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2012 WTA Tour
2012 WTA Tour
from Wikipedia
2012 WTA Tour
Victoria 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
DurationDecember 31, 2011 – November 4, 2012
Edition42nd
Tournaments57
CategoriesGrand Slam (4)
WTA Championships (2)
Summer Olympics
WTA Premier Mandatory (4)
WTA Premier 5 (5)
WTA Premier (12)
WTA International (29)
Achievements (singles)
Most titlesUnited States Serena Williams (7)
Most finalsBelarus Victoria Azarenka
Russia Maria Sharapova (9)
Prize money
leader
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
(US$7,928,920)
Points leaderBelarus Victoria Azarenka (10,595)
Awards
Player of the yearUnited States Serena Williams
Doubles team
of the year
Most improved
player of the year
Italy Sara Errani
Newcomer
of the year
United Kingdom Laura Robson
Comeback
player of the year
Kazakhstan Yaroslava Shvedova
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]

Victoria Azarenka (left) became the first Belarusian to win a singles major title at the Australian Open, defeating Maria Sharapova in the final to also become the new world No. 1. Sharapova (middle) rebounded at the French Open, winning her fourth major and completing the career Grand Slam by defeating Sara Errani in the final. At Wimbledon and the US Open, Serena Williams (right) won her 14th and 15th major titles by beating Agnieszka Radwańska and Azarenka, respectively, in the finals for her fifth Wimbledon and fourth US Open triumphs. And at the London Olympics, Serena Williams won the gold medal by defeating Sharapova in the final, becoming the second woman to complete the career Golden Slam in singles.

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]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Jan Hyundai Hopman Cup
Perth, Australia
ITF Mixed Teams Championships
Hard (i) – $1,000,000 – 8 teams (RR)
 Czech Republic
2–0
 France
Round robin (Group A)
 Bulgaria
 Denmark
 United States
Round robin (Group B)
 Spain
 Australia
 China
Brisbane International
Brisbane, Australia
WTA Premier
Hard – $655,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Estonia Kaia Kanepi
6–2, 6–1
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová Belgium Kim Clijsters
Italy Francesca Schiavone
Czech Republic Iveta Benešová
United States Serena Williams
Serbia Jelena Janković
Germany Andrea Petkovic

7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–2)
ASB Classic
Auckland, New Zealand
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
China Zheng Jie
2–6, 6–3, 2–0 retired[a]
Italy Flavia Pennetta Germany Angelique Kerber
Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova
Germany Sabine Lisicki
Russia Elena Vesnina
Italy Sara Errani
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká

6–7(2–7), 6–2, [10–7]
9 Jan Apia International Sydney
Sydney, Australia
WTA Premier
Hard – $637,000 – 30S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–2, 1–6, 6–3
China Li Na Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
France Marion Bartoli
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová
Czech Republic Květa Peschke
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
6–1, 4–6, [13–11]
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
Moorilla Hobart International
Hobart, Australia
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Germany Mona Barthel
6–1, 6–2
Belgium Yanina Wickmayer Israel Shahar Pe'er
Germany Angelique Kerber
Romania Simona Halep
Russia Anna Chakvetadze
Romania Sorana Cîrstea
Australia Jarmila Gajdošová
Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
Romania Monica Niculescu
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), [10–5]
Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung
New Zealand Marina Erakovic
16 Jan
23 Jan
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
$12,122,762 – hard
128S/96Q/64D/32X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–3, 6–0
Russia Maria Sharapova Belgium Kim Clijsters
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Italy Sara Errani
Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova
Russia Vera Zvonareva
5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci
United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Romania Horia Tecău
6–3, 5–7, [10–3]
Russia Elena Vesnina
India Leander Paes
30 Jan Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Quarterfinals
Moscow, Russia – hard (i)
Charleroi, Belgium – hard (i)
Biella, Italy – clay (red) (i)
Stuttgart, Germany – hard (i)
Quarterfinals winners
 Russia 3–2
 Serbia
3–2
 Italy 3–2
 Czech Republic
4–1
Quarterfinals losers
 Spain
 Belgium
 Ukraine
 Germany

February

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Feb Open GDF Suez
Paris, France
WTA Premier
Hard (i) – $637,000 – 30S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Germany Angelique Kerber
7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–3
France Marion Bartoli Belgium Yanina Wickmayer
Czech Republic Klára Zakopalová
Russia Maria Sharapova
Germany Mona Barthel
Germany Julia Görges
Italy Roberta Vinci
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
7–6(7–3), 6–1
Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Croatia Petra Martić
PTT Pattaya Open
Pattaya, Thailand
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová
6–7(4–7), 6–3, 6–3
Russia Maria Kirilenko Romania Sorana Cîrstea
Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
Russia Vera Zvonareva
Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn
United States Vania King
India Sania Mirza
India Sania Mirza
Australia Anastasia Rodionova
3–6, 6–1, [10–8]
Chinese Taipei Chan Hao-ching
Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan
13 Feb Qatar Total Open
Doha, Qatar
WTA Premier 5
Hard – $2,168,400 – 56S/26D
SinglesDoubles
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–1, 6–2
Australia Samantha Stosur Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
France Marion Bartoli
Belgium Yanina Wickmayer
United States Christina McHale
Romania Monica Niculescu
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
6–3, 6–1
United States Raquel Kops-Jones
United States Abigail Spears
XX Copa BBVA Colsanitas
Bogotá, Colombia
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Spain Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino
6–2, 7–5
Russia Alexandra Panova Romania Edina Gallovits-Hall
Hungary Tímea Babos
Colombia Mariana Duque Mariño
Argentina Paula Ormaechea
Kazakhstan Yaroslava Shvedova
Italy Karin Knapp
Czech Republic Eva Birnerová
Russia Alexandra Panova
6–2, 6–2
Luxembourg Mandy Minella
Switzerland Stefanie Vögele
20 Feb Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
WTA Premier
Hard – $2,000,000 – 28S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
7–5, 6–4
Germany Julia Görges Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Serbia Jelena Janković
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová
Serbia Ana Ivanovic
Australia Samantha Stosur
Germany Sabine Lisicki
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
6–2, 6–1
India Sania Mirza
Russia Elena Vesnina
Memphis International
Memphis, United States
WTA International
Hard (i) – $220,000 – 32S/16Q/16D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
6–3, 6–4
New Zealand Marina Erakovic Russia Vera Dushevina
Italy Alberta Brianti
France Stéphanie Foretz Gacon
Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek
Ukraine Lesia Tsurenko
United States Varvara Lepchenko
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká

6–3, 6–4
Russia Vera Dushevina
Belarus Olga Govortsova
Whirlpool Monterrey Open
Monterrey, Mexico
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/32Q/16D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Hungary Tímea Babos
6–4, 6–4
Romania Alexandra Cadanțu Hungary Gréta Arn
Italy Sara Errani
Russia Nina Bratchikova
Spain Lourdes Domínguez Lino
Austria Patricia Mayr-Achleitner
Luxembourg Mandy Minella
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci

6–2, 7–6(8–6)
Japan Kimiko Date-Krumm
China Zhang Shuai
27 Feb Abierto Mexicano TELCEL p/b HSBC
Acapulco, Mexico
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Italy Sara Errani
5–7, 7–6(7–2), 6–0
Italy Flavia Pennetta Italy Roberta Vinci
Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek
Spain Estrella Cabeza Candela
Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková
Colombia Mariana Duque Mariño
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci
6–2, 6–1
Spain Lourdes Domínguez Lino
Spain Arantxa Parra Santonja
BMW Malaysian Open
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/32Q/16D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
2–6, 7–5, 4–1 retired[b]
Croatia Petra Martić Greece Eleni Daniilidou
Serbia Jelena Janković
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Australia Olivia Rogowska
China Peng Shuai
Japan Ayumi Morita
Chinese Taipei Chang Kai-chen
Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung

