On December 23, 1996, the COREL WTA TOUR adopted a new lump-sum ranking system. Prior to this date, the total points awarded for each tournament played within a 52-week period were added & then divided by the number of tournaments played in that same period (minimum divisor of 14 tournaments: if one played in 13 or fewer tournaments, her points were still divided by 14).
From December 23, 1996, onward, a simple sum of the ranking points awarded for each tournament played during the prior 52 weeks is computed. A divisor is no longer used to computer average performance. This method is similar to the current ATP ranking system, except that all WTA tournament results are counted. The ATP Tour counts only a player's best 14 results during the prior 52 weeks toward the player's ranking. These lump-sum systems are designed to encourage greater participation in tour events. Players who participate in more tournament enjoy a greater ranking benefit.
The current ranking system awards points based on the tier of a tournament as well as the type of draw (the number of players in the main draw in a tournament). Players are ranked on the basis of their total points - Round and Quality - earned over the prior 52 weeks. The details of Round Points and Quality Points are outlined in the following tables.
Singles and Doubles Round Points Table:
Draw W F SF QF R16 R32 R64 R128 Qfr Qu3 Qu2 Qu1
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Grand Slams 128 520 364 234 130 72 44 26 2 16.5 12 6 2
WTA Chps 16 390 273 175 97 54 - - - - - - -
Lipton 96 260 182 117 65 36 22 13 1 11 6 3 1
Tier I 64 260 182 117 65 36 22 1 - 6 - 3 1
Tier I 32 260 182 117 65 36 1 - - 11 6 3 1
Tier II 64 200 140 90 50 26 14 1 - 5 - 3 1
Tier II 32 200 140 90 50 26 1 - - 9 5 3 1
Tier III 64 140 98 63 35 18 10 1 - 4 - 2 1
Tier III 32 140 98 63 35 18 1 - - 7 3 2 1
Tier IV 64 80 56 36 20 10 6 1 - 2.5 - 1.5 1
Tier IV 32 80 56 36 20 10 1 - - 4.5 3 2 1
$75,000 32 54 38 24 14 7 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1
$50,000 32 36 25 16 9 5 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1
$25,000 32 22 15 10 6 3 1 - - 1.5 1 0.5 0.25
$10,000 (M) 10 7 5 3 1 - - - - - - -
$10,000 32 5 4 2 1.5 1 0.5 - - 0.25 - - -
$ 5,000 (M) 5 4 2 1.5 1 - - - - - - -
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Prize Money : Tier I $926,250+
Tier II $450,000+
Tier III $164,250+
Tier IV $107,500+
Singles Quality (Bonus) Points Table:
Loser's Rank Bonus Worth Grand Slam Points
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1 100 150
2 75 113
3 66 99
4 55 83
5 50 75
6-10 43 65
11-16 35 53
17-25 23 35
26-35 15 23
36-50 10 15
51-75 8 12
76-120 4 6
121-250 2 3
251-500 1 1.5
501+ 0 0
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Doubles Quality (Bonus) Points Table:
Loser's Rank* Bonus Worth Grand Slam Points
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3-5 100 150
6-10 90 135
11-20 65 97.5
21-30 45 67.5
31-50 30 45
51-80 20 30
81-130 14 21
131-200 9 13.5
201-300 6 9
301-500 4 6
501+ 2 3
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* Combined rank of doubles team members
Players are awarded Round Points for the highest round they reach as well as Quality Points for each win over a player ranked in the top 500.
Players who qualify and then lose in the 1st round of the Main Draw will receive Round Points as indicated in the Qfr column of the Round Points table. Players who qualify but then lose in a round other than the 1st round of the Main Draw will receive the Qfr points in addition to the Round and Quality Points earned based on the highest round reached in the Main Draw. Lucky Losers earn only Main Draw Round Points based on the highest round reached in the Main Draw unless they lose in the 1st round, in which case they receive Round Points earned in qualifying. Qualifiers and Lucky Losers retain Quality Points won in qualifying.
Players are ranked on the basis of their total points - Round and Quality - earned over the prior 52 weeks.
Players must have played in at least 3 tournaments to appear in the rankings. Players under the age of 15 cannot obtain a computer ranking. If a player under the age of 15 plays in a tournament, that tournament will not be counted for Ranking Points for that player. If a player plays a tournament that exceeds the number permitted to be played under the Age Eligibility Rule, that tournament will not be counted for ranking points for that player.
Players who receive byes but then lose in the 2nd round will be awarded 1st round loser's points.
Players who default in a tournament before playing their first match will not have the tournament count on their record. For any default occurring in a tournament, the advancing player will be rewarded Round Points but not Quality Points over her opponent.
Entries and seeding are determined by highest rank. In the event of a tie, the following procedures, in the order shown, are used to break the tie: (1) Greatest number of Quality Points; (2) Highest ranking from previous week; (3) Greatest number of tournaments played in the past 52 weeks.