1981 WTA Tour

1981 WTA Tour

Chris Evert-Lloyd finished the year as world No. 1 for the fifth time in her career. She won eight singles tournaments during the season, including a major at the Wimbledon Championships. She also finished runner-up at another major, the Australian Open.
Details
Duration	12 January – 20 December 1981
Edition	9th
Tournaments	47
Categories	Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships (3) Avon Championships (10) Toyota Series (26)
Achievements (singles)
Most titles	Martina Navratilova (10)
Most finals	Martina Navratilova (16)
Prize money leader	Martina Navratilova ($865,437)
Points leader	Chris Evert (17.542)
Awards
Player of the year	Chris Evert-Lloyd
Doubles team of the year	Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
Most improved player of the year	Barbara Potter
Newcomer of the year	Kathy Rinaldi
← 1980 1982 →

The 1981 Avon Championships World Championship Series was the 9th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced on January 4, 1981, and concluded on December 19, 1981, after 36 events. The Avon Championships World Championship Series was the elite tour for professional women's tennis organised by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The year is divided into two sponsors with the first three months sponsored by Avon Series and the latter part by Toyota Series. It included the four Grand Slam tournaments and a series of other events. ITF tournaments were not part of the tour, although they awarded points for the WTA World Ranking.

The table below shows the 1981 WTA Tour schedule.

