2008 WTA Tour

The 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour was the elite professional tennis circuit organized by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for the 2008 tennis season. The 2008 WTA Tour calendar comprises the Grand Slam tournaments (supervised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF)), the WTA Tier I-IV Events, the Fed Cup (organized by the ITF), the year-end championships, and the tennis event at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

2008 WTA Tour
Jelena Janković was the year-end No. 1 in a season of disarray at the very top.
Details
DurationDecember 31 – November 9
Edition38th
Tournaments59
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
WTA Championships
Summer Olympics
WTA Tier I (9)
WTA Tier II (14)
WTA Tier III (17)
WTA Tier IV (13)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles Serena Williams (4)
Dinara Safina (4)
Jelena Janković (4)
Most tournament finals Vera Zvonareva (8)
Prize money leader Serena Williams
(US$3,852,173)
Points leader Jelena Janković (4,786)
Awards
Player of the year Serena Williams
Doubles Team of the year Cara Black
Liezel Huber
Most improved
player of the year
Dinara Safina
Newcomer of the year Caroline Wozniacki
Comeback
player of the year
Zheng Jie
2007
2009

The season was characterised by its frequent changes in the No. 1 ranking, with Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, 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 players won the Grand Slam titles. Maria Sharapova won her third major title at the Australian Open, Ana Ivanovic won her maiden title at the French Open, Venus Williams won her seventh Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, and Serena Williams won 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.

Summary

Justine Henin started the season as the No. 1 ranked player in the world. Following her impressive 2007 season and 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 defeated Jelena Janković and Ana Ivanovic 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 Women's Doubles, while Sun Tiantian teamed up with Nenad Zimonjić to win her first Grand Slam tournament of any kind in the Mixed Doubles event.

Maria Sharapova started the year on an 18-match winning streak.

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 Ivanovic in the final. It was then the turn of Serena Williams to build a win streak, claiming the titles in Bangalore, Miamiher fifth title at the event, tying Steffi Graf for the most singles titles at this tournamentand then Charleston. Her 17-match winning run was eventually ended in Berlin by Dinara Safina, who had already beaten Henin in that tournament, and subsequently went on to lift the title.

During the Rome tournament Henin announced her shock retirement from professional tennis, becoming the first player ever to retire whilst ranked at No. 1 in the world. Henin's removal from the rankings 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 Ivanovic came through after an all-Serbian semifinal with Jelena Janković, which meant that Ivanovic would move to the No. 1 position regardless of the result in the final. 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 Ivanovic 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 only major quarterfinal. Sharapova was upset by Alla Kudryavtseva, and Kuznetsova lost to Agnieszka Radwańska, who had shown prior form winning the warm-up tournament in Eastbourne. Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams reached the final, the first Grand Slam final between the two since Wimbledon five years ago. Venus would defeat 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.

Dinara Safina won four titles and improved to No. 3 in the world during the season.

Ivanovic lost her No. 1 ranking in August, as fellow Serbian Jelena Janković ascended to the top 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 to Dementieva, who achieved her biggest career victory with the gold medal. With Vera Zvonareva also winning the bronze medal it meant that Russia swept 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.

Ivanovic 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 womenIvanovic, Janković, Safina, Kuznetsova, and Serena Williamsbeing in contention for the top spot. Ivanovic was upset in the second round by Julie Coin, one of the worst losses for a top-ranked player ever. Serena would defeat Jelena Janković in the final. 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 victorious in the mixed doubles with Leander Paes.

The fall season saw Jelena Janković return to the No. 1 position after winning events in Beijing, Stuttgart and Moscow, and thus 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 Ivanovic, and the WTA Tour Championships in Doha, where she lost to Venus Williams. Williams won her first title at the year-end championships. Other players at the final event were semifinalists Elena Dementieva and Jelena Janković, Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova, plus alternates Agnieszka Radwańska and Nadia Petrova. In the doubles event Black and Huber successfully defended the title they won in 2007.

Schedule

The table below shows the 2008 WTA Tour schedule.

