Details | |
---|---|
Duration | 3 January 1983 – 4 March 1984 |
Edition | 13th |
Tournaments | 64 |
Categories | Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships (2) Category 4 Category 3 Category 2 Category 1+ Category 1 |
Achievements (singles) | |
Most tournament titles | Martina Navratilova (18) |
Most tournament finals | Martina Navratilova (19) |
Prize money leader | Martina Navratilova ($1,456,030) |
Points leader | Martina Navratilova (19.606) |
Awards | |
Player of the year | Martina Navratilova |
Doubles team of the year | |
Most improved player of the year | Andrea Temesvári |
Newcomer of the year | Carling Bassett |
← 1982 1984 → |
The 1983 Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the 13th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced on January 3, 1983, and concluded on March 4, 1984, after 64 events. [1]
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 the first unified global women's circuit in the Open Era and featured tournaments that had previously been part of the Toyota Series and the Avon Series. [2] The circuit consisted of 48 tournaments in nine countries, including the four Grand Slam tournaments, and culminated in the season-ending Virginia Slims Championships played in February 1984. ITF tournaments were not part of the tour, although they awarded points for the WTA World Ranking.
Martina Navratilova was the most successful player in both singles and doubles across the season. She won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in singles, with Chris Evert-Lloyd winning the French Open. In doubles, Navratilova again won all the Grand Slams apart from the French Open, which was collected by Rosalyn Fairbank and Candy Reynolds; Pam Shriver was her partner in all the Grand Slam events. Navratilova won a total of 29 titles in the course of the year and only suffered one defeat in singles, against Kathy Horvath at the French Open. [3] This led to her beginning and ending the year as the WTA number 1. [1] Shriver was her closest challenger with 16 titles, including 14 in doubles events. Players from the United States won 74 of the 125 titles awarded in singles, doubles and mixed doubles; players from Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands and Switzerland each won a solitary title.
Avon, who had been the sponsors of the January to March U.S. winter circuit of the WTA Tour since 1978, announced in 1982 that they would be trimming back their sponsorship of the tour. [4] [5] Toyota, who sponsored the international tour for the remaining nine months of the season, also withdrew their support. [6] The 1983 season saw Virginia Slims returning to sponsor a unified worldwide tour after an absence of four years. The company sponsored events between 1970 and 1978 but withdrew their support following disagreements with the organisers of the WTA Tour, the Women's Tennis Association. However the company decided to associate themselves with the women's tennis circuit again in 1983. [1] The tour was therefore known as the Virginia Slims World Championship Series, with 18 events including the US Open held in the United States and a further 12 events in six other countries incorporated under the Virginia Slims brand in a merged season. [2]
World number-one singles player Martina Navratilova, who had won 90 out of 93 matches the previous year, began the 1983 season in great form, winning successive titles in Washington and Houston, defeating Sylvia Hanika in the final on both occasions. [1] The third best player in the world, Andrea Jaeger, won the tournament at Marco Island in Florida; Chris Evert-Lloyd, the world number two, took the title at Palm Beach, also in Florida.
The table below shows the 1983 Virginia Slims World Championship Series schedule.
