- WTA Tour Championships
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2011 WTA Tour ChampionshipsWTA Tour Location Istanbul
Turkey (2011–2013)Venue Sinan Erdem Dome Category Premier tournaments Surface Hard / Indoors Draw 8S / 4D Prize Money US$4,900,000 (2011) Website WTA Championships The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972. Since 2003 there have been eight singles players divided into two groups, and four doubles teams.
The WTA Tour Championships is generally considered to be the fifth most prestigious event on the women's tour after the four Grand Slam tournaments. It also has the largest prize money and ranking points after the Grand Slams.
The most successful player by far has been Martina Navratilova with 8 singles titles and 12 in doubles.
A similar event on the men's tour is the ATP World Tour Finals (formerly the Tennis Masters Cup).
Contents
History
The championships were held for the first time in October 1972[1] in Boca Raton, Florida (USA) as a climax event at the end of a series of tournaments sponsored by Virginia Slims. From 1972 to 1974, the event was held in October, before switching to March from 1975 until 1986. The WTA then decided to adopt a January–November playing season, and so the event was switched to being held at the end of each year. As a consequence, there were two championships held in 1986.
The event was held in Los Angeles, California from 1974 to 1976 before moving to Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City in 1977. With the exception of a one-year move to Oakland, California in 1978, the Championships remained at MSG until 2000. The event then briefly moved to Munich, Germany in 2001. More recently, it moved back to Los Angeles from 2002 to 2005. The 2006 and 2007 editions were held in Madrid, Spain. Doha, Qatar hosted the 2008–2010 editions before passing the flag to Istanbul, Turkey, which is scheduled to host the 2011–2013 editions.[2]
From 1972–1978, the event was known as the Virginia Slims Championships. When Avon took over as the tour sponsor from 1979–1982, the event was known as the Avon Championships. Virginia Slims returned as the tour sponsor in 1983 and the event name reverted to the Virginia Slims Championships. It remained that way until 1994 when Virginia Slims ended their sponsorship of the WTA Tour. In 1995, without a tour sponsor, the event was simply referred to as the WTA Tour Championships. From 1996 to 2000, it was called the Chase Championships. In 2001, it was the Sanex Championships while in 2002, it was the Home Depot Championships. In 2003 and 2004, the event name was once again the WTA Tour Championships. From 2005 to 2010, with Sony Ericsson as tour sponsor, the event was called the Sony Ericsson Championships. The 2011 WTA Tour has no name sponsor and the 2011 event is called the WTA Championships.
From 1984–1998, the final of the championships was a best-of-five-set match, making it the only tournament on the women's tour to have a best-of-five-set match at any round of the competition. In 1999, the final reverted to being a best-of-three-set match, as had been the case from 1972–1983.
Venues
Town Years Stadium Surface Capacity 
Boca Raton1972–1973 – Clay – Los Angeles1974–1976 – Carpet – New York City1977 Madison Square Garden Carpet 18,000 Oakland1978 Oakland Arena Carpet – New York City1979–2000 Madison Square Garden Carpet 18,000 
Munich2001 Olympiahalle Hard 12,000 Los Angeles2002–2005 Staples Center Hard 17,000 
Madrid2006–2007 Madrid Arena Hard 10,500 
Doha2008–2010 Khalifa International Tennis Complex Hard 6,911 Istanbul2011–2013 Sinan Erdem Dome Hard 15,000 Past results