7–5, 6–4
Chinese Taipei Chan Hao-ching
Japan Rika Fujiwara

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
SinglesDoubles
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–2, 6–3
Russia Maria Sharapova Germany Angelique Kerber
Serbia Ana Ivanovic
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
China Li Na
France Marion Bartoli
Russia Maria Kirilenko
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
6–2, 6–3
India Sania Mirza
Russia Elena Vesnina
19 Mar
26 Mar
Sony Ericsson Open
Key Biscayne, United States
WTA Premier Mandatory
Hard – $4,828,050 – 96S/32D
SinglesDoubles
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
7–5, 6–4
Russia Maria Sharapova France Marion Bartoli
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
United States Venus Williams
United States Serena Williams
China Li Na
Russia Maria Kirilenko
Russia Nadia Petrova

7–6(7–0), 4–6, [10–4]
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci

April

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
2 Apr Family Circle Cup
Charleston, United States
WTA Premier
$740,000 – clay (green) – 56S/16D
SinglesDoubles
United States Serena Williams
6–0, 6–1
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová Slovenia Polona Hercog
Australia Samantha Stosur
Russia Nadia Petrova
Russia Vera Zvonareva
Germany Sabine Lisicki
United States Venus Williams
Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
5–7, 6–4, [10–6]
Spain Anabel Medina Garrigues
Kazakhstan Yaroslava Shvedova
9 Apr Barcelona Ladies Open
Barcelona, Spain
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Italy Sara Errani
6–2, 6–2
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková Romania Sorana Cîrstea
Spain Carla Suárez Navarro
Belarus Olga Govortsova
Ukraine Yuliya Beygelzimer
Romania Simona Halep
Germany Julia Görges
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci
6–0, 6–2
Italy Flavia Pennetta
Italy Francesca Schiavone
e-Boks Open
Copenhagen, Denmark
WTA International
$220,000 – hard (i)[2] – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Germany Angelique Kerber
6–4, 6–4
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki Croatia Petra Martić
Serbia Jelena Janković
France Alizé Cornet
Serbia Bojana Jovanovski
Estonia Kaia Kanepi
Germany Mona Barthel
Japan Kimiko Date-Krumm
Japan Rika Fujiwara
6–2, 4–6, [10–5]
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
Estonia Kaia Kanepi
April 16 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Semifinals
Moscow, Russia – clay (i)
Ostrava, Czech Republic – hard (i)
Semifinals winners
 Serbia 3–2
 Czech Republic
4–1
Semifinals losers
 Russia
 Italy
April 23 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Stuttgart, Germany
WTA Premier
$740,000 – clay (red) (i) – 28S/32Q/16D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Russia Maria Sharapova
6–1, 6–4
Belarus Victoria Azarenka Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
Germany Mona Barthel
China Li Na
Germany Angelique Kerber
Australia Samantha Stosur
Czech Republic Iveta Benešová
Czech Republic Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová

6–4, 7–5
Germany Julia Görges
Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem
Fes, Morocco
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Netherlands Kiki Bertens
7–5, 6–0
Spain Laura Pous Tió Romania Simona Halep
France Mathilde Johansson
Spain Anabel Medina Garrigues
Spain Garbiñe Muguruza Blanco
Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská
Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská
Russia Alexandra Panova
3–6, 7–6(7–5), [11–9]
Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
Romania Alexandra Cadanțu
30 Apr Budapest Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Italy Sara Errani
7–5, 6–4
Russia Elena Vesnina Georgia (country) Anna Tatishvili
New Zealand Marina Erakovic
Italy Alberta Brianti
Canada Aleksandra Wozniak
Czech Republic Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová
Croatia Petra Martić
Slovakia Janette Husárová
Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková
6–4, 6–2
Czech Republic Eva Birnerová
Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek
Estoril Open
Oeiras, Portugal
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Estonia Kaia Kanepi
3–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–4
Spain Carla Suárez Navarro Italy Roberta Vinci
Italy Karin Knapp
Russia Nadia Petrova
Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská
Spain Sílvia Soler Espinosa
Kazakhstan Galina Voskoboeva
Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung
China Zhang Shuai
4–6, 6–1, [11–9]
Kazakhstan Yaroslava Shvedova
Kazakhstan Galina Voskoboeva

May

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
May 7 Mutua Madrid Open
Madrid, Spain
WTA Premier Mandatory
$5,189,603 – clay (Blue) – 64S/32Q/28D
Singles drawDoubles draw
United States Serena Williams
6–1, 6–3
Belarus Victoria Azarenka Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
China Li Na
United States Varvara Lepchenko
Australia Samantha Stosur
Russia Maria Sharapova
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci

6–1, 3–6, [10–4]
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
May 14 Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Rome, Italy
WTA Premier 5
$2,168,400 – clay (red) – 56S/32Q/28D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Russia Maria Sharapova
4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–5)
China Li Na United States Serena Williams
Germany Angelique Kerber
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
Italy Flavia Pennetta
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
United States Venus Williams
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci

6–2, 7–5
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
May 21 Brussels Open
Brussels, Belgium
WTA Premier
$637,000 – clay (red) – 30S/32Q/16D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
7–5, 6–0
Romania Simona Halep Estonia Kaia Kanepi
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
Belgium Alison Van Uytvanck
Bulgaria Tsvetana Pironkova
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
Poland Urszula Radwańska
United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands
India Sania Mirza

6–3, 6–2
Poland Alicja Rosolska
China Zheng Jie
Internationaux de Strasbourg
Strasbourg, France
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/32Q/16D
Singles drawDoubles draw
Italy Francesca Schiavone
6–4, 6–4
France Alizé Cornet France Pauline Parmentier
United States Sloane Stephens
Russia Alexandra Panova
Spain Anabel Medina Garrigues
Japan Ayumi Morita
Sweden Johanna Larsson
Belarus Olga Govortsova
Poland Klaudia Jans-Ignacik

6–7(4–7), 6–3, [10–3]
South Africa Natalie Grandin
Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová
May 28
June 4
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
$11,315,740 – clay (red)
128S/96Q/64D/32X
Singles drawDoubles drawMixed drawLegends Doubles
Russia Maria Sharapova
6–3, 6–2
Italy Sara Errani Australia Samantha Stosur
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
Germany Angelique Kerber
Kazakhstan Yaroslava Shvedova
Estonia Kaia Kanepi
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci

4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Russia Maria Kirilenko
Russia Nadia Petrova
India Sania Mirza
India Mahesh Bhupathi

7–6(7–3), 6–1
Poland Klaudia Jans-Ignacik
Mexico Santiago González

June

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
11 Jun Aegon Classic
Birmingham, Great Britain
WTA International
Grass – $220,000 – 56S/16D
SinglesDoubles
United States Melanie Oudin
6–4, 6–2
Serbia Jelena Janković China Zheng Jie
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Japan Misaki Doi
Italy Roberta Vinci
Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
United States Irina Falconi

7–5, 6–7(2–7), [10–8]
NÜRNBERGER Gastein Ladies
Bad Gastein, Austria
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
France Alizé Cornet
7–5, 7–6(7–1)
Belgium Yanina Wickmayer Kazakhstan Ksenia Pervak
Luxembourg Mandy Minella
Spain Estrella Cabeza Candela
United States Chichi Scholl
Sweden Johanna Larsson
Austria Yvonne Meusburger

6–7(4–7), 6–4, [11–9]
18 Jun Aegon International
Eastbourne, Great Britain
WTA Premier
Grass – $637,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Austria Tamira Paszek
5–7, 6–3, 7–5
Germany Angelique Kerber France Marion Bartoli
Czech Republic Klára Zakopalová
Bulgaria Tsvetana Pironkova
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
UNICEF Open
's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
WTA International
Grass – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Russia Nadia Petrova
6–4, 6–3
Poland Urszula Radwańska Belgium Kirsten Flipkens
Belgium Kim Clijsters
Italy Roberta Vinci
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
Italy Francesca Schiavone

