2008 WTA Tour

The 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour was the 36th season since the founding of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced on December 31, 2007, and concluded on November 9, 2008 after 59 events.

The season was characterised by its frequent changes in the No. 1 ranking, with Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanović, Jelena Janković and Serena Williams all holding the position at one point during the season. Eventually, Janković finished the season as the No. 1 player in the world despite not winning a Grand Slam tournament. She did, however, reach the final of the U.S. Open, and won four tournaments throughout the season.

Four different players won the Grand Slam titles, with Maria Sharapova winning her third major title at the Australian Open, Ana Ivanović winning her maiden title at the French Open, Venus Williams winning her seventh Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, and Serena Williams winning her ninth Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. Dinara Safina also reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open, and won four events during the season.

One of the big stories of the year was the shock retirement of Justine Henin on May 14, less than two weeks before she was set to defend her French Open title.[1] She became the first player to retire while ranked at No. 1 in the world. Henin later returned for the 2010 season.

Contents

Summary

Justine Henin started the season as the No. 1 ranked player in the world, and following her impressive 2007 season and her victory at the warm-up tournament in Sydney, she was considered the outright favourite to win the Australian Open. However, she was beaten in emphatic fashion by Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals, who then beat Jelena Janković and Ana Ivanović to win her third Grand Slam title. Daniela Hantuchová also reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. Sister team Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko pulled off an unexpected title run in the doubles draw, while Sun Tiantian teamed up with Nenad Zimonjić to win her first Grand Slam tournament of any kind in the mixed doubles event.

Sharapova continued to impress by winning the tournament in Doha, before her 18-match win streak was snapped by Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals of Indian Wells. Kuznetsova went on to lose to Ivanović. It was then the turn of Serena Williams to build a win streak, winning the title in Bangalore, Miami—her fifth title at the event, tying Steffi Graf for the most singles titles at this tournament—and Charleston. Her 17-match win streak was eventually ended in Berlin by Dinara Safina, who had already beaten Henin in that tournament, and went on to win the title.

During the Rome tournament, Henin then announced her retirement from professional tennis, becoming the first player ever to retire while ranked at No. 1 in the world. Her retirement meant that then-No. 2 Maria Sharapova became the new No. 1 by default. Jelena Janković eventually won the tournament in Rome.

With Henin's retirement, the French Open was considered to be wide open. World No. 1 Sharapova was stopped by Safina in the fourth round, who fought back from match points down to win, before doing the same against Elena Dementieva in the quarterfinals. She eventually reached her first Grand Slam final. On the other side of the draw, Ana Ivanović came through after an all-Serbian semifinal with Jelena Janković, which meant that Ivanović would move to the No. 1 position regardless of the result in the final. Nevertheless, she ended up beating Safina for her first Slam title. In the women's doubles tournament, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual were victorious, the first Slam for Medina Garrigues and the tenth for Ruano Pascual. Victoria Azarenka won her second Grand Slam in the mixed doubles event.

The third Grand Slam of the year at Wimbledon brought with it some surprises: for the first time in the Open Era, none of the top four seeds managed to reach the semifinals. World No. 1 Ivanović surrendered to Zheng Jie in the third round, who went on to become the first Chinese women to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam in singles. Tamarine Tanasugarn knocked out Janković en-route to her first major quarterfinal. Sharapova was upset by Alla Kudryavtseva, and Kuznetsova lost to Agnieszka Radwańska, who also won the warm-up tournament in Eastbourne. Eventually, Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams reached the final, the first Grand Slam final between the two since Wimbledon five years ago. Venus eventually beat her sister for her fifth Wimbledon title. They also teamed up to win the doubles title, their seventh as a team. In the mixed doubles event, Samantha Stosur won with Bob Bryan.

Ivanović lost her No. 1 ranking in August, and Jelena Janković moved into the position for the first time. Dinara Safina proved strong on the summer hardcourts, winning titles in Los Angeles and Montréal. She then made it to the final match at the Beijing Olympics, but lost there to Dementieva, who achieved her biggest career victory with the gold medal. With Vera Zvonareva also winning the bronze medal, it meant that Russia sweeped the podium in the singles event. Li Na almost made a strong run at home, but lost in the bronze medal match. In doubles, Serena and Venus Williams won their second gold medals together, after winning at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Ivanović regained the No. 1 position following the Olympics, and held it heading into the U.S. Open. There it was up to grabs, with five women—Ivanović, Janković, Safina, Kuznetsova, and Serena Williams—being in contention for the position. Ivanović was upset in the second round by Julie Coin, one of the worst losses for a top-ranked player ever, and by virtue of winning her eighth major title, Williams ascended to the top ranking for the first time since 2002. In the doubles tournament, Cara Black and Liezel Huber won their fourth Grand Slam as a team, with Black also winning the mixed doubles title with Leander Paes.

The fall season saw Jelena Janković return to the No. 1 position after winning events in Beijing, Stuttgart and Moscow, and securing the year-end No. 1 ranking. Dinara Safina won the title in Tokyo, beating Petrova and Kuznetsova en-route. Both had a solid indoor season, with Petrova making the final of Stuttgart and winning Quebec, and Kuznetsova finishing runner-up in Beijing and Tokyo. Vera Zvonareva also had a strong finish to the year, reaching the final of Moscow and Linz, where she lost to Ivanović, and the WTA Tour Championships in Doha, where she lost to Venus Williams. Williams won her first title at the championships. Other players at the championships were semifinalists Elena Dementieva and Jelena Janković, and Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Ana Ivanović and Svetlana Kuznetsova, plus alternates Agnieszka Radwańska and Nadia Petrova. In the doubles event, Black and Huber successfully defended the title they won last year.

Schedule

The table below shows the 2008 WTA Tour schedule.

January

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
31 December Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts
Gold Coast, Australia
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Li Na
4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Victoria Azarenka Patty Schnyder
Shahar Pe'er
Nicole Vaidišová
Amélie Mauresmo
Dinara Safina
Dominika Cibulková
Dinara Safina
Ágnes Szávay
6–1, 6–2
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
ASB Classic
Auckland, New Zealand
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Lindsay Davenport
6–2, 6–2
Aravane Rezaï Marina Erakovic
Tamira Paszek
Vera Zvonareva
Katarina Srebotnik
Sara Errani
Maria Kirilenko
Mariya Koryttseva
Lilia Osterloh
6–3, 6–4
Martina Müller
Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová
7 January Medibank International|
Sydney, Australia
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Justine Henin
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Svetlana Kuznetsova Ana Ivanović
Nicole Vaidišová
Kaia Kanepi
Katarina Srebotnik
Jelena Janković
Francesca Schiavone
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
6–4, 7–6(5)
Tatiana Perebiynis
Tatiana Poutchek
Moorilla Hobart International
Hobart, Australia
Tier IV event
$170,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Eleni Daniilidou
Walkover
Vera Zvonareva Flavia Pennetta
Ashley Harkleroad
Casey Dellacqua
Sania Mirza
Edina Gallovits
Elena Vesnina
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Virginia Ruano Pascual
6–2, 6–4
Eleni Daniilidou
Jasmin Wöhr
14 January
(2 weeks)
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
$8,000,000 - Hard - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw - Mixed Doubles Draw
Maria Sharapova
7–5, 6–3
Ana Ivanović Jelena Janković
Daniela Hantuchová
Justine Henin
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Agnieszka Radwańska
Alona Bondarenko
Kateryna Bondarenko
2–6, 6–1, 6–4
Victoria Azarenka
Shahar Pe'er
Mixed Doubles:
Nenad Zimonjić
Sun Tiantian
7–6(4), 6–4
Mahesh Bhupathi
Sania Mirza
28 January Fed Cup: First Round
HaSharon, Israel, Hard
California, United States, Hard
Beijing, China, Hard (i)
Naples, Italy, Hard (i)
First Round winners
 Russia 4–1
 United States 4–1
 China 3–2
 Spain 3–2
First Round losers
 Israel
 Germany
 France
 Italy