Singles
Year Champion Runner-up Score in final 1972 Chris Evert
Kerry Melville Reid7–5, 6–4 1973 Chris Evert (2) Nancy Richey Gunter6–3, 6–3 1974 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Chris Evert6–3, 6–4 1975 Chris Evert (3)
Martina Navratilova6–4, 6–2 1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (2) Chris Evert6–3, 5–7, 6–3 1977 Chris Evert (4)
Sue Barker2–6, 6–1, 6–1 1978 Martina Navratilova Evonne Goolagong Cawley7–6(7–0), 6–4 1979 Martina Navratilova (2) Tracy Austin6–3, 3–6, 6–2 1980 Tracy Austin Martina Navratilova6–2, 2–6, 6–2 1981 Martina Navratilova (3) Andrea Jaeger6–3, 7–6(7–3) 1982 Sylvia Hanika Martina Navratilova1–6, 6–3, 6–4 1983 Martina Navratilova (4) Chris Evert6–2, 6–0 1984 Martina Navratilova (5) Chris Evert6–3, 7–5, 6–1 1985 Martina Navratilova (6) Helena Suková6–3, 7–5, 6–4 1986 (Mar.) Martina Navratilova (7) Hana Mandlíková6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 6–1 1986 (Nov.) Martina Navratilova (8) Steffi Graf7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2 1987 Steffi Graf
Gabriela Sabatini4–6, 6–4, 6–0, 6–4 1988 Gabriela Sabatini Pam Shriver7–5, 6–2, 6–2 1989 Steffi Graf (2) Martina Navratilova6–4, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 1990 
Monica Seles Gabriela Sabatini6–4, 5–7, 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 1991 Monica Seles (2) Martina Navratilova6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 6–0 1992 
Monica Seles (3) Martina Navratilova7–5, 6–3, 6–1 1993 Steffi Graf (3) Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 1994 Gabriela Sabatini (2) Lindsay Davenport6–3, 6–2, 6–4 1995 Steffi Graf (4) Anke Huber6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3 1996 Steffi Graf (5)
Martina Hingis6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 4–6, 6–0 1997 
Jana Novotná
Mary Pierce7–6(7–4), 6–2, 6–3 1998 Martina Hingis Lindsay Davenport7–5, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 1999 Lindsay Davenport Martina Hingis6–4, 6–2 2000 Martina Hingis (2) Monica Seles6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4 2001 Serena Williams Lindsay Davenportwalkover 2002 
Kim Clijsters Serena Williams7–5, 6–3 2003 Kim Clijsters (2) Amélie Mauresmo6–2, 6–0 2004 
Maria Sharapova Serena Williams4–6, 6–2, 6–4 2005 Amélie Mauresmo Mary Pierce5–7, 7–6(7–3), 6–4 2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne Amélie Mauresmo6–4, 6–3 2007 Justine Henin (2) Maria Sharapova5–7, 7–5, 6–3 2008 Venus Williams Vera Zvonareva6–7(5–7), 6–0, 6–2 2009 Serena Williams (2) Venus Williams6–2, 7–6(7–4) 2010 Kim Clijsters (3)
Caroline Wozniacki6–3, 5–7, 6–3 2011 Petra Kvitová
Victoria Azarenka7–5, 4–6, 6–3 
Doubles
Year Champions Runner-ups Score in Final 1972 no doubles played 1973 Rosemary Casals
Margaret Court Françoise Durr
Betty Stöve6–2, 6–4 1974 Rosemary Casals
Billie Jean King Françoise Durr
Betty Stöve6–1, 6–7(2–7), 7–5 1975 no doubles played 1976 no doubles played 1977 no doubles played 1978 no doubles played 1979 Françoise Durr
Betty Stöve Sue Barker
Ann Kiyomura7–6, 7–6 1980 Billie Jean King
Martina Navrátilová Rosemary Casals
Wendy Turnbull6–3, 4–6, 6–3 1981 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Barbara Potter
Sharon Walsh6–0, 7–6(8–6) 1982 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Kathy Jordan
Anne Smith6–4, 6–3 1983 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Eva Pfaff7–5, 6–2 1984 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Jo Durie
Ann Kiyomura6–3, 6–1 1985 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–6(7–5) 1986 (1) Hana Mandlíková