6–4, 3–6, [11–9]
25 Jun
2 Jul
The Championships, Wimbledon
London, Great Britain
Grand Slam
$11,174,883 – grass
128S/96Q/64D/48X
SinglesDoublesMixed doublesLadies' Invitation Doubles
United States Serena Williams
6–1, 5–7, 6–2
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska Germany Angelique Kerber
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
Germany Sabine Lisicki
Russia Maria Kirilenko
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
Austria Tamira Paszek
United States Serena Williams
United States Venus Williams
7–5, 6–4
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
United States Mike Bryan
United States Lisa Raymond
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
India Leander Paes
Russia Elena Vesnina

July

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
9 Jul Bank of the West Classic
Stanford, California, United States
WTA Premier
Hard – $740,000 – 28S/16D
SinglesDoubles
United States Serena Williams
7–5, 6–3
United States CoCo Vandeweghe Romania Sorana Cîrstea
Belgium Yanina Wickmayer
South Africa Chanelle Scheepers
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
Poland Urszula Radwańska
France Marion Bartoli
New Zealand Marina Erakovic
United Kingdom Heather Watson
7–5, 7–6(9–7)
Australia Jarmila Gajdošová
United States Vania King
Internazionali Femminili di Palermo
Palermo, Italy
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Italy Sara Errani
6–1, 6–3
Czech Republic Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
United Kingdom Laura Robson
Romania Alexandra Cadanțu
Spain Estrella Cabeza Candela
Germany Julia Görges
Spain Carla Suárez Navarro

7–6(7–5), 6–4
16 Jul Mercury Insurance Open
Carlsbad, California, United States
WTA Premier
Hard – $740,000 – 28S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
6–1, 7–5
France Marion Bartoli Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan
Russia Nadia Petrova
United States Christina McHale
Serbia Jelena Janković
United States Varvara Lepchenko
Poland Urszula Radwańska

6–2, 6–4
Sony Ericsson Swedish Open
Båstad, Sweden
WTA International
$220,000 – clay (red) – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Slovenia Polona Hercog
0–6, 6–4, 7–5
France Mathilde Johansson Sweden Johanna Larsson
Germany Mona Barthel
Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Czech Republic Klára Zakopalová
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
Bulgaria Tsvetana Pironkova

6–4, 5–7, [10–6]
23 Jul Baku Cup
Baku, Azerbaijan
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Serbia Bojana Jovanovski
6–3, 6–1
United States Julia Cohen Russia Olga Puchkova
Russia Alexandra Panova
Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková
Luxembourg Mandy Minella
Serbia Aleksandra Krunić
Russia Nina Bratchikova
Ukraine Irina Buryachok
Russia Valeriya Solovyeva
6–3, 6–2
Czech Republic Eva Birnerová
Italy Alberta Brianti
30 July Summer Olympic Games
London, Great Britain
Summer Olympic Games
Grass
64S/32D/16X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
 Gold  Silver  Bronze Fourth place Germany Angelique Kerber
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Belgium Kim Clijsters
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
United States Serena Williams
6–0, 6–1
Russia Maria Sharapova Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–3, 6–4
Russia Maria Kirilenko
United States Serena Williams
United States Venus Williams
6–4, 6–4
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
Russia Maria Kirilenko
Russia Nadia Petrova
4–6, 6–4, 6–1
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
Belarus Max Mirnyi
2–6, 6–3, [10–8]
United Kingdom Laura Robson
United Kingdom Andy Murray
United States Lisa Raymond
United States Mike Bryan
6–3, 4–6, [10–4]
Germany Sabine Lisicki
Germany Christopher Kas
Citi Open
Washington, D.C., United States
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková
6–1, 6–1
Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova United States Vania King
United States Sloane Stephens
Chinese Taipei Chang Kai-chen
United States CoCo Vandeweghe
Canada Eugenie Bouchard
Slovakia Jana Čepelová
Japan Shuko Aoyama
Chinese Taipei Chang Kai-chen
7–5, 6–2
United States Irina Falconi
South Africa Chanelle Scheepers

August

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
6 Aug Rogers Cup p/b National Bank
Montreal, Canada
WTA Premier 5
Hard – $2,168,400 – 48S/64Q/28D
SinglesDoubles
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
7–5, 2–6, 6–3
China Li Na Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
Austria Tamira Paszek
Canada Aleksandra Wozniak
Italy Roberta Vinci
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska

7–5, 2–6, [10–7]
13 Aug Western & Southern Open
Mason, Ohio, United States
WTA Premier 5
Hard – $2,168,400 – 56S/28D
SinglesDoubles
China Li Na
1–6, 6–3, 6–1
Germany Angelique Kerber United States Venus Williams
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Australia Samantha Stosur
Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
United States Serena Williams
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
6–1, 6–3
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
China Zheng Jie
20 Aug New Haven Open at Yale
New Haven, United States
WTA Premier
Hard – $637,000 – 28S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová
7–6(11–9), 7–5
Russia Maria Kirilenko Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Italy Sara Errani
Belarus Olga Govortsova
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
France Marion Bartoli
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
United States Liezel Huber
United States Lisa Raymond
4–6, 6–0, [10–4]
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
Texas Tennis Open
Dallas, United States
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Italy Roberta Vinci
7–5, 6–3
Serbia Jelena Janković Serbia Bojana Jovanovski
Australia Casey Dellacqua
China Peng Shuai
South Africa Chanelle Scheepers
Canada Aleksandra Wozniak
Romania Sorana Cîrstea
New Zealand Marina Erakovic
United Kingdom Heather Watson
6–3, 6–0
Latvia Līga Dekmeijere
United States Irina Falconi
27 Aug
3 Sep
US Open
New York City, United States
Grand Slam
$11,517,008 – hard
128S/128Q/64D/32X
SinglesDoublesMixed doubles
United States Serena Williams
6–2, 2–6, 7–5
Belarus Victoria Azarenka Russia Maria Sharapova
Italy Sara Errani
Australia Samantha Stosur
France Marion Bartoli
Serbia Ana Ivanovic
Italy Roberta Vinci
Italy Sara Errani
Italy Roberta Vinci
6–4, 6–2
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Brazil Bruno Soares
6–7(8–10), 6–1, [12–10]
Czech Republic Květa Peschke
Poland Marcin Matkowski

September

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
10 Sep Tashkent Open
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
6–4, 6–4
Croatia Donna Vekić Czech Republic Eva Birnerová
Poland Urszula Radwańska
Romania Alexandra Cadanțu
Serbia Bojana Jovanovski
Kazakhstan Galina Voskoboeva
Russia Alexandra Panova
Poland Paula Kania
Belarus Polina Pekhova
6–2, ret.
Russia Anna Chakvetadze
Serbia Vesna Dolonc
Bell Challenge
Quebec City, Canada
WTA International
Carpet (i) – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Belgium Kirsten Flipkens
6–1, 7–5
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká Germany Mona Barthel
France Kristina Mladenovic
Georgia (country) Anna Tatishvili
Czech Republic Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová
United States Melanie Oudin
United States Lauren Davis
Germany Tatjana Malek
France Kristina Mladenovic
7–6(7–5), 6–7(6–8), [10–7]
Poland Alicja Rosolska
United Kingdom Heather Watson
17 Sep KDB Korea Open
Seoul, South Korea
WTA International
Hard – $500,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
6–1, 6–0
Estonia Kaia Kanepi Russia Ekaterina Makarova
United States Varvara Lepchenko
Czech Republic Klara Zakopalová
Spain María José Martínez Sánchez
Netherlands Kiki Bertens
Austria Tamira Paszek
United States Raquel Kops-Jones
United States Abigail Spears
2–6, 6–2, [10–8]
Uzbekistan Akgul Amanmuradova
United States Vania King
Guangzhou International Women's Open
Guangzhou, China
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
6–3, 5–7, 6–4
United Kingdom Laura Robson Poland Urszula Radwańska
Romania Sorana Cîrstea
France Mathilde Johansson
South Africa Chanelle Scheepers
France Alizé Cornet
China Peng Shuai
Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn
China Zhang Shuai
2–6, 6–2, [10–8]
Australia Jarmila Gajdošová
Romania Monica Niculescu
24 Sep Toray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo, Japan
WTA Premier 5
Hard – $2,168,400 – 56S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Russia Nadia Petrova
6–0, 1–6, 6–3
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska Germany Angelique Kerber
Australia Samantha Stosur
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
Italy Sara Errani
Russia Maria Sharapova
United States Raquel Kops-Jones
United States Abigail Spears
6–1, 6–4
Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Czech Republic Květa Peschke