Key

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
12 Jan	Avon Championships of Kansas Kansas City, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles	Andrea Jaeger 3–6, 6–3, 7–5	Martina Navratilova	Barbara Potter Virginia Ruzici	Kate Latham Sandy Collins Mima Jaušovec Sylvia Hanika
		Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 6–2, 7–6(7–4)	Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull
19 Jan	Avon Championships of Cincinnati Cincinnati, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D	Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–4	Sylvia Hanika	Jennifer Russell Hana Mandlíková	Barbara Potter Pam Shriver Virginia Ruzici Virginia Wade
		Kathy Jordan Anne Smith 1–6, 6–3, 6–3	Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver
26 Jan	Avon Championships of Chicago Chicago, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $200,000 – 56S/28D	Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–2	Hana Mandlíková	Wendy Turnbull Barbara Potter	Anne Smith Pam Shriver Peanut Louie Sylvia Hanika
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–1	Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
2 Feb	Avon Championships of Detroit Detroit, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D Singles	Leslie Allen 6–4, 6–4	Hana Mandlíková	Pam Shriver Barbara Potter	Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Bettina Bunge Mima Jaušovec Wendy Turnbull
		Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 6–2	Hana Mandlíková Betty Stöve
9 Feb	Avon Championships of California Oakland, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D Singles	Andrea Jaeger 6–3, 6–1	Virginia Wade	Beth Norton Wendy Turnbull	Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Pam Teeguarden Mima Jaušovec Sue Barker
		Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–1, 6–4	Martina Navratilova Virginia Wade
16 Feb	Avon Championships of Houston Houston, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 16S/8D Singles	Hana Mandlíková 6–4, 6–4	Bettina Bunge	Kathy Jordan Mima Jaušovec	Pam Teeguarden Zina Garrison Jennifer Russell Kate Latham
		Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 5–7, 6–4, 6–3	Regina Maršíková Mary Lou Piatek
23 Feb	Avon Championships of Seattle Seattle, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D	Sylvia Hanika 6–2, 6–1	Barbara Potter	Kathy Jordan Bettina Bunge	Anne Smith Pam Shriver Wendy Turnbull Hana Mandlíková
		Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–1, 6–4	Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
2 Mar	Avon Championships of Los Angeles Los Angeles, United States Avon Championships Circuit Hard – $150,000 – 32S/16D	Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–0	Andrea Jaeger	Sylvia Hanika Bettina Bunge	Julie Harrington Barbara Potter JoAnne Russell Billie Jean King
		Susan Leo Kim Sands 6–1, 4–6, 6–1	Peanut Louie Marita Redondo
9 Mar	Avon Championships of Dallas Dallas, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $175,000 – 33S/16D	Martina Navratilova 6–2, 6–4	Pam Shriver	Virginia Ruzici Bettina Bunge	Mary Lou Piatek Billie Jean King Kathy Jordan Mima Jaušovec
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–5, 6–4	Kathy Jordan Anne Smith
15 Mar	Avon Championships of Boston Boston, United States Avon Championships Circuit Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 32S/16D	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 6–4	Mima Jaušovec	Kathy Jordan Sylvia Hanika	Virginia Ruzici Peanut Louie Wendy Turnbull Hana Mandlíková
		Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 5–7, 6–4, 6–3	Jennifer Russell Virginia Ruzici
23 Mar	Avon Championships New York City, United States WTA Championships Carpet (i) – $300,000 – 8S/4D Singles – Doubles	Martina Navratilova 6–3, 7–6(7–3)	Andrea Jaeger	Bettina Bunge Sylvia Hanika
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–0, 7–6(8–6)	Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
6 Apr	Family Circle Cup Hilton Head Island, United States Toyota Series (Category 5) Clay – $150,000 – 56S/32D	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–3, 6–2	Pam Shriver	Virginia Ruzici JoAnne Russell	Regina Maršíková Mima Jaušovec Pam Casale Joyce Portman
		Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 7–5, 7–5	Mima Jaušovec Pam Shriver
13 Apr	Wightman Cup Williamsburg, United States Team event Hard (i)	United States 7–0	Great Britain
20 Apr	Murjani WTA Championships Amelia Island, United States Toyota Series (Category 7) Clay – $250,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–0, 6–0	Martina Navratilova	Virginia Ruzici Mima Jaušovec	Pam Shriver Andrea Jaeger Ivanna Madruga Sylvia Hanika
		Kathy Jordan Paula Smith 6–3, 5–7, 7–6(7–2)	Virginia Ruzici JoAnne Russell
27 Apr	United Airlines Tournament of Champions Orlando, United States Toyota Series (Category 7) Clay – $200,000 – 22S/8D	Martina Navratilova 7–5, 6–3	Andrea Jaeger	Regina Maršíková Hana Mandlíková	Yvonne Vermaak Wendy Turnbull Kathleen Horvath Sylvia Hanika
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–1, 7–6(12–10)	Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
4 May	Italian Open Perugia, Italy Toyota Series (Category 3) Clay – $100,000 – 56S/32D	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–1, 6–2	Virginia Ruzici	Sandy Collins Joyce Portman	Lucia Romanov Rosalyn Fairbank Ivanna Madruga Elly Appel-Vessies
		Candy Reynolds Paula Smith 7–5, 6–1	Chris Evert-Lloyd Virginia Ruzici
	Bridgestone Doubles Championships Tokyo, Japan Toyota Series (Category 5) Carpet (i) – $150,000 – 8D	Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 7–5, 6–2	Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh	Casals / Turnbull Jordan / Smith	Peanut Louie/ Redondo Blackwood / Leo duPont / Jordan Jaeger / King
11 May	Toyota Swiss Open Lugano, Switzerland Toyota Series (Category 3) Clay – $100,000 – 32S/16D	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–1, 6–1	Virginia Ruzici	Regina Maršíková Sylvia Hanika	Sandy Collins Dianne Balestrat Hana Strachoňová Candy Reynolds
		Rosalyn Fairbank Tanya Harford 2–6, 6–1, 6–4	Candy Reynolds Paula Smith
18 May	German Open West Berlin, West Germany Toyota Series (Category 3) Clay – $150,000 – 56S/28D	Regina Maršíková 6–2, 6–1	Ivanna Madruga	Sandy Collins Dianne Fromholtz	Tracy Austin Deborah Jevans Mima Jaušovec Hana Mandlíková
		Rosalyn Fairbank Tanya Harford 6–3, 6–4	Sue Barker Renáta Tomanová
25 May 1 June	French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay – $300,000 – 112S/64Q/48D/32X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Hana Mandlíková 6–2, 6–4	Sylvia Hanika	Chris Evert-Lloyd Andrea Jaeger	Virginia Ruzici Kathy Rinaldi Mima Jaušovec Martina Navratilova
		Rosalyn Fairbank Tanya Harford 6–1, 6–3	Candy Reynolds Paula Smith
		Andrea Jaeger James Arias 7–6, 6–4	Betty Stöve Frederick McNair

