WTA Tour records

This is a list of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) records since its inception in 1973. Some tournaments from the predecessor tour, the Virginia Slims Circuit, are also included for completeness. The Virginia Tour Circuit started in September 1970 and was replaced in 1973 by the WTA. For a list of Open Era records (1968–present) see the article List of open era tennis records.

These tables include only official WTA tour and Virginia Slims Circuit events.

Contents

Titles

Most singles titles won (official WTA tour events)

All-time
Rank Player #
1 / Martina Navratilova 167
2 Chris Evert 154
3 Steffi Graf 107
4 Margaret Court 92
5 Evonne Goolagong Cawley 68
6 Billie Jean King 67
7 Lindsay Davenport 55
= Virginia Wade 55
9 // Monica Seles 53
10 Justine Henin 43
= Martina Hingis 43
= Venus Williams*[1] 43
13 Kim Clijsters* 41
14 Serena Williams*[2] 39
15 Conchita Martínez 33
* - active player
Active
Rank Player #
1 Venus Williams 43
2 Kim Clijsters 41
3 Serena Williams 39
4 Maria Sharapova 24
5 Caroline Wozniacki 18
6 Svetlana Kuznetsova 13
7 Jelena Janković 12
= Vera Zvonareva 12
9 Anabel Medina Garrigues 11
= Ana Ivanović 11
11 Nadia Petrova 10
12 Flavia Pennetta 9
13 Kimiko Date Krumm 8
= Anna Chakvetadze 8
= Victoria Azarenka 8

Sources: Except for the information concerning Venus Williams and Serena Williams (both of whom are separately sourced above), the source for the all-time table is the 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Official Guide, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 163. Court, King, and Wade began their careers and were winning events long before the open era started in 1968; therefore, the statistics shown above do not reflect their entire careers. For example, the Billie Jean King career statistics Wikipedia article lists 129 career singles titles for King. And an external website claims that Court won 197 and Wade won 68 career singles titles.

Most doubles titles won (official WTA tour events)

Pos Player Titles
1 / Martina Navratilova 177
2 Rosemary Casals 112
3 Pam Shriver 106
4 Billie Jean King 101
5 / Natasha Zvereva 80
6 Jana Novotná 76
7 Lisa Raymond*[3] 74
8 // Gigi Fernández 68
= Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 68
= Helena Suková 68
11 Larisa Savchenko Neiland 66
12 Rennae Stubbs 60
13 Wendy Turnbull 55
14 Cara Black*[4] 54
15 Margaret Court 48
* - active player

Sources: Except for the information concerning Lisa Raymond and Cara Black (all of whom are separately sourced above), the source for this table is the 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Official Guide, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 163. Court and King began their careers and were winning events long before the open era started in 1968; therefore, the statistics shown above do not reflect their entire careers. For example, an external website claims that Court won 158 career doubles titles.

Most consecutive WTA singles titles

1. 13 - Martina Navratilova (1984)
2. 12 - Margaret Court (1972–1973)
3. 11 - Steffi Graf (1989–1990)
4. 10 - Chris Evert (1974)
5. 9 - Martina Navratilova (1986)
5. 9 - Margaret Court (1970)
7. 8 - Steffi Graf (1988)
7. 8 - Martina Navratilova (1983)

Source: 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Official Guide, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 163.

Most consecutive years winning at least one singles title

1. 21 - Martina Navratilova (1974–1994)
2. 18 - Chris Evert (1971–1988)
3. 14 - Steffi Graf (1986–1999)
4. 11 - Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1970–1980)
4. 11 - Virginia Wade (1968–1978)
6. 9 - Sandra Cecchini (1984–1992)
6. 9 - Margaret Court (1968–1976)
6. 9 - Lindsay Davenport (1993–2001)
6. 9 - Conchita Martínez (1988–1996)
6. 9 - Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1988–1996)
6. 9 - Maria Sharapova (2003-2011)

Source: 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Official Guide, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 163.