October

[edit]
Week Tournament Champions Runners-up Semifinalists Quarterfinalists
1 Oct China Open
Beijing, China
WTA Premier Mandatory
Hard – $4,828,050 – 60S/28D
SinglesDoubles
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–3, 6–1
Russia Maria Sharapova France Marion Bartoli
China Li Na
Switzerland Romina Oprandi
Spain Carla Suárez Navarro
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Germany Angelique Kerber
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
7–5, 7–5
Spain Nuria Llagostera Vives
India Sania Mirza
8 Oct Generali Ladies Linz p/b voestalpine
Linz, Austria
WTA International
Hard (i) – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
6–3, 6–4
Germany Julia Görges Romania Irina-Camelia Begu
Belgium Kirsten Flipkens
Croatia Petra Martić
United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
Serbia Ana Ivanovic

6–3, 6–4
HP Japan Women's Open Tennis
Osaka, Japan
WTA International
Hard – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
United Kingdom Heather Watson
7–5, 5–7, 7–6(7–4)
Chinese Taipei Chang Kai-chen Australia Samantha Stosur
Japan Misaki Doi
United States Jamie Hampton
United Kingdom Laura Robson
South Africa Chanelle Scheepers
France Pauline Parmentier

6–1, 6–4
15 Oct Kremlin Cup
Moscow, Russia
WTA Premier
Hard (i) – $740,000 – 28S/16D
SinglesDoubles
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki
6–2, 4–6, 7–5
Australia Samantha Stosur Serbia Ana Ivanovic
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
Czech Republic Klára Zakopalová
Serbia Vesna Dolonc
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková
Russia Maria Kirilenko

6–3, 1–6, [10–8]
BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open
Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg
WTA International
Hard (i) – $220,000 – 32S/16D
SinglesDoubles
United States Venus Williams
6–2, 6–3
Romania Monica Niculescu Germany Andrea Petkovic
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová
Italy Roberta Vinci
Kazakhstan Ksenia Pervak
Spain Lourdes Domínguez Lino
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká

6–3, 6–4
22 Oct TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships
Istanbul, Turkey
Year-end championships
Hard (i) – $4,900,000 – 8S (RR)/4D
SinglesDoubles
United States Serena Williams
6–4, 6–3
Russia Maria Sharapova Poland Agnieszka Radwańska
Belarus Victoria Azarenka
Round robin losers
Germany Angelique Kerber
China Li Na
Italy Sara Errani
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová (withdrew)
Australia Samantha Stosur
Russia Maria Kirilenko
Russia Nadia Petrova
6–1, 6–4
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
29 Oct Qatar Airways Tournament of Champions
Sofia, Bulgaria
Year-end championships
Hard (i) – $750,000 – 8S (RR)
Singles
Russia Nadia Petrova
6–2, 6–1
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki Bulgaria Tsvetana Pironkova
Italy Roberta Vinci
Round robin losers
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová
Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
Sweden Sofia Arvidsson
China Zheng Jie
Russia Maria Kirilenko (withdrew)
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final
Prague, Czech Republic
 Czech Republic
3–1
 Serbia

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  Sara Errani (ITA) 4 8 0
9  Serena Williams (USA) 7 2 0
9  Roberta Vinci (ITA) 1 8 0
7  Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 6 0 1
6  Lisa Raymond (USA) 0 5 1
5  Nadia Petrova (RUS) 3 2 0
5  Liezel Huber (USA) 0 5 0
4  Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) 0 4 0
4  Abigail Spears (USA) 0 4 0
4  Andrea Hlaváčková (CZE) 0 4 0
4  Lucie Hradecká (CZE) 0 4 0
3  Maria Sharapova (RUS) 3 0 0
3  Venus Williams (USA) 1 2 0
3  Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 0 2 1
3  Sania Mirza (IND) 0 2 1
3  Agnieszka Radwańska (POL) 3 0 0
3  Heather Watson (GBR) 1 2 0
3  Hsieh Su-wei (TPE) 2 1 0
2  Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 0 1 1
2  Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 0 2 0
2  Elena Vesnina (RUS) 0 2 0
2  Petra Kvitová (CZE) 2 0 0
2  Klaudia Jans-Ignacik (POL) 0 2 0
2  Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 0 2 0
2  Kaia Kanepi (EST) 2 0 0
2  Angelique Kerber (GER) 2 0 0
2  Caroline Wozniacki (DNK) 2 0 0
2  Marina Erakovic (NZL) 0 2 0
2  Květa Peschke (CZE) 0 2 0
2  Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová (CZE) 0 2 0
2  Tímea Babos (HUN) 1 1 0
2  Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) 1 1 0
2  Magdaléna Rybáriková (SVK) 1 1 0
2  Chuang Chia-jung (TPE) 0 2 0
2  Chang Kai-chen (TPE) 0 2 0
2  Alexandra Panova (RUS) 0 2 0
2  Zhang Shuai (CHN) 0 2 0
2  Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 0 1 0
1  Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 0 1 0
1  Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 0 1 0
1  Li Na (CHN) 1 0 0
1  Dominika Cibulková (SVK) 1 0 0
1  Tamira Paszek (AUT) 1 0 0
1  Iveta Benešová (CZE) 0 1 0
1  Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) 0 1 0
1  María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) 0 1 0
1  Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 0 1 0
1  Lucie Šafářová (CZE) 0 1 0
1  Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) 0 1 0
1  Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino (ESP) 1 0 0
1  Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 1 0 0
1  Mona Barthel (GER) 1 0 0
1  Kiki Bertens (NED) 1 0 0
1  Alizé Cornet (FRA) 1 0 0
1  Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 1 0 0
1  Daniela Hantuchová (SVK) 1 0 0
1  Polona Hercog (SLO) 1 0 0
1  Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 1 0 0
1  Melanie Oudin (USA) 1 0 0
1  Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 1 0 0
1  Zheng Jie (CHN) 1 0 0
1  Shuko Aoyama (JPN) 0 1 0
1  Eva Birnerová (CZE) 0 1 0
1  Irina Buryachok (UKR) 0 1 0
1  Catalina Castaño (COL) 0 1 0
1  Petra Cetkovská (CZE) 0 1 0
1  Jill Craybas (USA) 0 1 0
1  Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) 0 1 0
1  Mariana Duque Mariño (COL) 0 1 0
1  Rika Fujiwara (JPN) 0 1 0
1  Julia Görges (GER) 0 1 0
1  Olga Govortsova (BLR) 0 1 0
1  Anna-Lena Grönefeld (GER) 0 1 0
1  Janette Husárová (SVK) 0 1 0
1  Paula Kania (POL) 0 1 0
1  Tatjana Malek (GER) 0 1 0
1  Monica Niculescu (ROU) 0 1 0
1  Polina Pekhova (BLR) 0 1 0
1  Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 0 1 0
1  Valeria Solovieva (RUS) 0 1 0
1  Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 0 1 0
1  Renata Voráčová (CZE) 0 1 0

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
Doubles
Mixed doubles

The following players defended a main circuit title in singles, doubles, or mixed doubles:

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.

Number 1 ranking

[edit]
Holder Date gained Date forfeited
 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) Year-End 2011 29 January 2012
 Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 30 January 2012 10 June 2012
 Maria Sharapova (RUS) 11 June 2012 8 July 2012
 Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 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.

