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles | Raffaella Reggi 6–0, 6–4 | Elly Hakami Nathalie Herreman Isabelle Demongeot Kate Gompert | ||
6–3, 6–4 | |||||
| 10 Aug | Virginia Slims of Los Angeles Manhattan Beach, United States Category 4 Hard – $250,000 – 56S/28D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Steffi Graf 6–3, 6–4 | Gabriela Sabatini Martina Navratilova | Elly Hakami Lori McNeil Hana Mandlíková Bettina Bunge | |
6–3, 6–4 | |||||
| 17 Aug | Canadian Open Toronto, Canada Category 4 Hard – $250,000 – 56S/32D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Pam Shriver 6–4, 6–1 | Chris Evert Bettina Bunge | ||
6–1, 6–2 | |||||
| 24 Aug | United Jersey Bank Classic Mahwah, United States Category 3 Hard – $150,000 – 28S/16D/48Q Singles – Doubles | Manuela Maleeva 1–6, 6–4, 6–1 | Katerina Maleeva Lori McNeil | ||
6–3, 6–2 | |||||
| 31 Augt 7 Sep | Martina Navratilova 7–6(7–4), 6–1 | Pam Shriver Chris Evert Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Gabriela Sabatini | |||
| 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 | |||||
| 6–4, 6–7(6–8), 7–6(14–12) | Betsy Nagelsen Paul Annacone |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep | Pan Pacific Open Tokyo, Japan Category 4 Carpet (i) – $250,000 – 28S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Gabriela Sabatini 6–4, 7–6(8–6) | Katerina Maleeva Catarina Lindqvist | Etsuko Inoue Dianne Balestrat Barbara Potter Marianne Werdel | |
| 6–1, 6–2 | |||||
| 21 Sep | Citizen Cup Hamburg, West Germany Category 3 Clay – $150,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles | Steffi Graf 6–2, 6–2 | Sandra Cecchini Kathleen Horvath | Wiltrud Probst Raffaella Reggi Sabrina Goleš  Iwona Kuczyńska | |
| 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6) | |||||
| 28 Sep | Virginia Slims of New Orleans New Orleans, United States Category 3 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Chris Evert 6–3, 7–5 | Anne Smith Robin White Kate Gompert Marianne Werdel | ||
| 6–3, 6–3 | Peanut Louie-Harper Heather Ludloff | ||||
| Clarins Open Paris, France Category 1+ Clay – $75,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Sabrina Goleš 7–5, 6–1 | Raffaella Reggi Hana Fukárková Sandra Cecchini Brenda Schultz | |||
| Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat 1–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct | Katerina Maleeva 6–1, 6–0 | Alexia Dechaume Leila Meskhi Patricia Tarabini Olga Tsarbopoulou | |||
6–4, 7–6(7–0) | |||||
| 12 Oct | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Filderstadt, West Germany Category 3 Carpet (i) – $175,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 7–5, 6–1 | Lori McNeil Helena Suková Zina Garrison Mary Joe Fernández | ||
| 6–1, 6–2 | |||||
| Honda Classic San Juan, Puerto Rico Category 1+ Hard – $75,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles | Stephanie Rehe 7–5, 7–6(7–4) | Wendy Turnbull Cammy MacGregor Niurka Sodupe Elly Hakami | |||
| 7–5, 7–5 | |||||
| 19 Oct | Volvo Classic Brighton, Great Britain Category 4 Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Gabriela Sabatini 7–5, 6–4 | Kathy Jordan Helena Suková | Sandra Cecchini Katerina Maleeva Sylvia Hanika Bettina Bunge | |
| 7–5, 6–1 | |||||
| 26 Oct | European Indoors Zürich, Switzerland Category 3 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Steffi Graf 6–2, 6–2 | Katerina Maleeva Raffaella Reggi Christina Singer Judith Wiesner | ||
6–3, 2–6, 6–3 | |||||
| Virginia Slims of Indianapolis Indianapolis, United States Category 1+ Hard – $75,000 – 56S/28D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Halle Cioffi 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(12–10) | Barbara Potter Terry Phelps Gretchen Magers Elly Hakami | |||
6–2, 6–3 |
| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov | Virginia Slims of New England Worcester, United States Category 4 $250,000 – hard (i) – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Pam Shriver 6–4, 4–6, 6–0 | Barbara Potter Lori McNeil Eva Pfaff Bettina Bunge | ||
| 6–4, 6–4 | |||||
| Virginia Slims of Arkansas Little Rock, United States Category 1+ Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Sandra Cecchini 0–6, 6–1, 6–3 | Anne Smith Larisa Savchenko | Niurka Sodupe Susan Sloane Barbara Gerken Manon Bollegraf | ||
| 9 Nov | Virginia Slims of Chicago Chicago, United States Category 3 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D/28Q Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–2 | Lori McNeil Leila Meskhi | ||
6–4, 6–3 | |||||
| 16 Nov | Steffi Graf 4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4 | Helena Suková Raffaella Reggi | |||
6–1, 6–1 |
Below are the 1987 WTA year-end rankings (December 20, 1987) in both singles and doubles competition:
| Singles year-end ranking | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Points | width=40 |
| |
| 1 | 5,455 | 13 | ||
| 2 | 4,084 | 12 | ||
| 3 | 3,901 | 18 | ||
| 4 | 3,426 | 17 | ||
| 5 | 3,296 | 19 | ||
| 6 | 2,934 | 22 | ||
| 7 | 2,639 | 17 | ||
| 8 | 2,331 | 24 | ||
| 9 | 2,274 | 19 | ||
| 10 | 2,182 | 18 | ||
| 11 | 1,626 | 17 | ||
| 12 | 1,454 | 19 | ||
| 13 | 1,332 | 22 | ||
| 14 | 1,260 | 21 | ||
| 15 | 1,186 | 19 | ||
| 16 | 1,174 | 18 | ||
| 17 | 1,037 | 20 | ||
| 18 | 909 | 14 | ||
| 19 | 874 | 23 | ||
| 20 | 807 | 18 | ||
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 1987 Virginia Slims World Championship Series: the Grand Slam tournaments, the Year-end championships and regular events. The players/nations are sorted by:
