1996 WTA Tour

Steffi Graf finished the year as world No. 1 for the record-breaking eighth time in her career. She won seven tournaments during the season, including three majors at the French Open, the Wimbledon Championships, and the US Open, as well as the WTA Tour Championships. She also won three Tier I events and finished runner-up at the fourth major, the Australian Open.
Details
Duration	January 1 – November 25, 1996
Edition	26th
Tournaments	51
Categories	Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships Summer Olympics WTA Tier I (8) WTA Tier II (15) WTA Tier III (11) WTA Tier IV (11)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles	Steffi Graf (7)
Most tournament finals	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (9)
Prize money leader	Steffi Graf (US$2,665,706)
Points leader	Steffi Graf (4,649)
Awards
Player of the year	Steffi Graf
Doubles team of the year	Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Most improved player of the year	Martina Hingis
Newcomer of the year	Anna Kournikova
Comeback player of the year	Jennifer Capriati
← 1995 1997 →

The WTA Tour is the elite tour for professional women's tennis organised by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The 1996 WTA Tour included the four Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA Tour Championships and the WTA Tier I, Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV events. ITF tournaments are not part of the WTA Tour, although they award points for the WTA World Ranking.

Schedule

The table below shows the 1996 WTA Tour schedule.

Key

January

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 Jan	Hyundai Hopman Cup Perth, Australia ITF Mixed Teams Championships Hard (i) – A$1,000,000 – 9 teams (RR)	Croatia 2–1	Switzerland	Round robin (Group A)  United States  South Africa  France	Round robin (Group B)  Germany  Australia  Netherlands
	Amway Classic Auckland, New Zealand Tier IV event Hard – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Sandra Cacic 6–3, 1–6, 6–4	Barbara Paulus	Florencia Labat Fang Li	Julie Halard-Decugis Sabine Hack Rita Grande Karin Kschwendt
		Els Callens Julie Halard-Decugis 6–1, 6–0	Jill Hetherington Kristine Radford
8 Jan	Schweppes Tasmanian International Hobart, Australia Tier IV event Hard – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Julie Halard-Decugis 6–1, 6–2	Mana Endo	Shi-Ting Wang Florencia Labat	Judith Wiesner Silvia Farina Virginia Ruano Pascual Ai Sugiyama
		Yayuk Basuki Kyōko Nagatsuka 7–6, 6–3	Kerry-Anne Guse Park Sung-hee
	Peters International Sydney, Australia Tier II event Hard – $342,500 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Monica Seles 4–6, 7–6, 6–3	Lindsay Davenport	Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Kimiko Date	Mariaan de Swardt Mary Joe Fernández Nicole Bradtke Chanda Rubin
		Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández 6–3, 6–3	Lori McNeil Helena Suková
15 Jan 22 Jan	Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard – $3,970,600 – 128S/64D/32X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Monica Seles 6–4, 6–1	Anke Huber	Chanda Rubin Amanda Coetzer	Iva Majoli Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Martina Hingis Conchita Martínez
		Chanda Rubin Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–5, 2–6, 6–4	Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández
		Larisa Neiland Mark Woodforde 4–6, 7–5, 6–0	Nicole Arendt Luke Jensen
29 Jan	Toray Pan Pacific Open Tokyo, Japan Tier I event Carpet (i) – $926,250 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Iva Majoli 6–4, 6–1	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Martina Hingis Conchita Martínez	Monica Seles Naoko Sawamatsu Magdalena Maleeva Lindsay Davenport
		Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva 7–6, 6–3	Mariaan de Swardt Irina Spîrlea