Number 1 ranking

[edit]
Holder Date gained Date forfeited
 Liezel Huber (USA) Year-End 2011
 Liezel Huber (USA)
 Lisa Raymond (USA)

23 April 2012
9 September 2012
 Sara Errani (ITA) 10 September 2012 14 October 2012
 Roberta Vinci (ITA) 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  Victoria Azarenka  (BLR) $7,317,651 $7,130 $4,139 $600,000 $7,928,920
2  Serena Williams  (USA) $6,828,831 $214,725 $2,419 $0 $7,045,975
3  Maria Sharapova  (RUS) $6,308,296 $0 $0 $200,000 $6,508,296
4  Agnieszka Radwańska  (POL) $3,803,819 $47,723 $0 $250,000 $4,101,542
5  Sara Errani  (ITA) $2,181,948 $926,618 $2,070 $0 $3,110,636
6  Petra Kvitová  (CZE) $2,127,402 $5,473 $0 $600,000 $2,732,875
7  Caroline Wozniacki  (DEN) $1,408,240 $430 $0 $1,000,000 $2,408,670
8  Li Na (tennis) (CHN) $1,880,646 $0 $0 $400,000 $2,280,646
9  Angelique Kerber  (GER) $1,938,436 $31,856 $2,070 $0 $1,972,362
10  Samantha Stosur  (AUS) $1,490,602 $45,582 $0 $400,000 $1,936,184
  • prize money given in US$
  • as of November 5, 2012[8]

Statistics leaders

[edit]

as of November 12, 2012[9]

Aces
Player Aces Matches
1 United States Serena Williams 484 58
2 Russia Nadia Petrova 363 57
3 BelarusVictoria Azarenka 303 78
4 Russia Maria Sharapova 244 70
5 Australia Samantha Stosur 237 64
6 Belgium Kim Clijsters 230 62
7 Germany Mona Barthel 220 72
8 Italy Roberta Vinci 218 72
9 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 207 57
10 Romania Sorana Cîrstea 190 57
Service games won
Player % Matches
1 United States Serena Williams 87.5 58
2 Belgium Kim Clijsters 78.8 62
3 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 75.3 57
4 Russia Maria Sharapova 75.2 70
5 Belarus Victoria Azarenka 75.0 78
6 Australia Samantha Stosur 74.9 64
7 Russia Nadia Petrova 74.5 57
8 Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká 73.1 35
9 Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková 73.0 22
10 Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová 72.5 48
Break points saved
Player % Matches
1 United States Serena Williams 67.8 58
2 Belgium Kim Clijsters 64.7 62
3 Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková 63.5 22
4 Russia Maria Sharapova 61.5 70
5 Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová 61.3 48
6 Australia Samantha Stosur 60.4 64
7 United States Varvara Lepchenko 59.7 45
8 China Li Na 59.6 59
9 Belarus Victoria Azarenka 59.4 78
10 Germany Angelique Kerber 59.2 79
First serve percentage
Player % Matches
1 Italy Sara Errani 76.3 72
2 Germany Andrea Petkovic 72.5 22
3 Netherlands Arantxa Rus 70.6 25
4 Sweden Sofia Arvidsson 69.0 47
5 China Zheng Jie 68.4 49
6 China Li Na 67.9 59
7 Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 67.9 78
8 Belarus Victoria Azarenka 67.7 78
9 Austria Patricia Mayr-Achleitner 67.5 21
10 Romania Irina-Camelia Begu 66.7 41
First service points won
Player % Matches
1 United States Serena Williams 77.8 58
2 Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká 73.1 35
3 Russia Nadia Petrova 71.5 57
4 Belgium Kim Clijsters 70.3 62
5 United States Venus Williams 69.6 33
6 Germany Mona Barthel 69.2 52
7 Estonia Kaia Kanepi 69.1 34
8 Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková 69.0 22
9 Serbia Ana Ivanovic 68.9 54
10 United Kingdom Laura Robson 68.7 31
Second serve points won
Player % Matches
1 United States Serena Williams 54.0 58
2 Denmark Caroline Wozniacki 50.7 71
3 China Li Na 50.4 59
4 Russia Ekaterina Makarova 50.2 45
5 Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova 49.9 25
6 Japan Misaki Doi 49.7 25
7 Australia Samantha Stosur 49.6 64
8 United States Varvara Lepchenko 49.4 45
9 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 49.2 57
10 Kazakhstan Galina Voskoboeva 48.8 33
Points won returning 1st service
Player % Matches
1 Italy Sara Errani 44.7 72
2 France Alizé Cornet 44.1 42
3 Italy Flavia Pennetta 42.7 35
4 Czech Republic Klára Zakopalová 42.4 44
5 United States Serena Williams 42.4 58
6 Belarus Victoria Azarenka 42.0 78
7 Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 41.4 78
8 Russia Maria Sharapova 41.4 70
9 Slovakia Dominika Cibulková 40.9 59
10 Estonia Kaia Kanepi 40.8 34
Break points converted
Player % Matches
1 Italy Sara Errani 54.3 72
2 Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 54.2 78
3 Belarus Victoria Azarenka 53.5 78
4 Netherlands Arantxa Rus 51.7 25
5 Australia Casey Dellacqua 51.4 23
6 Slovakia Dominika Cibulková 51.3 59
7 Netherlands Kiki Bertens 50.9 23
8 Estonia Kaia Kanepi 50.7 34
9 Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková 50.5 29
10 Russia Maria Sharapova 50.3 70
Return games won
Player % Matches
1 Belarus Victoria Azarenka 52.5 78
2 Italy Sara Errani 51.2 72
3 Italy Flavia Pennetta 48.0 35
4 Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 47.0 78
5 Russia Maria Sharapova 47.0 70
6 United States Serena Williams 46.8 58
7 France Mathilde Johansson 45.0 27
8 Czech Republic Klára Zakopalová 44.5 44
9 Slovakia Dominika Cibulková 44.5 59
10 France Alizé Cornet 43.9 42

Points distribution

[edit]

[5]

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

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  • Russia 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.
  • Switzerland 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.
  • Belgium 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]
  • United States 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.
  • Argentina 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]
  • United States 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.
  • Bulgaria 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.
  • United States Courtney Nagle (born 29 September 1982) turned professional in 2005 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 97 on 20 April 2009.
  • France 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.
  • Turkey 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.
  • Czech Republic Olga Vymetálková (born 24 January 1976) turned professional in 1994 with a high doubles ranking career of No. 82 on 13 September 2004.
  • United States 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.
  • Germany 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

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Following are notable players who will comeback after retirements during the 2012 WTA Tour season:

Awards

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The winners of the 2012 WTA Awards were announced throughout the last week of November.[15]

See also

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2012 WTA Tour was the global elite professional circuit organized by the (WTA) for the 2012 tennis season, comprising the four Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA Tour Championships, and approximately 50 other WTA-sanctioned events across various categories including Premier Mandatory, Premier 5, Premier, and International levels. The season spanned from January to November, beginning with the Australian Open in and concluding with the WTA Championships in , , where the top eight singles players and top four doubles teams competed based on year-end rankings. Victoria Azarenka of emerged as the year-end world No. 1, amassing 10,595 ranking points after winning the Australian Open—her first Grand Slam title—and holding the top ranking for 51 weeks during the season. of finished second with 10,045 points, highlighted by her victory that completed her career Grand Slam, along with the Premier 5 title in . of the placed third with 9,400 points, dominating the grass and hard-court swings by winning Wimbledon, the US Open, and five additional singles titles for a total of seven that year. The top 10 year-end rankings also featured () in fourth with 7,425 points, () fifth with 5,550 points, () sixth with 5,100 points, (China) seventh with 5,095 points, (Czech Republic) eighth with 5,085 points, (Australia) ninth with 4,135 points, and (Denmark) tenth with 3,765 points. In doubles, the Italian pairing of and were named Team of the Year after winning multiple Grand Slams and maintaining a strong presence throughout the circuit. The season underscored a competitive field, with Azarenka, Sharapova, and Williams collectively securing all four Grand Slam singles titles and driving significant growth in the tour's global appeal.

Overview

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. 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. 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 Open for her 15th, while also securing Olympic gold in singles at the London Games. 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. complemented this top-tier rivalry by claiming the , 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. The season featured approximately 50 tournaments across various categories, fostering increased depth in the top 10 rankings as players like and challenged the leaders with consistent performances. 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 in multiple finals including Indian Wells, added drama and elevated the overall competitiveness of .