February

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 February Open Gaz de France
Paris, France
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Anna Chakvetadze
6–3, 2–6, 6–2
Ágnes Szávay Marion Bartoli
Elena Dementieva
Amélie Mauresmo
Virginie Razzano
Kateryna Bondarenko
Daniela Hantuchová
Alona Bondarenko
Kateryna Bondarenko
6–1, 6–4
Eva Hrdinová
Vladimíra Uhlířová
Pattaya Women's Open
Pattaya, Thailand
Tier IV event
$170,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Agnieszka Radwańska
6–2, 1–6, 7–6(4)
Jill Craybas Ekaterina Bychkova
Akgul Amanmuradova
Tamarine Tanasugarn
Vesna Manasieva
Chan Yung-jan
Andreja Klepač
Chan Yung-jan
Chuang Chia-jung
6–4, 6–3
Hsieh Su-wei
Vania King
11 February Proximus Diamond Games
Antwerp, Belgium
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Justine Henin
6–3, 6–3
Karin Knapp Timea Bacsinszky
Li Na
Alisa Kleybanova
Daniela Hantuchová
Patty Schnyder
Sofia Arvidsson
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 6–3
Květa Peschke
Ai Sugiyama
Cachantún Cup
Viña del Mar, Chile
Tier III event
$200,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Flavia Pennetta
6–4, 5–4 ret.
Klára Zakopalová Pauline Parmentier
Mariya Koryttseva
Kaia Kanepi
Martina Müller
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Lourdes Domínguez Lino
Līga Dekmeijere
Alicja Rosolska
7–5, 6–3
Mariya Koryttseva
Julia Schruff
18 February Qatar Total Open
Doha, Qatar
Tier I event
$2,500,000 - Hard - 56S/32Q/28D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Maria Sharapova
6–1, 2–6, 6–0
Vera Zvonareva Agnieszka Radwańska
Li Na
Dominika Cibulková
Caroline Wozniacki
Jelena Janković
Sybille Bammer
Květa Peschke
Rennae Stubbs
6–1, 5–7, 10–7
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
Copa Colsanitas
Bogotá, Colombia
Tier III event
$185,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Nuria Llagostera Vives
6–0, 6–4
María Emilia Salerni Betina Jozami
Carla Suárez Navarro
Martina Müller
Sara Errani
Catalina Castaño
Mariana Duque Mariño
Iveta Benešová
Bethanie Mattek
6–3, 6–3
Jelena Kostanić Tošić
Martina Müller
25 February Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tier II event
$1,500,000 - Hard - 28S/48Q/28D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Elena Dementieva
4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Svetlana Kuznetsova Francesca Schiavone
Jelena Janković
Justine Henin
Ana Ivanović
Anna Chakvetadze
Amélie Mauresmo
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
7–5, 6–2
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Acapulco, Mexico
Tier II event
$180,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/16Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Flavia Pennetta
6–0, 4–6, 6–1
Alizé Cornet Kaia Kanepi
Jill Craybas
Edina Gallovits
Sorana Cîrstea
Iveta Benešová
Mariya Koryttseva
Nuria Llagostera Vives
María José Martínez Sánchez
6–2, 6–4
Iveta Benešová
Petra Cetkovská
Cellular South Cup
Memphis, United States
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard (i) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Lindsay Davenport
6–2, 6–1
Olga Govortsova Marina Erakovic
Shahar Pe'er
Alla Kudryavtseva
Caroline Wozniacki
Sofia Arvidsson
Julia Görges
Lindsay Davenport
Lisa Raymond
6–3, 6–1
Angela Haynes
Mashona Washington

March

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 March Bangalore Open
Bangalore, India
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Serena Williams
7–5, 6–3
Patty Schnyder Yan Zi
Venus Williams
Jelena Janković
Akgul Amanmuradova
Anastasia Rodionova
Vera Zvonareva
Peng Shuai
Sun Tiantian
6–4, 5–7, 10–8
Chan Yung-jan
Chuang Chia-jung
10 March
(2 weeks)
Pacific Life Open
Indian Wells, United States
Tier I event
$2,100,000 - Hard - 96S/48Q/32D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Ana Ivanović
6–4, 6–3
Svetlana Kuznetsova Jelena Janković
Maria Sharapova
Vera Zvonareva
Lindsay Davenport
Daniela Hantuchová
Agnieszka Radwańska
Dinara Safina
Elena Vesnina
6–1, 1–6, 10–8
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
24 March
(2 weeks)
Sony Ericsson Open
Key Biscayne, United States
Tier I event
$3,770,000 - Hard - 96S/48Q/32D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Serena Williams
6–1, 5–7, 6–3
Jelena Janković Svetlana Kuznetsova
Vera Zvonareva
Justine Henin
Venus Williams
Elena Dementieva
Dinara Safina
Katarina Srebotnik
Ai Sugiyama
7–5, 4–6, 10–3
Cara Black
Liezel Huber

