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2012 WTA Tour
View on WikipediaVictoria Azarenka finished the year as WTA world No. 1 for the first time in her career, though Serena Williams was named the Player of the Year. Azarenka won six singles tournaments during the season, including a major at the Australian Open. She also won three Premier Mandatory and Premier 5 events, finished runner-up at another major at the US Open, and won a bronze medal in singles at the London Olympics. Williams won seven singles tournaments during the season, including two majors at the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open, the gold medal in singles at the London Olympics, the WTA Tour Championships, and a Premier Mandatory event. | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | December 31, 2011 – November 4, 2012 |
| Edition | 42nd |
| Tournaments | 57 |
| Categories | Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships (2) Summer Olympics WTA Premier Mandatory (4) WTA Premier 5 (5) WTA Premier (12) WTA International (29) |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most titles | |
| Most finals | |
| Prize money leader | (US$7,928,920) |
| Points leader | |
| Awards | |
| Player of the year | |
| Doubles team of the year | |
| Most improved player of the year | |
| Newcomer of the year | |
| Comeback player of the year | |
← 2011 2013 → | |
The 2012 WTA Tour is the elite professional tennis circuit organized by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for the 2012 tennis season. The 2012 WTA Tour calendar comprises the Grand Slam tournaments (supervised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF)), the WTA Premier tournaments (Premier Mandatory, Premier 5, and regular Premier), the WTA International tournaments, the Fed Cup (organized by the ITF), the year-end championships (the WTA Tour Championships and the WTA Tournament of Champions), and the tennis event at the Summer Olympic Games. Also included in the 2012 calendar is the Hopman Cup, which is organized by the ITF and does not distribute ranking points.[1]
Schedule
[edit]This is the complete schedule of events on the 2012 calendar, with player progression documented from the quarterfinals stage.[1]
- Key
| Grand Slam tournaments |
| Summer Olympic Games |
| Year-end championships |
| WTA Premier Mandatory |
| WTA Premier 5 |
| WTA Premier |
| WTA International |
| Team events |
January
[edit]February
[edit]March
[edit]| Week | Tournament | Champions | Runners-up | Semifinalists | Quarterfinalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar 12 Mar |
BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, United States WTA Premier Mandatory Hard – $5,536,664 – 96S/32D Singles – Doubles |
6–2, 6–3 |
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6–2, 6–3 |
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| 19 Mar 26 Mar |
Sony Ericsson Open Key Biscayne, United States WTA Premier Mandatory Hard – $4,828,050 – 96S/32D Singles – Doubles |
7–5, 6–4 |
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7–6(7–0), 4–6, [10–4] |
April
[edit]May
[edit]June
[edit]July
[edit]August
[edit]September
[edit]October
[edit]Statistical information
[edit]These tables present the number of singles (S), doubles (D), and mixed doubles (X) titles won by each player and each nation during the season, within all the tournament categories of the 2012 WTA Tour: the Grand Slam tournaments, the tennis event at the London Summer Olympic Games, the year-end championships (the WTA Tour Championships and the Tournament of Champions), the WTA Premier tournaments (Premier Mandatory, Premier 5, and regular Premier), and the WTA International tournaments.[1] The players/nations are sorted by: 1) total number of titles (a doubles title won by two players representing the same nation counts as only one win for the nation); 2) cumulated importance of those titles (one Grand Slam win equalling two Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 wins, one year-end championships win equalling one-and-a-half Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 win, one Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 win equalling two Premier wins, one Olympic win equalling one-and-a-half Premier win, one Premier win equalling two International wins); 3) a singles > doubles > mixed doubles hierarchy; 4) alphabetical order (by family names for players).
Key
[edit]| Grand Slam tournaments |
| Summer Olympic Games |
| Year-end championships |
| WTA Premier Mandatory |
| WTA Premier 5 |
| WTA Premier |
| WTA International |
To avoid confusion and double counting, these tables should be updated only after an event is completed. The tables are through to the tournaments of the week of September 9.
Titles won by player
[edit]| Total | Player | Grand Slam | Olympic Games | Year-end | Premier Mandatory | Premier 5 | Premier | International | Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | D | X | S | D | X | S | D | S | D | S | D | S | D | S | D | S | D | X | ||
| 12 | ● ● | ● | ● | ● ● ● ● | ● ● ● ● | 4 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 9 | ● ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● ● | 7 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 9 | ● ● | ● | ● | ● | ● ● ● ● | 1 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | ● | ● | ● ● | ● | ● | ● | 6 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 6 | ● | ● | ● | ● ● ● | 0 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 5 | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 3 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | ● | ● | ● ● ● | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | ● | ● | ● ● | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | ● | ● | ● ● | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | ● | ● ● ● | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 4 | ● | ● ● ● | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● | ● | ● | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● | ● | ● | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● | ● | ● | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● | ● ● | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● | ● | ● | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ● ● | ● | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
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| 2 | ● | ● | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
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Titles won by nation
[edit]| Total | Nation | Grand Slam | Olympic Games | Year-end | Premier Mandatory | Premier 5 | Premier | International | Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | D | X | S | D | X | S | D | S | D | S | D | S | D | S | D | S | D | X | ||
| 24 | United States | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 2 | |||
| 16 | Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1 | |||||
| 15 | Czech Republic | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 14 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 9 | Belarus | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||
| 6 | Poland | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Germany | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Taiwan | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | China | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 4 | Slovakia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | India | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | France | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Germany | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Spain | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Denmark | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Estonia | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Slovenia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Hungary | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Romania | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Japan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Austria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Serbia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Sweden | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Colombia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Thailand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Titles information
[edit]The following players won their first main circuit title in singles, doubles, or mixed doubles:
- Singles
Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino – Bogotá (singles)
Tímea Babos – Monterrey (singles)
Mona Barthel – Hobart (singles)
Kiki Bertens – Fes (singles)
Irina-Camelia Begu – Tashkent (singles)
Hsieh Su-wei – Kuala Lumpur (singles)
Bojana Jovanovski – Baku (singles)
Angelique Kerber – Paris (singles)
Heather Watson – Osaka (singles)
Kirsten Flipkens – Quebec City (singles)
- Doubles
Shuko Aoyama – Washington, D.C. (doubles)
Tímea Babos – Birmingham (doubles)
Irina-Camelia Begu – Hobart (doubles)
Irina Buryachok – Baku (doubles)
Catalina Castaño – Båstad (doubles)
Mariana Duque Mariño – Båstad (doubles)
Rika Fujiwara – Copenhagen (doubles)
Paula Kania – Tashkent (doubles)
Tatjana Malek – Quebec City (doubles)
Kristina Mladenovic – Montreal (doubles)
Polina Pekhova – Tashkent (doubles)
Magdaléna Rybáriková – Budapest (doubles)
Lucie Šafářová – Charleston (doubles)
Valeriya Solovyeva – Baku (doubles)
Heather Watson – Stanford (doubles)
- Mixed doubles
Bethanie Mattek-Sands – Australian Open (mixed doubles)
Ekaterina Makarova – US Open (mixed doubles)
The following players defended a main circuit title in singles, doubles, or mixed doubles:
- Singles
Daniela Hantuchová – Pattaya City (singles)
Polona Hercog – Båstad (singles)
Maria Sharapova – Rome (singles)
Serena Williams – Stanford (singles)
- Doubles
Rankings
[edit]The Race to the Championships determines the players in the WTA Tour Championships in October. The WTA rankings are based on tournaments of the latest 52 weeks.
Singles
[edit]The following is the 2012 top 20 in the Race to the Championships and the top 20 ranked players in the world.[3][4] Players must include points from the Grand Slams, Premier Mandatory tournaments, the Summer Olympic Games and the WTA Championships. For Top 20 players, their best two results at Premier 5 tournaments will also count.[5] Gold backgrounds indicate players that qualified for the WTA Tour Championships. Blue backgrounds indicate players that qualified as alternates at the WTA Tour Championships.
