1977 WTA Tour

1977 WTA Tour
Chris Evert finished the year as world No. 1 for the third time in her career. She won twelve singles tournaments during the season, including a major at the US Open, as well as the Virginia Slims Championships.
Details
Duration17 October 1976 – 28 November 1977
Edition5th
Tournaments49
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
WTA championships (3)
Virginia Slims Circuit (11)
Colgate International Series (18)
Achievements (singles)
Most titles Chris Evert (12)
Most finals Chris Evert (14)
Prize money
leader
Chris Evert ($503,134)
Points leader Chris Evert (17.612)
Awards
Player of the year Virginia Wade
Doubles team
of the year
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
Most improved
player of the year
Wendy Turnbull
Newcomer
of the year
Tracy Austin
1976
1978

The 1977 WTA Tour consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players. It was composed of two circuits the newly streamlined version of the Virginia Slims Circuit (which was now an 11-week tour of the US) and the world wide Colgate International Series. The year 1977 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 Virginia Slims circuit or the Colgate International Series in the year 1977, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. Also included are the Grand Slam tournaments, the 1977 Virginia Slims Championships, the 1977 Federation Cup and a number of events not affiliated with either tour.[1]

Key
Grand Slam tournaments
Virginia Slims/Colgate Series championships
Virginia Slims Circuit
Colgate International Series
Non-tour events
Team events

October (1976)

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
17 Oct Colgate Inaugural
Palm Springs, United States
Colgate International Series
Hard – $175,000 – 16S
Chris Evert
6–1, 6–2
Françoise Dürr Virginia Wade (3rd)
Terry Holladay (4th)
Nancy Richey
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
Dianne Fromholtz
Chris Evert
Martina Navratilova
6–2, 6–4
Billie Jean King
Betty Stöve

November (1976)

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Nov Dewar Cup
London, Great Britain
Colgate International Series
Hard – $35,000
Virginia Wade
6–2, 6–2
Chris Evert Rosie Casals
Sue Barker
Betty Stöve
Florența Mihai
Betsy Nagelsen
Glynis Coles
Betty Stöve
Virginia Wade
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert
22 Nov South African Open
Johannesburg, South Africa
Colgate International Series
Hard – $35,000
Brigitte Cuypers
6–7, 6–4, 6–1
Laura duPont Annette du Plooy
Heidi Eisterlehner
Lesley Charles
Tanya Harford
Glynis Coles
Stephanie Tolleson
Laura duPont
Valerie Ziegenfuss
6–1, 6–4
Yvonne Vermaak
Elizabeth Vlotman
29 Nov Colgate International Championships
Sydney, Australia
Colgate International Series
Grass – $100,000
Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–2
Betty Stöve Kerry Reid
Dianne Fromholtz
Evonne Goolagong Cawley
Marise Kruger
Sue Barker
Margaret Court
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–3, 7–5
Françoise Dürr
Ann Kiyomura

December (1976)

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Dec Toyota Women's Classic
Melbourne, Australia
Colgate International Series
Grass – $75,000
Margaret Court
6–2, 6–2
Sue Barker Betty Stöve
Dianne Fromholtz
JoAnne Russell
Françoise Dürr
Janet Newberry
Ilana Kloss
Margaret Court
Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–4
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
26 Dec Marlboro NSW Open
Sydney, Australia
Colgate Series
Grass – $35,000
Kerry Reid
3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Dianne Fromholtz Karen Krantzcke
Renáta Tomanová
Wendy Turnbull
Lesley Bowrey
Virginia Ruzici
Amanda Tobin
Helen Gourlay
Betsy Nagelsen
6–4, 6–1
Dianne Fromholtz
Renáta Tomanová