February

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
13 Feb	Open Gaz de France Paris, France Tier II event Carpet (i) – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Julie Halard-Decugis 7–5, 7–6	Iva Majoli	Magdalena Maleeva Silvia Farina	Nathalie Dechy Miriam Oremans Petra Begerow Anke Huber
		Kristie Boogert Jana Novotná 6–4, 6–3	Julie Halard-Decugis Nathalie Tauziat
19 Feb	Faber Grand Prix Essen, Germany Tier II event Carpet (i) – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Iva Majoli 7–5, 1–6, 7–6(8–6)	Jana Novotná	Åsa Carlsson Anke Huber	Els Callens Rennae Stubbs Jennifer Capriati Barbara Rittner
		Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland 3–6, 6–3, 6–2	Lori McNeil Helena Suková
20 Feb	IGA Classic Oklahoma City, United States Tier III event Hard (i) – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 6–3, 6–2	Amanda Coetzer	Chanda Rubin Elena Likhovtseva	Katrina Adams Joannette Kruger Amy Frazier Lisa Raymond
		Chanda Rubin Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 6–4, 6–3	Katrina Adams Debbie Graham
26 Feb	EA-Generali Ladies Linz Linz, Austria Tier III event Carpet (i) – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Sabine Appelmans 6–2, 6–4	Julie Halard-Decugis	Elena Makarova Helena Suková	Laurence Courtois Judith Wiesner Åsa Carlsson Jana Novotná
		Manon Bollegraf Meredith McGrath 6–4, 6–4	Rennae Stubbs Helena Suková

March

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
8 Mar	State Farm Evert Cup Indian Wells, United States Tier I event Hard – $550,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Steffi Graf 7–6, 7–6	Conchita Martínez	Lindsay Davenport Kimiko Date	Amanda Coetzer Chanda Rubin Nathalie Tauziat Lindsay Lee
		Chanda Rubin Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 6–1, 6–4	Julie Halard-Decugis Nathalie Tauziat
21 Mar	Lipton Championships Key Biscayne, United States Tier I event Hard – $1,550,000 – 96S/48D Singles – Doubles	Steffi Graf 6–1, 6–3	Chanda Rubin	Lindsay Davenport Karina Habšudová	Kimiko Date Anke Huber Gabriela Sabatini Irina Spîrlea
		Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–4, 6–4	Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland

April

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
1 Apr	Family Circle Cup Hilton Head Island, United States Tier I event Clay – $926,250 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–2, 2–6, 6–2	Barbara Paulus	Conchita Martínez Jana Novotná	Petra Begerow Irina Spîrlea Iva Majoli Sabine Hack
		Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–2, 6–3	Gigi Fernández Mary Joe Fernández
8 Apr	Bausch & Lomb Championships Amelia Island, USA Tier II event Clay – $450,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Irina Spîrlea 6–7, 6–4, 6–3	Mary Pierce	Mary Joe Fernández Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Conchita Martínez Sabine Hack Barbara Schett Meredith McGrath
		Chanda Rubin Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–1, 6–1	Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland
8 Apr	Danamon Open Jakarta, Indonesia Tier III event Hard – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Linda Wild W/O	Yayuk Basuki	Naoko Kijimuta Laurence Courtois	Sabine Appelmans Rika Hiraki Claudia Porwik Kyōko Nagatsuka
		Rika Hiraki Naoko Kijimuta 7–6(7–2), 7–5	Laurence Courtois Nancy Feber
15 Apr	Japan Open Tennis Championships Tokyo, Japan Tier III event Hard – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Kimiko Date 7–5, 6–4	Amy Frazier	Ai Sugiyama Naoko Kijimuta	Karin Kschwendt Katarína Studeníková Kimberly Po Corina Morariu
		Kimiko Date Ai Sugiyama 7–6, 6–7, 6–3	Amy Frazier Kimberly Po
22 Apr	Fed Cup first round Salzburg, Austria, Clay Tokyo, Japan, Hard (i) Amiens, France, Clay Murcia, Spain, Clay	First round winners  United States 3-2  Japan 3-2  France 3–2  Spain 3-2	First round losers  Austria  Germany  Argentina  South Africa
29 Apr	"M" Electronika Cup Bol, Croatia Tier IV event Clay – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Gloria Pizzichini 6–0, 6–2	Silvija Talaja	Sandra Cecchini Paola Suárez	Sandra Kleinová Sandra Dopfer Dally Randriantefy Joannette Kruger
		Laura Montalvo Paola Suárez 6–7, 6–3, 6–4	Alexia Dechaume-Balleret Alexandra Fusai
29 Apr	Rexona Cup Hamburg, Germany Tier II event Clay – $450,000 – 28S/14D Singles – Doubles	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 4–6, 7–6, 6–0	Conchita Martínez	Julie Halard-Decugis Mary Pierce	Ángeles Montolio Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Martina Hingis Ruxandra Dragomir
		Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 4–6, 7–6, 6–4	Gigi Fernández Martina Hingis