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
8 Jun	Surrey Championships Surbiton, Great Britain Toyota Series (Category 1) Grass – $50,000 – 56S/32D	Betsy Nagelsen 6–0, 6–4	Barbara Hallquist	Diane Desfor Martina Navratilova	Marjorie Blackwood Laura duPont JoAnne Russell Sue Barker
		Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 6–1, 6–7, 6–1	Billie Jean King Ilana Kloss
15 Jun	BMW Championships Eastbourne, Great Britain Toyota Series (Category 4) Grass – $125,000 – 64S/32D	Tracy Austin 6–3, 6–4	Andrea Jaeger	Barbara Potter Martina Navratilova	Anne Smith Wendy Turnbull Pam Casale Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–1	Kathy Jordan Anne Smith
22 Jun 29 Jun	Wimbledon Championships London, Great Britain Grand Slam Grass – $300,000 – 112S/64Q/48D/48X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–2, 6–2	Hana Mandlíková	Pam Shriver Martina Navratilova	Mima Jaušovec Tracy Austin Virginia Ruzici Wendy Turnbull
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 7–6(8–6)	Kathy Jordan Anne Smith
		Betty Stöve Frew McMillan 4–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–3	Tracy Austin John Austin

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
13 Jul	Austrian Open Kitzbühel, Austria Toyota Series (Category 1) Clay – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 7–5, 7–6	Sylvia Hanika	Regina Maršíková Virginia Ruzici	Patricia Medrado Yvonne Vermaak Lena Sandin Marjorie Blackwood
		Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Eva Pfaff 6–4, 6–3	Elizabeth Little Yvonne Vermaak
27 Jul	Wells Fargo Open San Diego, United States Toyota Series (Category 4) Hard – $125,000- 32S/16D	Tracy Austin 6–2, 5–7, 6–2	Pam Shriver	Kathy Jordan Kate Latham	Candy Reynolds Mary Lou Piatek Bettina Bunge Yvonne Vermaak
		Kathy Jordan Candy Reynolds 6–1, 2–6, 6–4	Rosie Casals Pam Shriver

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
3 Aug	U.S. Clay Court Championships Indianapolis, United States Toyota Series (Category 5) Clay – $150,000 – 56S/32D Singles – Doubles	Andrea Jaeger 6–1, 6–0	Virginia Ruzici	Mima Jaušovec Regina Maršíková	Sue Barker Anne Smith Hana Strachoňová Susan Mascarin
		JoAnne Russell Virginia Ruzici 6–2, 6–2	Sue Barker Paula Smith
10 Aug	Central Fidelity Banks International Richmond, United States Toyota Series (Category 3) Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S/16D	Mary Lou Piatek 6–4, 6–1	Sue Barker	Betsy Nagelsen Pam Shriver	Sylvia Hanika Regina Maršíková Wendy Turnbull Sandy Collins
		Sue Barker Ann Kiyomura 4–6, 7–6, 6–4	Kathy Jordan Anne Smith
17 Aug	Player's Canadian Open Toronto, Canada Toyota Series (Category 7) Hard – $200,000 – 56S/32D	Tracy Austin 6–1, 6–4	Chris Evert-Lloyd	Andrea Jaeger Martina Navratilova	Hana Mandlíková Rosalyn Fairbank Sylvia Hanika Pam Shriver
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–6, 7–6	Candy Reynolds Anne Smith
24 Aug	Volvo Women's Cup Mahwah, United States Toyota Series (Category 3) Hard – $100,000 – 56S/32D	Hana Mandlíková 6–2, 6–2	Pam Casale	Bettina Bunge Regina Maršíková	Trey Lewis Virginia Ruzici Wendy White Stacy Margolin
		Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 6–1	Candy Reynolds Betty Stöve
31 Aug 7 Sep	US Open New York City, United States Grand Slam Hard – $400,000 – 128S/64Q/64D/32X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Tracy Austin 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–1)	Martina Navratilova	Chris Evert-Lloyd Barbara Potter	Hana Mandlíková Anne Smith Sylvia Hanika Barbara Gerken
		Kathy Jordan Anne Smith 6–3, 6–3	Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull
		Anne Smith Kevin Curren 6–4, 7–6(7–4)	JoAnne Russell Steve Denton