Key
Grand Slam events
Summer Olympic Games
Year-end championships
Tier I events
Tier II events
Tier III events
Tier IV events
Team events

January

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
31 DecHopman Cup
Perth, Australia
Hopman Cup
A$1,000,000 – Hard (i) – 8 teams (RR)
 United States
2–1
 Serbia
Round Robin losers (Group A)
 France
 Chinese Taipei
 Argentina
Round Robin losers (Group B)
 India
 Australia
 Czech Republic
Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts
Gold Coast, Australia
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 JanMedibank International
Sydney, Australia
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Justine Henin
4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Svetlana Kuznetsova Ana Ivanovic
Nicole Vaidišová
Kaia Kanepi
Katarina Srebotnik
Jelena Janković
Francesca Schiavone
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
Tatiana Perebiynis
Tatiana Poutchek
Moorilla Hobart International
Hobart, Australia
Tier IV event
$170,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 Jan
21 Jan
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
$8,000,000 - Hard - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles - Doubles - Mixed Doubles
Maria Sharapova
7–5, 6–3
Ana Ivanovic 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
Nenad Zimonjić
Sun Tiantian
7–6(7–4), 6–4
Mahesh Bhupathi
Sania Mirza
28 JanFed Cup: Quarterfinals
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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
4 FebOpen Gaz de France
Paris, France
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
Agnieszka Radwańska
6–2, 1–6, 7–6(7–4)
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 FebProximus Diamond Games
Antwerp, Belgium
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 FebQatar Total Open
Doha, Qatar
Tier I event
$2,500,000 - Hard - 56S/32Q/28D
Singles - Doubles
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
XVI Copa Colsanitas Santander
Bogotá, Colombia
Tier III event
$185,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 FebBarclays Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tier II event
$1,500,000 - Hard - 28S/48Q/28D
Singles - Doubles
Elena Dementieva
4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Svetlana Kuznetsova Francesca Schiavone
Jelena Janković
Justine Henin
Ana Ivanovic
Anna Chakvetadze
Amélie Mauresmo
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
7–5, 6–2
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Acapulco, Mexico
Tier III event
$180,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/16Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
3 MarCanara Bank Bangalore Open
Bangalore, India
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 Mar
17 Mar
Pacific Life Open
Indian Wells, United States
Tier I event
$2,100,000 - Hard - 96S/48Q/32D
Singles - Doubles
Ana Ivanovic
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 Mar
31 Mar
Sony Ericsson Open
Key Biscayne, United States
Tier I event
$3,770,000 - Hard - 96S/48Q/32D
Singles - Doubles
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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 AprBausch & Lomb Championships
Amelia Island, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Clay (Green) - 56S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Maria Sharapova
7–6(9–7), 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 AprFamily Circle Cup
Charleston, United States
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Clay (Green) - 56S/24Q/28D
Singles - Doubles
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
Oeiras, Portugal
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 AprFed Cup: Semifinals
Moscow, Russia, Clay (i)
Beijing, China, Hard (i)
Semifinals winners
 Russia 3–2
 Spain 4–1
Semifinals losers
 United States
 China
28 AprilGrand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem
Fez, Morocco
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Clay (Red) - 32S/24Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Gisela Dulko
7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5)
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 - Doubles
Vera Zvonareva
7–6(7–2), 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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
5 MayQatar Telecom German Open
Berlin, Germany
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Clay (Red) - 56S/32Q/28D
Singles - Doubles
Dinara Safina
3–6, 6–2, 6–2
Elena Dementieva Victoria Azarenka
Ana Ivanovic
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 MayInternazionali BNL d'Italia
Rome, Italy
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Clay (Red) - 56S/48Q/28D
Singles - Doubles
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(7–5), 6–3
Iveta Benešová
Janette Husárová
19 MayIstanbul Cup
Istanbul, Turkey
Tier III event
$200,000 - Clay (Red) - 30S/26Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
Anabel Medina Garrigues
4–6, 7–6(7–4), 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(3–7), 10–6
Chan Yung-jan
Chuang Chia-jung
26 May
2 Jun
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
$9,711,335 - Clay (Red) - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles - Doubles - Mixed Doubles
Ana Ivanovic
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
Bob Bryan
Victoria Azarenka
6–2, 7–6(7–4)
Nenad Zimonjić
Katarina Srebotnik

June

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
9 JunDFS Classic
Birmingham, Great Britain
Tier III event
$200,000 - Grass - 56S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Kateryna Bondarenko
7–6(9–7), 3–6, 7–6(7–4)
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 - Doubles
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 JunInternational Women's Open
Eastbourne, Great Britain
Tier II event
$600,000 - Grass - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 Jun
30 Jun
Wimbledon Championships
London, Great Britain
Grand Slam
$10,524,070 - Grass - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles - Doubles - Mixed Doubles
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
Bob Bryan
Samantha Stosur
7–5, 6–4
Mike Bryan
Katarina Srebotnik