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Number 1 ranking
[edit]| Holder | Date gained | Date forfeited |
|---|---|---|
| Year-End 2011 | 29 January 2012 | |
| 30 January 2012 | 10 June 2012 | |
| 11 June 2012 | 8 July 2012 | |
| 9 July 2012 | Year-End 2012 |
Doubles
[edit]The following is the 2012 top 20 in the Race To The Championships – Doubles and the top 20 individual ranked doubles players. Gold backgrounds indicate teams that have qualified for WTA Tour Championships.
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Number 1 ranking
[edit]| Holder | Date gained | Date forfeited |
|---|---|---|
| Year-End 2011 | ||
23 April 2012 |
9 September 2012 | |
| 10 September 2012 | 14 October 2012 | |
| 15 October 2012 | Year-End 2012 |
Prize money leaders
[edit]The 2012 WTA Tour season was the first, and still only, season where 3 different players earned at least $6,000,000. The 2014 and 2017 seasons each had 3 different players earned at least $5,000,000. The top-16 players earned over $1,000,000.
| # | Player | Singles | Doubles | Mixed | Bonus Pool | Year-to-date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7,317,651 | $7,130 | $4,139 | $600,000 | $7,928,920 | |
| 2 | $6,828,831 | $214,725 | $2,419 | $0 | $7,045,975 | |
| 3 | $6,308,296 | $0 | $0 | $200,000 | $6,508,296 | |
| 4 | $3,803,819 | $47,723 | $0 | $250,000 | $4,101,542 | |
| 5 | $2,181,948 | $926,618 | $2,070 | $0 | $3,110,636 | |
| 6 | $2,127,402 | $5,473 | $0 | $600,000 | $2,732,875 | |
| 7 | $1,408,240 | $430 | $0 | $1,000,000 | $2,408,670 | |
| 8 | $1,880,646 | $0 | $0 | $400,000 | $2,280,646 | |
| 9 | $1,938,436 | $31,856 | $2,070 | $0 | $1,972,362 | |
| 10 | $1,490,602 | $45,582 | $0 | $400,000 | $1,936,184 | |
Statistics leaders
[edit]as of November 12, 2012[update][9]
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Points distribution
[edit]| Category | W | F | SF | QF | R16 | R32 | R64 | R128 | Q | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 |
| Grand Slam (S) | 2000 | 1400 | 900 | 500 | 280 | 160 | 100 | 5 | 60 | 50 | 40 | 2 |
| Grand Slam (D) | 2000 | 1400 | 900 | 500 | 280 | 160 | 5 | – | 48 | – | – | – |
| WTA Championships (S) | +450 | +360 | (230 for each win, 70 for each loss) | |||||||||
| WTA Championships (D) | 1500 | 1050 | 690 | |||||||||
| WTA Premier Mandatory (96S) | 1000 | 700 | 450 | 250 | 140 | 80 | 50 | 5 | 30 | – | 20 | 1 |
| WTA Premier Mandatory (64S) | 1000 | 700 | 450 | 250 | 140 | 80 | 5 | – | 30 | – | 20 | 1 |
| WTA Premier Mandatory (28/32D) | 1000 | 700 | 450 | 250 | 140 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| WTA Premier 5 (56S) | 900 | 620 | 395 | 225 | 125 | 70 | 1 | – | 30 | – | 20 | 1 |
| WTA Premier 5 (28D) | 900 | 620 | 395 | 225 | 125 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Summer Olympic Games (64S) | 685 | 470 | 340(3rd) 260(4th) | 175 | 95 | 55 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| WTA Premier (56S) | 470 | 320 | 200 | 120 | 60 | 40 | 1 | – | 12 | – | 8 | 1 |
| WTA Premier (32S) | 470 | 320 | 200 | 120 | 60 | 1 | – | – | 20 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| WTA Premier (16D) | 470 | 320 | 200 | 120 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tournament of Champions | +195 | +75 | (60 for each win, 25 for each loss) | |||||||||
| WTA International (56S) | 280 | 200 | 130 | 70 | 30 | 15 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 6 | 1 |
| WTA International (32S) | 280 | 200 | 130 | 70 | 30 | 1 | – | – | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| WTA International (16D) | 280 | 200 | 130 | 70 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Retirements
[edit]
Vasilisa Bardina (born 30 November 1987, in Moscow) turned professional in 2003 with a high singles ranking career of No. 48 on 15 January 2007 and a high doubles ranking career of No. 117 on 25 June 2007.
Myriam Casanova (born 20 June 1985, in Altstätten) turned professional in 2000 with a high singles ranking career of No. 45 on 7 April 2003 and a high doubles ranking career of No. 19 on 5 July 2004.
Kim Clijsters (born 8 July 1983, in Bilzen) turned professional in 1997, reaching career-high rankings of World No. 1 in Singles and Doubles. Clijsters has won 41 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles titles. She has won four Grand Slam singles titles: three at the US Open, in 2005, 2009, and 2010 and one at the Australian Open in 2011. She has also been runner-up in four Grand Slam singles tournaments, and won the WTA Tour Championships singles title in 2002, 2003, and 2010. In doubles, she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2003. Clijsters has retired once on 6 May 2007,[10] but almost two years later, on 26 March 2009, she publicly declared her intent to return to the WTA tour for the 2009 summer hard court season.[11] In only her third tournament back, she won her second US Open title, becoming the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the tournament, and the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.[12] Clijsters announced in May that her second retirement would occur after the completion of the 2012 US Open[13]
Julie Ditty (born 4 January 1979, in Atlanta) turned professional in 2002 with a high singles ranking career of No. 89 on 24 March 2008 and a high doubles ranking career of No. 66 on 3 August 2009.
Gisela Dulko (born January 30, 1985, in Buenos Aires) was a former world no. 1 in doubles turned professional in 2001. Dulko has won 4 WTA singles titles and 17 WTA doubles titles. Dulko won the 2010 WTA Tour Championships and the 2011 Australian Open in doubles, enjoying an 11-year career before announcing her retirement in November 2012.[14]
Ashley Harkleroad (born 2 May 1985, in Rossville) turned professional in 2000 with a high singles ranking career of No. 39 on 9 June 2003 and a high doubles ranking career of No. 39 on 27 January 2007.
Svetlana Krivencheva (born 30 December 1973 in Plovdiv) turned professional in 1991 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 69 on 3 August 1998.
Courtney Nagle (born 29 September 1982) turned professional in 2005 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 97 on 20 April 2009.
Olivia Sanchez (born 17 November 1982 in Paris) turned professional in 1998 with a high singles ranking career of No. 90 on 9 June 2008.
İpek Şenoğlu (born 8 June 1979 in Eskişehir) turned professional in 1996 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 53 on 19 October 2009.
Olga Vymetálková (born 24 January 1976) turned professional in 1994 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 82 on 13 September 2004.
Mashona Washington (born 31 May 1976, in Flint) turned professional in 1995 with a high singles ranking career of No. 50 on 8 November 2004 and a high doubles ranking career of No. 55 on 18 July 2005.
Jasmin Wöhr (born 21 August 1980 in Tübingen) turned professional in 1999 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 46 on 23 July 2007.
Comebacks
[edit]Following are notable players who will comeback after retirements during the 2012 WTA Tour season:
Paola Suárez (born June 23, 1976, in Buenos Aires), who turned professional in 1991 and has reached a career high ranking of No. 9 on 7 June 2004 in singles and in doubles she was a former world no. 1. She has won 8 doubles Grand Slam (with Virginia Ruano Pascual), 4 singles titles, 44 WTA Tour doubles including 1 WTA Championships. She returned from retirement in 2012, partnering with Gisela Dulko at the 2012 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, but they lost in the first round. The pair played at the London Summer Olympic Games, where they also lost in the first round.
