Women's tennis circuit
1976 WTA Tour Duration 26 December 1975–2 December 1976 Edition 4th Tournaments 38 Categories Grand Slam (4) Virginia Slims championships Virginia Slims Circuit (10) Women's International Grand Prix (10) Non-tour events (12) Most tournament titles Chris Evert (12)Most tournament finals Chris Evert (16)Prize money leader Chris Evert ($343,165)Points leader Chris Evert (16.990)
The 1976 WTA Tour consisted of a number of tennis tournaments for female tennis players. It was composed of the newly streamlined version of the Virginia Slims Circuit , was now an 11-week tour of the United States, and the Woman's International Grand Prix. The 1976 tour was the first full season using the 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 Virginia Slims circuit or the Women's International Grand Prix in the year 1976, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage. Also included are the Grand Slam tournaments, the 1976 Virginia Slims Championships , the 1976 Federation Cup and a number of events not affiliated with either tour.[1]
Key Grand Slam tournaments Virginia Slims Championships Virginia Slims Circuit Women's International Grand Prix Non-tour events Team events
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 26 Dec Australian Open Melbourne , Australia Grand Slam Grass – 56S/24DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–3, 6–2 Renáta Tomanová Helen Gourlay Cawley Elisabeth Ekblom Lesley Bowrey Heidi Eisterlehner Helga Masthoff Christine Matison Evonne Goolagong Cawley Helen Gourlay Cawley 8–1 Lesley Turner Bowrey Renáta Tomanová 5 Jan L‟Eggs World Series Austin , United States Non-tour event – hard – 32S/8DSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 6–3, 7–6 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Virginia Wade Martina Navratilova 12 Jan Virginia Slims of Houston Houston , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/12DSingles – Doubles Martina Navratilova 6–3, 6–4 Chris Evert Rosie Casals Nancy Gunter Sue Barker Olga Morozova Marcie Louie Renáta Tomanová Françoise Dürr Rosie Casals 6–0, 7–5 Martina Navratilova Chris Evert 19 Jan Virginia Slims of Washington Washington , United States Virginia Slims $75,000 – carpet (i)– 32S/8DSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 6–2, 6–1 Virginia Wade Sue Barker Terry Holladay Mima Jaušovec Olga Morozova Lesley Hunt Natasha Chmyreva Olga Morozova Virginia Wade 7–6, 6–2 Wendy Overton Mona Guerrant 26 Jan Virginia Slims of Chicago Chicago , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/10DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 Virginia Wade Martina Navratilova Nancy Gunter Cynthia Doerner Olga Morozova Natasha Chmyreva Wendy Overton Olga Morozova Virginia Wade 6–7(4–5) , 6–4, 6–4 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Martina Navratilova
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 3 Feb Virginia Slims of Akron Akron , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32SSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–2, 3–6, 6–2 Virginia Wade Rosie Casals Olga Morozova Iris Riedel Nancy Gunter Mima Jaušovec Sue Barker Brigitte Cuypers Mona Guerrant 6–4, 7–6(5–4) Glynis Coles Florența Mihai 17 Feb Virginia Slims of Detroit Detroit , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32SSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 6–4, 6–2 Rosie Casals Terry Holladay Marita Redondo Elly Appel-Vessies Marcie Louie Betty Stöve Ann Kiyomura Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura 6–3, 6–4 Chris Evert Betty Stöve 24 Feb Virginia Slims of Sarasota Sarasota , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32SSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 6–3, 6–0 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Martina Navratilova Rosie Casals Carrie Meyer Mona Guerrant Mima Jaušovec Lesley Hunt Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve 6–1, 6–0 Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 1 Mar Virginia Slims of San Francisco San Francisco, United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/8DSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 