1976 WTA Tour

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.

Schedule 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.

Key Grand Slam tournamentsVirginia Slims ChampionshipsVirginia Slims Circuit Women's International Grand PrixNon-tour eventsTeam events

January WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists26 Dec Australian Open Melbourne, AustraliaGrand SlamGrass – 56S/24DSingles – Doubles Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–3, 6–2 Renáta Tomanová Helen Gourlay Cawley Elisabeth Ekblom Lesley Bowrey Heidi Eisterlehner Helga Masthoff Christine Matison Evonne Goolagong Cawley Helen Gourlay Cawley8–1 Lesley Turner Bowrey Renáta Tomanová12 Jan Virginia Slims of Houston Houston, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/12D Martina Navratilova6–3, 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 Evert19 Jan Virginia Slims of Washington Washington, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/8D Chris Evert6–2, 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 Guerrant26 Jan Virginia Slims of Chicago Chicago, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/10D Evonne Goolagong Cawley3–6, 6–4, 6–2 Virginia Wade Martina Navratilova Nancy Gunter Cynthia Doerner Olga Morozova Natasha Chmyreva Wendy Overton Olga Morozova Virginia Wade6–7(4–5), 6–4, 6–4 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Martina Navratilova

February WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists3 Feb Virginia Slims of Akron Akron, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–2, 3–6, 6–2 Virginia Wade Rosie Casals Olga Morozova Iris Riedel Nancy Gunter Mima Jaušovec Sue Barker Brigitte Cuypers Mona Guerrant6–4, 7–6(5–4) Glynis Coles Florența Mihai17 Feb Virginia Slims of Detroit Detroit, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S Chris Evert6–4, 6–2 Rosie Casals Terry Holladay Marita Redondo Elly Appel-Vessies Marcie Louie Betty Stöve Ann Kiyomura Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura6–3, 6–4 Chris Evert Betty Stöve24 Feb Virginia Slims of Sarasota Sarasota, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S Chris Evert6–3, 6–0 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Martina Navratilova Rosie Casals Carrie Meyer Mona Guerrant Mima Jaušovec Lesley Hunt Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve6–1, 6–0 Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura

March WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists1 Mar Virginia Slims of San Francisco San Francisco, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/8D Chris Evert7–5, 7–6(5–2) Evonne Goolagong Cawley Terry Holladay Marita Redondo Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade Nancy Gunter Billie Jean King Betty Stöve6–4, 6–1 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr15 Mar Virginia Slims of Dallas Dallas, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/10D Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–1, 6–1 Martina Navratilova Kerry Reid Marita Redondo Greer Stevens Betty Stöve Carrie Meyer Natasha Chmyreva Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura6–3, 4–6, 6–4 Greer Stevens Marita Redondo22 Mar Virginia Slims of Boston Boston, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/12D Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–2, 6–0 Virginia Wade Rosie Casals Dianne Fromholtz Kerry Reid Lesley Hunt Natasha Chmyreva Mima Jaušovec Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura3–6, 6–1, 7–5 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr29 Mar Virginia Slims of Philadelphia Philadelphia, United StatesVirginia SlimsCarpet (i) – $75,000 – 32S/11D Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–3, 7–6(5–3) Chris Evert Virginia Wade Sue Barker Dianne Fromholtz Olga Morozova Kerry Reid Rosie Casals Billie Jean King Betty Stöve7–6(5–4), 6–4 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr

April WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists12 AprilVirginia Slims Championships Los Angeles, United StatesYear-end championshipsCarpet (i) – $150,000 – 16S (8RR) 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 OpenMonte Carlo, MonacoNon-tour eventClay Helga Masthoff6–4, 6–2 Fiorella Bonicelli Katja Ebbinghaus Helga Masthoff6–3, 7–5 Rosie Darmon Gail Sherriff Chanfreau19 April Bridgestone Doubles Championships Osaka & Tokyo, JapanWomen's International Grand Prix$100,000 – Carpet (i) – 7D Billie Jean King Betty Stöve 6–3, 6–2 Mona Guerrant Ann Kiyomura Evert / Navrátilová Morozova / Wade / Coles / Mihai Sieler / Hunt Casals / Dürr26 AprilFamily Circle Cup Amelia Island, United StatesWomen's International Grand PrixClay – $110,000 – 32S/16D Chris Evert6–2, 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

May WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists10 MayCoca-Cola British Hard Court Championships Bournemouth, Great BritainNon-tour eventClay Helga Niessen Masthoff5–7, 6–3, 6–3 Sue Barker Gail Lovera Linky Boshoff Linda Mottram Belinda Thompson Glynis Coles Wendy Turnbull Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss6–3, 6–2 Lesley Charles Sue Mappin17 MayGerman Open Hamburg, West GermanyWomen's International Grand PrixClay – $30,000 Sue Barker6–3, 6–1 Renáta Tomanová Virginia Ruzici Mima Jaušovec Iris Riedel Helga Niessen Masthoff Glynis Coles Regina Maršíková Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss4–6, 7–5, 6–1 Laura duPont Wendy Turnbull24 MayItalian Open Rome, ItalyWomen's International Grand PrixClay – $30,000 Mima Jaušovec6–1, 6–3 Lesley Hunt Regina Maršíková Florența Mihai Sue Barker Linky Boshoff Gail Lovera Beth Norton Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss6–1, 6–2 Virginia Ruzici Mariana Simionescu31 May7 JuneFrench Open Paris, FranceGrand SlamClay (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 Lovera6–3, 6–2 Kathleen Harter Helga Niessen Masthoff Ilana Kloss Kim Warwick5–7, 7–6, 6–2 Linky Boshoff Colin Dowdeswell

June WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists14 Jun Colgate International Eastbourne, Great BritainWomen's International Grand PrixGrass – $25,000 Chris Evert8–6, 6–3 Virginia Wade Olga Morozova Martina Navratilova Betty Stöve Rosie Casals Betsy Nagelsen Mona Guerrant Chris Evert / Martina Navratilovavs Olga Morozova / Virginia Wade 6–1, 1–1 not finished due to rain21 Jun 28 Jun Wimbledon Championships London, Great BritainGrand SlamGrass – 96S/48D/64XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Chris Evert6–3, 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

July

WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists5 Jul Swiss Open Gstaad, SwitzerlandNon-tour eventClay Michele Gurdal4-6, 6–2, 6–3 Gail Chanfreau Betsy Nagelsen Wendy Turnbull6–4, 6–4 Brigitte Cuypers Annette DuPlooySwedish Open Båstad, SwedenNon-tour eventClay Renáta Tomanová6–3, 6–2 Helena Anliot Isabel Fernández de Soto Mimmi Wikstedt6–1, 7–6 Lesley Hunt Renáta Tomanová12 Jul Head Open Kitzbühel, AustriaNon-tour eventClay Wendy Turnbull6–4, 5–7, 6–2 Virginia Ruzici Helena Anliot Mimmi Wikstedt6–4, 2–6, 7–5 Katja Ebbinghaus Heidi Eisterlehner

August WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists9 Aug US Clay Court Championships Indianapolis, United StatesWomen's International Grand PrixClay – $35,000 Kathy May6–4, 4–6, 6–2 Brigitte Cuypers Fiorella Bonicelli Helga Niessen Masthoff Lesley Hunt Laura duPont Mary Struthers Linky Boshoff Fiorella Bonicelli Isabel Fernández de Soto3–6, 7–5, 6–3 Gail Chanfreau Julie Heldman16 Aug Rothmans Canadian Open Toronto, CanadaWomen's International Grand PrixClay – $35,000 Mima Jaušovec6–2, 6–0 Lesley Hunt Virginia Ruzici Cynthia Doerner Sue Barker Kathy May Regina Maršíková Laura duPont Cynthia Doerner Janet Newberry6–7, 6–3, 6–1 Sue Barker Pam TeeguardenWTA Westchester Invitational Harrison, United StatesNon-tour eventClay Beth Norton1–6, 7–5, 6–3 Ruta Gerulaitis Janet Newberry Mary Carillo Laura duPont Janice Metcalf Cecilia Martinez Wendy Overton23 Aug Federation Cup Philadelphia, United StatesFederation CupCarpet (i) – 31 teams knockout2–1 Tennis Week Open Orange, United StatesNon-tour eventClay Marise Kruger6–3, 6–2 Lea Antonoplis Florence Guédy Renée Richards Linda Thomas Susan Mehmedbasich Carrie Meyer Kathy Harter30 Aug6 Sep US Open New York City, United StatesGrand SlamClay – 64S/32D/32XSingles – Doubles – Mixed doubles Chris Evert6–3, 6–0 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Mima Jaušovec Dianne Fromholtz Natasha Chmyreva Virginia Ruzici Zenda Liess Rosie Casals Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss6–1, 6–4 Olga Morozova Virginia Wade Billie Jean King Phil Dent3–6, 6–2, 7–5 Betty Stöve Frew McMillan

September WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists13 Sep US Indoor Championships Atlanta, United StatesWomen's International Grand PrixCarpet (i) – $75,000 Virginia Wade5–7, 7–5, 7–5 Betty Stöve Dianne Fromholtz Wendy Turnbull Winnie Shaw Marise Kruger Brigitte Cuypers JoAnne Russell Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr6–0, 6–4 Betty Stöve Virginia Wade27 Sep Toray Sillook Open Tokyo, JapanNon-tour eventCarpet (i) – $50,000 Betty Stöve1–6, 6–4, 6–3 Margaret Court Valerie Ziegenfuss (3rd) Lesley Hunt (4th) Betsy Nagelsen Rayni Fox Virginia Wade Marita Redondo

October WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists4 Oct Thunderbird Classic Phoenix, United StatesWomen's International Grand PrixHard – $60,000 Chris Evert6–1, 7–5 Dianne Fromholtz Betty Stöve Martina Navratilova Terry Holladay JoAnne Russell Billie Jean King Mona Guerrant Billie Jean King Betty Stöve 6–2, 6–1 Linky Boshoff Ilana Kloss11 Oct World Invitational Tennis Classic Hilton Head Island, United StatesNon-tour eventClay Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–3, 6–4 Virginia Wade Sue Barker Evonne Goolagong Cawley6–4, 4–6, 6–3 Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade

November WeekTournamentChampionsRunners-upSemifinalistsQuarterfinalists1 Nov Japan Open Tokyo, JapanNon-tour eventClay Wendy Turnbull6–1, 6–1 Michele Gurdal Wightman Cup Crystal Palace, London, Great BritainHard (i)Team event 5–2 25 Nov Gunze World Tennis Tokyo & Kobe, JapanNon-tour eventHard (i) – $100,000 Chris Evert6–2, 7–6(7–4) Sue Barker Rosie Casals Martina Navratilova Renáta Tomanová Françoise Dürr Ann Kiyomura Jeanne Evert Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 4–6, 6–3, 6–1 Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr

Rankings Below are the 1976 WTA year-end rankings (December 31, 1976) Singles competition:

Singles Year-end RankingNoPlayer NamePoints1975Change 1 16.9901= 2 16.3265+3 3 10.9332-1 4 10.2723-1 5 8.01220+15 6 7.64412+6 7 7.15822+15 8 7.06410+2 9 6.5237-2 10 6.48019+9 11 5.70240+29 12 5.5258-4 13 4.13226+13 14 5.06621+7 15 4.6399-6 16 4.60360+44 17 4.52248+31 18 4.49335+17 19 4.27757+38 20 4.236NRNR

1976 WTA Tour

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