Awards
[edit]The winners of the 2012 WTA Awards were announced throughout the last week of November.[15]
- Player of the Year –
Serena Williams - Doubles Team of the Year –
Sara Errani &
Roberta Vinci - Most Improved Player –
Sara Errani - Comeback Player of the Year –
Yaroslava Shvedova - Newcomer of the Year –
Laura Robson - Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award –
Kim Clijsters - Player Service Award –
Venus Williams - Diamond Aces –
Victoria Azarenka - Fan Favorite Singles Player –
Agnieszka Radwańska - Fan Favorite Doubles Team –
Serena Williams &
Venus Williams - Fan Favorite Twitter –
Caroline Wozniacki (Twitter account) - Fan Favorite Facebook –
Agnieszka Radwańska (Facebook account) - Fan Favorite Video – Agnieszka Radwańska & The Bee (video)
- Favorite Premier Tournament –
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart) - Favorite International Tournament –
Sony Swedish Open (Båstad)
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- a Zheng Jie won the final after Flavia Pennetta was forced to retire because of a low back injury.[16]
- b Hsieh Su-wei won the final after Petra Martić was forced to retire because of fatigue and cramping.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "2012 WTA calendar" (PDF). wtatennis.com. WTA Tour, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ Vinkel, Per Colstrup (2 January 2012). "Farum dropper dyr plan". politiken.dk (in Danish). Politiken. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "Race to the WTA Championships". WTA Tour. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
- ^ "WTA Singles Rankings". WTA Tour. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Singles Rankings Numeric List 5 November 2012" (PDF). wtatour.com. WTA Tour, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Doubles Rankings Numeric List 5 November 2012" (PDF). wtatour.com. WTA Tour, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2013.
- ^ "WTA Prize money". wtatennis.com. WTA Tour, Inc.
- ^ "WTA MATCHFACTS" (PDF). wtatour.com. Retrieved 16 February 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Sport.be, Kim's Diary-Thanks you, 6 May 2007 Archived November 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Antonia Vandevelde (26 March 2009). "Clijsters announces return to WTA tour". Reuters. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ SportsIllustrated.cnn.com Archived September 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ AFP (2012-05-22). "Clijsters to retire after US Open". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ "Dulko Tenis – Happy End". Archived from the original on 2012-11-21. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
- ^ "WTA Player Awards: The Fan Favorites & More". WTA Tour, Inc. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ "Zheng Wins Auckland, Ends WTA Title Drought". wtatennis.com. WTA Tour, Inc. 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
External links
[edit]2012 WTA Tour
View on GrokipediaOverview
Season Summary
The 2012 WTA Tour marked a year of resurgence and intense competition among the sport's elite players, highlighted by the emergence of new world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka captured the Australian Open title, defeating Maria Sharapova in the final to secure her first Grand Slam singles championship and ascend to the top ranking, becoming the first Belarusian player to achieve this milestone.[3] Her dominance extended through the early season with additional victories at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells, establishing a 26-match winning streak that underscored her aggressive baseline game and mental toughness.[4] Serena Williams staged a remarkable comeback, reclaiming her status as a dominant force after injury setbacks, winning Wimbledon for her 14th Grand Slam singles title and the US Open for her 15th, while also securing Olympic gold in singles at the London Games.[5] These triumphs, combined with her WTA Championships victory, propelled Williams to a 58-4 record and seven titles for the year, emphasizing her explosive power and renewed focus on the tour.[6] Maria Sharapova complemented this top-tier rivalry by claiming the French Open, completing her career Grand Slam and returning to No. 1 briefly before finishing the season at No. 2, with her clay-court mastery proving pivotal.[6] The season featured approximately 50 tournaments across various categories, fostering increased depth in the top 10 rankings as players like Agnieszka Radwańska and Sara Errani challenged the leaders with consistent performances.[1] The London Olympics disrupted the mid-season schedule but injected momentum, with medalists like Williams and Sharapova using the event to fuel late-year surges. Key rivalries, notably Azarenka's clashes with Radwańska in multiple finals including Indian Wells, added drama and elevated the overall competitiveness of women's tennis.[5]Tournament Structure and Categories
The 2012 WTA Tour was structured around five primary categories of tournaments, designed to balance high-level competition, player participation requirements, and global accessibility while awarding ranking points based on performance depth and event prestige. The four Grand Slams—Australian Open (hard courts), French Open (clay), Wimbledon (grass), and US Open (hard)—served as the pinnacle, each featuring 128-player singles draws and 64-player doubles draws, with matches played in best-of-three sets for women's events and best-of-five for men's doubles. These ITF-co-sanctioned majors emphasized comprehensive qualification processes, including direct entry for the top-ranked players, up to eight wild cards per tournament awarded by organizers, and a 96- or 128-player qualifying draw to fill remaining spots.[7] WTA Premier events formed the core professional circuit, subdivided into Premier Mandatory (four events: Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Beijing, often combined with ATP Masters), Premier 5 (five events: Doha, Rome, Canada (Toronto or Montreal), Cincinnati, and Tokyo), and standard Premier (12 events with variable formats). Premier Mandatory and Premier 5 tournaments typically hosted 96- and 56-player singles draws, respectively, on hard or clay surfaces, prioritizing top-10 player attendance through mandatory participation rules to ensure elite matchups. Standard Premier events varied in scale, with draws of 28 to 56 players, and were held across hard, clay, and occasionally indoor surfaces, fostering a mix of established stars and emerging talent via ranking-based direct entries, wild cards, and qualifiers.[8][9] Complementing these were 30 International tournaments, smaller-scale events with 32-player singles draws and 16-player doubles draws, primarily on hard or clay courts, which offered crucial opportunities for mid-tier players to accumulate points and experience. Qualification mirrored higher categories, relying on rankings for direct acceptance, wild cards for local or promising players, and qualifying rounds to accommodate broader participation. Overall, the season comprised approximately 56 events, most featuring both singles and doubles draws, plus the Olympic tennis competition in London as a non-ranking exhibition integrated into the calendar.[10] No significant structural alterations occurred from 2011, maintaining the emphasis on individualized roadmaps for top players that required commitment to all Premier Mandatory events and a quota of Premier 5 and other tournaments to avoid penalties, promoting consistency across the global schedule. Points distribution varied by category to reflect event stature, with higher rewards for deeper advancement in majors and Premier levels (detailed separately in Points Distribution).[9]Schedule
January
The January segment of the 2012 WTA Tour marked the season's opening with a series of hard-court events in the Asia-Pacific region, serving as key warm-up tournaments ahead of the Australian Open Grand Slam. These competitions, categorized as Premier and International levels under the WTA structure, featured emerging talents and established players vying for early momentum, with several upsets highlighting the unpredictable start. The schedule included five main draw events, emphasizing baseline play on outdoor hard courts suited to the summer conditions in Australia and New Zealand. The Brisbane International, a Premier-level event held from January 1 to 8 in Brisbane, Australia, awarded $655,000 in prize money and drew a strong field including top seed Kim Clijsters. Kaia Kanepi of Estonia captured her second WTA singles title by defeating Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia 6–2, 6–1 in the final, showcasing dominant serving and groundstrokes to convert five of eight break points. Earlier, Clijsters retired in the second round against Jelena Janković due to a hip injury, while Serena Williams twisted her ankle in her quarterfinal win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, forcing her withdrawal from subsequent commitments. Kanepi's victory propelled her into the top 20 rankings for the first time.[11] Concurrently, the ASB Classic, an International event from January 2 to 8 in Auckland, New Zealand, offered $220,000 and provided a quieter preparation venue. Zheng Jie of China secured her fourth WTA title, rallying past Flavia Pennetta of Italy 2–6, 6–3, 2–0 (retired due to a back injury) in the final after saving match points in the semifinals against Tamira Paszek. The tournament saw limited upsets, with third seed Pennetta reaching the final as the highest seed remaining. The Apia International Sydney, another Premier tournament running January 8 to 15 in Sydney, Australia, with $637,000 in prizes, featured world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki as top seed. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus clinched the title, edging Li Na of China 6–2, 1–6, 6–3 in a competitive final marked by 12 breaks of serve total. Azarenka, seeded third, overcame a mid-match lapse to win her ninth career title, setting a strong tone for her season. Notable results included Agnes Szavay's upset over Wozniacki in the second round.[12][13] Overlapping with Sydney, the Moorilla Hobart International, an International event from January 8 to 14 in Hobart, Australia, distributed $220,000 and served as a traditional Australian Open tune-up. Qualifier Mona Barthel of Germany achieved a breakthrough by winning her maiden WTA title, dominating top seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6–1, 6–2 in the final after an eight-match winning streak through the draw. Barthel, ranked No. 142 entering the week, upset sixth seed Gréta Arn and fourth seed Johanna Larsson en route, marking one of the month's biggest surprises.[14][15] The Australian Open, the season's first Grand Slam from January 16 to 29 in Melbourne, Australia, offered AUD $26 million in total prizes and attracted over 700,000 spectators. Victoria Azarenka claimed her first major title, routing Maria Sharapova 6–3, 6–0 in the final—the most lopsided women's Grand Slam final since 1990—after navigating a tough draw that included wins over Agnieszka Radwańska and Iveta Benešová. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki fell in the fourth round to Wozniacki's compatriot, while Kim Clijsters withdrew before the tournament due to her ongoing hip issue, and Serena Williams was absent recovering from her Brisbane ankle sprain. Azarenka's triumph elevated her to world No. 1 the following week. The event's doubles final saw a brief men's context overlap in scheduling, but WTA play remained the focus, with no direct crossover impacts.[16][17][18][19] Capping the month, the PTT Pattaya Open, an International tournament beginning January 30 in Pattaya, Thailand (concluding February 5), featured $220,000 in prizes on hard courts. Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia defended her 2011 title, outlasting Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6–7(4), 6–3, 6–3 in the final after three hours of play, converting her fourth match point. Hantuchová, seeded third, benefited from walkovers and retirements, including top seed Sabine Lisicki's early exit due to a back injury.[20][21]February
February marked the continuation of the hard court season with the prestigious Middle East swing, featuring two Premier 5 tournaments in Doha and Dubai, alongside International-level events in Memphis and Bogotá. These competitions highlighted the ongoing momentum from the Australian Open, as top players vied for ranking points and titles on both hard and transitioning clay surfaces. Victoria Azarenka, fresh off her Australian Open triumph, extended her winning streak to 17 matches by capturing the Qatar Total Open in Doha. The Monterrey Open, an International-level clay-court event from February 20 to 26, provided an alternative for players seeking additional points early in the season, with Julia Görges' upset victory over the former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6–3, 6–1 in the final underscoring the depth of the tour.[22] At the Qatar Total Open (Doha, hard, Premier 5), Azarenka dominated the field, defeating Samantha Stosur in the final 6–1, 6–2 to secure her third title of the year and solidify her position as the world No. 1. This victory underscored Azarenka's aggressive baseline play and serve effectiveness, as she converted five of eight break-point opportunities while facing none against the Australian. The tournament drew a strong field, including semifinals wins over Agnieszka Radwańska and Marion Bartoli, contributing to Azarenka's back-to-back-to-back triumphs following Sydney and Melbourne.[23] The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (Premier 5, hard) followed, where Agnieszka Radwańska claimed her eighth career title by overcoming Julia Goerges in the final 7–5, 6–4. Radwańska's precise all-court game shone through, as she navigated a competitive draw that included victories over Caroline Wozniacki and Petra Kvitová, marking a strong response to her Doha semifinal exit. Goerges, reaching her first Premier 5 final, pushed the Pole with powerful groundstrokes but faltered in key moments, highlighting the tournament's role in elevating mid-tier contenders.[24] Shifting to International events, the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and Memphis International (Memphis, indoor hard) saw Sofia Arvidsson triumph 6–3, 6–4 over Marina Erakovic in the final, earning her second career title at the venue. Arvidsson's consistent return game and familiarity with the indoor conditions propelled her through a field featuring upsets, including her semifinal win over Jill Craybas, reinforcing the event's appeal as a key early-season hard court stop for American and European players. Meanwhile, the Copa Colsanitas (Bogotá, clay) introduced the early clay swing, where Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino secured her maiden WTA title with a 6–2, 7–5 victory against Alexandra Panova. The Spaniard's resilient defense and improved net play overcame Panova's aggressive style in the high-altitude conditions, signaling a successful transition for players adapting from hard courts to red clay.[23]March
March 2012 featured two of the WTA Tour's premier mandatory events on hard courts in the United States, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, which offered significant ranking points to participants as part of the tour's structure for accumulating points toward year-end standings. These tournaments, held back-to-back in the California and Florida deserts, attracted top players and served as key early-season benchmarks, with mandatory participation for top-ranked competitors to maximize points in the Race to the Championships. The BNP Paribas Open, contested from March 7 to 18 on outdoor hard courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, was won by Maria Sharapova, who defeated world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the final 6–2, 6–3 to claim her first title of the season and her third overall at the event. Sharapova's victory marked a strong resurgence following her 2011 foot injury, while Azarenka, despite the loss, maintained her top ranking entering the next event. The tournament saw notable upsets, including Agnieszka Radwańska's semifinal run, but was impacted by withdrawals from players like Caroline Wozniacki due to illness. Immediately following, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, held from March 20 to 31 on hard courts at Crandon Park, saw Azarenka rebound to defeat Sharapova in the final 3–6, 6–0, 6–1, securing her second title of the year and propelling her to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. This win, Azarenka's first at a Premier Mandatory event outside Australia, highlighted her dominance in 2012 and shifted the year-end No. 1 race in her favor. The event also featured strong performances from players like Radwańska and Petra Kvitová, though it was marred by several high-profile injury withdrawals, including former French Open champion Li Na, who cited a gastrointestinal issue. Overall, March's tournaments contributed substantially to the points distribution system, where Premier Mandatory events awarded up to 1,000 points to winners, emphasizing their importance in the season's progression.April
April marked the transition to the clay court season on the 2012 WTA Tour, with tournaments in Europe and the United States serving as key tune-ups for the upcoming French Open. The Family Circle Cup in Charleston, a Premier 5 event on green clay, featured a dominant performance by Serena Williams, who defeated Lucie Šafářová 6–0, 6–1 in the final to claim her 40th career singles title.[25] This victory highlighted Williams' return to form after injury, as she dropped just one set throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, the Barcelona Ladies Open, an International-level clay event, saw Sara Errani secure her first WTA singles title by overpowering Dominika Cibulková 6–2, 6–2 in the final, signaling the Italian's rapid emergence as a clay-court specialist with her defensive prowess and consistency.[26] The e-Boks Danish Open in Copenhagen, played on indoor hard courts, provided a contrasting surface and was won by Angelique Kerber, who upset top seed Caroline Wozniacki 6–4, 6–4 in the final for her second title of the year.[27] Later in the month, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, another Premier event on clay, saw world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka reach the final but fall to Maria Šarapová 6–1, 6–4, as Azarenka opted to skip the Charleston event for rest following her Indian Wells triumph.[28] Errani's Barcelona success, part of a burgeoning clay streak that extended into May, underscored the surface's advantages for players with strong movement and endurance, setting the stage for her deep run at Roland Garros.[29]May