April

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 April Bausch & Lomb Championships
Amelia Island, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Clay (Green) - 56S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Maria Sharapova
7–6(7), 6–3
Dominika Cibulková Lindsay Davenport
Alizé Cornet
Alona Bondarenko
Ágnes Szávay
Virginie Razzano
Amélie Mauresmo
Bethanie Mattek
Vladimíra Uhlířová
6–3, 6–1
Victoria Azarenka
Elena Vesnina
14 April Family Circle Cup
Charleston, United States
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Clay (Green) - 56S/24Q/28D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Serena Williams
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Vera Zvonareva Elena Dementieva
Alizé Cornet
Jelena Janković
Patty Schnyder
Ágnes Szávay
Maria Sharapova
Katarina Srebotnik
Ai Sugiyama
6–2, 6–2
Edina Gallovits
Olga Govortsova
Estoril Open
Estoril, Portugal
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Maria Kirilenko
6–4, 6–2
Iveta Benešová Maret Ani
Klára Zakopalová
Camille Pin
Olga Savchuk
Karin Knapp
Tathiana Garbin
Maria Kirilenko
Flavia Pennetta
6–4, 6–4
Mervana Jugić-Salkić
İpek Şenoğlu
21 April Fed Cup: Semifinals
Moscow, Russia, Clay (i)
Beijing, China, Hard (i)
Semifinals winners
 Russia 3–2
 Spain 4–1
Semifinals losers
 United States
 China
28 April Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem
Fes, Morocco
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/24Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Gisela Dulko
7–6(2), 7–6(5)
Anabel Medina Garrigues Gréta Arn
Aravane Rezaï
Olga Savchuk
Petra Cetkovská
Alisa Kleybanova
Sorana Cîrstea
Sorana Cîrstea
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
6–2, 6–2
Alisa Kleybanova
Ekaterina Makarova
ECM Prague Open
Prague, Czech Republic
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Vera Zvonareva
7–6(2), 6–2
Victoria Azarenka Katarina Srebotnik
Klára Zakopalová
Roberta Vinci
Iveta Benešová
Karolína Plíšková
Shahar Pe'er
Andrea Hlaváčková
Lucie Hradecká
1–6, 6–3, 10–6
Jill Craybas
Michaëlla Krajicek

May

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 May Qatar Telecom German Open
Berlin, Germany
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Clay (Red) - 56S/32Q/28D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Dinara Safina
3–6, 6–2, 6–2
Elena Dementieva Victoria Azarenka
Ana Ivanović
Serena Williams
Alona Bondarenko
Jelena Janković
Ágnes Szávay
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
3–6, 6–2, 10–2
Nuria Llagostera Vives
María José Martínez Sánchez
12 May Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Rome, Italy
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Clay (Red) - 56S/48Q/28D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Jelena Janković
6–2, 6–2
Alizé Cornet Anna Chakvetadze
Maria Sharapova
Tsvetana Pironkova
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Patty Schnyder
Chan Yung-jan
Chuang Chia-jung
7–6(5), 6–3
Iveta Benešová
Janette Husárová
19 May Istanbul Cup
Istanbul, Turkey
Tier III event
$200,000 - Clay (Red) - 30S/26Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Agnieszka Radwańska
6–3, 6–2
Elena Dementieva Akgul Amanmuradova
Tsvetana Pironkova
Jill Craybas
Nadia Petrova
Olga Govortsova
Andreja Klepač
Jill Craybas
Olga Govortsova
6–1, 6–2
Marina Erakovic
Polona Hercog
Internationaux de Strasbourg
Strasbourg, France
Tier III event
$175,000 - Clay (Red) - 30S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Anabel Medina Garrigues
4–6, 7–6(4), 6–0
Katarina Srebotnik Chan Yung-jan
Timea Bacsinszky
Peng Shuai
Ai Sugiyama
Flavia Pennetta
Alona Bondarenko
Tatiana Perebiynis
Yan Zi
6–4, 6–7(3), 10–6
Chan Yung-jan
Chuang Chia-jung
26 May
(2 weeks)
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
$9,711,335 - Clay (Red) - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw - Mixed Doubles Draw
Ana Ivanović
6–4, 6–3
Dinara Safina Svetlana Kuznetsova
Jelena Janković
Elena Dementieva
Kaia Kanepi
Carla Suárez Navarro
Patty Schnyder
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Virginia Ruano Pascual
2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Casey Dellacqua
Francesca Schiavone
Mixed Doubles:
Bob Bryan
Victoria Azarenka
6–2, 7–6(4)
Nenad Zimonjić
Katarina Srebotnik