Winning percentages

All-surface singles career winning percentage (official WTA tour events)

Minimum of 25 tournaments played.

Rank Player Wins Losses Win %
1. Margaret Court 593 56 91.37
2. Chris Evert 1,304 144 90.05
3. Steffi Graf 902 115 88.69
4. / Martina Navratilova 1,442 219 86.82
5. // Monica Seles 595 122 82.98
6. Serena Williams*[5] 496 104 82.66
7. Justine Henin 525 115 82.03
8. Billie Jean King 695 155 81.76
9. Evonne Goolagong Cawley 704 165 81.01
10. Kim Clijsters*[6] 503 121 80.61
11. Martina Hingis 548 133 80.47
12. Venus Williams*[7] 598 147 80.27
13. Maria Sharapova*[8] 410 101 80.23
14. Lindsay Davenport 753 194 79.51
15. Gabriela Sabatini 632 189 76.98
*
 -active player

Sources: Except for Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin (all of whom are separately sourced above), the source for this table is the 2010 Official Guide to Professional Tennis, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 162. Court and King began their careers and were winning and losing matches long before the open era started in 1968; therefore, the statistics shown above do not reflect their entire careers. For example, an external website claims that Court's career win-loss record in singles was 1,180-107 (91.68%).

Clay court singles career winning percentage (official WTA tour events)

Minimum of 20 clay court tournaments played.

Rank Player Wins Losses Win %
1. Chris Evert 316 20 94.05
2. Steffi Graf 285 37 88.51
3. Justine Henin 130 22 85.83
4. // Monica Seles 142 25 85.03
5. Martina Hingis 109 25 81.34
6. / Martina Navratilova 202 47 81.12
7. Maria Sharapova* 90 22 80.35
8. Gabriela Sabatini 196 49 80.00
9. Venus Williams* 139 38 78.53
10. Kim Clijsters 94 28 77.04
*
 -active player

Source: Women's Tennis Association as of April 29, 2010.

Hard court singles career winning percentage (official WTA tour events)

Minimum of 20 hard court tournaments played.

Rank Player Wins Losses Win %
1. Steffi Graf 340 43 89.56
2. Chris Evert 304 37 89.15
3. / Martina Navratilova 340 48 87.63
4. Serena Williams* 306 57 84.30
5. // Monica Seles 312 60 83.87
6. Kim Clijsters* 313 66 82.59
7. Justine Henin 251 56 81.76
8. Venus Williams* 333 79 80.83
9. Maria Sharapova* 254 62 80.40
10. Lindsay Davenport 469 116 80.17
*
 -active player

Source: Women's Tennis Association as of April 29, 2011.

Grass court singles career winning percentage (official WTA tour events)

Minimum of 10 grass court tournaments played.

Rank Player Wins Losses Win %
1. / Martina Navratilova 305 39 88.66
2. Chris Evert 184 25 88.04
3. Venus Williams* 74 11 86.59
4. Serena Williams* 63 10 86.30
5. Steffi Graf 85 15 85.00
6. Maria Sharapova* 59 12 83.10
7. Justine Henin 53 11 82.81
8. Jana Novotná 79 21 79.00
9. Tracy Austin 43 12 78.18
10. Kim Clijsters* 47 14 77.05
* -active player

Source: Women's Tennis Association as of August 16, 2010.

Carpet court singles career winning percentage (official WTA tour events)

Minimum of 10 carpet court tournaments played.

Rank Player Wins Losses Win %
1. / Martina Navratilova 516 58 89.9
2. Steffi Graf 189 23 89.2
3. Chris Evert 209 39 84.3
4. Serena Williams* 34 7 82.93
5. Martina Hingis 97 23 80.83
6. Kim Clijsters* 50 13 79.37
= // Monica Seles 98 26 79.03
8. Lindsay Davenport 93 27 77.5
9. Tracy Austin 85 25 77.27
10. Venus Williams* 50 17 74.63
* - active player

Source: Women's Tennis Association as of August 10, 2009.