The month of May marked the peak of the clay-court swing on the 2012 WTA Tour, with players preparing for the French Open through high-stakes events in Europe. The schedule featured the Premier Mandatory Mutua Madrid Open and the Premier 5 Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, alongside the International-level Internationaux de Strasbourg, all contested on outdoor clay surfaces to build momentum for the Grand Slam in Paris. These tournaments highlighted the dominance of top seeds while showcasing emerging talents adapting to the slower conditions, with total prize money exceeding $5 million across the events. The Mutua Madrid Open, held from May 5 to 13 on the controversial blue clay courts at La Caja Mágica, saw Serena Williams claim the title in dominant fashion. The American, seeded ninth, defeated world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the final 6-1, 6-3, marking her first title on the experimental surface and her 40th career WTA singles crown. Williams' run included straight-set victories over strong opponents like Maria Kirilenko and Sara Errani, underscoring her powerful baseline game suited to the faster clay variant. The event drew criticism for the blue courts' slipperiness, but it awarded 1,000 ranking points to the winner, bolstering Williams' position ahead of the French Open.[30] Shifting to red clay, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome from May 14 to 20 emphasized endurance in the Eternal City. Defending champion Maria Sharapova secured back-to-back titles with a resilient 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Li Na in the final, saving match points in a three-hour battle at the Foro Italico. The Russian's path featured wins over Carla Suárez Navarro and Ekaterina Makarova, demonstrating her improved movement on clay en route to 900 ranking points. The tournament, offering over €2 million in prizes, served as a crucial tune-up, with upsets like Azarenka's third-round exit to Angelique Kerber adding unpredictability.[31] The Internationaux de Strasbourg, running May 19 to 26 as a key warm-up just days before Roland Garros, provided a quieter stage for finals preparation on the clay at Tennis Club de Strasbourg. Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 French Open champion, captured her first title of the season by defeating Alizé Cornet 6-4, 6-4 in the final, relying on her veteran experience and defensive prowess to secure 200 ranking points. The Italian's semifinal win over Ekaterina Makarova highlighted her resurgence, while the event's $220,000 purse attracted players seeking match play without the intensity of mandatory stops.[32] The highlight of May was the French Open, or Roland Garros, from May 27 to June 10 in Paris, the only Grand Slam on clay and awarding 2,000 points to the champion. Maria Sharapova triumphed in the women's singles final, defeating 21st-seeded Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 to claim her first French Open title and complete the career Grand Slam as the 10th woman to achieve the feat. The Russian, who had lost the 2007 final here, overcame a challenging draw including a quarterfinal win over Kerber and a semifinal against Petra Kvitová, solidifying her return to No. 1 in the rankings. Errani's runner-up finish represented a major breakthrough for the Italian, who entered the year outside the top 100 but won three clay titles earlier in the season, reaching her first Grand Slam final and earning widespread recognition for her gritty, counterpunching style.[33][34] Heavy rain throughout the tournament caused multiple delays, including a suspension in Errani's rain-interrupted semifinal against Samantha Stosur, which the Italian won 6-4, 6-3 after a brief stoppage, testing players' adaptability on the wet courts. These interruptions, uncommon for the outdoor event, affected scheduling but did not derail the competitive intensity, with Sharapova's victory capping a clay swing where she won 19 of 20 matches. The French Open's success underscored the tour's emphasis on clay specialists, setting the stage for the grass transition.[35]June
June marked the transition from the clay-court season to the grass-court swing on the 2012 WTA Tour, with players adapting to the faster, lower-bouncing surface that favors powerful serves and aggressive net play. Following the French Open in late May, where surface-specific strategies emphasized topspin and baseline rallies, the focus shifted to four key grass events in Europe, culminating in Wimbledon and setting the stage for the grass specialists. These tournaments featured a mix of International and Premier categories, drawing top seeds while providing crucial preparation for the Grand Slam. The AEGON Classic in Birmingham, an International event held from June 11 to 17 on outdoor grass courts at the Edgbaston Priory Club, was won by American qualifier Melanie Oudin, who defeated former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Oudin, ranked outside the top 50, showcased resilient baseline play and effective returns to claim her first WTA singles title, highlighting the unpredictable nature of smaller-field grass events with 30 players. Jankovic had advanced through the draw with straight-set wins over higher-ranked opponents, but struggled with unforced errors in the decider. In 's-Hertogenbosch, the UNICEF Open (International, June 18-24) on grass at the Autotron Rosmalen saw Nadia Petrova of Russia secure the title, beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Petrova, seeded eighth, relied on her strong all-court game and 75% first-serve points won to prevail, marking her first grass-court title and her 13th overall WTA singles crown. The event, part of the traditional Dutch grass prelude to Wimbledon, featured upsets like Samantha Stosur's early exit, underscoring the surface's demand for quick adjustments from clay specialists. The Premier-level AEGON International in Eastbourne, running concurrently from June 18 to 23 at Devonshire Park, produced a dramatic final where Tamira Paszek of Austria upset fifth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Paszek saved five championship points in the third set, demonstrating mental toughness and improved grass movement to claim her third WTA title and first at Premier level. Kerber, a consistent baseline threat, had reached the final by defeating Marion Bartoli in the semifinals, but Paszek's aggressive forehand proved decisive in the coastal venue known for its windy conditions. The grass season peaked with The Championships at Wimbledon, the Grand Slam held from June 25 to July 8 on the All England Lawn Tennis Club's grass courts. Serena Williams of the United States dominated the tournament, defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in the final to secure her 14th major singles title and fifth at Wimbledon. Williams' serve was particularly dominant, with 11 aces in the final alone and an average second-serve speed exceeding 90 mph, allowing her to win 89% of first-serve points across the event and break serve only twice while facing none. Radwanska, the world No. 3 and top seed, reached her first Grand Slam final by outlasting Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals with varied shot-making and defensive prowess, but faltered against Williams' power in the decider. The tournament drew over 480,000 spectators and distributed $18.5 million in total prize money, with Williams earning $2.5 million for the victory.July
July 2012 marked a transitional period in the WTA Tour schedule following the grass-court swing at Wimbledon, with events shifting to clay and hard courts before culminating in the prestige of the Olympic Games on grass. The month featured two International-level tournaments and one Premier event, alongside the non-ranking-points Olympic tennis competition held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. These tournaments provided players with opportunities to build momentum amid a demanding mid-season calendar, though the Olympics' unique single-elimination format emphasized national representation over professional rankings. The Internazionali Femminili di Palermo, an International clay-court event in Italy from July 9 to 15, was won by Sara Errani, who defeated Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6–1, 6–1 in the final. This victory marked Errani's fourth WTA singles title of the season, highlighting her strong form on clay as an Italian player competing on home soil. In doubles, the top-seeded Italian pair of Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone claimed the title, defeating Mariya Koryttseva and Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 7–6(3), 6–1. Shifting to hard courts, the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California—a Premier tournament from July 9 to 15—saw Serena Williams defend her title with a straight-sets victory over compatriot Coco Vandeweghe in the final, 7–5, 6–3. Williams, who had recently won Wimbledon, overcame early service breaks to secure her 42nd career singles title, demonstrating her dominance ahead of the Olympics. The doubles final went to Marina Erakovic and Heather Watson, who beat Julia Görges and Maria Kirilenko 6–4, 6–4. The Sony Ericsson Swedish Open, an International clay-court tournament in Båstad from July 16 to 22, was defended successfully by Polona Hercog, who rallied from a set down to beat Mathilde Johansson 0–6, 6–4, 7–5 in the final. Hercog's resilience in the match underscored her affinity for the surface, marking her second consecutive title at the event. In doubles, the Russian duo of Irina-Camelia Begu and Sofia Arvidsson won 6–3, 6–2 against Johanna Larsson and Kiki Bertens. The highlight of July was the tennis competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, held on grass from July 28 to August 4 for women's events, continuing the surface from Wimbledon without awarding WTA ranking points but carrying immense prestige. In singles, Serena Williams captured gold with a dominant 6–0, 6–1 final win over Maria Sharapova, her third Olympic singles medal and a statement performance post-Wimbledon. Victoria Azarenka earned bronze, defeating Angelique Kerber 6–2 when the German retired due to illness. The women's doubles gold went to the Williams sisters—Serena and Venus—who defeated Czech pair Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká 6–4, 6–4 in the final, marking their third Olympic doubles title as a team. Bronze was secured by Russians Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova, who overcame Americans Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond 4–6, 6–4, 6–1. The Olympic format's round-robin group stage followed by knockouts tested players' endurance, with mid-season fatigue evident in several retirements and upsets among top seeds.August