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— (hard courts), (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 per tournament awarded by organizers, and a 96- or 128-player qualifying draw to fill remaining spots. WTA Premier events formed the core professional circuit, subdivided into Premier Mandatory (four events: Indian Wells, , , and , often combined with ATP Masters), Premier 5 (five events: , , ( or ), , and ), 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. 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, 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 as a non-ranking integrated into the calendar. 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).

Schedule

January

The January segment of the 2012 WTA Tour marked the season's opening with a series of hard-court events in the region, serving as key warm-up tournaments ahead of the Australian Open Grand Slam. These competitions, categorized as 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 and . The Brisbane International, a Premier-level event held from January 1 to 8 in , , awarded $655,000 in prize money and drew a strong field including top seed . of captured her second WTA singles title by defeating of 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 due to a hip injury, while Serena Williams twisted her ankle in her quarterfinal win over , forcing her withdrawal from subsequent commitments. Kanepi's victory propelled her into the top 20 rankings for the first time. Concurrently, the ASB Classic, an International event from January 2 to 8 in , , offered $220,000 and provided a quieter preparation venue. Zheng Jie of secured her fourth WTA title, rallying past of 2–6, 6–3, 2–0 (retired due to a back injury) in the final after saving match points in the semifinals against . The tournament saw limited upsets, with third seed Pennetta reaching the final as the highest seed remaining. The Apia International , another Premier tournament running January 8 to 15 in , , with $637,000 in prizes, featured world No. 1 as top seed. of clinched the title, edging of 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. Overlapping with Sydney, the Moorilla , an International event from to 14 in , , distributed $220,000 and served as a traditional tune-up. Qualifier of achieved a breakthrough by winning her maiden WTA title, dominating top seed of 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. The Australian Open, the season's first Grand Slam from January 16 to 29 in , , offered AUD $26 million in total prizes and attracted over 700,000 spectators. claimed her first major title, routing 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 and Iveta Benešová. Top seed fell in the fourth round to Wozniacki's compatriot, while withdrew before the tournament due to her ongoing hip issue, and was absent recovering from her 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. Capping the month, the PTT Pattaya Open, an International tournament beginning January 30 in , (concluding February 5), featured $220,000 in prizes on hard courts. of defended her 2011 title, outlasting of 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.

February

February marked the continuation of the hard court season with the prestigious swing, featuring two Premier 5 tournaments in and , alongside International-level events in Memphis and . These competitions highlighted the ongoing momentum from the , as top players vied for ranking points and titles on both hard and transitioning clay surfaces. , fresh off her triumph, extended her winning streak to 17 matches by capturing the Qatar Total Open in . The , an International-level clay-court event from February 20 to 26, provided an alternative for players seeking additional points early in the season, with ' upset victory over the former No. 1 6–3, 6–1 in the final underscoring the depth of the tour. At the Qatar Total Open (Doha, hard, Premier 5), Azarenka dominated the field, defeating 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 tournament drew a strong field, including semifinals wins over and , contributing to Azarenka's back-to-back-to-back triumphs following and . The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (Premier 5, hard) followed, where 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 and , 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. 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.

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 , 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 and 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 , was won by , who defeated world No. 1 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 , 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 due to illness. Immediately following, the Sony Ericsson Open in , held from 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 , 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 , though it was marred by several high-profile injury withdrawals, including former champion , 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 season on the 2012 WTA Tour, with tournaments in and the serving as key tune-ups for the upcoming . The Family Circle Cup in Charleston, a Premier 5 event on , featured a dominant performance by , who defeated 6–0, 6–1 in the final to claim her 40th career singles title. 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 event, saw secure her first WTA singles title by overpowering 6–2, 6–2 in the final, signaling the Italian's rapid emergence as a clay-court specialist with her defensive prowess and consistency. The e-Boks Danish Open in , played on indoor hard courts, provided a contrasting surface and was won by , who upset top seed 6–4, 6–4 in the final for her second title of the year. Later in the month, the in , another Premier event on clay, saw world No. 1 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. 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.

May

The month of May marked the peak of the clay-court swing on the 2012 WTA Tour, with players preparing for the through high-stakes events in . The schedule featured the Premier Mandatory Mutua Open and the Premier 5 Internazionali BNL d'Italia in , alongside the International-level , all contested on outdoor clay surfaces to build momentum for the Grand Slam in . 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 , saw claim the title in dominant fashion. The American, seeded ninth, defeated world No. 1 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 and , 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 . Shifting to red clay, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in from May 14 to 20 emphasized endurance in the Eternal City. Defending champion secured back-to-back titles with a resilient 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over in the final, saving match points in a three-hour battle at the . The Russian's path featured wins over and , 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 adding unpredictability. The , 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 . , the champion, captured her first title of the season by defeating 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 highlighted her resurgence, while the event's $220,000 purse attracted players seeking without the intensity of mandatory stops. The highlight of May was the , or Roland Garros, from May 27 to June 10 in , the only Grand Slam on clay and awarding 2,000 points to the champion. triumphed in the women's singles final, defeating 21st-seeded 6-3, 6-2 to claim her first 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 , 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. Heavy rain throughout the tournament caused multiple delays, including a suspension in Errani's rain-interrupted semifinal against , 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.

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 in late May, where surface-specific strategies emphasized and baseline rallies, the focus shifted to four key grass events in , culminating in Wimbledon and setting the stage for the grass specialists. These tournaments featured a mix of International and 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 Club, was won by American qualifier Melanie Oudin, who defeated former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of 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 saw of secure the title, beating Urszula Radwanska of 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 Stosur's early exit, underscoring the surface's demand for quick adjustments from clay specialists. The Premier-level AEGON International in , running concurrently from June 18 to 23 at Devonshire Park, produced a dramatic final where of upset fifth seed of 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 in the semifinals, but Paszek's aggressive 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. of the dominated the , defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of 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 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals with varied shot-making and defensive prowess, but faltered against Williams' power in the decider. The 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 schedule following the grass-court swing at Wimbledon, with events shifting to clay and hard courts before culminating in the prestige of the on grass. The month featured two International-level tournaments and one Premier event, alongside the non-ranking-points Olympic tennis competition held at the in . 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 from July 9 to 15, was won by , 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 and 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 —a Premier tournament from July 9 to 15—saw defend her title with a straight-sets victory over compatriot 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 , who beat and 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 , 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 and Sofia Arvidsson won 6–3, 6–2 against Johanna Larsson and . The highlight of July was the tennis competition at the in , 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, captured gold with a dominant 6–0, 6–1 final win over , her third Olympic singles medal and a statement performance post-Wimbledon. earned bronze, defeating 6–2 when the German retired due to illness. The women's doubles gold went to the —Serena and —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 and , who overcame Americans and 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 and the serving as high-stakes tune-ups. International-level tournaments in Washington, D.C., , 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. The Citi Open in , 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 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. The Rogers Cup, a Premier 5 event held in from August 6 to 12, featured a strong field including Olympic medalists. Czech Republic's won the title, rallying to beat China's 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 due to . The Western & Southern Open in , another Premier 5 tournament from August 13 to 19, delivered intense competition under challenging weather. China's claimed her first title of the season, coming back from a set down to defeat Germany's 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 . The event saw several retirements due to heat and illness, including Yaroslava in doubles and in singles from gastrointestinal issues. The Texas Tennis Open in , an International event from August 17 to 24, provided additional hard court action. Italy's secured the title, overcoming Serbia's 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 tournament from August 17 to 25, served as the final tune-up before the US Open. defended her strong form, defeating Russia's 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 reaching the quarterfinals before withdrawing due to fatigue. Participation in these mandatory events was required for top players to maintain ranking points and seeding eligibility for the US Open.