January

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 Jan Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
Grass – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Kerry Reid
7–5, 6–2
Dianne Fromholtz Karen Krantzcke
Helen Gourlay
Jan Wilton
Naoko Sato
Mary Sawyer
Katja Ebbinghaus
Dianne Fromholtz
Helen Gourlay
5–7, 6–1, 7–5
Betsy Nagelsen
Kerry Reid
Virginia Slims of Washington
Washington, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D
Martina Navratilova
6–2, 6–3
Chris Evert Wendy Turnbull
Virginia Wade
Sue Barker
Beth Norton
Françoise Dürr
Janet Newberry
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
7–5, 6–2
Kristien Shaw
Valerie Ziegenfuss
10 Jan Virginia Slims of Florida
Hollywood, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 34S/16D
Chris Evert
6–3, 6–4
Margaret Court Sue Barker
Virginia Wade
Betty Stöve
Martina Navratilova
JoAnne Russell
Mima Jaušovec
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert
17 Jan Virginia Slims of Houston
Houston, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/13D
Martina Navratilova
7–6(5–3), 7–5
Sue Barker Mima Jaušovec
Dianne Fromholtz
Wendy Turnbull
Kristien Shaw
Greer Stevens
Carrie Meyer
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
4–6, 6–2, 6–1
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura
24 Jan Virginia Slims of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 33S/14D
Martina Navratilova
6–0, 6–1
Sue Barker Rosie Casals
Olga Morozova
Virginia Wade
Margaret Court
Mima Jaušovec
Natasha Chmyreva
Rosie Casals
Martina Navratilova
6–2, 6–1
Mima Jaušovec
Virginia Ruzici
31 Jan Virginia Slims of Seattle
Seattle, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 33S/16D
Chris Evert
6–2, 6–4
Martina Navratilova Olga Morozova
Rosie Casals
Kristien Shaw
Dianne Fromholtz
Natasha Chmyreva
Sharon Walsh
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Françoise Dürr
Martina Navratilova

February

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 Feb Virginia Slims of Chicago
Chicago, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 33S/16D
Chris Evert
6–1, 6–3
Margaret Court Betty Stöve
Natasha Chmyreva
Kristien Shaw
Brigitte Cuypers
Julie Anthony
Rosie Casals
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert
6–3, 6–4
Margaret Court
Betty Stöve
14 Feb Virginia Slims of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 34S/15D
Chris Evert
6–2, 2–6, 6–2
Martina Navratilova Rosie Casals
Margaret Court
Kerry Reid
Virginia Wade
Terry Holladay
JoAnne Russell
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert
6–2, 6–4
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
21 Feb Virginia Slims of Detroit
Detroit, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S
Martina Navratilova
6–4, 6–4
Sue Barker Virginia Wade
Françoise Dürr
Yvonne Vermaak
Virginia Ruzici
Margaret Court
Sharon Walsh
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–3, 6–4
Janet Newberry
JoAnne Russell
28 Feb Virginia Slims of San Francisco
San Francisco, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 34S/16D
Sue Barker
6–3, 6–4
Virginia Wade Chris Evert
Rosie Casals
Betty Stöve
Mima Jaušovec
Kerry Reid
Françoise Dürr
Kerry Reid
Greer Stevens
6–3, 6–1
Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura

March

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 Mar Virginia Slims of Dallas
Dallas, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 34S/17D
Sue Barker
6–1, 7–6(5–4)
Terry Holladay Greer Stevens
Virginia Wade
Kathleen Harter
Renáta Tomanová
Kristien Shaw
Betty Stöve
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–2, 6–4
Kerry Reid
Greer Stevens
14 Mar Virginia Slims of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States
Virginia Slims
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/15D
Chris Evert
6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Martina Navratilova Sue Barker
Rosie Casals
Dianne Fromholtz
Kerry Reid
Virginia Wade
Betty Stöve
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
24 Mar Virginia Slims Championships
New York City, United States
Year-end championships
Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 16S (8RR)
Chris Evert
2–6, 6–1, 6–1
Sue Barker 3rd: Martina Navratilova
4th: Rosie Casals
5th: Virginia Wade
6th: Betty Stöve
7th: Mima Jaušovec
8th: Kristien Shaw


28 Mar Family Circle Cup
Hilton Head Island, United States
Colgate Series
Clay – $110,000 – 30S/16D
Singles
Chris Evert
6–1, 6–0
Billie Jean King Mima Jaušovec
Kerry Reid
Kathy May
Rosie Casals
Tracy Austin
Renáta Tomanová
Rosie Casals
Chris Evert
6–4, 6–2
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade

April

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 Apr Bridgestone Doubles Championships
Tokyo, Japan
Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 8D
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
7–5, 6–3
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade
Casals / King
Jaušovec / Ruzici
Newberry / Russell
Kemmer / Ziegenfuss
Barker / Kiyomura
Holladay / May

May

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
9 May German Open
Hamburg, West Germany
Colgate Series
Clay – $35,000
Laura duPont
6–1, 6–4
Heidi Eisterlehner Katja Ebbinghaus
Regina Maršíková
Renáta Tomanová
Iris Riedel
Florența Mihai
Lea Plchová
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
Regina Maršíková
Renáta Tomanová
16 May Italian Open
Rome, Italy
Colgate Series
Clay – $35,000
Janet Newberry
6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Renáta Tomanová Marie Pinterová
Laura duPont
Mima Jaušovec
Iris Riedel
Pam Teeguarden
Mary Struthers
Brigitte Cuypers
Marise Kruger
6–3, 5–7, 2–6
Bunny Bruning
Sharon Walsh
23 May
30 May
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
Clay (red) – 64S/64Q/22D/24X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
Mima Jaušovec
6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–1
Florența Mihai Regina Maršíková
Janet Newberry
Pam Teeguarden
Renáta Tomanová
Linky Boshoff
Kathy May
Regina Maršíková
Pam Teeguarden
5–7, 6–4, 6–2
Rayni Fox
Helen Gourlay Cawley
Mary Carillo
John McEnroe
7–6, 6–3
Florența Mihai
Iván Molina

June

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
13 Jun Federation Cup
Eastbourne, Great Britain
Federation Cup
Grass – 32 teams knockout
 United States
2–1
 Australia  South Africa
 Great Britain
 France
 Netherlands
 Sweden
 West Germany
20 Jun
27 Jun
Wimbledon Championships
London, Great Britain
Grand Slam
Grass – 96S/48D/64X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
Virginia Wade
4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Betty Stöve Chris Evert
Sue Barker
Billie Jean King
Rosie Casals
Kerry Reid
Martina Navratilova
Helen Gourlay Cawley
JoAnne Russell
6–3, 6–3
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
Greer Stevens
Bob Hewitt
3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Betty Stöve
Frew McMillan

August

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
8 Aug US Clay Court Championships
Indianapolis, United States
Colgate Series
Clay – $35,000
SinglesDoubles
Laura duPont
6–4, 6–3
Nancy Richey Cynthia Doerner
Iris Riedel
Maria Bueno
Katja Ebbinghaus
Lesley Charles
Marcie Louie
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
5–7, 7–5, 6–3
Mary Carillo
Wendy Overton
15 Aug Rothmans Canadian Open
Toronto, Canada
Colgate Series
Clay – $35,000
Regina Maršíková
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Marise Kruger Cynthia Doerner
Jeanne Evert
Katja Ebbinghaus
Rosie Casals
Yvonne Vermaak
Fiorella Bonicelli
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
6–2, 6–3
Rosie Casals
Evonne Goolagong Cawley
22 Aug Ivey's Pepsi Tennis Classic
Charlotte, United States
Colgate Series
Clay – $50,000
Martina Navratilova
3–6, 6–2, 6–2
Mima Jaušovec JoAnne Russell
Regina Maršíková
Tracy Austin
Brigitte Cuypers
Katja Ebbinghaus
Kate Latham
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–3, 6–4
Regina Maršíková
Pam Teeguarden
29 Aug
5 Sep
US Open
New York City, United States
Grand Slam
$250,000 – Clay – 64S/32D/32X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
Chris Evert
7–6(7–3), 6–2
Wendy Turnbull Betty Stöve
Martina Navratilova
Billie Jean King
Tracy Austin
Virginia Wade
Mima Jaušovec
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–1, 7–6(7–4)
Renée Richards
Betty-Ann Stuart
Betty Stöve
Frew McMillan
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Billie Jean King
Vitas Gerulaitis

