.jpg) Martina Navratilova finished the year as world No. 1 for the record-extending seventh time in her career. She won nine tournaments during the season, including two majors at the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open, as well as the March and the November editions of the Virginia Slims Championships. She also finished runner-up at the third major, the French Open (the Australian Open was not held in 1986). | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 24 – November 24, 1986 |
| Edition | 14th |
| Tournaments | 41 |
| Categories | Grand Slam (3) WTA Championships Tour Events (37) |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most tournament titles |  Martina Navratilova (9) |
| Most tournament finals | Martina Navratilova (11) |
| Prize money leader | Martina Navratilova $1,905,841 |
| Points leader | Martina Navratilova 280.4807 |
| Awards | |
| Player of the year | Martina Navratilova |
| Doubles team of the year | |
| Most improved player of the year |  Steffi Graf |
| Newcomer of the year | Stephanie Rehe |
← 1985 1987 → | |
The 1986 Virginia Slims World Championship Series[1] was the 14th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced on March 24, 1986, and concluded in December, 1986 after 41 events. The season was abbreviated in order to return the tour to a calendar year basis.
The Virginia Slims World Championship Series was the elite tour for professional women's tennis organised by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). It was held in place of the WTA Tour from 1983 until 1987 and featured tournaments that had previously been part of the Toyota Series and the Avon Series. It included the four Grand Slam tournaments and a series of other events. ITF tournaments were not part of the tour, although they awarded points for the WTA World Ranking. No Australian Open was held during 1986 due to the tournament start date being moved from November to January.
- ^ Granberry, Mike (February 4, 1986). "Tennis Pro's Plan: Have Baby and Win: "I'll Feel That I've Done Something Really Big", Kim Shaefer Says". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2019.