May

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
6 May	Budapest Lotto Open Budapest, Hungary Tier IV event Clay – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Ruxandra Dragomir 7–6(8–6), 6–1	Melanie Schnell	Elena Pampoulova Rita Kuti-Kis	Julie Halard-Decugis Meghann Shaughnessy Andrea Temesvári Denisa Krajčovičová
		Katrina Adams Debbie Graham 6–3, 7–6(7–3)	Radka Bobková Eva Melicharová
	Italian Open Rome, Italy Tier I event Clay – $926,250 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Conchita Martínez 6–2, 6–3	Martina Hingis	Irina Spîrlea Iva Majoli	Steffi Graf Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Nathalie Tauziat Magdalena Maleeva
		Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Irina Spîrlea 6–4, 3–6, 6–3	Gigi Fernández Martina Hingis
13 May	WTA German Open Berlin, Germany Tier I event Clay – $926,250 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Steffi Graf 4–6, 6–2, 7–5	Karina Habšudová	Iva Majoli Elena Likhovtseva	Nathalie Tauziat Barbara Paulus Anke Huber Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
		Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland 6–1, 5–7, 7–6(7–4)	Martina Hingis Helena Suková
	Rover Championships Cardiff, Great Britain Tier IV event Clay – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Dominique Van Roost 6–4, 6–2	Laurence Courtois	Henrieta Nagyová Patricia Hy-Boulais	Naoko Kijimuta Alexandra Fusai Miriam Oremans Mariaan de Swardt
		Katrina Adams Mariaan de Swardt 6–0, 6–4	Els Callens Laurence Courtois
20 May	Internationaux de Strasbourg Strasbourg, France Tier III event Clay – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Lindsay Davenport 6–3, 7–6(8–6)	Barbara Paulus	Judith Wiesner Katarína Studeníková	Anke Huber Nathalie Tauziat Alexia Dechaume-Balleret Annie Miller
		Yayuk Basuki Nicole Bradtke 5–7, 6–4, 6–4	Marianne Werdel Tami Whitlinger
	World Doubles Cup Edinburgh, Great Britain Clay – $188,125 – 8D Doubles	Arendt Bollegraf 6–3, 2–6, 7–6	Fernández Zvereva	Adams / de Swardt McGrath / Neiland	Makarova / Maniokova Garrison / Rinaldi Tarabini / Vis Hetherington / Radford
	Open Paginas Amarillas Madrid, Spain Tier II event Clay – $250,000 – 28S/14D Singles – Doubles	Jana Novotná 4–6, 6–4, 6–3	Magdalena Maleeva	Monica Seles Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Irina Spîrlea Ludmila Richterová Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Amanda Coetzer
		Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6(7–4), 6–2	Sabine Appelmans Miriam Oremans
27 May 3 Jun	French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay – $4,456,343 – 128S/64D/32X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Steffi Graf 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 10–8	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Conchita Martínez Jana Novotná	Iva Majoli Lindsay Davenport Karina Habšudová Monica Seles
		Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández 6–2, 6–1	Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva
		Patricia Tarabini Javier Frana 6–2, 6–2	Nicole Arendt Luke Jensen

June

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
10 Jun	DFS Classic Birmingham, Great Britain Tier III event Grass – $164,250 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Meredith McGrath 2–6, 6–4, 6–4	Nathalie Tauziat	Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Miriam Oremans	Larisa Neiland Els Callens Christina Singer Laurence Courtois
		Elizabeth Smylie Linda Wild 6–3, 3–6, 6–1	Lori McNeil Nathalie Tauziat
17 Jun	Wilkinson Championships Rosmalen, Netherlands Tier III event Grass – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Anke Huber 6–4, 7–6	Helena Suková	Judith Wiesner Ruxandra Dragomir	Iva Majoli Kristie Boogert Larisa Neiland Dominique Van Roost
		Larisa Neiland Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 6–4, 7–6	Kristie Boogert Helena Suková
18 Jun	Direct Line International Championships Eastbourne, Great Britain Tier II event Grass – $363,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Monica Seles 6–0, 6–2	Mary Joe Fernández	Nathalie Tauziat Jana Novotná	Inés Gorrochategui Lisa Raymond Yayuk Basuki Conchita Martínez
		Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 4–6, 7–5, 6–4	Rosalyn Fairbank Pam Shriver
24 Jun 1 Jul	Wimbledon Championships London, Great Britain Grand Slam Grass – $3,392,408 – 128S/64D/32X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Steffi Graf 6–3, 7–5	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Kimiko Date Meredith McGrath	Jana Novotná Mary Pierce Judith Wiesner Mary Joe Fernández
		Martina Hingis Helena Suková 5–7, 7–5, 6–1	Meredith McGrath Larisa Neiland
		Helena Suková Cyril Suk 1–6, 6–3, 6–2	Larisa Neiland Mark Woodforde