June

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
9 June DFS Classic
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Tier III event
$200,000 - Grass - 56S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Kateryna Bondarenko
7–6(7), 3–6, 7–6(4)
Yanina Wickmayer Marina Erakovic
Bethanie Mattek
Petra Cetkovská
Alona Bondarenko
Melanie South
Nicole Vaidišová
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–2, 6–1
Séverine Brémond
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Barcelona Open
Barcelona, Spain
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/28Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Maria Kirilenko
6–0, 6–2
María José Martínez Sánchez Nuria Llagostera Vives
Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro
Sara Errani
Lucie Šafářová
Ekaterina Ivanova
Edina Gallovits
Lourdes Domínguez Lino
Arantxa Parra Santonja
4–6, 7–5, 10–4
Nuria Llagostera Vives
María José Martínez Sánchez
16 June International Women's Open
Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Tier II event
$600,000 - Grass - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Agnieszka Radwańska
6–4, 6–7(11), 6–4
Nadia Petrova Samantha Stosur
Marion Bartoli
Caroline Wozniacki
Ekaterina Makarova
Gisela Dulko
Alisa Kleybanova
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
2–6, 6–0, 10–8
Květa Peschke
Rennae Stubbs
Ordina Open
's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Tier III event
$175,000 - Grass - 30S/16Q/15D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Tamarine Tanasugarn
7–5, 6–3
Dinara Safina Elena Dementieva
Alona Bondarenko
Sorana Cîrstea
Katarina Srebotnik
Michaëlla Krajicek
Anna Chakvetadze
Marina Erakovic
Michaëlla Krajicek
6–3, 6–2
Līga Dekmeijere
Angelique Kerber
23 June
(2 weeks)
Wimbledon Championships
Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom
Grand Slam
$10,524,070 - Grass - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw - Mixed Doubles Draw
Venus Williams
7–5, 6–4
Serena Williams Zheng Jie
Elena Dementieva
Nicole Vaidišová
Agnieszka Radwańska
Nadia Petrova
Tamarine Tanasugarn
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
6–2, 6–2
Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur
Mixed Doubles:
Bob Bryan
Samantha Stosur
7–5, 6–4
Mike Bryan
Katarina Srebotnik

July

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 July Budapest Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
Tier III event
$175,000 - Clay (Red) - 30S/31Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Alizé Cornet
7–6(5), 6–3
Andreja Klepač Karolina Šprem
Gréta Arn
Petra Kvitová
Katalin Marosi
Klára Zakopalová
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Alizé Cornet
Janette Husárová
6–7(5), 6–1, 10–6
Vanessa Henke
Ioana Raluca Olaru
Internazionali Femminili di Palermo
Palermo, Italy
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Sara Errani
6–2, 6–3
Mariya Koryttseva Flavia Pennetta
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Margalita Chakhnashvili
Carla Suárez Navarro
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Tathiana Garbin
Sara Errani
Nuria Llagostera Vives
2–6, 7–6(1), 10–4
Alla Kudryavtseva
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
14 July Bank of the West Classic
Stanford, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Aleksandra Wozniak
7–5, 6–3
Marion Bartoli Serena Williams
Ai Sugiyama
Patty Schnyder
Samantha Stosur
Dominika Cibulková
Anna Chakvetadze
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–4, 6–3
Elena Vesnina
Vera Zvonareva
Gastein Ladies
Bad Gastein, Austria
Tier III event
$175,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Pauline Parmentier
6–4, 6–4
Lucie Hradecká Ágnes Szávay
Mariya Koryttseva
Iveta Benešová
Yvonne Meusburger
Tereza Hladíková
Patricia Mayr
Andrea Hlaváčková
Lucie Hradecká
6–3, 6–3
Sesil Karatantcheva
Nataša Zorić
21 July East West Bank Classic
Los Angeles, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 56S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Dinara Safina
6–4, 6–2
Flavia Pennetta Jelena Janković
Bethanie Mattek
Nadia Petrova
Victoria Azarenka
Sybille Bammer
Yuan Meng
Chan Yung-jan
Chuang Chia-jung
2–6, 7–5, 10–4
Eva Hrdinová
Vladimíra Uhlířová
Banka Koper Slovenia Open
Portorož, Slovenia
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Sara Errani
6–3, 6–3
Anabel Medina Garrigues Caroline Wozniacki
Julia Görges
Maria Kirilenko
Vera Dushevina
Elena Bovina
Petra Martić
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Virginia Ruano Pascual
6–4, 6–1
Vera Dushevina
Ekaterina Makarova
28 July Rogers Cup
Montreal, Canada
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Hard - 56S/48Q/28D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Dinara Safina
6–2, 6–1
Dominika Cibulková Victoria Azarenka
Marion Bartoli
Tamira Paszek
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Ai Sugiyama
Jelena Janković
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 6–1
Maria Kirilenko
Flavia Pennetta
Nordea Nordic Light Open
Stockholm, Sweden
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Hard - 32S/16Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Caroline Wozniacki
6–0, 6–2
Vera Dushevina Agnieszka Radwańska
Katarina Srebotnik
Camille Pin
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Iveta Benešová
Iveta Benešová
Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová
7–5, 6–4
Petra Cetkovská
Lucie Šafářová