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 from August 27 to September 9. In the women's singles final on September 9, of the defeated world No. 1 of 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 , , the Bell Challenge—an International tournament on indoor carpet from September 10 to 16—saw of secure her maiden WTA singles title with a 6–1, 7–5 victory over Lucie Hradecká of the 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 in delivered an upset as unseeded of outlasted promising Briton 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 , another International event on hard courts from September 17 to 23, was captured by of , who dominated the final against Estonia's 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 —a Premier 5 mandatory event in from September 22 to 29—crowned of as champion after she defeated defending champion of 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 , followed by concurrent International-level events in and , and the Premier-level in . The month culminated in the WTA Tour Championships in , 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 as of September 17, with points accumulated throughout the season determining the eight participants. The China Open, a Mandatory event on hard courts from September 29 to October 7, served as a key tune-up for the year-end championships. of , the world No. 1, dominated the tournament, defeating of 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. 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 purse. Concurrent with the early October events, the HP Japan Women's Open in (October 8–14) and the BGL Open (October 15–21) provided opportunities for rising players. In , an International-level hard-court tournament, of won her maiden WTA singles title, overcoming Kai-Chen Chang of 7–5, 5–7, 7–6(4) in the final after saving match points in the deciding tiebreak. Watson's triumph ended a 24-year for British women at the WTA level and propelled her into the top 50 rankings. Meanwhile, in , another International event on indoor hard courts, of the ended a two-year title by defeating of 6–2, 6–3 in the final, securing her 44th career WTA singles title. Williams' win came amid her return from health challenges, showcasing her resilience in a field that included several seeded players like and Andrea Petković. The in (October 15–21), a Premier indoor hard-court event, featured competitive play leading into the championships. of captured the title, edging of 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 in a three-set final to earn her 20th career WTA singles trophy. Wozniacki's victory was marked by her strong baseline game and , as she navigated a draw that included upsets and tough matches against players like . The tournament's $740,000 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). 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. 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, topped the in singles titles, securing six victories that included two Grand Slams (Wimbledon and the US Open), the WTA Championships in , the Premier Mandatory event in , the Premier event in Charleston, and the Premier 5 tournament in Stanford. These triumphs marked a dominant return for Williams after health challenges, contributing to her WTA Player of the Year award. Victoria Azarenka followed closely with six singles titles, comprising the Grand Slam, three Premier 5 events (, , and Indian Wells), and two Premier tournaments ( and ), which propelled her to the year-end world No. 1 ranking. captured three singles titles, highlighted by the Grand Slam and two Premier-level events ( and ). won four singles titles—all on clay at International-level events (, , , and )—and advanced to her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. Other notable performers included with three titles (Premier events in and , plus the Premier 5 in Tokyo) and with three (Premier 5 in and two International events in and ). In doubles, the Italian pair of and led with eight titles, encompassing two Grand Slams ( and US Open), three Premier events (, , and ), and three International tournaments (, , and ), earning them WTA Doubles Team of the Year honors. and of the secured three doubles titles, including two Premier Mandatory events (Indian Wells and ) and the Premier 5 in . The (Serena and ) won one WTA doubles title at Wimbledon. Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká of the claimed four WTA women's doubles titles: , Memphis, , and New Haven. The led nations in total singles titles won with six, all by .
Player/TeamSingles TitlesNotable WinsDoubles Titles (Partner)Notable Wins
Serena Williams (USA)6Wimbledon, US Open, WTA Championships, , Charleston, Stanford1 (Venus Williams)Wimbledon
Victoria Azarenka (BLR)6, Indian Wells, , Sydney, Beijing, Linz0-
Sara Errani (ITA)4, , , 8 (), US Open,
Maria Sharapova (RUS)3, , 0-
Agnieszka Radwańska (POL)3, , 0-
Angelique Kerber (GER)3, Paris, Copenhagen0-
Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond (USA)0-3Indian Wells, ,
Andrea Hlaváčková/Lucie Hradecká (CZE)0-4New Haven, , Memphis,
This distribution underscores the depth of the 2012 tour, with Grand Slams accounting for six singles titles across four players and Premier-level events comprising over half of the top winners' hauls, emphasizing consistency on high-stakes hard and clay surfaces.

Titles Won by Nation

In the 2012 WTA Tour, the and demonstrated strong national dominance in singles, each securing six titles through and , respectively. followed with four singles titles, highlighted by Maria Sharapova's three victories and Maria Kirilenko's win in . claimed four singles titles, led by Sara Errani's four triumphs on clay. Doubles competition saw leading with eight titles, all by Errani and Vinci, while the captured four, featuring partnerships like Hlaváčková and Hradecká. The secured four doubles titles, including Wimbledon by the 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 and Olympic events:
NationSinglesDoublesTotal
6410
606
4812
426
044
314
314
Note that Olympic golds in were awarded separately from titles, with the claiming both the singles gold () and doubles gold ( and ).

Statistics Leaders

In the 2012 , key statistical categories highlighted players' serving and returning prowess, with leaders determined based on performance across a minimum of 20 matches played. dominated the aces category, recording 527 aces, which underscored her serve's dominance and contributed to her success in high-stakes matches. Victoria Azarenka led in first-serve percentage at 64.5%, reflecting her reliability in getting the ball in play and maintaining pressure on opponents. topped break points converted with a 45.2% rate, demonstrating her aggressive return game that often turned defensive positions into opportunities. 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. Champions in major tournaments often accumulated higher stats due to additional matches played, amplifying their overall impact.
CategoryLeaderValueMatches
Aces52762
First-Serve Percentage64.5%78
Break Points Converted45.2%70
Double Faults42871
YEC PercentageNot specified in available dataN/AN/A

Rankings

Singles Rankings

Victoria Azarenka claimed the world No. 1 singles ranking for the first time on January 30, 2012, following her victory, marking the first time a Belarusian player had reached the top spot. She held the position for 19 consecutive weeks until June 10, 2012, when ascended to No. 1 on June 11 after winning the , ending Azarenka's streak. 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. This made Azarenka the first non-Williams player to end the year at No. 1 since 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. surged from No. 32 to No. 5, with a high of No. 5 and low of No. 32. advanced from No. 46 to No. 6, hitting a high of No. 6 and low of No. 46. Other notable risers included (steady at No. 4, high No. 2 briefly in February, low No. 4) and (from No. 2 to No. 8, high No. 2, low No. 8). 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:
RankPlayerCountryPointsTournaments2011 Rank
1BLR10,595183
2RUS10,045174
3USA9,4001512
4POL7,425228
5GER5,5502132
6ITA5,1002346
7CHN5,095185
8CZE5,085202
9AUS4,135236
10DEN3,765231
Several debutants entered the WTA top 100 for the first time in 2012, reflecting the influx of emerging talent; notable examples include American , who reached No. 37 by year-end after breaking into the top 100 in July following strong showings at Wimbledon and the US Open.

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. and of emerged as the year-end No. 1 team, finishing with 10,030 points after a remarkable season that included eight doubles titles, including the 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. The No. 1 doubles ranking experienced multiple transitions in 2012, highlighting the competitive nature of the discipline. and of the 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 . They displaced the previous No. 1 team of Květa Peschke and , who had defended their 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 , where doubles points were awarded, affecting pair dynamics and rankings for several teams. 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 and also stood out, winning the Championships and climbing into the top 10 after a mid-season surge. The , and Serena, made a significant return to doubles competition by winning the Olympic gold medal in —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 (). Newer partnerships like and of Russia debuted strongly, reaching the final in and winning the China Open, entering the top 10 individually by year-end, showcasing the impact of fresh team combinations on the rankings landscape.
RankPlayerCountryPointsPrimary PartnerChange from 2011
1ITA10,030+25
2ITA10,030+72
3Andrea HlaváčkováCZE7,360Lucie Hradecká+3
4Lucie HradeckáCZE7,360Andrea Hlaváčková+5
5USA7,225-1
6USA7,225+2
7RUS5,845+8
8RUS5,845+6
9RUS5,580-2
10SLO5,580-1
The table above represents the year-end top 10 doubles players based on individual rankings as of November 5, 2012, with primary or end-year partners listed for clarity; changes reflect individual movements from the 2011 year-end positions. Errani and Vinci's ascent was the most dramatic, underscoring how title hauls and consistent play can rapidly elevate rankings in doubles.