July

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
8 Jul	Fed Cup Semifinals Nagoya, Japan, Carpet (i) Bayonne, France, Carpet (i)	Semifinals winners  United States 5–0  Spain 3-2	Semifinals losers  Japan  France
15 Jul	Torneo Internazionali Femminili di Palermo Palermo, Italy Tier IV event Clay – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Barbara Schett 6–3, 6–3	Sabine Hack	Jana Kandarr Silvia Farina	Stephanie Devillé Sandra Dopfer Sarah Pitkowski Henrieta Nagyová
		Janette Husárová Barbara Schett 6–1, 6–2	Florencia Labat Barbara Rittner
23 Jul	Summer Olympics Atlanta, United States Summer Olympics Hard – 64S/32D Singles – Doubles	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Fourth Place
		Lindsay Davenport 7–6(8), 6–2	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Jana Novotná 7–6(8), 6–4	Mary Joe Fernández
		Gigi Fernández Mary Joe Fernández 7–6(6), 6–4	Jana Novotná Helena Suková	Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–1, 6–3	Manon Bollegraf Brenda Schultz-McCarthy

August

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
5 Aug	du Maurier Open Montreal, Canada Tier I event Hard – $926,250 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Monica Seles 6–1, 7–6	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Yayuk Basuki Kimberly Po	Magdalena Maleeva Amy Frazier Mary Joe Fernández Florencia Labat
		Larisa Neiland Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6, 6–1	Mary Joe Fernández Helena Suková
	Meta Styrian Open Maria Lankowitz, Austria Tier IV event Clay – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Barbara Paulus 0-0 ret	Sandra Cecchini	Stephanie Devillé Silvija Talaja	Petra Langrová Cristina Torrens Valero Bettina Villella Lenka Cenková
		Janette Husárová Natalia Medvedeva 6–4, 7–5	Lenka Cenková Kateřina Kroupová
12 Aug	Acura Classic Manhattan Beach, United States Tier II event Hard – $450,000 – 56S/28D Singles – Doubles	Lindsay Davenport 6–2 6–3	Anke Huber	Steffi Graf Karina Habšudová	Amy Frazier Amanda Coetzer Kimiko Date Irina Spîrlea
		Lindsay Davenport Natasha Zvereva 6–1, 6–4	Amy Frazier Kimberly Po
19 Aug	Toshiba Classic San Diego, United States Tier II event Hard – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Kimiko Date 3–6, 6–3, 6–0	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Jana Novotná Conchita Martínez	Katarína Studeníková Sandrine Testud Gabriela Sabatini Nathalie Tauziat
		Gigi Fernández Conchita Martínez 4–6, 6–3, 6–4	Larisa Neiland Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
26 Aug 2 Sep	US Open New York City, United States Grand Slam Hard – $4,624,000 – 128S/64D/32X Singles – Doubles – Mixed doubles	Steffi Graf 7–5, 6–4	Monica Seles	Martina Hingis Conchita Martínez	Judith Wiesner Jana Novotná Linda Wild Amanda Coetzer
		Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva 1–6, 6–1, 6–4	Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
		Lisa Raymond Patrick Galbraith 7–6, 7–6	Manon Bollegraf Rick Leach