August

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semi finalists Quarterfinalists
11 August Olympics
Beijing, China
$0 - Hard - 64S/32D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
 Gold  Silver  Bronze Sybille Bammer
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Jelena Janković
Elena Dementieva
3–6, 7–5, 6–3
Dinara Safina Vera Zvonareva d. Li Na
6–0, 7–5
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
6–2, 6–0
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Yan / Zheng def.
A.Bondarenko / K.Bondarenko, 6–2, 6–2
W&S Financial Group Women's Open
Cincinnati, United States
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard - 32S/16Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Nadia Petrova
6–2, 6–1
Nathalie Dechy Amélie Mauresmo
Maria Kirilenko
Vania King
Aleksandra Wozniak
Sabine Lisicki
Lilia Osterloh
Maria Kirilenko
Nadia Petrova
6–3, 4–6, 10–8
Hsieh Su-wei
Yaroslava Shvedova
18 August Pilot Pen Tennis
New Haven, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Caroline Wozniacki
3–6, 6–4, 6–1
Anna Chakvetadze Amélie Mauresmo
Alizé Cornet
Sorana Cîrstea
Ágnes Szávay
Marion Bartoli
Daniela Hantuchová
Květa Peschke
Lisa Raymond
4–6, 7–5, 10–7
Sorana Cîrstea
Monica Niculescu
Forest Hills Tennis Classic
Forest Hills, USA
Tier IV event
$74,800 - Hard - 16S
Singles Draw
Lucie Šafářová
6–4, 6–2
Peng Shuai Carla Suárez Navarro
Iveta Benešová
Vera Dushevina
Martina Müller
Ekaterina Makarova
Jamea Jackson
25 August
(2 weeks)
U.S. Open
Flushing Meadows, New York, United States
Grand Slam
$9,350,000 - Hard - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw - Mixed Doubles Draw
Serena Williams
6–4, 7–5
Jelena Janković Dinara Safina
Elena Dementieva
Flavia Pennetta
Venus Williams
Patty Schnyder
Sybille Bammer
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–3, 7–6(6)
Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur
Mixed Doubles:
Leander Paes
Cara Black
7–6(6), 6–4
Jamie Murray
Liezel Huber