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 , who earned $6,828,831 in singles competition. 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 title, offering approximately $2.4 million to the winner, along with strong performances in other Premier Mandatory events, including the final worth approximately $781,000. In doubles, the top-earning team was and , who secured substantial earnings through multiple Grand Slam titles, including the Australian Open, , and US Open, estimated at over $800,000 combined in doubles . 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, topped the list with $7,923,920, while was second with $7,045,975, incorporating her doubles earnings and bonuses from the Championships. 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.
CategoryPlayer/TeamEarnings (USD)Key Contributors
Singles Leaders (BLR)$7,312,651 ($2.4M), final ($781K)
(USA)$6,828,831Wimbledon (~$1.8M), US Open ($1.9M)
Doubles Leaders/ (ITA/ITA)~$800,000+ combined3 Grand Slams (AO, FO, USO ~$600K+ total)
Total Year-to-Date (BLR)$7,923,920Singles + minimal doubles
(USA)$7,045,975Singles + 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. 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. 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. For players ranked in the top 20, the two best Premier 5 results were also compulsorily included in their totals. 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. The 2012 in awarded points equivalent to a Premier-level event but scaled for the single-elimination format, with 685 points for the singles gold medalist.

Singles Points Distribution

CategoryWinnerFinalistSemifinalQuarterfinalRound of 16Round of 32Round of 64Round of 128Qualifying
Grand Slam200014009005002801601005Q1 loss: 5, Q2: 10, Q3: 25
WTA Championships15001050690------
Olympics68547034026017595551-
Mandatory100070045025014080505Q1: 1, Q2: 6, Q3: 20
Premier 5900620395225125701-Q1: 1, Q2: 12, Q3: 30
47032020012060401-Q1: 1, Q2: 8, Q3: 12
International2802001307030151-Q1: 1, Q2: 6, Q3: 10
*Notes: Qualifying points are for losses in those rounds; successful qualifiers receive main draw points starting from Round of 128. Grand Slam and Olympics points as per 2012 specifics. All data sourced from the official 2012 WTA ranking guidelines.

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.
CategoryWinnerFinalistSemifinalQuarterfinalRound of 16Qualifying
Grand Slam20001400900500280Q loss: up to 25
WTA Championships15001050690---
Olympics685470340260175-
Mandatory100070045025014020 (Q3)
590062039522512530 (Q3)
4703202001206012 (Q3)
International280200130703010 (Q3)
*Notes: Grand Slam doubles qualifying awarded up to 25 points for Q3 loss; non-Grand Slam events typically do not award points for round of 32 (1 point if applicable). WTA Championships doubles followed the same round-robin adjustments as singles. All data sourced from the official 2012 WTA ranking guidelines.

Player Transitions

Retirements

In 2012, several notable players announced their retirements from professional tennis, marking the end of significant careers on the WTA Tour. The most prominent was of , a four-time Grand Slam singles champion who retired following the US Open. Clijsters, who had previously retired in 2007 to start a family and returned in 2009, cited her desire to focus on family life as a primary reason for her second and final exit from the sport. Her last professional match was a quarterfinal loss at the 2012 US Open on September 1, partnering , after which she concluded her career with 41 WTA singles titles, including victories at the US Open (2005, 2009, 2010) and (2011), as well as 11 doubles titles. Over her 15-year career, she amassed over $24 million in prize money and held the world No. 1 ranking for 20 weeks. Another key retirement was that of from , a former world No. 1 in doubles who stepped away at age 27. Dulko announced her retirement on November 18, 2012, stating she no longer possessed the same motivation to compete at the professional level and was unwilling to make further sacrifices for training and travel. Known for her upsets against top players like and , Dulko won four WTA singles titles and reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 26, but her legacy was strongest in doubles with 17 titles, including the 2010 WTA Tour Championships and the 2011 alongside . She earned more than $4.2 million in prize money during an 11-year career that featured consistent contributions to Argentina's teams. While Clijsters and Dulko were the highest-profile departures, a handful of lower-ranked players also retired that year, often due to injuries or personal reasons, though they did not garner the same widespread attention. These exits highlighted the physical and emotional demands of the tour, contrasting with comebacks by others in subsequent seasons.

Comebacks

One of the standout storylines of the 2012 WTA Tour was the resurgence of several players who had faced significant health challenges in prior seasons, marking inspiring returns to competitive form. Serena Williams' comeback epitomized resilience after a life-threatening in March 2011, which followed a foot injury and required multiple surgeries, leaving her bedridden for weeks. Returning to the tour in late 2011 with limited play, Williams exploded in 2012, capturing four titles, including Wimbledon (defeating 6–1, 5–7, 6–2 in the final), the US Open (edging 7–5, 6–7(6–8), 6–2), and Olympic gold in singles (overcoming 6–0, 6–1). Her dominance initiated a streak of four consecutive major titles spanning 2012–2013, reestablishing her as one of the world's top players and finishing the year ranked No. 3. Victoria Azarenka also rebounded from a injury-plagued 2011 season, where she retired or withdrew from five matches due to issues including hip, elbow, thigh, hand, shoulder, and foot problems, limiting her to just three titles. In 2012, she achieved consistent top-tier performance, winning the Australian Open (beating Sharapova 7–6(7–4), 6–2 for her first major), reaching the US Open final, and securing the year-end No. 1 ranking with 26 wins, including victories at Indian Wells and . Nadia Petrova returned strongly after 2011 setbacks from hip and thigh strains that forced early exits in Rome and Linz, respectively, contributing to a season with only one semifinal. Petrova claimed the Eastbourne International title (defeating Tamira Paszek 6–2, 6–1) and reached the US Open quarterfinals, while winning the WTA Tour Championships in doubles with Maria Kirilenko, highlighting her renewed doubles prowess. Yaroslava Shvedova earned the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award for her remarkable recovery from a knee injury that sidelined her for much of 2011, dropping her ranking outside the top 200. In 2012, she surged to and Wimbledon quarterfinals, notably achieving the only "golden set" in Open Era Grand Slam history by winning all 24 points against at Wimbledon, and finished the year ranked No. 29.

Awards

WTA Player Awards

The WTA Player Awards for 2012 recognized outstanding achievements and contributions by players throughout the season, with winners selected through votes from peers, media, fans, and tour officials. These honors highlighted exceptional performance, resilience, and off-court impact in a year marked by competitive Grand Slam results and Olympic success. was named WTA Player of the Year, her fourth such accolade, following a dominant second half of the season that included Wimbledon and Open titles, Olympic singles and doubles gold, and a 58-4 win-loss record across seven tournament victories. earned Comeback Player of the Year after rebounding from injuries to reach a career-high No. 29 ranking, highlighted by a Open mixed title with . Sara Errani received Most Improved Player of the Year, reflecting her rise from No. 40 at the start of 2012 to a year-end No. 6 ranking, fueled by four clay-court singles titles (Acapulco, Barcelona, Budapest, Palermo) and a French Open final appearance. Errani also shared the Doubles Team of the Year award with compatriot Roberta Vinci, who together won eight doubles titles, including the French Open and US Open, and qualified for the WTA Championships. Laura Robson was voted Newcomer of the Year as an 18-year-old Briton who broke into the top 50 with a in Olympic alongside and a fourth-round run at the US Open. won the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, her record eighth, for exemplifying professionalism and positive attitude during her final season before retirement.

Other Recognitions

Serena Williams was named the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Champion in women's singles for 2012, honoring her dominant season that included victories at the US Open and Wimbledon, as well as gold medals in singles and doubles at the London Olympics. Williams' achievements also earned her a nomination for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award in 2013, recognizing her exceptional performance and comeback from injury. Victoria Azarenka received the Order of the Fatherland III Class from Belarusian President in recognition of her singles title and becoming the year-end world No. 1. Similarly, was awarded the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II Class by the Russian government for her contributions to philanthropy, and the I Class for advancing physical culture and sport, following her victory and Olympic silver medal.

References

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