September

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
10 Sep	Pupp Czech Open Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic Tier IV event Clay – $160,000 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Ruxandra Dragomir 6–2, 3–6, 6–4	Patty Schnyder	Lenka Cenková Katarína Studeníková	Flora Perfetti Henrieta Nagyová Emmanuelle Gagliardi Silvija Talaja
		Karina Habšudová Helena Suková 3–6, 6–3, 6–2	Eva Martincová Elena Pampoulova
16 Sep	Nichirei International Championships Tokyo, Japan Tier II event Hard – $450,000 – 28S/14D Singles – Doubles	Monica Seles 6–1, 6–4	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	Kimiko Date Kimberly Po	Naoko Sawamatsu Amanda Coetzer Mary Pierce Shi-Ting Wang
		Amanda Coetzer Mary Pierce 6–3, 7–6	Park Sung-hee Wang Shi-ting
	Warsaw Cup by Heros Warsaw, Poland Tier III event Clay – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Henrieta Nagyová 3–6, 6–2, 6–1	Barbara Paulus	Janette Husárová Karina Habšudová	Katarína Studeníková Flora Perfetti Silvia Farina Cătălina Cristea
		Olga Lugina Elena Pampoulova 1–6, 6–4, 7–5	Alexandra Fusai Laura Garrone
23 Sep	Fed Cup Final Atlantic City, United States, Carpet (i)	United States 5-0	Spain
30 Sep	Sparkassen Cup Leipzig, Germany Tier II event Carpet (i) – $450,000 – 28S/12D Singles – Doubles	Anke Huber 5–7, 6–3, 6–1	Iva Majoli	Steffi Graf Helena Suková	Judith Wiesner Magdalena Maleeva Lindsay Davenport Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
		Kristie Boogert Nathalie Tauziat 6–4, 6–4	Sabine Appelmans Miriam Oremans

October

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
7 Oct	Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Filderstadt, Germany Tier II event Hard (i) – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Martina Hingis 6–2, 3–6, 6–3	Anke Huber	Lindsay Davenport Judith Wiesner	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Jana Novotná Iva Majoli Conchita Martínez
		Nicole Arendt Jana Novotná 6–2, 6–3	Martina Hingis Helena Suková
	Wismilak International Surabaya, Indonesia Tier IV event Hard – $155,340 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Shi-Ting Wang 6–4, 6–0	Nana Miyagi	Adriana Gerši Yuka Yoshida	Ludmila Richterová Nathalie Dechy Haruka Inoue Sarah Pitkowski
		Alexandra Fusai Kerry-Anne Guse 6–4, 6–4	Tina Križan Noëlle van Lottum
14 Oct	European Indoors Zürich, Switzerland Tier I event Carpet (i) – $926,250 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Jana Novotná 6–2, 6–2	Martina Hingis	Anke Huber Iva Majoli	Sabine Appelmans Silvia Farina Jennifer Capriati Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
		Martina Hingis Helena Suková 7–5, 6–4	Nicole Arendt Natasha Zvereva
	Nokia Open Beijing, China Tier IV event Hard (i) – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Wang Shi-ting 6–3, 6–4	Chen Li-Ling	Tamarine Tanasugarn Sandrine Testud	Linda Wild Naoko Kijimuta Mana Endo Yayuk Basuki
		Naoko Kijimuta Miho Saeki 7–5, 6–4	Yuko Hosoki Kazue Takuma
21 Oct	Bell Challenge Quebec City, Canada Tier III event Carpet (i) – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Lisa Raymond 6–4, 6–4	Els Callens	Tami Whitlinger-Jones Elena Likhovtseva	Brenda Schultz-McCarthy Kimberly Po Florencia Labat Jolene Watanabe
		Debbie Graham Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 6–1, 6–4	Amy Frazier Kimberly Po
	SEAT Open Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg Tier III event Carpet (i) – $164,250 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Anke Huber 6–3, 6–0	Karina Habšudová	Anne-Gaëlle Sidot Barbara Paulus	Natasha Zvereva Katarína Studeníková Sabine Appelmans Henrieta Nagyová
		Kristie Boogert Nathalie Tauziat 2–6, 6–4, 6–2	Barbara Rittner Dominique Van Roost
28 Oct	Kremlin Cup Moscow, Russia Tier III event Carpet (i) – $400,000 – 30S/16D Singles – Doubles	Conchita Martínez 6–1, 4–6, 6–4	Barbara Paulus	Sabine Appelmans Barbara Schett	Katarína Studeníková Ruxandra Dragomir Elena Tatarkova Elena Makarova
		Natalia Medvedeva Larisa Neiland 7–6, 4–6, 6–1	Silvia Farina Elia Barbara Schett
	Ameritech Cup Chicago, United States Tier II event Carpet (i) – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Jana Novotná 6–4, 3–6, 6–1	Jennifer Capriati	Monica Seles Martina Hingis	Irina Spîrlea Meredith McGrath Lindsay Davenport Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
		Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs 6–1, 6–1	Angela Lettiere Nana Miyagi