August 2012 initiated the North American hard court season on the 2012 WTA Tour, providing crucial preparation for the US Open following the London Olympics. The schedule emphasized a shift back to hard courts after the grass-court swing, with two Premier 5 events in Canada and the United States serving as high-stakes tune-ups. International-level tournaments in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and New Haven complemented the calendar, offering opportunities for players to gain momentum and points ahead of the Grand Slam. The month saw competitive play amid hot and humid conditions, which affected several matches.[36] The Citi Open in Washington, D.C., an International tournament from July 30 to August 5, marked the early start to the hard court season. Slovakia's Magdaléna Rybáriková captured her first WTA singles title, defeating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-1 in the final. Rybáriková's dominant performance included straight-set wins over strong opponents like Sofia Arvidsson in the semifinals, showcasing her aggressive baseline game on the outdoor hard courts.[37] The Rogers Cup, a Premier 5 event held in Montreal from August 6 to 12, featured a strong field including Olympic medalists. Czech Republic's Petra Kvitová won the title, rallying to beat China's Li Na 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in a three-set final that lasted over two hours. Kvitová, seeded fifth, did not drop a set until the championship match, highlighting her powerful serve and groundstrokes; this victory was her first of the year and boosted her confidence post-Olympics. Notable upsets included world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka's retirement in the second round against Tamira Paszek due to injury.[38] The Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, another Premier 5 tournament from August 13 to 19, delivered intense competition under challenging weather. China's Li Na claimed her first title of the season, coming back from a set down to defeat Germany's Angelique Kerber 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the final. Li's resilience was evident as she won eight of the last nine games, capitalizing on Kerber's unforced errors in the humid conditions. Kerber's run to the final marked a significant breakthrough, as it was her first appearance at this level and included a quarterfinal win over Venus Williams. The event saw several retirements due to heat and illness, including Yaroslava Shvedova in doubles and Christina McHale in singles from gastrointestinal issues.[39] The Texas Tennis Open in Dallas, an International event from August 17 to 24, provided additional hard court action. Italy's Roberta Vinci secured the title, overcoming Serbia's Jelena Janković 7-5, 6-3 in the final. Vinci, seeded third, reeled off the last six games of the second set to seal the win, demonstrating her improved consistency on hard courts. This victory was Vinci's fourth career singles title and helped her climb the rankings. Closing the month, the New Haven Open at Yale, a Premier tournament from August 17 to 25, served as the final tune-up before the US Open. Petra Kvitová defended her strong form, defeating Russia's Maria Kirilenko 7-6(9), 7-5 in the final for her second title of August. Kvitová saved multiple set points in the first set and broke late in the second, extending her winning streak to nine matches. The event featured a competitive draw, with Poland's Agnieszka Radwańska reaching the quarterfinals before withdrawing due to fatigue. Participation in these mandatory Premier events was required for top players to maintain ranking points and seeding eligibility for the US Open.[40]September
September marked the conclusion of the North American hard court season with the prestigious US Open, a Grand Slam event held on hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City from August 27 to September 9. In the women's singles final on September 9, Serena Williams of the United States defeated world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6–2, 2–6, 7–5 to claim her fourth US Open title and 15th Grand Slam singles crown overall. This victory solidified Williams' dominance on hard courts, where she had already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier in the year, showcasing her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play in a match that lasted 2 hours and 18 minutes. Azarenka, appearing in her first US Open final, mounted a strong comeback in the second set but faltered in the decisive third, highlighting her resilience as the year-end No. 1 despite the loss. Following the US Open, the WTA Tour shifted to the early Asian swing, featuring a mix of International and Premier-level events on hard courts. In Quebec City, Canada, the Bell Challenge—an International tournament on indoor carpet from September 10 to 16—saw Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium secure her maiden WTA singles title with a 6–1, 7–5 victory over Lucie Hradecká of the Czech Republic in the final. Flipkens, ranked outside the top 50 entering the week, upset higher-seeded players en route to the title, marking a breakthrough after years of injury setbacks. Concurrently, from September 17 to 23, the Guangzhou International Women's Open in China delivered an upset as unseeded Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan outlasted promising Briton Laura Robson 6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7) in the singles final, with Hsieh's varied shot-making proving decisive in the three-set battle. The Korea Open in Seoul, another International event on hard courts from September 17 to 23, was captured by Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who dominated the final against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6–1, 6–0 for her first title of the season. Wozniacki, the top seed, benefited from Kanepi's injury issues but demonstrated consistent all-court play throughout the tournament. Closing the month, the Toray Pan Pacific Open—a Premier 5 mandatory event in Tokyo from September 22 to 29—crowned Nadia Petrova of Russia as champion after she defeated defending champion Agnieszka Radwańska of Poland 6–0, 1–6, 6–3 in the final. Petrova's emphatic first-set win and recovery in the third underscored her experience, securing her 13th WTA singles title and a spot in the year-end championships. These September results contributed to the tour's transition toward the indoor season, with hard court play emphasizing speed and power as key factors in player performances.October
October marked the conclusion of the 2012 WTA Tour's regular season, with the Asian swing featuring the prestigious China Open in Beijing, followed by concurrent International-level events in Osaka and Luxembourg, and the Premier-level Kremlin Cup in Moscow. The month culminated in the WTA Tour Championships in Istanbul, where the top eight singles players competed in a round-robin format to determine the year-end champion. Qualification for the Championships was based on the WTA rankings as of September 17, with points accumulated throughout the season determining the eight participants. The China Open, a Premier Mandatory event on hard courts from September 29 to October 7, served as a key tune-up for the year-end championships. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the world No. 1, dominated the tournament, defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia 6–3, 6–1 in the final to claim her fourth title of the year and extend her lead at the top of the rankings.[41] Azarenka's victory highlighted her strong form on Asian hard courts, where she won six of her seven matches without dropping a set until the final. The event drew a strong field, including multiple top-10 players, underscoring its status as one of the tour's highest-priority stops with a $4.8 million prize purse. Concurrent with the early October events, the HP Japan Women's Open in Osaka (October 8–14) and the BGL Luxembourg Open (October 15–21) provided opportunities for rising players. In Osaka, an International-level hard-court tournament, Heather Watson of Great Britain won her maiden WTA singles title, overcoming Kai-Chen Chang of Taiwan 7–5, 5–7, 7–6(4) in the final after saving match points in the deciding tiebreak.