September

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
8 September Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic
Bali, Indonesia
Tier III event
$225,000 - Hard - 30S/8Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Patty Schnyder
6–3, 6–0
Tamira Paszek Daniela Hantuchová
Nadia Petrova
Chan Yung-jan
Flavia Pennetta
Francesca Schiavone
Marta Domachowska
Hsieh Su-wei
Peng Shuai
6–7(4), 7–6(3), 10–7
Marta Domachowska
Nadia Petrova
Fed Cup: Final
Madrid, Spain, Clay
 Russia 4–0
 Spain
15 September Toray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo, Japan
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Dinara Safina
6–1, 6–3
Svetlana Kuznetsova Katarina Srebotnik
Nadia Petrova
Jelena Janković
Elena Dementieva
Kaia Kanepi
Agnieszka Radwańska
Vania King
Nadia Petrova
6–1, 6–4
Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur
Guangzhou International Women's Open
Guangzhou, China
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard - 32S/21Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Vera Zvonareva
6–7(4), 6–0, 6–2
Peng Shuai Zheng Jie
Camille Pin
Karin Knapp
Tamira Paszek
Jill Craybas
Arantxa Rus
Mariya Koryttseva
Tatiana Poutchek
6–3, 4–6, 10–8
Sun Tiantian
Yan Zi
22 September China Open
Beijing, China
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Jelena Janković
6–3, 6–2
Svetlana Kuznetsova Vera Zvonareva
Zheng Jie
Daniela Hantuchová
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Dominika Cibulková
Ana Ivanović
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Caroline Wozniacki
6–1, 6–3
Han Xinyun
Xu Yi-fan
Hansol Korea Open
Seoul, Korea
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Maria Kirilenko
2–6, 6–1, 6–4
Samantha Stosur Kaia Kanepi
Jill Craybas
Pauline Parmentier
Yanina Wickmayer
Ekaterina Makarova
Shahar Pe'er
Chuang Chia-jung
Hsieh Su-wei
6–3, 6–0
Vera Dushevina
Maria Kirilenko
29 September Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Stuttgart, Germany
Tier II event
$650,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Jelena Janković
6–4, 6–3
Nadia Petrova Victoria Azarenka
Venus Williams
Li Na
Elena Dementieva
Dinara Safina
Vera Zvonareva
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Patty Schnyder
6–2, 6–4
Květa Peschke
Rennae Stubbs
Japan Open Tennis Championships
Tokyo, Japan
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Caroline Wozniacki
6–2, 3–6, 6–1
Kaia Kanepi Jarmila Gajdošová
Aleksandra Wozniak
Tamarine Tanasugarn
Klára Zakopalová
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Samantha Stosur
Jill Craybas
Marina Erakovic
4–6, 7–5, 10–6
Ayumi Morita
Aiko Nakamura
Tashkent Open
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Hard - 32S/16Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Sorana Cîrstea
2–6, 6–4, 7–6(4)
Sabine Lisicki Peng Shuai
Magdaléna Rybáriková
Monica Niculescu
Urszula Radwańska
Michelle Larcher de Brito
Ioana Raluca Olaru
Ioana Raluca Olaru
Olga Savchuk
5–7, 7–5, 10–7
Nina Bratchikova
Kathrin Wörle

October

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 October Kremlin Cup
Moscow, Russia
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Jelena Janković
6–2, 6–4
Vera Zvonareva Elena Dementieva
Dinara Safina
Flavia Pennetta
Nadia Petrova
Dominika Cibulková
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Nadia Petrova
Katarina Srebotnik
6–4, 6–4
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
13 October Zurich Open
Zürich, Switzerland
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Venus Williams
7–6(1), 6–2
Flavia Pennetta Anabel Medina Garrigues
Ana Ivanović
Katarina Srebotnik
Victoria Azarenka
Francesca Schiavone
Petra Kvitová
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 7–6(3)
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Patty Schnyder
20 October Generali Ladies Linz
Linz, Austria
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Ana Ivanović
6–2, 6–1
Vera Zvonareva Agnieszka Radwańska
Marion Bartoli
Flavia Pennetta
Nadia Petrova
Alona Bondarenko
Alizé Cornet
Katarina Srebotnik
Ai Sugiyama
6–4, 7–5
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
Fortis Championships Luxembourg
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Tier III event
$225,000 - Hard (i) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Elena Dementieva
2–6, 6–4, 7–6(4)
Caroline Wozniacki Sorana Cîrstea
Li Na
Amélie Mauresmo
Daniela Hantuchová
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Iveta Benešová
Sorana Cîrstea
Marina Erakovic
2–6, 6–3, 10–8
Vera Dushevina
Mariya Koryttseva
27 October Bell Challenge
Quebec City, Canada
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard (i) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Nadia Petrova
4–6, 6–4, 6–1
Bethanie Mattek Angela Haynes
Aleksandra Wozniak
Melinda Czink
Nathalie Dechy
Galina Voskoboeva
Melanie Oudin
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Vania King
7–6(3), 6–4
Jill Craybas
Tamarine Tanasugarn