Grand Slam tournaments |
Year-end championships |
Category 4 events |
Category 3 events |
Category 2 events |
Category 1+ and 1 events |
Team events |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 Jan | Virginia Slims of Washington Washington, United States Category 3 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–1 | Sylvia Hanika | Mary Lou Piatek Andrea Jaeger | Helena Suková Barbara Potter |
4–6, 7–5, 6–3 | |||||
10 Jan | Virginia Slims of Houston Houston, United States Category 3 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D/32Q Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–3, 7–6(7–5) | Sylvia Hanika | Tracy Austin Eva Pfaff | Bettina Bunge Anne Smith |
6–4, 6–3 | |||||
24 Jan | Avon Cup Marco Island, United States Category 2 Clay – $100,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles | Andrea Jaeger 6–1, 6–3 | Hana Mandlíková | Andrea Temesvári Michelle Casati | Dianne Balestrat Virginia Ruzici |
7–5, 6–4 | |||||
31 Jan | Murjani Cup Palm Beach Gardens, United States Category 3 Clay – $150,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–3, 6–3 | Andrea Jaeger | Wendy Turnbull Hana Mandlíková | Andrea Temesvári Iva Budařová |
6–4, 4–6, 6–2 |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Apr | Family Circle Cup Hilton Head Island, United States Category 4 Clay – $200,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 5–7, 6–1, 6–0 | Tracy Austin | Bettina Bunge Andrea Jaeger | Andrea Temesvári Sylvia Hanika |
7–5, 6–2 | |||||
11 Apr | Murjani WTA Championships Amelia Island, United States Category 4 Clay – $250,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 | Carling Bassett | Hana Mandlíková Kathy Rinaldi | Sylvia Hanika Michelle Casati |
6–4, 6–2 | |||||
18 Apr | United Airlines Tournament of Champions Orlando, United States Category 4 Clay – $200,000 – 22S/8D Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–1, 7–5 | Andrea Jaeger | Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull | Yvonne Vermaak Billie Jean King |
6–3, 1–6, 7–6(11–9) | |||||
25 Apr | Virginia Slims of Atlanta Atlanta, United States Category 3 Hard – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–0 | Kathy Jordan | Anne White Wendy Turnbull | Lele Forood Kim Steinmetz |
6–3, 7–6 |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 May | Italian Open Perugia, Italy Category 3 Clay – $150,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles | Andrea Temesvári 6–1, 6–0 | Bonnie Gadusek | Kathleen Horvath Kathy Rinaldi | Christiane Jolissaint Jo Durie |
6–3, 2–6, 6–1 | |||||
9 May | Swiss Open Lugano, Switzerland Category 2 Clay – $100,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles | The singles event was cancelled after the third round due to rain. [7] [A] | |||
6–2, 3–6, 7–5 | |||||
16 May | German Open West Berlin, West Germany Category 3 Clay – $150,000 – 56S/29D Singles – Doubles | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 7–6(7–3) | Kathleen Horvath | Helena Suková Andrea Jaeger | Pam Casale Sylvia Hanika |
6–4, 7–6(7–2) | Claudia Kohde-Kilsch | ||||
23 May | French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay – $625,000 – 128S/64Q/64D/48X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles | Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–1, 6–2 | Mima Jaušovec | Jo Durie Andrea Jaeger | Kathleen Horvath Tracy Austin Gretchen Magers Hana Mandlíková |
5–7, 7–5, 6–3 | Kathy Jordan Anne Smith | ||||
6–2, 6–3 | Leslie Allen Charles Buzz Strode |
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Jun | Edgbaston Cup Birmingham, Great Britain Category 2 Grass – $100,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles | Billie Jean King 6–3, 7–5 | Alycia Moulton | Anne White Zina Garrison | Elizabeth Sayers Yvonne Vermaak |
5–7, 6–4, 7–5 | |||||
13 Jun | BMW Championships Eastbourne, Great Britain Category 3 Grass – $150,000 – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–1, 6–1 | Wendy Turnbull | Zina Garrison Tracy Austin | Jo Durie Bettina Bunge |
6–1, 6–0 | |||||
20 Jun | Wimbledon Championships London, Great Britain Grand Slam Grass – $670,000 – 128S/64Q/56D/56X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–0, 6–3 | Andrea Jaeger | Yvonne Vermaak Billie Jean King | Jennifer Mundel-Reinbold Virginia Wade Barbara Potter Kathy Jordan |
6–2, 6–2 | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | ||||
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–5 | Billie Jean King Steve Denton |
No events were held this month
Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Feb | Virginia Slims of Chicago Chicago, United States Category 2 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Pam Shriver 7–6(7–4), 2–6, 6–3 | Barbara Potter | Wendy Turnbull Helena Suková | Bonnie Gadusek Carling Bassett |
5–7, 6–3, 6–3 | |||||
20 Feb | US Indoors Livingston, New Jersey, United States Category 2 Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–2, 7–6 | Chris Evert-Lloyd | Marcella Mesker Manuela Maleeva | Pam Casale Jo Durie |
5–7, 6–3, 6–3 | |||||
27 Feb | Virginia Slims Championships New York City, United States Carpet (i) – $500,000 – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles | Martina Navratilova 6–3, 7–5, 6–1 | Chris Evert-Lloyd | Pam Shriver Barbara Potter | Carling Bassett Hana Mandlíková |
6–3, 6–1 |
Below are the 1983 WTA year-end rankings (December 5, 1983) in singles competition:
|
|
Virginia Slims ranking points distribution.