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
14 Sep	Toray Sillook Open Tokyo, Japan Toyota Series (Category 3) Carpet (i) – $100,000 – 32S	Ann Kiyomura 6–4, 7–5	Bettina Bunge	Mima Jaušovec Kathleen Horvath	Sharon Walsh Candy Reynolds Anne Hobbs Leslie Allen
21 Sep	Toyota Tennis Classic Atlanta, United States Toyota Series (Category 2) Hard – $75,000 – 32S/16D	Tracy Austin 4–6, 6–3, 6–3	Mary Lou Piatek	Laura duPont Susan Mascarin	Beth Norton Wendy White Rosie Casals Sharon Walsh
		Laura duPont Betsy Nagelsen 6–4, 7–5	Rosie Casals Candy Reynolds
28 Sep	U.S. Women's Indoor Championships Bloomington, United States Toyota Series (Category 4) Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D	Martina Navratilova 6–0, 6–2	Tracy Austin	Candy Reynolds Wendy Turnbull	Sharon Walsh Julie Harrington Anne Smith Barbara Potter
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 7–6	Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
5 Oct	Florida Federal Open Tampa, United States Toyota Series (Category 4) Hard – $125,000 – 32S/16D	Martina Navratilova 5–7, 6–2, 6–0	Bettina Bunge	Sylvia Hanika Mary Lou Piatek	Barbara Hallquist Kathy Rinaldi Wendy Turnbull Sandy Collins
		Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–3, 6–4	Martina Navratilova Renáta Tomanová
12 Oct	Borden Classic Kyoto, Japan Toyota Series (Category 1) Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Kathy Rinaldi 6–1, 7–5	Julie Harrington	Pam Casale Patricia Medrado	Dana Gilbert Barbara Jordan Susan Mascarin Beth Norton
		Marianne van der Torre Nanette Schutte 6–2, 6–4	Elizabeth Smylie Kim Steinmetz
	Lynda Carter Maybelline Classic Deerfield Beach, United States Toyota Series (Category 4) Hard – $125,000 – 32S/16D	Chris Evert-Lloyd 4–6, 6–3, 6–0	Andrea Jaeger	Pam Shriver Sylvia Hanika	Bobbie Gadusek Anne White Rosie Casals Anne Smith
		Mary Lou Piatek Wendy White 6–1, 3–6, 7–5	Pam Shriver Paula Smith
19 Oct	Daihatsu Challenge Brighton, Great Britain Toyota Series (Category 4) Carpet (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D	Sue Barker 4–6, 6–1, 6–1	Mima Jaušovec	Barbara Potter Anne Smith	Tracy Austin Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Pam Shriver Sylvia Hanika
		Barbara Potter Anne Smith 6–7(1–7), 6–3, 6–4	Mima Jaušovec Pam Shriver
	Japan Open Tokyo, Japan Toyota Series (Category 1) Hard – $50,000 – S/D	Marie Pinterová 2–6, 6–4, 6–1	Pam Casale	Barbara Potter Patricia Medrado	Julie Harrington Barbara Rossi Marianne van der Torre Lee Duk-hee
		Patricia Medrado Cláudia Monteiro 6–3, 3–6, 6–2	Barbara Jordan Roberta McCallum
26 Oct	Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart, West Germany Toyota Series (Category 4) Hard (i) – $125,000 – 32S/16D	Tracy Austin 4–6, 6–3, 6–4	Martina Navratilova	Virginia Ruzici Sylvia Hanika	Mima Jaušovec JoAnne Russell Jo Durie Anne Smith
		Mima Jaušovec Martina Navratilova 6–4, 6–1	Barbara Potter Anne Smith

