1979 WTA Tour

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 USA) 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]

1979 WTA Tour

Martina Navratilova ended the year with 10 titles
Details
Duration	20 November 1978 – 8 January 1980
Edition	9th
Tournaments	57
Categories	Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships (3) Avon Championships Circuit (11) Colgate Series (32) Non-Tour Events (5)
Achievements (singles)
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)
Awards
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
← 1978 1980 →

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)

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
20 Nov	Colgate International Christchurch, New Zealand Colgate Series $35,000 – Grass – 48S/28D Singles – Doubles	Regina Maršíková 6–2, 6–1	Sylvia Hanika	Lea Antonoplis Mimmi Wikstedt	Anne Hobbs Naoko Sato Jane Stratton Lesley Hunt
		Lesley Hunt Sharon Walsh 6–1, 7–5	Katja Ebbinghaus Sylvia Hanika

December (1978)

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
4 Dec	Toyota Women's Classic Sydney, Australia Colgate Series $75,000 – Grass – 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 $50,000 – Grass – 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 $75,000 – Grass – 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	Diane 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, D.C., United States Avon Championships Circuit $125,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, California, USA Avon Championships Circuit $125,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, Texas, USA Avon Championships Circuit $125,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, California, USA Avon Championships Circuit $150,000 – Hard – 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 $200,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, Washington, USA Avon Championships Circuit $125,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, USA Avon Championships Circuit $150,000 – Carpet (i) – 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 $150,000 – Carpet (i) – 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 $200,000 – Carpet (i) – 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 $125,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, Massachusetts, USA Avon Championships Circuit $150,000 – Carpet (i) – 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, United States Season-end championships $275,000 – Carpet (i) – 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 $150,000 – Carpet (i) – 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 $200,000 – Grass – 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 $150,000 – Clay – 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	Soviet Union	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 Berlin, West Germany Colgate Series $100,000 – Clay – 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 $375,000 – Clay – 64S/64Q/32D/28X Singles – Doubles – Mixed	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 Ţiriac

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, United Kingdom Colgate Series $35,000 – Grass – 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, United Kingdom Colgate Series $100,000 – Grass – 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	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 $35,000 – Clay – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Hana Mandlíková 2–6, 7–5, 6–3	Sylvia Hanika
		Helena Anliot Diane Evers 6–0, 6–4	Virginia Ruzici Elly Vessies
30 Jul	Wells Fargo Open Wells Fargo, California, USA Colgate Series $75,000 – Hard – 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 $100,000 – Clay – 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 Diane Evers 2–6, 6–1, 6–3	Chris O'Neil Mimmi Wikstedt
	Central Fidelity Banks International Richmond, Virginia, USA 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, New Jersey, USA 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 $300,000 – Hard – 96S/32D/32X Draw: Singles – Doubles – Mixed	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

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
10 Sep	Toray Sillook Open Tokyo, Japan Colgate Series $150,000 – Hard – 32S	Billie Jean King 6–4, 7–5	Evonne Goolagong Cawley	Dianne Fromholtz (3rd) Ann Kiyomura (4th)	Terry Holladay Kerry Reid Wendy Turnbull Betty Stöve
	Greater Pittsburgh Open Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA Colgate Series $35,000 – Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Sue Barker 6–3, 6–1	Renée Richards
		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	Wendy Turnbull	Evonne Goolagong Cawley Tracy Austin	Virginia Wade Marise Kruger Dianne Fromholtz Chris Evert
		Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 6–4	Ann Kiyomura Anne Smith