Wendy Turnbull Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 1986 (2) Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková1–6, 6–1, 6–1 1987 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Helena Suková6–1, 6–1 1988 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver
Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Natalia Zvereva6–3, 6–4 1989 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Natalia Zvereva6–3, 6–2 1990 Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Smylie Mercedes Paz
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario7–6(7–4), 6–4 1991 Martina Navrátilová
Pam Shriver Gigi Fernández
Jana Novotná4–6, 7–5, 6–4 1992 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Helena Suková Jana Novotná
Larisa Savchenko Neiland7–6(7–4), 6–1 1993 Gigi Fernández
Natalia Zvereva Jana Novotná
Larisa Savchenko Neiland6–3, 7–5 1994 Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 1995 Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva6–2, 6–1 1996 Lindsay Davenport
Mary Joe Fernández Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–3, 6–2 1997 Lindsay Davenport
Jana Novotná Alexandra Fusai
Nathalie Tauziat6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–2 1998 Lindsay Davenport
Natasha Zvereva Alexandra Fusai
Nathalie Tauziat6–7(6–8), 7–5, 6–3 1999 Martina Hingis
Anna Kournikova Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Larisa Savchenko Neiland6–4, 6–4 2000 Martina Hingis
Anna Kournikova Nicole Arendt
Manon Bollegraf6–2, 6–3 2001 Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs
Cara Black
Elena Likhovtseva7–5, 3–6, 6–3 2002 Elena Dementieva
Janette Husárová Cara Black
Elena Likhovtseva4–6, 6–4, 6–3 2003 Virginia Ruano Pascual
Paola Suárez Kim Clijsters
Ai Sugiyama6–4, 3–6, 6–3 2004 Nadia Petrova
Meghann Shaughnessy Cara Black
Rennae Stubbs7–5, 6–2 2005 Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur Cara Black
Rennae Stubbs6–7(5–7), 7–5, 6–4 2006 Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur Cara Black
Rennae Stubbs3–6, 6–3, 6–3 2007 Cara Black
Liezel Huber
Katarina Srebotnik
Ai Sugiyama5–7, 6–3, [10–8] 2008 Cara Black
Liezel Huber Květa Peschke
Rennae Stubbs6–1, 7–5 2009 Nuria Llagostera Vives
María José Martínez Sánchez Cara Black
Liezel Huber7–6(7–0), 5–7, [10–7] 2010 Gisela Dulko
Flavia Pennetta Květa Peschke
Katarina Srebotnik7–5, 6–4 2011 Liezel Huber
Lisa Raymond Květa Peschke
Katarina Srebotnik6–4, 6–4 Honour roll (2003-present)
Player Result
tF=Final
(A)=AlternateA
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sRR W–L RR W Rate SF&F W–L SF&F W Rate F W–L Victoria AzarenkatF:11 RR:09,10 3 04–05 0.44 01-01 0.5 0-1 27 Marion BartoliRR:07,11(A) 2 02–01 0.67 18 Jennifer CapriatiSF:03 1 02–01 0.67 00-01 0 1 Anna ChakvetadzeSF:07 1 02-01 0.67 00-01 0 19 Kim ClijstersW:03,10 SF:06 RR:05 4 08–04 0.67 04-01 0.8 2-0 2 Lindsay DavenportSF:05 RR:04 2 04-02 0.67 00-01 0 11 Elena DementievaSF:08 RR:03-06,09,10 7 05–16 0.24 00-01 0 3 Daniela HantuchováRR:07 1 01–02 0.33 20 Justine HeninW:06,07 SF:03 3 07-02 0.78 04-01 0.8 2-0 4 Martina HingisRR:06 1 01–02 0.33 17 
Ana IvanovićSF:07 RR:08 2 02-03 0.4 00-01 0 21 Jelena JankovićSF:08,09 RR:07,10 4 04-08 0.33 00-02 0 22 Svetlana KuznetsovaRR:04,06-09 5 03–12 0.2 12 Petra KvitováW:11 1 03-00 1 02-00 1 1-0 31 Amélie MauresmoW:05 tF:03,06 SF:04 4 09-03 0.75 04-03 0.57 1-2 5 Anastasia MyskinaSF:04 RR:03 2 03–03 0.5 00-01 0 6 
Li NaRR:11 1 01-02 0.33 30 Nadia PetrovaRR:05,06,08(A) 3 02-05 0.29 14 Mary PiercetF:05 1 03–00 1 01-01 0.5 0-1 15 
