Chris Evert was the first ever women's ITF World Champion in 1978 and went on to be honoured three times in total. Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf have also been prolific recipients, receiving the accolade six and seven times respectively. More recently, Serena Williams and Justine Henin have both won on multiple occasions.
Women's singles
Serena Williams’s superior record in the year’s major events saw her crowned Women’s World Champion ahead of Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.
The 31-year-old captured Olympic singles gold for the first time, and won Wimbledon and the US Open to take her total number of Grand Slam titles to 15. She went on to capture the year-end WTA Championships to finish the season with a tour-best seven titles and a 58-4 win-loss record.
Williams said: “It means a lot to be named ITF World Champion for the third time. It has been such an amazing experience this year to win the Olympics and two Grand Slam tournaments, and I look forward to having an awesome 2013.”
Williams will receive her 2012 award at the ITF World Champions Dinner, to be held in Paris on 4 June 2013.
Honour roll
- 2012: Serena Williams (USA)
- 2011: Petra Kvitova (CZE)
- 2010: Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
- 2009: Serena Williams (USA)
- 2008: Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
- 2007: Justine Henin (BEL)
- 2006: Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)
- 2005: Kim Clijsters (BEL)
- 2004: Anastasia Myskina (RUS)
- 2003: Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)
- 2002: Serena Williams (USA)
- 2001: Jennifer Capriarti (USA)
- 2000: Martina Hingis (SUI)
- 1999: Martina Hingis (SUI)
- 1998: Lindsay Davenport (USA)
- 1997: Martina Hingis (SUI)
- 1996: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1995: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1994: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP)
- 1993: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1992: Monica Seles (YUG)
- 1991: Monica Seles (YUG)
- 1990: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1989: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1988: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1987: Steffi Graf (GER)
- 1986: Martina Navratilova (USA)
- 1985: Martina Navratilova (USA)
- 1984: Martina Navratilova (USA)
- 1983: Martina Navratilova (USA)
- 1982: Martina Navratilova (USA)
- 1981: Chris Evert Lloyd (USA)
- 1980: Chris Evert (USA)
- 1979: Martina Navratilova (USA)
- 1978: Chris Evert (USA)
Women's doubles
Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci are the first all-Italian pairing to be named Women’s Doubles World Champions.
The duo captured their first two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, and were also runners-up at the Australian Open. They won a tour-high eight titles during the year, including five successive tournament wins between April and June. They ended the year as the No. 1-ranked team.
Errani said: "We have had an amazing year and are proud to be named ITF World Champions. There have been so many highlights in singles and doubles, but we are very happy to be the first Italian pair to finish the season at No. 1."
Errani and Vinci will receive their 2012 award at the ITF World Champions Dinner, to be held in Paris on 4 June 2013.
Honour roll
- 2012: Sara Errani (ITA) / Roberta Vinci (ITA)
- 2011: Kveta Peschke (CZE) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)
- 2010: Gisela Dulko (ARG) / Flavia Pennetta (ITA)
- 2009: Serena Williams (USA) / Venus Williams (USA)
- 2008: Cara Black (ZIM) / Liezel Huber (USA)
- 2007: Cara Black (ZIM) / Liezel Huber (USA)
- 2006: Lisa Raymond (USA) / Samantha Stosur (AUS)
- 2005: Lisa Raymond (USA) / Samantha Stosur (AUS)
- 2004: Virginia Ruano-Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suarez (ARG)
- 2003: Virginia Ruano-Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suarez (ARG)
- 2002: Virginia Ruano-Pascual (ESP) / Paola Suarez (ARG)
- 2001: Lisa Raymond (USA) / Rennae Stubbs (AUS)
- 2000: Julie Halard-Decugis (FRA) / Ai Sugiyama (JPN)
- 1999: Martina Hingis (SUI) / Anna Kournikova (RUS)
- 1998: Lindsay Davenport (USA) / Natalia Zvereva (BLR)
- 1997: Lindsay Davenport (USA) / Jana Novotna (CZE)
- 1996: Lindsay Davenport (USA) / Mary Joe Fernandez (USA)