[42] Watson's triumph ended a 24-year drought for British women at the WTA level and propelled her into the top 50 rankings. Meanwhile, in Luxembourg, another International event on indoor hard courts, Venus Williams of the United States ended a two-year title drought by defeating Monica Niculescu of Romania 6–2, 6–3 in the final, securing her 44th career WTA singles title.[43] Williams' win came amid her return from health challenges, showcasing her resilience in a field that included several seeded players like Julia Görges and Andrea Petković. The Kremlin Cup in Moscow (October 15–21), a Premier indoor hard-court event, featured competitive play leading into the championships. Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark captured the title, edging Samantha Stosur of Australia 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 in a three-set final to earn her 20th career WTA singles trophy.[44] Wozniacki's victory was marked by her strong baseline game and mental toughness, as she navigated a draw that included upsets and tough matches against players like Marion Bartoli. The tournament's $740,000 prize money and historical significance added to its appeal as a European finale before the season's climax. The WTA Tour Championships, held October 23–28 in Istanbul on indoor hard courts, brought together the top eight singles players in a round-robin format divided into two groups of four: the White Group (Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwańska, Stosur, Angelique Kerber) and the Red Group (Serena Williams, Sharapova, Petra Kvitová, Sara Errani).[45] The format ensured multiple matches for each player, with the top two from each group advancing to semifinals. Serena Williams of the United States topped the Red Group undefeated, while Azarenka led the White Group. In the semifinals, Williams defeated Radwańska 6–2, 6–4, and Sharapova overcame Azarenka 6–3, 6–4. Williams then clinched the title in the final against Sharapova, winning 6–4, 6–3 to secure her third Championships crown and third title of the year.[46] The event, with a $4.9 million purse, not only crowned the season's top performer but also finalized the year-end rankings, with Azarenka retaining the No. 1 spot.Player Statistics
Titles Won by Player
In 2012, Serena Williams topped the WTA Tour in singles titles, securing six victories that included two Grand Slams (Wimbledon and the US Open), the WTA Championships in Istanbul, the Premier Mandatory event in Madrid, the Premier event in Charleston, and the Premier 5 tournament in Stanford.[47][45] These triumphs marked a dominant return for Williams after health challenges, contributing to her WTA Player of the Year award.[48] Victoria Azarenka followed closely with six singles titles, comprising the Australian Open Grand Slam, three Premier 5 events (Sydney, Doha, and Indian Wells), and two Premier tournaments (Beijing and Linz), which propelled her to the year-end world No. 1 ranking.[49][50] Maria Sharapova captured three singles titles, highlighted by the French Open Grand Slam and two Premier-level events (Stuttgart and Rome).[51] Sara Errani won four singles titles—all on clay at International-level events (Acapulco, Barcelona, Budapest, and Palermo)—and advanced to her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros.[52] Other notable performers included Agnieszka Radwańska with three titles (Premier events in Dubai and Seoul, plus the Premier 5 in Tokyo) and Angelique Kerber with three (Premier 5 in Cincinnati and two International events in Paris and Copenhagen).[52] In doubles, the Italian pair of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci led with eight titles, encompassing two Grand Slams (French Open and US Open), three Premier events (Barcelona, Cincinnati, and Dubai), and three International tournaments (Acapulco, Portorož, and Palermo), earning them WTA Doubles Team of the Year honors.[53][51] Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond of the United States secured three doubles titles, including two Premier Mandatory events (Indian Wells and Madrid) and the Premier 5 in Rome.[54] The Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) won one WTA doubles title at Wimbledon. Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká of the Czech Republic claimed four WTA women's doubles titles: Doha, Memphis, Eastbourne, and New Haven. The United States led nations in total singles titles won with six, all by Serena Williams.[51]| Player/Team | Singles Titles | Notable Wins | Doubles Titles (Partner) | Notable Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serena Williams (USA) | 6 | Wimbledon, US Open, WTA Championships, Madrid, Charleston, Stanford | 1 (Venus Williams) | Wimbledon |
| Victoria Azarenka (BLR) | 6 | Australian Open, Indian Wells, Doha, Sydney, Beijing, Linz | 0 | - |
| Sara Errani (ITA) | 4 | Acapulco, Barcelona, Budapest, Palermo | 8 (Roberta Vinci) | French Open, US Open, Barcelona |
| Maria Sharapova (RUS) | 3 | French Open, Stuttgart, Rome | 0 | - |
| Agnieszka Radwańska (POL) | 3 | Dubai, Seoul, Tokyo | 0 | - |
| Angelique Kerber (GER) | 3 | Cincinnati, Paris, Copenhagen | 0 | - |
| Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond (USA) | 0 | - | 3 | Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome |
| Andrea Hlaváčková/Lucie Hradecká (CZE) | 0 | - | 4 | New Haven, Doha, Memphis, Eastbourne |
Titles Won by Nation
In the 2012 WTA Tour, the United States and Belarus demonstrated strong national dominance in singles, each securing six titles through Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, respectively. Russia followed with four singles titles, highlighted by Maria Sharapova's three victories and Maria Kirilenko's win in Brisbane. Italy claimed four singles titles, led by Sara Errani's four triumphs on clay.[55] Doubles competition saw Italy leading with eight titles, all by Errani and Vinci, while the Czech Republic captured four, featuring partnerships like Hlaváčková and Hradecká. The United States secured four doubles titles, including Wimbledon by the Williams sisters and three by Huber and Raymond. The following table summarizes total titles (singles and doubles) won by select top nations during the 2012 WTA Tour season, excluding mixed doubles and Olympic events:| Nation | Singles | Doubles | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| Belarus | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Italy | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Russia | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Poland | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Germany | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Statistics Leaders
In the 2012 WTA Tour, key statistical categories highlighted players' serving and returning prowess, with leaders determined based on performance across a minimum of 20 matches played. Serena Williams dominated the aces category, recording 527 aces, which underscored her serve's dominance and contributed to her success in high-stakes matches.[56] Victoria Azarenka led in first-serve percentage at 64.5%, reflecting her reliability in getting the ball in play and maintaining pressure on opponents. Maria Sharapova topped break points converted with a 45.2% rate, demonstrating her aggressive return game that often turned defensive positions into opportunities. Samantha Stosur had the highest number of double faults at 428, illustrating the volatility in her left-handed serve despite its potential. YEC percentage leaders emphasized efficiency in year-end events, though overall tour stats showed variation influenced by match volume.[56] Champions in major tournaments often accumulated higher stats due to additional matches played, amplifying their overall impact.[56]| Category | Leader | Value | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aces | Serena Williams (USA) | 527 | 62 |
| First-Serve Percentage | Victoria Azarenka (BLR) | 64.5% | 78 |
| Break Points Converted | Maria Sharapova (RUS) | 45.2% | 70 |
| Double Faults | Samantha Stosur (AUS) | 428 | 71 |
| YEC Percentage | Not specified in available data | N/A | N/A |
Rankings
Singles Rankings
Victoria Azarenka claimed the world No. 1 singles ranking for the first time on January 30, 2012, following her Australian Open victory, marking the first time a Belarusian player had reached the top spot.[57] She held the position for 19 consecutive weeks until June 10, 2012, when Maria Sharapova ascended to No. 1 on June 11 after winning the French Open, ending Azarenka's streak.[58] Sharapova occupied the top ranking for four weeks until July 8, 2012, after which Azarenka regained No. 1 on July 9 and maintained it through the end of the year, securing her first year-end No. 1 finish.[49] This made Azarenka the first non-Williams player to end the year at No. 1 since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010 and 2011. The 2012 WTA singles rankings saw significant movement among top players, with several rising dramatically from their 2011 year-end positions due to consistent performances in major tournaments. Azarenka improved from No. 3 to No. 1, while her ranking high was No. 1 (achieved January 30) and low was No. 3 (at the season's start). Serena Williams climbed from No. 12 to No. 3, reaching a high of No. 3 (October 22) and low of No. 12. Angelique Kerber surged from No. 32 to No. 5, with a high of No. 5 and low of No. 32. Sara Errani advanced from No. 46 to No. 6, hitting a high of No. 6 and low of No. 46. Other notable risers included Agnieszka Radwańska (steady at No. 4, high No. 2 briefly in February, low No. 4) and Petra Kvitová (from No. 2 to No. 8, high No. 2, low No. 8).[59][60] The year-end top 10 singles rankings as of November 5, 2012, are shown below, including points, tournaments played, and 2011 year-end rank for comparison:| Rank | Player | Country | Points | Tournaments | 2011 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria Azarenka | BLR | 10,595 | 18 | 3 |