Agnieszka RadwańskaRR:08(A),09(A),11 3 03-02 0.6 24 Chanda RubinRR:03 1 01–02 0.33 7 Dinara SafinaRR:08,09 2 00–04 0 23 Francesca SchiavoneRR:10 1 01–02 0.33 29 Patty SchnyderRR:05 1 01-02 0.33 16 Maria SharapovaW:04 tF:07 SF:05,06 RR:11 5 10-04 0.71 03-03 0.5 1-1 9 Samantha StosurSF:10,11 2 04-02 0.67 00-02 0 28 Ai SugiyamaRR:03 1 01-02 0.33 8 Serena WilliamsW:09 tF:04 RR:07,08 4 06-03 0.67 03-01 0.75 1-1 13 Venus WilliamsW:08 tF:09 2 04-02 0.67 03-01 0.75 1-1 25 Caroline WozniackitF:10 SF:09 RR:11 3 05-04 0.56 01-02 0.33 0-1 26 Vera ZvonarevatF:08 SF:10,11 RR:04,09(A) 5 07-06 0.54 01-03 0.25 0-1 10 Results by country
Titles won Country Years Won Runners Up 14 United States1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980,
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986[1], 1986[2],
1999, 2001, 2008, 20091973, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982,
1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992,
1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004,
20096 Germany1982, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996 1986[2], 1995 5 Belgium2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010 Czech Republic/ Czechoslovakia1978, 1979, 1981, 1997,2011 1975, 1980, 1985, 1986[1] 3 / Yugoslavia1990, 1991, 1992 2 Argentina1988, 1994 1987, 1990 Australia1974, 1976 1972, 1978 Switzerland1998, 2000 1996, 1999 1 France2005 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 Russia2004 2007, 2008 0 Belarus2011 Denmark2010 Great Britain1977 Spain1993 Final appearances
Singles
Player Appearances Titles Year(s) Martina Navratilova 14 8 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986(1), 1986(2), 1989, 1991, 1992 Chris Evert 8 4 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1984 Steffi Graf 6 5 1986(2), 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996 Monica Seles 4 3 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000 Gabriela Sabatini 4 2 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994 Martina Hingis 4 2 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 Serena Williams 4 2 2001, 2002, 2004, 2009 Lindsay Davenport 4 1 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001 Kim Clijsters 3 3 2002, 2003, 2010 Evonne Goolagong Cawley 3 2 1974, 1976, 1978 Amélie Mauresmo 3 1 2003, 2005, 2006 Justine Henin 2 2 2006, 2007 Tracy Austin 2 1 1979, 1980 Maria Sharapova 2 1 2004, 2007 Venus Williams 2 1 2008, 2009 Mary Pierce 2 0 1997, 2005 Sylvia Hanika 1 1 1982 Jana Novotná 1 1 1997 Petra Kvitová 1 1 2011 Sue Barker 1 0 1977 Helena Suková 1 0 1985 Hana Mandlíková 1 0 1986(1) Pam Shriver 1 0 1988 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1 0 1993 Anke Huber 1 0 1995 Vera Zvonareva 1 0 2008 Caroline Wozniacki 1 0 2010 See also
- ATP World Tour Finals
- 2010 WTA Tour
- WTA Tour Championships appearances
References
- ^ "Tournament History". WTA Tour. http://www.wtachampionships.com/page/TournamentHistory/0,,12910,00.html. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ "2011 Calendar Announced". WTA Tour. 2 July 2010. http://www.wtatour.com/news/20100702/2011-calendar-announced_2256076_2083642. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
External links
WTA Tour Championships WTA Premier tournaments (2009–current) Sydney · Paris · Dubai · Indian Wells · Miami · Charleston · Stuttgart · Rome · Madrid · Eastbourne
Stanford · Cincinnati · Toronto/Montreal · New Haven · Tokyo · Beijing · Moscow
2009 Los Angeles · 2009–2010 Warsaw · 2010–current San Diego · 2011–current Doha · Brussels · 2012–current Brisbane2009 schedule · 2010 schedule · 2011 scheduleWTA Tour Championships, Istanbul
*Bold denotes the four mandatory tournaments.Categories:- WTA Tour Championships
- WTA Tour
- Recurring sporting events established in 1972
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