November

Week	Tournament	Champions	Runners-up	Semifinalists	Quarterfinalists
4 Nov	Bank of the West Classic Oakland, United States Tier II event Carpet (i) – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Martina Hingis 6–2, 6–0	Monica Seles	Irina Spîrlea Brenda Schultz-McCarthy	Kimberly Po Elena Likhovtseva Linda Wild Lindsay Davenport
		Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández 6–1, 6–3	Irina Spîrlea Nathalie Tauziat
11 Nov	Advanta Championships of Philadelphia Philadelphia, United States Tier II event Carpet (i) – $450,000 – 28S/16D Singles – Doubles	Jana Novotná 6–4 ret	Steffi Graf	Marianne Witmeyer Yayuk Basuki	Chanda Rubin Barbara Paulus Annie Miller Lisa Raymond
		Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs 6–4, 3–6, 6–3	Nicole Arendt Lori McNeil
18 Nov	Chase Championships New York City, United States WTA Tour Championships Carpet (i) – $2,000,000 – 16S/8D Singles – Doubles	Steffi Graf 6–3, 4–6, 6–0, 4–6, 6–0	Martina Hingis	Jana Novotná Iva Majoli	Lindsay Davenport Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Conchita Martínez Kimiko Date
		Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández 6–3, 6–2	Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
	Volvo Women's Open Pattaya City, Thailand Tier IV event Hard – $107,500 – 32S/16D Singles – Doubles	Ruxandra Dragomir 7–6, 6–4	Tamarine Tanasugarn	Denisa Chládková Henrieta Nagyová	Miho Saeki Florencia Labat Janette Husárová Yuka Yoshida
		Miho Saeki Yuka Yoshida 6–2, 6–3	Tina Križan Nana Miyagi

Statistical Information

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 1996 WTA World Tour: the Grand Slam tournaments, the Year-end championships and the Tier I, Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV tournaments. 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. highest amount of highest category tournaments (for example, having a single Grand Slam gives preference over any kind of combination without a Grand Slam title);
3. a singles > doubles > mixed doubles hierarchy;
4. alphabetical order (by family names for players).

Titles won by player

Total titles	Player	Grand Slam tournaments			Year-end championships		Tier I tournaments		Tier II tournaments		Tier III tournaments		Tier IV tournaments		All titles
		S	D	X	S	D	S	D	S	D	S	D	S	D	S	D	X
11	Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		1				1	4	1	4					2	9	0
1	Sandra Cacic												1		1	0	0
1	Els Callens													1	0	1	0
3	Julie Halard-Decugis								1				1	1	2	1	0
2	Yayuk Basuki											1		1	0	2	0
5	Monica Seles	1					1		3						5	0	0
7	Lindsay Davenport		1			1			1	3	1				2	5	0
4	Mary Joe Fernández		1			1				2					0	4	0
4	Chanda Rubin		1					1		1		1			0	4	0
6	Larisa Neiland			1			0	2		1		2			0	5	1
2	Iva Majoli						1		1						2	0	0
1	Kyōko Nagatsuka													1	0	1	0
3	Gigi Fernández		1					1		1					0	3	0
3	Natasha Zvereva		1					1		1					0	3	0
3	Kristie Boogert									2		1			0	3	0
10	Jana Novotná						1	2	3	4					4	6	0
4	Meredith McGrath							1	1		1	1			2	2	0
6	Brenda Schultz-McCarthy							1		1	1	3			1	5	0
1	Sabine Appelmans										1				1	0	0
2	Manon Bollegraf [a]											1			0	2	0
7	Steffi Graf	3			1		3
	Irina Spîrlea
	Linda Wild
	Rika Hiraki
	Naoko Kijimuta
	Kimiko Date
	Ai Sugiyama
	Gloria Pizzichini
	Laura Montalvo
	Paola Suárez