November

Week of Event Champion Runner-up Semifinalists Round Robin
3 November WTA Tour Championships
Doha, Qatar
Year-end Championship
$4,550,000 - Hard - 8S (Round Robin)/4D
Singles Draw - Doubles Draw
Venus Williams
6–7(5), 6–0, 6–2
Vera Zvonareva Elena Dementieva
Jelena Janković
Ana Ivanović
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Dinara Safina
Serena Williams
Nadia Petrova
Agnieszka Radwańska
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 7–5
Květa Peschke
Rennae Stubbs

Calendar changes

Statistical information

List of players & titles won, last name alphabetically:

The following players won their first title:

Titles won by Nation

Rankings

Singles Championship Race (3 November 2008)
Rk Name Nation Points Tour
1 Jelena Janković  SRB 4,786 21
2 Dinara Safina  RUS 3,823 20
3 Serena Williams  USA 3,681 12
4 Elena Dementieva  RUS 3,400 18
5 Ana Ivanović  SRB 3,353 17
6 Vera Zvonareva  RUS 2,626 24
7 Svetlana Kuznetsova  RUS 2,623 18
8 Venus Williams  USA 2,522 13
9 Maria Sharapova  RUS 2,515 9
10 Agnieszka Radwańska  POL 2,256 23
11 Nadia Petrova  RUS 1,914 24
12 Flavia Pennetta  ITA 1,814 26
13 Caroline Wozniacki  DEN 1,756 23
14 Patty Schnyder  SUI 1,596 23
15 Alizé Cornet  FRA 1,499 23
16 Victoria Azarenka  BLR 1,497 20
17 Marion Bartoli  FRA 1,487 25
18 Dominika Cibulková  SVK 1,447 25
19 Katarina Srebotnik  SLO 1,410 24
20 Anna Chakvetadze  RUS 1,370 23
Singles Year-end Ranking
Rk Name Nation Points Change
1 Jelena Janković  SRB 4,710 +2
2 Serena Williams  USA 3,866 +5
3 Dinara Safina  RUS 3,817 +12
4 Elena Dementieva  RUS 3,663 +7
5 Ana Ivanović  SRB 3,457 -1
6 Venus Williams  USA 3,272 +2
7 Vera Zvonareva  RUS 2,952 +15
8 Svetlana Kuznetsova  RUS 2,726 -6
9 Maria Sharapova  RUS 2,515 -4
10 Agnieszka Radwańska  POL 2,286 +16
11 Nadia Petrova  RUS 1,976 +3
12 Caroline Wozniacki  DEN 1,713 +48
13 Flavia Pennetta  ITA 1,670 +26
14 Patty Schnyder  SUI 1,590 +2
15 Victoria Azarenka  BLR 1,494 +15
16 Alizé Cornet  FRA 1,492 +39
17 Marion Bartoli  FRA 1,410 -7
18 Anna Chakvetadze  RUS 1,363 -12
19 Dominika Cibulková  SVK 1,337 +32
20 Katarina Srebotnik  SLO 1,272 +7

Number 1 Ranking

Holder Date Gained Date Forfeited
 Justine Henin (BEL) Year-End 2007 19 May 2008
 Maria Sharapova (RUS) 19 May 2008 9 June 2008
 Ana Ivanović (SRB) 9 June 2008 11 August 2008
 Jelena Janković (SRB) 11 August 2008 18 August 2008
 Ana Ivanović (SRB) 18 August 2008 8 September 2008
 Serena Williams (USA) 8 September 2008 6 October 2008
 Jelena Janković (SRB) 6 October 2008 Year-End 2008

Awards

The winners of the 2008 WTA Awards were announced on 25 March 2009, during a special ceremony at the Sony Ericsson Open.[4]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ "Henin announces shock retirement". BBC News. 2007-05-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7399963.stm. Retrieved 2010-06-06. 
  2. ^ "2008/2009 Calendar Press Release". http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/PressReleases/2007/2008_2009CalendarRelease.pdf. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "2008 WTA Tour". http://tennis.quickfound.net/2008_wta_tour.html. 
  4. ^ Williams, Safina, Ivanovic Among WTA Award Winners