WTA Washington Open 1978 Draw & Results

Completed

Martina Navratilova won the 1978 Washington Open, defeating Betty Stove 7-5 6-4 in the final. The WTA 500 event was played January 2–8 on carpet courts in Washington, United States.

The Washington Open is a combined ATP and WTA event founded in 1969 and played in Washington, D.C.

Full tournament history →
Champion
Martina Navratilova
def. Betty Stove , 7-5 6-4
Dates
Jan 2 — Jan 8
Location
Washington, United States
Category
WTA 500
Surface
Carpet
Prize money
—

Historical categories use documented modern equivalents where available; unresolved editions keep their recorded category. Mapping details.

Results

Match type

31 recorded singles results

Washington Open 1978 match log
WinnerScoreLoserH2HMatch DataDateRound
F (1)
Martina Navratilova DEF · 2× 7-5 6-4 Betty Stove H2H Match data Jan 8, 1978* F
SF (2)
Martina Navratilova DEF · 2× 6-7 6-4 7-5 Dianne Fromholtz H2H Match data Jan 7, 1978* SF
Betty Stove 2-6 7-6 6-2 Joanne Russell H2H Match data Jan 7, 1978* SF
QF (4)
Betty Stove 6-4 6-1 Virginia Ruzici H2H Match data Jan 7, 1978* QF
Joanne Russell 6-4 6-3 Nancy Richey CH H2H Match data Jan 7, 1978* QF
Dianne Fromholtz 7-6 7-5 Kathy May H2H Match data Jan 7, 1978* QF
Martina Navratilova DEF · 2× 6-2 6-3 Greer Stevens H2H Match data Jan 7, 1978* QF
R16 (8)
Joanne Russell 6-3 6-3 Regina Marsikova H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Virginia Ruzici 6-4 7-5 Pam Shriver H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Greer Stevens 6-2 7-6 Florenta Mihai H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Dianne Fromholtz 6-2 3-6 6-4 Laura Dupont H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Betty Stove 6-1 6-4 Julie Anthony H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Martina Navratilova DEF · 2× 6-3 6-2 Janet Newberry H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Nancy Richey CH 6-2 6-2 Lesley Hunt H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16
Kathy May 6-2 3-6 7-5 Virginia Wade H2H Match data Jan 6, 1978* R16 Upset: winner had a 6 percent pre-match Elo win probability.
R32 (16)
Greer Stevens 6-1 6-1 Kristien Shaw H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Betty Stove 2-6 6-4 6-0 Brigette Cuypers H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Pam Shriver 7-6 6-0 Pam Teeguarden H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32 Upset: winner had a 18 percent pre-match Elo win probability.
Laura Dupont 6-7 1-6 6-3 Kate Latham H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Kathy May 6-0 6-0 Kathy Kuykendall H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Nancy Richey CH 6-4 6-1 Betsy Nagelsen H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Dianne Fromholtz 6-4 3-6 6-3 Michelle Tyler H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Florenta Mihai 6-2 6-1 Jeanne Evert H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Julie Anthony 7-6 6-1 Yvonne Vermaak H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Regina Marsikova 1-6 6-3 6-3 Billie Jean King CH H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32 Upset: winner had a 6 percent pre-match Elo win probability.
Joanne Russell 7-6 4-6 6-1 Francoise Durr H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Janet Newberry 6-2 7-5 Linda Mottram H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Virginia Wade 6-0 6-3 Renee Richards H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Virginia Ruzici 6-1 1-6 7-6 Wendy Turnbull H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Martina Navratilova DEF · 2× 6-2 6-0 Sharon Walsh Pete H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32
Lesley Hunt 6-2 3-6 6-0 Terry Holladay H2H Match data Jan 5, 1978* R32

Tournament Records

The leading Open Era records for Washington Open.

Most Appearances

Editions with a recorded main-draw match.

  1. Sloane Stephens 12 appearances

View the full Washington Open record book →

Open Era main-draw singles records from 1968 onward. Ranking records begin where reliable entering rankings are available.

Recent Finals

Recent Washington Open finals
WinnerScoreRunner-upH2HMatch DataSeasonSurface
Alexandra Eala #28 4-6 6-4 6-0 Jessica Pegula #3 H2H Match data 2026 Hard
Leylah Fernandez #36 6-1 6-2 Anna Kalinskaya #48 H2H Match data 2025 Hard
Paula Badosa #62 6-1 4-6 6-4 Marie Bouzkova #43 H2H Match data 2024 Hard
Coco Gauff #7 6-2 6-3 Maria Sakkari #9 H2H Match data 2023 Hard
Liudmila Samsonova #60 4-6 6-3 6-3 Kaia Kanepi #37 H2H Match data 2022 Hard

View full tournament history →

Related Tournaments

Other WTA 500 tournaments in 1978

Previous editions of Washington Open

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Washington Open held?
Washington Open is held in Washington, United States.
Who is the latest recorded Washington Open winner?
The 2026 Washington Open was won by Alexandra Eala, who defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-0.
Who has won the most Washington Open titles?
Martina Navratilova has won 9 Washington Open titles, the most by any player.
What is the earliest recorded Washington Open edition?
The earliest recorded edition of Washington Open in TennisDB is 1972.
What surface is Washington Open played on?
Washington Open is played on carpet courts.