7–5, 7–6(5–2) Evonne Goolagong Cawley Terry Holladay Marita Redondo Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade Nancy Gunter Billie Jean King Betty Stöve 6–4, 6–1 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr 15 Mar Virginia Slims of Dallas Dallas , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/10DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–1, 6–1 Martina Navratilova Kerry Reid Marita Redondo Greer Stevens Betty Stöve Carrie Meyer Natasha Chmyreva Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 Greer Stevens Marita Redondo 22 Mar Virginia Slims of Boston Boston , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/12DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–2, 6–0 Virginia Wade Rosie Casals Dianne Fromholtz Kerry Reid Lesley Hunt Natasha Chmyreva Mima Jaušovec Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr 29 Mar Virginia Slims of Philadelphia Philadelphia , United States Virginia Slims Carpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/11DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–3, 7–6(5–3) Chris Evert Virginia Wade Sue Barker Dianne Fromholtz Olga Morozova Kerry Reid Rosie Casals Billie Jean King Betty Stöve 7–6(5–4) , 6–4 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 12 April Virginia Slims Championships Los Angeles, United States Year-end championships Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 16S (8RR)Singles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6–3, 5–7, 6–3 Chris Evert Rosie Casals (3rd) Martina Navratilova (4th) Sue Barker (5th) Marita Redondo (6th) Virginia Wade (7th) Françoise Dürr (8th) Monte Carlo Open Monte Carlo , Monaco Non-tour event ClaySingles – Doubles Helga Masthoff 6–4, 6–2 Fiorella Bonicelli Katja Ebbinghaus Helga Masthoff 6–3, 7–5 Rosie Darmon Gail Sherriff Chanfreau 19 April Bridgestone Doubles Championships Tokyo, Japan Women's International Grand Prix $100,000 – Carpet (i) – 7DDoubles Billie Jean King Betty Stöve 6–3, 6–2 Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura Evert / Navrátilová Morozova / Wade / Coles / Mihai Sieler / Hunt Casals / Dürr 26 April Family Circle Cup Amelia Island , United States Women's International Grand Prix Clay – $110,000 – 32S/16DSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 6–2, 6–2 Kerry Reid Mary Struthers Sue Barker Betty Stöve Lesley Hunt Ilana Kloss Nancy Gunter Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 6–3, 6–2 Kathy Kuykendall Valerie Ziegenfuss
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 10 May Coca-Cola British Hard Court Championships Bournemouth , Great Britain Non-tour event ClaySingles – Doubles Helga Niessen Masthoff 5–7, 6–3, 6–3 Sue Barker Gail Lovera Linky Boshoff Linda Mottram Belinda Thompson Glynis Coles Wendy Turnbull Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 6–3, 6–2 Lesley Charles Sue Mappin 17 May German Open Hamburg , West Germany Women's International Grand Prix $30,000 – claySingles – Doubles Sue Barker 6–3, 6–1 Renáta Tomanová Virginia Ruzici Mima Jaušovec Iris Riedel Helga Niessen Masthoff Glynis Coles Regina Maršíková Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 Laura duPont Wendy Turnbull 24 May Italian Open Rome, Italy Women's International Grand Prix $30,000 – claySingles – Doubles Mima Jaušovec 6–1, 6–3 Lesley Hunt Regina Maršíková Florența Mihai Sue Barker Linky Boshoff Gail Lovera Beth Norton Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 6–1, 6–2 Virginia Ruzici Mariana Simionescu 31 May 7 June French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay (red) – 64S/22D/24XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Sue Barker 6–2, 0–6, 6–2 Renáta Tomanová Florența Mihai Virginia Ruzici Helga Niessen Masthoff Kathy Kuykendall Miloslava Holubová Regina Maršíková Fiorella Bonicelli Gail Lovera 6–3, 6–2 Kathleen Harter Helga Niessen Masthoff Ilana Kloss Kim Warwick 5–7, 7–6, 6–2 Linky Boshoff Colin Dowdeswell