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
2 Nov	Seiko Classic Hong Kong Toyota Series (Category 1) Hard – $50,000 – 32S/16D	Wendy Turnbull 6–3, 6–4	Sabina Simmonds	Marianne van der Torre Marcella Mesker	Anne Hobbs Patricia Medrado Leigh-Anne Thompson Lee Duk-hee
		Ann Kiyomura Sharon Walsh 6–3, 6–4	Anne Hobbs Susan Leo
9 Nov	Federation Cup Tokyo, Japan Team event Clay	United States 3–0	Great Britain	Switzerland  Australia	Romania  West Germany  Soviet Union  Netherlands
16 Nov	National Panasonic Classic Perth, Australia Toyota Series (Category 4) Grass – $125,000 – 56S/32D	Pam Shriver 6–1, 7–6(7–4)	Andrea Jaeger	Mima Jaušovec Ann Kiyomura	Leslie Allen Barbara Potter Jane Preyer Anne Smith
		Barbara Potter Sharon Walsh 6–4, 6–2	Betsy Nagelsen Candy Reynolds
23 Nov	NSW Building Society Open Sydney, Australia Toyota Series (Category 4) Grass – $125,000 – 56S/32D	Chris Evert-Lloyd 6–4, 2–6, 6–1	Martina Navratilova	Bettina Bunge Wendy Turnbull	Evonne Goolagong Cawley Anne Smith Andrea Jaeger Barbara Potter
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–7, 6–2, 6–4	Kathy Jordan Anne Smith
30 Nov 7 Dec	Toyota Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Grass – $200,000 – 64S/32Q/32D Singles – Doubles	Martina Navratilova 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–5	Chris Evert-Lloyd	Wendy Turnbull Pam Shriver	Hana Mandlíková Andrea Jaeger Evonne Goolagong Cawley Tracy Austin
		Kathy Jordan Anne Smith 6–2, 7–5	Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
14 Dec	Toyota Series Championships East Rutherford, United States WTA championships Hard (i) – $300,000 – 12S/6D	Tracy Austin 2–6, 6–4, 6–2	Martina Navratilova	Pam Shriver Chris Evert-Lloyd	Round robin Mima Jaušovec Andrea Jaeger Hana Mandlíková Tracy Austin
		Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–4	Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull

The 31 Toyota Series tournaments were divided into eight point categories. The highest points were allocated to the Grand Slam tournaments; French Open, the Wimbledon Championships, the US Open and the Australian Open. Points were allocated based on these categories and the finishing position of a player in a tournament.^[1] The points allocation, with doubles points listed in brackets, is as follows:

Below are the 1981 WTA year-end rankings (December 31, 1981) in both singles and doubles competition:

Singles Year-end Ranking[2]
No	Player Name	Points	1980	Change
1	Chris Evert (USA)	17.542	1
2	Tracy Austin (USA)	16.486	2
3	Martina Navratilova (USA)	15.710	3
4	Andrea Jaeger (USA)	13.107	7	3
5	Hana Mandlíková (TCH)	11.234	4	1
6	Sylvia Hanika (FRG)	9.620	14	8
7	Pam Shriver (USA)	9.594	9	2
8	Wendy Turnbull (AUS)	8.262	8
9	Bettina Bunge (FRG)	7.932	19	10
10	Barbara Potter (USA)	7.921	25	15
11	Mima Jaušovec (YUG)	7.823	17	6
12	Virginia Ruzici (ROU)	7.399	11	1
13	Regina Maršíková (TCH)	6.567	18	5
14	Sue Barker (GBR)	6.405	16	2
15	Kathy Jordan (USA)	5.957	13	2
16	Anne Smith (USA)	5.728	24	8
17	Mary Lou Piatek (USA)	5.199	23	6
18	Sandy Collins (USA)	5.050	36	18
19	Leslie Allen (USA)	5.034	54	35
20	Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (FRG)	4.846	78	58

• 1981 Volvo Grand Prix
• Women's Tennis Association
• International Tennis Federation

• Official WTA Tour website