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

• Steffi Graf – Indian Wells, Miami, Berlin, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, WTA Championships (7)
• Monica Seles – Sydney, Australian Open, Eastbourne, Montreal, Tokyo (Tier II) (5)
• Jana Novotná – Madrid, Zurich, Chicago, Philadelphia (4)
• Ruxandra Dragomir – Budapest, Karlovy Vary, Pattaya City (3)
• Anke Huber – Rosmalen, Leipzig, Luxembourg (3)
• Kimiko Date – Tokyo (Tier III), San Diego (2)
• Lindsay Davenport – Strasbourg, Manhattan Beach (2)
• Julie Halard-Decugis – Hobart, Paris (2)
• Martina Hingis – Filderstadt, Oakland (2)
• Iva Majoli – Tokyo (Tier I), Essen (2)
• Conchita Martínez – Rome, Moscow (2)
• Arantxa Sánchez Vicario – Hilton Head, Hamburg (2)
• Shi-Ting Wang – Surabaya, Beijing (2)
• Sandra Cacic – Auckland (1)
• Meredith McGrath – Birmingham (1)
• Henrieta Nagyová – Warsaw (1)
• Barbara Paulus – Maria Lankowitz (1)
• Gloria Pizzichini – Bol (1)
• Lisa Raymond – Quebec City (1)
• Barbara Schett – Palermo (1)
• Brenda Schultz-McCarthy – Oklahoma City (1)
• Irina Spîrlea – Amelia Island (1)
• Dominique Van Roost – Cardiff (1)
• Linda Wild – Jakarta (1)

The following players won their first title:

• Sandra Cacic
• Gloria Pizzichini
• Ruxandra Dragomir
• Dominique Van Roost
• Barbara Schett
• Henrieta Nagyová
• Martina Hingis
• Lisa Raymond

Rankings

Below are the 1996 WTA year-end rankings in both singles and doubles competition:

Singles Year-end Ranking[1] No Player Name Points 1995 Change 1  Steffi Graf (GER) 4,649 1 = 2  Monica Seles (USA) 4,056 1 -1 3  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) 3,668 3 = 4  Conchita Martínez (ESP) 3,180 2 -2 5  Jana Novotná (CZE) 3,087 11 +6 6  Martina Hingis (SUI) 3,051 16 +10 7  Anke Huber (GER) 2,689 10 +3 8  Iva Majoli (CRO) 2,647 9 +1 9  Lindsay Davenport (USA) 2,357 12 +2 10  Irina Spîrlea (ROU) 1,748 21 +11 11  Karina Habšudová (SVK) 1,707 56 +45 12  Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (NED) 1,559 13 +1 13  Barbara Paulus (AUT) 1,492 23 +9 14  Amanda Coetzer (RSA) 1,484 19 +5 15  Judith Wiesner (AUT) 1,451 25 +10 16  Mary Joe Fernández (USA) 1,212 8 -11 17  Chanda Rubin (USA) 1,187 15 -2 18  Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) 1,182 45 +27 19  Magdalena Maleeva (BUL) 1,126 6 -13 20  Julie Halard-Decugis (FRA) 1,111 50 +30

Doubles Year-end Ranking[2] No Player Name Points 1995 Change 1  Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (ESP) 6,273 1 = 2  Larisa Neiland (LAT) 5,371 5 +3 3  Jana Novotná (CZE) 4,793 2 -1 4  Gigi Fernández (USA) 4,631 3 -1 5  Mary Joe Fernández (USA) 4,590 10 +5 6  Helena Suková (CZE) 4,519 9 +3 7  Lindsay Davenport (USA) 4,287 6 -1 8  Meredith McGrath (USA) 4,163 7 -1 9  Natasha Zvereva (BLR) 4,031 4 -5 10  Martina Hingis (SUI) 3,622 29 +19 11  Nicole Arendt (USA) 3,289 11 = 12  Lisa Raymond (USA) 2,809 16 +4 13  Lori McNeil (USA) 2,580 15 +2 14  Nathalie Tauziat (FRA) 2,361 20 +6 15  Manon Bollegraf (NED) 2,312 8 -7 16  Chanda Rubin (USA) 2,253 33 +17 17  Kristie Boogert (NED) 2,250 31 +14 18  Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (NED) 2,209 12 -6 19  Caroline Vis (NED) 2,198 39 +20 20  Yayuk Basuki (INA) 2,185 53 +33