October

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 Oct	US Indoors Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Colgate Series $100,000 – Carpet (i) Singles – Doubles	Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–3, 6–4	Dianne Fromholtz	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 $100,000 – Hard – 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 $35,000 – Carpet (i) Singles – Doubles	Betsy Nagelsen 6–3, 6–4	Naoko Sato
		Chen Chuan Yu Li-Qiao 6–0, 7–6	Sue Saliba Mary Sawyer
22 Oct	Florida Federal Open Tampa, Florida, USA Colgate Series $100,000 – Hard – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–0, 6–3	Virginia Wade	Chris Evert Tracy Austin	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 Kyoto, Japan Colgate Series $35,000 – Carpet (i) Singles – Doubles	Betsy Nagelsen 6–1, 3–6, 6–3	Naoko Sato
		Betsy Nagelsen Penny Johnson 3–6, 6–4, 7–6	Chen Chuan Yu Li-Qiao
29 Oct	Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden Colgate Series $35,000 – Carpet (i) Singles – Doubles	Billie Jean King 6–3, 6–7, 7–5	Betty Stöve	Virginia Ruzici Lena Sandin	Hana Mandlíková Brigitte Cuypers Anne Smith Mima Jaušovec
		Betty Stöve Wendy Turnbull 7–5, 7–6	Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss
	Wightman Cup West Palm Beach, Florida, USA Hard (i) Team event	United States 7–0	Great Britain

November

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
5 Nov	Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Filderstadt, Germany Colgate Series $100,000 – Carpet (i) – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Tracy Austin 6–2, 6–0	Martina Navratilova	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, United Kingdom Colgate Series $75,000 – Carpet (i) Singles – Doubles	Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–3	Chris Evert	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 $100,000 – Grass – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Hana Mandlíková 6–3, 6–2	Wendy Turnbull	Renee Blount Virginia Ruzici	Mimmi Wikstedt Dianne Fromholtz Sue Barker Billie Jean King
		Wendy Turnbull Billie Jean King 6–3, 6–3	Dianne Fromholtz Anne Smith

December

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
3 Dec	Building Society NSW Open Sydney, Australia Colgate Series $100,000 – Grass – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Sue Barker 6–0, 7–5	Rosalyn Fairbank	Diane Desfor Regina Maršíková	Virginia Ruzici Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull Betty-Ann Stuart
		Wendy Turnbull Billie Jean King 7–5, 6–4	Pam Shriver Sue Barker
10 Dec	Berri Fruit Juices Adelaide, Australia Colgate Series $100,000 – Grass – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Hana Mandlíková 7–5, 2–2 ret.	Virginia Ruzici	Sue Barker Betty-Ann Stuart	Pam Shriver Susan Leo Roberta McCallum Diane Desfor
		Hana Mandlíková Virginia Ruzici 2–6, 6–4, 6–4	Pam Shriver Sue Barker
15 Dec	Emeron Lion Cup Tokyo, Japan Non-tour event $200,000 – Carpet (i) – 4S	Tracy Austin 6–2, 6–1	Martina Navratilova	Billie Jean King (3rd) Dianne Fromholtz (4th)
17 Dec	Nabisco NSW Sydney, Australia Colgate Series $50,000 – Grass – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Hana Mandlíková 6–3, 3–6, 6–3	Bettina Bunge	Sue Barker Renáta Tomanová	Rosalyn Fairbank Diane Morrison Janet Newberry Leanne Harrison
		Diane Desfor Barbara Hallquist 4–6, 6–2, 6–2	Barbara Jordan Kym Ruddell
24 Dec 31 Dec	Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam $350,000 – Grass – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles	Barbara Jordan 6–3, 6–3	Sharon Walsh	Mary Sawyer Renáta Tomanová	Janet Newberry Michele Gurdal Cynthia Doerner Hana Mandlíková
		Judy Connor Chaloner Diane Evers Brown 6–1, 3–6, 6–0	Leanne Harrison Marcella Mesker

January (1980)

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
2 Jan	Colgate Series Championships Landover, MD, U.S. Colgate Series championships $250,000 – Grass Singles – Doubles	Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–1	Tracy Austin	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