July

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
7 JulBudapest Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
Tier III event
$175,000 - Clay (Red) - 30S/31Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Alizé Cornet
7–6(7–5), 6–3
Andreja Klepač Karolina Šprem
Gréta Arn
Petra Kvitová
Katalin Marosi
Klára Zakopalová
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Alizé Cornet
Janette Husárová
6–7(5–7), 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 - Doubles
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(7–1), 10–4
Alla Kudryavtseva
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
14 JulBank of the West Classic
Stanford, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 JulEast West Bank Classic
Carson, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 56S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 JulRogers Cup
Montreal, Canada
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Hard - 56S/48Q/28D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 AugSummer Olympic Games
Beijing, China
$0 - Hard - 64S/32D
Singles - Doubles
 Gold Silver BronzeFourth place Sybille Bammer
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Jelena Janković
Elena Dementieva
3–6, 7–5, 6–3
Dinara Safina Vera Zvonareva
6–0, 7–5
Li Na
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
6–2, 6–0
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Yan Zi
Zheng Jie
6–2, 6–2
Alona Bondarenko
Kateryna Bondarenko
W&S Financial Group Women's Open
Mason, United States
Tier III event
$175,000 - Hard - 32S/16Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 AugPilot Pen Tennis
New Haven, United States
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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, United States
Tier IV event
$74,800 - Hard - 16S
Singles
Lucie Šafářová
6–4, 6–2
Peng Shuai Carla Suárez Navarro
Iveta Benešová
Vera Dushevina
Martina Müller
Ekaterina Makarova
Jamea Jackson
25 Aug
1 Sep
U.S. Open
New York City, United States
Grand Slam
$9,350,000 - Hard - 128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles - Doubles - Mixed Doubles
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(8–6)
Lisa Raymond
Samantha Stosur
Leander Paes
Cara Black
7–6(8–6), 6–4
Jamie Murray
Liezel Huber

September

Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
8 SepCommonwealth Bank Tennis Classic
Bali, Indonesia
Tier III event
$225,000 - Hard - 30S/8Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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), 7–6(7–3), 10–7
Marta Domachowska
Nadia Petrova
Fed Cup: Final
Madrid, Spain, Clay
 Russia
4–0
 Spain
15 SepToray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo, Japan
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
Vera Zvonareva
6–7(4–7), 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 SepChina Open
Beijing, China
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Jelena Janković
6–3, 6–2
Svetlana Kuznetsova Vera Zvonareva
Zheng Jie
Daniela Hantuchová
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Dominika Cibulková
Ana Ivanovic
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Caroline Wozniacki
6–1, 6–3
Han Xinyun
Xu Yifan
Hansol Korea Open
Seoul, South Korea
Tier IV event
$145,000 - Hard - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 SepPorsche Tennis Grand Prix
Stuttgart, Germany
Tier II event
$650,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 - Doubles
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 - Doubles
Sorana Cîrstea
2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
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 Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 OctKremlin Cup
Moscow, Russia
Tier I event
$1,340,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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 OctZurich Open
Zürich, Switzerland
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Venus Williams
7–6(7–1), 6–2
Flavia Pennetta Anabel Medina Garrigues
Ana Ivanovic
Katarina Srebotnik
Victoria Azarenka
Francesca Schiavone
Petra Kvitová
Cara Black
Liezel Huber
6–1, 7–6(7–3)
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Patty Schnyder
20 OctGenerali Ladies Linz
Linz, Austria
Tier II event
$600,000 - Hard (i) - 28S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Ana Ivanovic
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
Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg
Tier III event
$225,000 - Hard (i) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
Elena Dementieva
2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
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 OctBell Challenge
Quebec City, Canada
Tier III event
$175,000 - Carpet (i) - 32S/32Q/16D
Singles - Doubles
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(7–3), 6–4
Jill Craybas
Tamarine Tanasugarn

November

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

Calendar changes

  • Prize money continued to increase to a record of approximately $67 million.[2]
  • The J&S Cup, the Acura Classic, and the PTT Bangkok Open were all removed from the calendar.[3]
  • The Bangalore Open was promoted to a Tier II event, from its former Tier III status.[3]
  • The Zurich Open was demoted from Tier I to Tier II, and the Fortis Championships Luxembourg from Tier II to Tier III, with prize money also being reduced in both events to accommodate the change in status.[3]
  • One new event was created: the Cachantún Cup, held in Viña del Mar, Chile.[3]
  • The Toray Pan Pacific Open was moved from its normal February position in the calendar to September. It also changed from an indoor event to an outdoor event.[3]
  • Fed Cup quarterfinals and semifinals were held earlier, with the final still following the U.S. Open in September.[3]
  • The Qatar Total Open was elevated from Tier II status to Tier I, with prize money increasing to $2.5 million.[3]
  • Lastly, the WTA Tour Championships were relocated from their previous location of Madrid, Spain in 2006 and 2007, to Doha, Qatar for 2008. The prize money was also raised from $3 million to $4.5 million.[3]