Matches

Most singles matches won (official WTA tour events)

All-time
Pos Player Wins
1 / Martina Navratilova 1,442
2 Chris Evert 1,304
3 Steffi Graf 902
4 Virginia Wade 839
5 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 759
6 Lindsay Davenport 753
7 Conchita Martínez 739
8 Evonne Goolagong Cawley[9] 704
9 Billie Jean King 695
10 Gabriela Sabatini 632
11 Pam Shriver 625
12 Helena Suková 614
13 Nathalie Tauziat 606
14 Venus Williams* 598
15 // Monica Seles 595
* - active player
Active
Pos Player Wins
1 Venus Williams 598
2 Tamarine Tanasugarn 507
3 Kim Clijsters 503
4 Serena Williams 496
5 Francesca Schiavone 484
6 Nadia Petrova 480
7 Flavia Pennetta 478
8 Anne Kremer 469
9 Daniela Hantuchová 457
10 Vera Zvonareva 453
11 Jelena Janković 452
12 Svetlana Kuznetsova 446
13 Anabel Medina Garrigues 432
14 Marion Bartoli 427
15 Maria Sharapova 412

Wins over World No. 1 ranked player

Most career singles wins over World No. 1

This table lists the players with the most career singles wins over the World No. 1 ranked player since the Women's Tennis Association began computerized rankings on November 3, 1975.

Pos Player Wins World No. 1 Players Defeated
1 / Martina Navratilova 18 Chris Evert (13), Monica Seles (3), Steffi Graf (2)
2 Lindsay Davenport 14 Martina Hingis (11), Jennifer Capriati (1), Steffi Graf (1), Amélie Mauresmo (1)
3 Venus Williams* 13 Martina Hingis (8), Lindsay Davenport (2), Serena Williams (1), Jelena Janković (1), Dinara Safina (1)
4 Steffi Graf 11 Monica Seles (5), Martina Navratilova (3), Lindsay Davenport (1), Martina Hingis (1), Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1)
= Serena Williams* 11 Martina Hingis (4), Jennifer Capriati (2), Justine Henin (2), Venus Williams (1), Lindsay Davenport (1), Caroline Wozniacki (1)
5 Gabriela Sabatini 10 Steffi Graf (7), Monica Seles (2), Martina Navratilova (1)
7 Tracy Austin 9 Martina Navratilova (5), Chris Evert (4)
= Chris Evert 9 Martina Navratilova (8), Tracy Austin (1)
*
 -active player

Source: 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Official Guide, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 148.

Lowest-Ranked players to defeat World No. 1

This table lists the lowest-ranked players to defeat World No. 1 ranked player since the Women's Tennis Association began computerized rankings on November 3, 1975. (Not including matches in which No.1-ranked player retired.)

Ranking Player World No. 1 Player Defeated Event
226 Zhang Shuai Dinara Safina 2009 Beijing (2r)
188 Julie Coin Ana Ivanović 2008 US Open (2r)
133 Zheng Jie Ana Ivanović 2008 Wimbledon (3r)
133 Kim Clijsters Lindsay Davenport 2005 Indian Wells (F)
132 Chang Kai-chen Dinara Safina 2009 Tokyo (2r)

Source: 2011 WTA Tour Media Guide, compiled by the WTA Tour, page 147.

WTA Prize money leaders

All-time

Rank Player Prize Money (US$)
1. Serena Williams * 34,751,934
2. Venus Williams * 27,890,431
3. Kim Clijsters * 23,757,657
4. Lindsay Davenport 22,166,338
5. Steffi Graf 21,895,277
6. / Martina Navratilova 21,626,089
7. Justine Henin 20,863,335
8. Martina Hingis 20,130,657
9. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 16,942,640
10. Maria Sharapova * 16,643,327
11. Svetlana Kuznetsova * 15,974,158
12. Amélie Mauresmo 15,022,476
13. // Monica Seles 14,891,762
14. Elena Dementieva 14,867,437
15. Vera Zvonareva * 12,766,548
* - active player