September

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
12 Sep Toray Sillook Open
Osaka & Tokyo, Japan
Colgate Series
Carpet (i) – $100,000
Singles
Virginia Wade
7–5, 5–7, 6–4
Martina Navratilova Wendy Turnbull
Sue Barker
Mima Jaušovec
Terry Holladay
Julie Anthony
Michelle Tyler
26 Sep Florida Federal Open
Palm Harbor, United States
Colgate Series
Hard – $35,000
Virginia Ruzici
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Laura duPont Marise Kruger
Mona Guerrant
Michelle Tyler
Renée Richards
Mary Hamm
JoAnne Russell
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
6–7, 6–2, 6–2
Brigitte Cuypers
Marise Kruger

October

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 Oct Wyler's Classic
Atlanta, United States
Colgate Series
Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/16D
Chris Evert
6–3, 6–2
Dianne Fromholtz Virginia Wade
Billie Jean King
Ann Kiyomura
Kerry Reid
Betty Stöve
Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
6–4, 6–2
Brigitte Cuypers
Marise Kruger
10 Oct Thunderbird Classic
Phoenix, United States
Colgate Series
Hard – $75,000
Billie Jean King
1–6, 6–1, 6–0
Wendy Turnbull Betty Stöve
Martina Navratilova
Renée Richards
Dianne Fromholtz
Rosie Casals
Tracy Austin
Billie Jean King
Martina Navratilova
6–0, 7–5
Helen Gourlay Cawley
JoAnne Russell
17 Oct Colgate Brazil Open
São Paulo, Brazil
Colgate Series
Hard – $75,000
Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–4
Betty Stöve Dianne Fromholtz
Kerry Reid
Martina Navratilova
Betsy Nagelsen
Rosie Casals
Sharon Walsh
Kerry Reid
Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 5–7, 6–2
Martina Navratilova
Betty Stöve
24 Oct Borniquen Classic
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Colgate Series
Hard – $75,000
Billie Jean King
6–1, 6–3
Janet Newberry JoAnne Russell
Betty Stöve
Wendy Turnbull
Rosie Casals
Virginia Ruzici
Terry Holladay
Rosie Casals
Billie Jean King
4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Linky Boshoff
Ilana Kloss
31 Oct Colgate Series Championships
Palm Springs, United States
Colgate Series championships
Hard – $250,000 – 8S/4D
Chris Evert
6–2, 6–2
Billie Jean King Virginia Wade (3rd)
Kerry Reid (4th)
Round robin
Dianne Fromholtz
Martina Navratilova
Wendy Turnbull
Betty Stöve
Françoise Dürr
Virginia Wade
6–1, 4–6, 6–4
Helen Gourlay Cawley
JoAnne Russell

November

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 Nov Wightman Cup
Williamsburg, United States
Hard (i)
Team event
 United States
7–0
 Great Britain
N/A
N/A

Rankings

Below are the 1977 WTA year-end rankings (December 31, 1977) in both singles and doubles competition:

Singles Year-end Ranking[3]
No Player Name Points 1976 Change
1  Chris Evert (USA) 17.612 1 =
2  Billie Jean King (USA) 12.244 NR NR
3  Martina Navratilova (USA) 11.881 4 +1
4  Virginia Wade (GBR) 10.185 3 -1
5  Sue Barker (GBR) 9.515 10 +5
6  Rosie Casals (USA) 7.693 6 =
7  Betty Stöve (NED) 6.617 7 =
8  Dianne Fromholtz (AUS) 6.462 5 -3
9  Wendy Turnbull (AUS) 6.326 30 +21
10  Kerry Melville (AUS) 6.061 8 -2
11  Mima Jaušovec (YUG) 5.738 11 =
12  Tracy Austin (USA) 5.065 NR NR
13  Greer Stevens (RSA) 4.989 17 +4
14  Terry Holladay (USA) 4.313 13 -1
15  JoAnne Russell (USA) 4.244 18 +3
16  Virginia Ruzici (ROU) 3.951 26 +10
17  Kristien Shaw (USA) 3.875 32 +15
18  Janet Newberry (USA) 3.813 28 +10
19  Katja Ebbinghaus (FRG) 3.759 NR NR
20  Regina Maršíková (TCH) 3.700 +3 23

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ "Women's International Computerized Rankings" (PDF). Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 31 December 1977.