Statistics

Titles information

List of players & singles titles won, last name alphabetically:

The following players won their first title:

Titles won by Nation

  •  Russia - 18 (Australian Open, Paris, Doha, Dubai, Amelia Island, Estoril, Prague, Berlin, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Montréal, Olympics, Cincinnati, Tokyo, Guangzhou, Seoul, Luxembourg, and Quebec City)
  •  United States - 9 (Auckland, Memphis, Bangalore, Key Biscayne, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Zürich, and WTA Tour Championships)
  •  Serbia - 7 (Indian Wells, Rome, French Open, Beijing, Stuttgart, Moscow, and Linz)
  •  Italy - 4 (Viña del Mar, Acapulco, Palermo, and Portorož)
  •  Denmark - 3 (Stockholm, New Haven, and Tokyo (Tier III))
  •  Poland - 3 (Pattaya, Istanbul, and Eastbourne)
  •  Belgium - 2 (Sydney and Antwerp)
  •  Spain - 2 (Bogotá and Strasbourg)
  •  France - 2 (Budapest and Bad Gastein)
  •  Argentina - 1 (Fes)
  •  Canada - 1 (Stanford)
  •  China - 1 (Gold Coast)
  •  Czech Republic - 1 (Forest Hills)
  •  Greece - 1 (Hobart)
  •  Romania - 1 (Tashkent)
  •   Switzerland - 1 (Bali)
  •  Thailand - 1 ('s-Hertogenbosch)
  •  Ukraine - 1 (Birmingham)

Rankings

Singles Championship Race (3 November 2008)
Rk Name Nation Points Tour
1Jelena Janković SRB4,78621
2Dinara Safina RUS3,82320
3Serena Williams USA3,68112
4Elena Dementieva RUS3,40018
5Ana Ivanovic SRB3,35317
6Vera Zvonareva RUS2,62624
7Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS2,62318
8Venus Williams USA2,52213
9Maria Sharapova RUS2,5159
10Agnieszka Radwańska POL2,25623
11Nadia Petrova RUS1,91424
12Flavia Pennetta ITA1,81426
13Caroline Wozniacki DEN1,75623
14Patty Schnyder  SUI1,59623
15Alizé Cornet FRA1,49923
16Victoria Azarenka BLR1,49720
17Marion Bartoli FRA1,48725
18Dominika Cibulková SVK1,44725
19Katarina Srebotnik SLO1,41024
20Anna Chakvetadze RUS1,37023
Singles Year-end Ranking
Rk Name Nation Points Change
1Jelena Janković SRB4,710+2
2Serena Williams USA3,866+5
3Dinara Safina RUS3,817+12
4Elena Dementieva RUS3,663+7
5Ana Ivanovic SRB3,457-1
6Venus Williams USA3,272+2
7Vera Zvonareva RUS2,952+15
8Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS2,726-6
9Maria Sharapova RUS2,515-4
10Agnieszka Radwańska POL2,286+16
11Nadia Petrova RUS1,976+3
12Caroline Wozniacki DEN1,713+48
13Flavia Pennetta ITA1,670+26
14Patty Schnyder  SUI1,590+2
15Victoria Azarenka BLR1,494+15
16Alizé Cornet FRA1,492+39
17Marion Bartoli FRA1,410-7
18Anna Chakvetadze RUS1,363-12
19Dominika Cibulková SVK1,337+32
20Katarina Srebotnik SLO1,272+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 Ivanovic (SRB) 9 June 2008 11 August 2008
 Jelena Janković (SRB) 11 August 2008 18 August 2008
 Ana Ivanovic (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

Points distribution

CategoryWFSFQFR16R32R64R128QQ3Q2Q1
Grand Slam (S)2000140090050028016010056050402
Grand Slam (D)20001400900500280160548
WTA Championships (S)+450+360(230 for each win, 70 for each loss)
WTA Championships (D)15001050690
WTA Premier Mandatory (96S)10007004502501408050530201
WTA Premier Mandatory (64S)100070045025014080530201
WTA Premier Mandatory (28/32D)10007004502501405
WTA Premier 5 (56S)80055035020011060130201
WTA Premier 5 (28D)8005503502001101
WTA Premier (56S)470320200120604011281
WTA Premier (32S)470320200120601201281
WTA Premier (16D)4703202001201
Tournament of Champions+280+170(125 for each win, 35 for each loss)
WTA International (56S)28020013070301511061
WTA International (32S)28020013070301161061
WTA International (16D)280200130701

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

References

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