Active

Rank Player Prize Money (US$)
1. Serena Williams 34,751,934
2. Venus Williams 27,890,431
3. Kim Clijsters 23,757,657
4. Maria Sharapova 16,643,327
5. Svetlana Kuznetsova 15,974,158
6. Vera Zvonareva 12,766,548
7. Jelena Janković 12,647,858
8. Caroline Wozniacki 11,762,427
9. Dinara Safina 10,585,640
10. Samantha Stosur 9,881,803
11. Nadia Petrova 9,815,405
12. Lisa Raymond 9,008,533
13. Victoria Azarenka 8,933,357
14. Francesca Schiavone 8,827,610
15. Ana Ivanović 8,720,472

Most single-season prize money

Rank Player Prize Money (US$) Year
1.  Serena Williams (USA) $6,545,586 2009
2.  Justine Henin (BEL) $5,429,586 2007
3.  Petra Kvitova (CZE) $5,145,943 2011
4.  Kim Clijsters (BEL) $5,035,060 2010
5.  Kim Clijsters (BEL) 2 $4,466,345 2003
6.  Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) $4,446,488 2010
7.  Dinara Safina (RUS) $4,310,218 2009
8.  Serena Williams (USA) 2 $4,266,011 2010
9.  Justine Henin (BEL) 2 $4,204,810 2006
10.  Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2 $4,065,581 2011
11.  Kim Clijsters (BEL) 3 $3,983,654 2005
12.  Serena Williams (USA) 3 $3,935,668 2002
13.  Serena Williams (USA) 4 $3,852,173 2008
14.  Maria Sharapova (RUS) $3,799,501 2004
15.  Victoria Azarenka (BLR) $3,771,032 2011

Annual records

Best annual singles winning percentage

Fewer than 10 losses and a minimum of 45 wins. Most appearances on this list: Steffi Graf (8), Chris Evert (7), Martina Navratilova (5), Margaret Court (4).

Rank Player Year Wins Losses Win %
1. Martina Navratilova 1983 86 1 98.9
2. Steffi Graf 1989 86 2 97.7
3. Martina Navratilova 1984 78 2 97.5
4. Steffi Graf 1987 75 2 97.4
5. Martina Navratilova 1982 90 3 96.8
6. Martina Navratilova 1986 89 3 96.7
7. Steffi Graf 1988 72 3 96.0
8. Steffi Graf 1995 47 2 95.9
9. Margaret Court 1973 102 5 95.3
10. Chris Evert 1978 56 3 94.92
11. Margaret Court 1970 109 6 94.78
12. Chris Evert 1977 70 4 94.59
13. Martina Navratilova 1985 84 5 94.38
14. Margaret Court 1969 96 6 94.12
15. Margaret Court 1971 63 4 94.03
= Justine Henin 2007 63 4 94.03
17. Chris Evert 1975 92 6 93.88
18. Chris Evert 1976 75 5 93.75
= Martina Hingis 1997 75 5 93.75
20. Steffi Graf 1990 72 5 93.51
21. Chris Evert 1974 100 7 93.46
22. Monica Seles 1992 70 5 93.33
23. Steffi Graf 1996 54 4 93.1
24. Steffi Graf 1993 76 6 92.7
25. Chris Evert 1982 75 6 92.6
26. Monica Seles 1991 74 6 92.5
27. Chris Evert 1981 73 6 92.4
28. Serena Williams 2002 56 5 91.8
29. Tracy Austin 1980 88 8 91.6
30. Steffi Graf 1986 63 6 91.3

Source: 2010 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Official Guide, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 165.