| 2 | Maria Sharapova | RUS | 10,045 | 17 | 4 |
| 3 | Serena Williams | USA | 9,400 | 15 | 12 |
| 4 | Agnieszka Radwańska | POL | 7,425 | 22 | 8 |
| 5 | Angelique Kerber | GER | 5,550 | 21 | 32 |
| 6 | Sara Errani | ITA | 5,100 | 23 | 46 |
| 7 | Li Na | CHN | 5,095 | 18 | 5 |
| 8 | Petra Kvitová | CZE | 5,085 | 20 | 2 |
| 9 | Samantha Stosur | AUS | 4,135 | 23 | 6 |
| 10 | Caroline Wozniacki | DEN | 3,765 | 23 | 1 |
Doubles Rankings
The 2012 WTA doubles rankings were dominated by established partnerships that won multiple titles, with significant shifts in the top positions throughout the year. Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy emerged as the year-end No. 1 team, finishing with 10,030 points after a remarkable season that included eight doubles titles, including the French Open and US Open. Their rise to the top marked a major change from 2011, when they were ranked outside the top 10 as individuals, reflecting their breakthrough as a consistent pairing on the tour.[2][52] The No. 1 doubles ranking experienced multiple transitions in 2012, highlighting the competitive nature of the discipline. Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond of the United States held the top spot for 19 weeks, from April 23 to September 9, following their strong early-season performances, including titles at Indian Wells and Miami. They displaced the previous No. 1 team of Květa Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik, who had defended their Australian Open title but lost ground later in the year. Errani and Vinci then ascended to No. 1 on September 10 after their US Open victory, maintaining the position through the year-end championships and securing a total of 6 weeks at the summit by October 14, though they held it into the offseason. These changes were influenced by the Olympic tournament in London, where doubles points were awarded, affecting pair dynamics and rankings for several teams.[2][61] Notable teams in 2012 included the Czech duo of Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká, who reached the year-end No. 2 position with consistent deep runs, including finals at the WTA Championships. The Russian pair Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova also stood out, winning the WTA Tour Championships and climbing into the top 10 after a mid-season surge. The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, made a significant return to doubles competition by winning the Olympic gold medal in London—their third straight Olympic doubles gold—which propelled them back into the top 50 individually after limited play earlier in the year, though they ended the season at No. 35 (Serena) and No. 36 (Venus). Newer partnerships like Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina of Russia debuted strongly, reaching the final in Rome and winning the China Open, entering the top 10 individually by year-end, showcasing the impact of fresh team combinations on the rankings landscape.[2][62][54]| Rank | Player | Country | Points | Primary Partner | Change from 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roberta Vinci | ITA | 10,030 | Sara Errani | +25 |
| 2 | Sara Errani | ITA | 10,030 | Roberta Vinci | +72 |
| 3 | Andrea Hlaváčková | CZE | 7,360 | Lucie Hradecká | +3 |
| 4 | Lucie Hradecká | CZE | 7,360 | Andrea Hlaváčková | +5 |
| 5 | Liezel Huber | USA | 7,225 | Lisa Raymond | -1 |
| 6 | Lisa Raymond | USA | 7,225 | Liezel Huber | +2 |
| 7 | Ekaterina Makarova | RUS | 5,845 | Elena Vesnina | +8 |
| 8 | Elena Vesnina | RUS | 5,845 | Ekaterina Makarova | +6 |
| 9 | Nadia Petrova | RUS | 5,580 | Katarina Srebotnik | -2 |
| 10 | Katarina Srebotnik | SLO | 5,580 | Nadia Petrova | -1 |
Financial and Points System
Prize Money Leaders
Victoria Azarenka led the WTA Tour in singles prize money earnings for 2012 with $7,312,651, followed closely by Serena Williams, who earned $6,828,831 in singles competition.[63] Williams' success included victories at Wimbledon, where the singles champion received approximately $1.8 million, and the US Open, with a winner's payout of $1.9 million, contributing significantly to her total. Azarenka's earnings were bolstered by her Australian Open title, offering approximately $2.4 million to the winner, along with strong performances in other Premier Mandatory events, including the French Open final worth approximately $781,000.[63] In doubles, the top-earning team was Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, who secured substantial earnings through multiple Grand Slam titles, including the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open, estimated at over $800,000 combined in doubles prize money.[63] Their consistent success in major tournaments highlighted the financial viability of doubles play, though earnings remained substantially lower than singles counterparts. For overall year-to-date prize money, Victoria Azarenka topped the list with $7,923,920, while Serena Williams was second with $7,045,975, incorporating her doubles earnings and bonuses from the WTA Tour Championships.[63] The Championships featured a bonus pool exceeding $1 million distributed among the top eight qualifiers based on round-robin performance, with Williams earning additional funds as the singles champion.| Category | Player/Team | Earnings (USD) | Key Contributors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles Leaders | Victoria Azarenka (BLR) | $7,312,651 | Australian Open ( |
| Serena Williams (USA) | $6,828,831 | Wimbledon (~$1.8M), US Open ($1.9M) | |
| Doubles Leaders | Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci (ITA/ITA) | ~$800,000+ combined | 3 Grand Slams (AO, FO, USO ~$600K+ total) |
| Total Year-to-Date | Victoria Azarenka (BLR) | $7,923,920 | Singles + minimal doubles |
| Serena Williams (USA) | $7,045,975 | Singles + doubles + YEC bonuses |
Points Distribution
The 2012 WTA Tour employed a ranking system based on a 52-week rolling cumulative points total, where a player's ranking was calculated from their best 16 singles tournament results and best 11 doubles results over the preceding year.[64] All players were required to accumulate points from at least three tournaments or earn a minimum of 10 points in singles or doubles to qualify for the rankings.[64] Points earned from events in the prior year expired after 52 weeks, necessitating ongoing performance to maintain or improve standings, with no overall cap on total points but mandatory inclusion of results from Grand Slams, Premier Mandatory tournaments, the Olympic Games, and the WTA Championships.[9] For players ranked in the top 20, the two best Premier 5 results were also compulsorily included in their totals.[64] Points were distributed according to the tournament category and the round reached, with Grand Slams offering the highest rewards and International events the lowest. The WTA Championships featured additional points for round-robin participation (370 points base, plus 160 per win) and progression, culminating in 1,500 points for the singles or doubles champion.[64] The 2012 Olympic Games in London awarded points equivalent to a Premier-level event but scaled for the single-elimination format, with 685 points for the singles gold medalist.[65]Singles Points Distribution
| Category | Winner | Finalist | Semifinal | Quarterfinal | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Round of 64 | Round of 128 | Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam | 2000 | 1400 | 900 | 500 | 280 | 160 | 100 | 5 | Q1 loss: 5, Q2: 10, Q3: 25 |
| WTA Championships | 1500 | 1050 | 690 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Olympics | 685 | 470 | 340 | 260 | 175 | 95 | 55 | 1 | - |
| Premier Mandatory | 1000 | 700 | 450 | 250 | 140 | 80 | 50 | 5 | Q1: 1, Q2: 6, Q3: 20 |
| Premier 5 | 900 | 620 | 395 | 225 | 125 | 70 | 1 | - | Q1: 1, Q2: 12, Q3: 30 |
| Premier | 470 | 320 | 200 | 120 | 60 | 40 | 1 | - | Q1: 1, Q2: 8, Q3: 12 |
| International | 280 | 200 | 130 | 70 | 30 | 15 | 1 | - | Q1: 1, Q2: 6, Q3: 10 |
Doubles Points Distribution
Doubles points followed a similar structure but were generally halved compared to singles for equivalent rounds in non-Grand Slam events, with fewer progression stages in smaller events and no points beyond round of 16 in most categories.| Category | Winner | Finalist | Semifinal | Quarterfinal | Round of 16 | Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam | 2000 | 1400 | 900 | 500 | 280 | Q loss: up to 25 |
| WTA Championships | 1500 | 1050 | 690 | - | - | - |
| Olympics | 685 | 470 | 340 | 260 | 175 | - |
| Premier Mandatory | 1000 | 700 | 450 | 250 | 140 | 20 (Q3) |
| Premier 5 | 900 | 620 | 395 | 225 | 125 | 30 (Q3) |
| Premier | 470 | 320 | 200 | 120 | 60 | 12 (Q3) |
| International | 280 | 200 | 130 | 70 | 30 | 10 (Q3) |