Rankings

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	Martina Navratilova (TCH)	15.748	1
2	Chris Evert (USA)	14.111	2
3	Tracy Austin (USA)	14.004	6	3
4	Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS)	11.814	3	1
5	Billie Jean King (USA)	8.857	5
6	Dianne Fromholtz (AUS)	8.375	10	4
7	Wendy Turnbull (AUS)	8.214	7
8	Virginia Wade (GBR)	7.959	4	4
9	Kerry Reid (AUS)	6.645	9
10	Sue Barker (GBR)	6.618	24	14
11	Kathy Jordan (USA)	6.555	NR	NR
12	Greer Stevens (RSA)	6.336	17	5
13	Virginia Ruzici (ROU)	6.149	12	1
14	Regina Maršíková (TCH)	6.013	14
15	Ann Kiyomura (USA)	5.457	39	24
16	Sylvia Hanika (FRG)	5.010	35	19
17	Hana Mandlíková (TCH)	4.952	45	28
18	Caroline Stoll (USA)	4.951	26	8
19	Kathy May (USA)	4.768	15	4
20	Mima Jaušovec (YUG)	4.270	19	1

Colgate Series

Points system

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:

Group AAAA

Prize money at least $150,000 Champion: 160 (32) Runner-up: 120 (24) Semifinalist: 80 (16) Quarterfinalist: 40 (8) Round of 16: 20 (4) Round of 32: 15 (3) Round of 64: 10

Group AAA

Prize money at least $100,000 Champion: 120 (24) Runner-up: 90 (18) Semifinalist: 60 (12) Quarterfinalist: 30 (6) Round of 16: 15 (3) Round of 32: 10 (2)

Group AA

Prize money at least $75,000 Champion: 80 (16) Runner-up: 60 (12) Semifinalist: 40 (8) Quarterfinalist: 20 (4) Round of 16: 10 (2) Round of 32: 5

Group A

Prize money at least $35,000 Champion: 40 (8) Runner-up: 30 (6) Semifinalist: 20 (4) Quarterfinalist: 10 (2) Round of 16: 5

Avon Championships Circuit

Points standing

Singles No Player Name Tournaments Points 1  Martina Navratilova (TCH) 7 2,500 2  Dianne Fromholtz (AUS) 8 1,660 3  Wendy Turnbull (AUS) 8 1,640 4  Chris Evert (USA) 6 1,586 5  Virginia Wade (GBR) 7 1,296 6  Tracy Austin (USA) 6 1,236 7  Greer Stevens (RSA) 7 1,156 8  Sue Barker (GBR) 9 1,062

Doubles No Team Points 1  Rosemary Casals (USA)  Chris Evert (USA) 1,140 2  Françoise Dürr (FRA)  Betty Stöve (NED) 1,040 3  Sue Barker (GBR)  Ann Kiyomura (USA) 900 4  Tracy Austin (USA)  Betty Stöve (NED) 850 5  Mima Jaušovec (YUG)  Virginia Ruzici (ROU) 820 6  Kerry Reid (AUS)  Wendy Turnbull (AUS) 750

Prize money

Combined prize money for singles and doubles events.

No	Player Name	Prize money
1	Martina Navratilova (TCH)	$271,500
2	Tracy Austin (USA)	$123,250
3	Chris Evert (USA)	$115,875
4	Wendy Turnbull (AUS)	$103,425
5	Dianne Fromholtz (AUS)	$93,250
6	Sue Barker (GBR)	$84,775
7	Greer Stevens (RSA)	$73,050
8	Virginia Wade (GBR)	$70,500
9	Rosemary Casals (USA)	$55,425
10	Betty Stöve (NED)	$45,100

See also

• 1979 Men's Grand Prix circuit

References

1. "WTA Tour Finals" (PDF). www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
2. "About the WTA". www.wtatennis.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
3. "Womens International Computer Rankings" (PDF). Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 31 December 1979.
4. John Barrett, ed. (1980). World of Tennis 1980 : a BP yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 137, 140. ISBN 9780362020120. OCLC 237184610.

External links

• Women's Tennis Association (WTA) official website
• International Tennis Federation (ITF) official website