Most singles titles won in a year

Before 1990 (11 +):[10]
1. 21 - Margaret Court (1970)
2. 18 - Margaret Court (1969, 1973)
3. 17 - Billie Jean King (1971)
4. 16 - Chris Evert (1974, 1975)
4. 16 - Martina Navratilova (1983)
6. 15 - Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1970)
6. 15 - Martina Navratilova (1982)
8. 14 - Margaret Court (1968)
8. 14 - Steffi Graf (1989)
8. 14 - Martina Navratilova (1986)
11. 13 - Martina Navratilova (1984)
12. 12 - Chris Evert (1973, 1976)
12. 12 - Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971)
12. 12 - Martina Navratilova (1985)
15. 11 - Tracy Austin (1980)
15. 11 - Chris Evert (1977)
15. 11 - Steffi Graf (1987, 1988)
15. 11 - Martina Navratilova (1978, 1979)

After 1989 (8 +):
 1. 12 - Martina Hingis (1997)[10]
2. 10 - Steffi Graf (1990, 1993)
2. 10 - Monica Seles (1991, 1992)
2. 10 - Justine Henin (2007)
5. 9 - Monica Seles (1990)
5. 9 - Steffi Graf (1995)
5. 9 - Martina Hingis (2000)
5. 9 - Kim Clijsters (2003, 2005)
9. 8 - Steffi Graf (1992)
9. 8 - Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1994)
9. 8 - Serena Williams (2002)
9. 8 - Justine Henin (2003)

Youngest and oldest records

Youngest winners of a singles title

In the following table,[10] only the first tournament won by each player is listed. For example, Capriati won two additional tournaments before reaching the age of Seles listed below.

  1. Tracy Austin: 14 years, 0 months, 28 days (1977 Portland)
  2. Kathy Rinaldi: 14 years, 6 months, 24 days (1981 Kyoto)
  3. Jennifer Capriati: 14 years, 6 months, 29 days (1990 Puerto Rico)
  4. Andrea Jaeger: 14 years, 7 months, 14 days (1980 Las Vegas)
  5. Mirjana Lučić: 15 years, 1 month, 25 days (1997 Bol)
  6. Nicole Vaidišová: 15 years, 3 months, 23 days (2004 Vancouver)
  7. Monica Seles: 15 years, 4 months, 29 days (1989 Houston)

Oldest winners of a singles title

In the following table,[10] only the last tournament won by each player is listed. For example, Navratilova won many other tournaments between the ages of 33 and 37.

  1. Billie Jean King: 39 yrs, 7 months, 23 days (1983 Birmingham)
  2. Kimiko Date Krumm: 38 yrs, 11 months, 30 days (2009 Seoul)
  3. Martina Navratilova: 37 yrs, 4 months, 2 days (1994 Paris Indoors)
  4. Margaret Court: 34 yrs, 4 months, 26 days (1976 Melbourne)
  5. Chris Evert: 33 years, 9 months, 18 days (1988 New Orleans)
  6. Nathalie Tauziat: 33 years, 8 months (2001 Birmingham)
  7. Tamarine Tanasugarn: 33 years, 4 months, 23 days (2010 Osaka)
  8. Virginia Wade: 33 years, 2 months, 2 days (1978 Tampa)
  9. Nancy Richey: 33 years, 1 month, 22 days (1975 Phoenix)
  10. Amy Frazier: 33 years, 1 month 18 days (2005 Quebec City)

See also

References

  1. ^ WTA Profile of Venus Williams. Retrieved on August 10, 2009.
  2. ^ WTA Profile of Serena Williams. Retrieved on August 10, 2009.
  3. ^ WTA Profile of Lisa Raymond. Retrieved on May 31, 2010.
  4. ^ WTA Profile of Cara Black. Retrieved on May 31, 2010.
  5. ^ WTA Profile of Serena Williams. Retrieved on September 22, 2010.
  6. ^ WTA Profile of Kim Clijsters. Retrieved on September 22, 2010.
  7. ^ WTA Profile of Venus Williams. Retrieved on September 22, 2010.
  8. ^ WTA Profile of Maria Sharapova. Retrieved on September 22, 2010.
  9. ^ WTA Profile of Evonne Goolagong Cawley. Retrieved on September 13, 2009.
  10. ^ a b c d 2009 Official Guide to Professional Tennis, compiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, page 253