Category | W | F | SF | QF | R16 | R32 | R64 | R128 | |
Grand Slam | Singles | 400 | 250 | 200 | 150 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 |
Doubles | 150 | 120 | 90 | 75 | 50 | 32 | 15 | – | |
VS Championships | Singles | 400 | 250 | 200 | 150 | 100 | – | – | – |
Category 4 | Singles | 250 | 150 | 130 | 100 | 65 | 30 | 15 | 10 |
Doubles | 115 | 90 | 70 | 50 | 35 | 22 | 8 | – | |
Category 3 | Singles | 200 | 110 | 90 | 60 | 35 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
Doubles | 80 | 60 | 45 | 30 | 17 | 8 | – | ||
Category 2 | Singles | 100 | 70 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
Doubles | 60 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 4 | – | – | |
Category 1+ | Singles | 85 | 65 | 45 | 23 | 13 | 5 | – | – |
Doubles | 45 | 35 | 25 | 16 | 8 | – | – | – | |
Category 1 | Singles | 75 | 50 | 30 | 15 | 8 | – | – | – |
Doubles | 38 | 28 | 17 | 8 | 4 | – | – | – |
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 1983 Virginia Slims World Championship Series: the Grand Slam tournaments, the Year-end championships and regular events. The players/nations are sorted by:
Total titles | Country | Grand Slam tournaments | Year-end championships | Regular tournaments | All titles | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singles | Doubles | Mixed | Singles | Doubles | Singles | Doubles | Singles | Doubles | Mixed | ||
74 | United States | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 34 | 34 | 39 | 1 |
12 | South Africa | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | |||||
11 | Australia | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 | ||||
10 | United Kingdom | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | ||||||
4 | Germany | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||||||
3 | Hungary | 3 | 3 | ||||||||
3 | Romania | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
2 | France | 2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | Brazil | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
1 | Canada | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
1 | Japan | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
1 | New Zealand | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
1 | Netherlands | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
1 | Switzerland | 1 | 1 |
The following players won their first title in singles (S), doubles (D) or mixed doubles (X):
The following players mounted a successful title defence in singles (S), doubles (D) or mixed doubles (X):
The following are notable players who announced their retirement from women's tennis in 1983.
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is the principal organizing body of women's professional tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women and was founded to create a better future for women's tennis. The WTA's corporate headquarters is in St. Petersburg, Florida, with its European headquarters in London and its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Beijing.
Martina Navratilova is a Czech-American former professional tennis player. Widely considered among the greatest tennis players of all time, Navratilova won 18 major singles titles, 31 major women's doubles titles, and 10 major mixed doubles titles, for a combined total of 59 major titles, the most in the Open Era. Alongside Chris Evert, her greatest rival, Navratilova dominated women's tennis for much of the 1970s and 1980s.
Beatriz "Gigi" Fernández is a Puerto Rican former professional tennis player. Fernández won 17 major doubles titles and two Olympic gold medals representing the United States, and reached the world No. 1 ranking in doubles. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 17 in 1991. Since retiring from the professional tour in 1997 at the age of 33, Fernández has been a tennis coach and entrepreneur. She now shares her knowledge of doubles with tennis enthusiasts throughout the US by conducting Master Doubles with Gigi Clinics and Doubles Boot Camps. Fernández is the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Hana Mandlíková is a former professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia who later obtained Australian citizenship. During her career, she won four Grand Slam singles titles - the 1980 Australian Open, 1981 French Open, 1985 US Open and 1987 Australian Open. She was also runner-up in four Grand Slam singles events - twice at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open. The graceful right-hander secured one Grand Slam women's doubles title, at the 1989 US Open with Martina Navratilova. Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994, Mandlíková was one of the brightest stars of her generation and is considered one of the greatest female players of the Open Era.