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 14 Jun Colgate International Eastbourne , Great Britain Women's International Grand Prix $25,000 – grassSingles – Doubles Chris Evert 8–6, 6–3 Virginia Wade Olga Morozova Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve Rosie Casals Betsy Nagelsen Mona Guerrant Chris Evert / Martina Navratilova vs Olga Morozova / Virginia Wade 6–1, 1–1 not finished due to rain 21 Jun 28 Jun Wimbledon Championships London, Great Britain Grand Slam Grass – 96S/48D/64XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Chris Evert 6–3, 4–6, 8–6 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade Olga Morozova Sue Barker Kerry Reid Rosie Casals Chris Evert Martina Navratilova 6–1, 3–6, 7–5 Billie Jean King Betty Stöve Françoise Dürr Tony Roche 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 Rosie Casals Dick Stockton
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 5 Jul Swiss Open Gstaad , Switzerland Non-tour event ClaySingles – Doubles Michele Gurdal 4-6, 6–2, 6–3 Gail Chanfreau Betsy Nagelsen Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 6–4 Brigitte Cuypers Annette DuPlooy Swedish Open Båstad , Sweden Non-tour event ClaySingles – Doubles Renáta Tomanová 6–3, 6–2 Helena Anliot Isabel Fernández de Soto Mimmi Wikstedt 6–1, 7–6 Lesley Hunt Renáta Tomanová 12 Jul Head Open Kitzbühel , Austria Non-tour event ClaySingles – Doubles Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 Virginia Ruzici Helena Anliot Mimmi Wikstedt 6–4, 2–6, 7–5 Katja Ebbinghaus Heidi Eisterlehner
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists 9 Aug US Clay Court Championships Indianapolis , United States Women's International Grand Prix $35,000 – claySingles – Doubles Kathy May 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 Brigitte Cuypers Fiorella Bonicelli Helga Niessen Masthoff Lesley Hunt Laura duPont Mary Struthers Linky Boshoff Fiorella Bonicelli Isabel Fernández de Soto 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 Gail Chanfreau Julie Heldman 16 Aug Rothmans Canadian Open Toronto , Canada Women's International Grand Prix $35,000 – claySingles – Doubles Mima Jaušovec 6–2, 6–0 Lesley Hunt Virginia Ruzici Cynthia Doerner Sue Barker Kathy May Regina Maršíková Laura duPont Cynthia Doerner Janet Newberry 6–7, 6–3, 6–1 Sue Barker Pam Teeguarden WTA Westchester Invitational Harrison , United States Non-tour event Clay Beth Norton 1–6, 7–5, 6–3 Ruta Gerulaitis Janet Newberry Mary Carillo Laura duPont Janice Metcalf Cecilia Martinez Wendy Overton 23 Aug Federation Cup Philadelphia , United States Federation Cup Carpet (i) – 31 teams knockout United States 2–1 Australia Netherlands Great Britain Switzerland Denmark South Africa West Germany Tennis Week Open Orange , United States Non-tour event Clay Marise Kruger 6–3, 6–2 Lea Antonoplis Florence Guédy Renée Richards Linda Thomas Susan Mehmedbasich Carrie Meyer Kathy Harter 30 Aug 6 Sep US Open New York City, United States Grand Slam Clay – 64S/32D/32XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Chris Evert 6–3, 6–0 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Mima Jaušovec Dianne Fromholtz Natasha Chmyreva Virginia Ruzici Zenda Liess Rosie Casals Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss 6–1, 6–4 Olga Morozova Virginia Wade Billie Jean King Phil Dent 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 Betty Stöve Frew McMillan
Below are the 1976 WTA year-end rankings (December 31, 1976) Singles competition:
Women's tennis seasons
Seasons (1881-1912) ILTF World Circuit (1913-72) ILTF Independent Circuit ILTF Grand Prix Circuit Virginia Slims Circuit Virginia Slims/Colgate Series Avon/Colgate Series Avon/Toyota Series Virginia Slims World Championship Series WTA Tour
Grand Slam events Virginia Slims Circuit Houston (S , D ) Washington (S , D ) Chicago (S , D ) Akron (S , D ) Detroit (S , D ) Sarasota (S , D ) San Francisco (S , D ) Dallas (S , D ) Boston (S , D ) Philadelphia (S , D ) Women's International Grand Prix Sydney 1 (S , D ) Melbourne (S , D ) Sydney 2 (S , D ) Amelia Island (S , D ) Bournemouth (S , D ) Hamburg (S , D ) Rome (S , D ) Eastbourne (S , D ) Båstad (S , D ) Indianapolis (S , D ) Toronto (S , D ) Charlotte (S , D ) Tokyo 1 (S , D ) Palm Harbor (S , D ) Atlanta (S , D ) Phoenix (S , D ) Colgate International Series Team events