Tracy Ann Austin Holt is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. She won three Grand Slam titles: the women's singles titles at the 1979 and 1981 US Opens, and the mixed doubles title at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships. Additionally, she won the WTA Tour Championships in 1980 and the year-ending Toyota Championships in 1981, both in singles.
Natalya "Natasha" Maratovna Zvereva is a former professional tennis player from Belarus. She was the first major athlete in the Soviet Union to demand publicly that she should be able to keep her tournament earnings. Zvereva and her main doubles partner Gigi Fernández are the most successful women's doubles team since Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver.
Kerry Melville Reid is a former professional tennis player from Australia. During her 17-year career, Reid won one Grand Slam singles title and 26 other singles titles and was the runner-up in 40 singles tournaments. Reid was included in the year-end world top-ten rankings for 12 consecutive years (1968–1979). She won at least one tournament annually from 1966 through 1979, except for 1975. Her career-high ranking was world No. 5 in 1971, behind Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong, and Rosie Casals.
Françoise Dürr is a retired French tennis player. She won 50 singles titles and over 60 doubles titles.
Betty Flippina Stöve is a Dutch former professional tennis player. She is best remembered for reaching the ladies' singles final, the ladies' doubles final and the mixed doubles final during the same year at Wimbledon in 1977. She also won ten Grand Slam titles in women's doubles and mixed doubles.
Kathryn "Kathy" Jordan is a former American tennis player. During her career, she won seven Grand Slam titles, five of them in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. She also was the 1983 Australian Open women's singles runner-up and won three singles titles and 42 doubles titles.
The Ameritech Cup is a defunct WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament held every year from 1971 until 1997 in Chicago, Illinois in the United States. Its sponsors were Virginia Slims from 1971 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1994, Avon from 1979 to 1982 and Ameritech from 1995 to 1997. The tournament was classified as Tier III in 1988-1989, Tier I in 1990 and Tier II until 1997, and was played on indoor carpet courts.
The 1988 WTA Tour was the elite tour for professional women's tennis of the Women's International Tennis Association (WITA) for the 1988 season. The 1988 WTA Tour included the four Grand Slam tournaments, the WITA Tour Championships and the WTA Category 1-5 events. ITF tournaments were not part of the WTA Tour, although they award points for the WTA World Ranking.
The 1985 Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the 15th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced in March 1985, and concluded in March 1986 after 52 events.
The 1984 Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the 14th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced in March 1984, and concluded in March 1985 after 53 events.
The 1986 Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the 16th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced on March 24, 1986, and concluded in December, 1986 after 41 events. The season was abbreviated in order to return the tour to a calendar year basis.
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 1973 WTA Tour was composed of the third annual Virginia Slims Circuit and Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix, a tour of tennis tournaments for female tennis players, sponsored by Virginia Slims cigarettes. It was also the year that the WTA Tour was officially formed by Billie Jean King following a meeting held in the Gloucester Hotel in London during the week before Wimbledon.
Svetlana Germanovna Parkhomenko is a retired Soviet and Russian tennis player and tennis coach. She was the winner of the Soviet singles tennis championships in 1985 and nine times Soviet champion in women's doubles and mixed doubles. On the international level, she was the winner of the 1983 European amateur championships in women's and mixed doubles, bronze medalist of the 1983 Universiade in women's and mixed doubles, and winner of eight WTA Tour doubles tournaments.
The 1975 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 and the Woman's International Grand Prix. The year 1975 also saw the creation of the first official ranking system and these rankings were used to determine acceptance into the tournaments.
The 1989 Virginia Slims of New England was a women's tennis tournament played on indoor carpet courts at the Centrum in Worcester in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States and was part of the Category 5 tier of events of the 1989 WTA Tour. It was the fifth edition of the tournament and was held from October 30 through November 5, 1989. First-seeded Martina Navratilova won the singles title and earned $60,000.