# 1978 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles

Martina Navratilova defeated Chris Evert in the final, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1978 Wimbledon Championships. It was her first major singles title, and the first of an eventual 18 major singles titles and a record nine Wimbledon singles titles.
Virginia Wade was the defending champion, but was defeated in the semifinals by Evert.
This was the first time Wimbledon seeded 16 players for the ladies' championship, increasing the number from 12 the previous year. This remained the seeding system until 2001, when the tournament began to have 32 seeds.

## Seeds

    01. Chris Evert (final)
    02. Martina Navratilova (champion)
    03. Evonne Goolagong Cawley (semifinals)
    04. Virginia Wade (semifinals)
    05. Billie Jean King (quarterfinals)
    06. Betty Stöve (fourth round)
    07. Wendy Turnbull (fourth round)
    08. Dianne Fromholtz (fourth round)
    09. Tracy Austin (fourth round)
    10. Kerry Reid (fourth round)
    11. Marise Kruger (quarterfinals)
    12. Mima Jaušovec (quarterfinals)
    13. Virginia Ruzici (quarterfinals)
    14. Sue Barker (fourth round)
    15. Regina Maršíková (fourth round)
    16. Marita Redondo (third round)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.
As originally published Rosie Casals was seeded 14th and Sue Barker was seeded 16th. The withdrawal of Casals before the draw was made allowed for a redrafting of the seeding list.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Chris Evert | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Billie Jean King | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Billie Jean King | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | Chris Evert | 8 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Virginia Wade | 6 | 2 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Virginia Wade | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Virginia Wade | 6 | 2 | | | | | | |
| 12 | Mima Jaušovec | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Mima Jaušovec | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | 1 | Chris Evert | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| 13 | Virginia Ruzici | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| 3 | Evonne Goolagong Cawley | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Evonne Goolagong Cawley | 7 | 6 | | 3 | Evonne Goolagong Cawley | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| 11 | Marise Kruger | 2 | 4 | | 2 | Martina Navratilova | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| 2 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | 1 | C Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | F Thibault | 4 | 2 | | H Anliot | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Anliot | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 1 | C Evert | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | L duPont | 1 | 6 | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | L duPont | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S McInerney | 7 | 4 | Q | J Chaloner | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | J Chaloner | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | C Evert | 6 | 6 |
| | G Coles | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | K Reid | 3 | 4 |
| | H Sparre-Viragh | 6 | 6 | | H Sparre-Viragh | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | I Riedel | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | H Sparre-Viragh | 0 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 10 | K Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | M Simionescu | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Antonoplis | 2 | 4 | 10 | K Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | K Reid | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 14 | S Barker | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Kiyomura | 4 | 1 | 14 | S Barker | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | T Harford | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 14 | S Barker | 2 | 8 | 7 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | P Shriver | 6 | 6 | 5 | | | | |
| | | | | | R Harris | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Wikstedt | 3 | 3 | | P Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | S Barker | 2 | 2 |
| WC | L Mottram | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | BJ King | 6 | 6 |
| | R Tomanová | 6 | 6 | | R Tomanová | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | D Evers | 7 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | R Tomanová | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 5 | BJ King | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | Q | M Pinterová | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | M Gurdal | 0 | 2 | 5 | BJ King | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | BJ King | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 4 | V Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Ekblom | 1 | 2 | 4 | V Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | WC | L Bowrey | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | V Wade | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | | |
| | Y Vermaak | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Y Vermaak | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | |
| | D Ganz | 1 | 4 | | Y Vermaak | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | B Potter | 0 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | V Wade | 7 | 6 |
| | R Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | R Gerulaitis | 5 | 4 |
| | S Tolleson | 4 | 2 | | R Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | LL | H Ludloff | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | R Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 16 | M Redondo | 0 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | S Walsh | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | J Fayter | 1 | 5 | 16 | M Redondo | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | M Redondo | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 12 | M Jaušovec | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | F Mihai | 3 | 1 | 12 | M Jaušovec | 9 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | J Russell | 8 | 9 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 12 | M Jaušovec | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | M Tyler | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | M Tyler | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | W Barlow | 1 | 3 | | H Cawley | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Cawley | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | M Jaušovec | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | W Turnbull | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| | | | | | C Meyer | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Reynolds | 1 | 5 | | H Strachoňová | 8 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Strachoňová | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | C Meyer | 2 | 6 | | | | | | |
| Q | P Peled | 2 | 4 | | | | | | 7 | W Turnbull | 6 | 8 | | | | | | |
| | S Mappin | 6 | 6 | | S Mappin | 9 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 7 | W Turnbull | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | 6 | B Stöve | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | A Hobbs | 1 | 2 | | S Margolin | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Margolin | 6 | 6 | | | | | 6 | B Stöve | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | F Bonicelli | 1 | 0 | | | | | | F Dürr | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | F Dürr | 6 | 6 | | F Dürr | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | L Charles | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | B Stöve | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | V Ruzici | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | Q | M Blackwood | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Harter | 8 | 0 | | B Cuypers | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Cuypers | 9 | 6 | | | | | | B Cuypers | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 13 | V Ruzici | 8 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | R Giscafré | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | W Wooldridge | 1 | 2 | 13 | V Ruzici | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | V Ruzici | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 15 | R Maršíková | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Ziegenfuss | 0 | 5 | 15 | R Maršíková | 9 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | L Hunt | 8 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 15 | R Maršíková | 4 | 6 | 13 | | | | |
| | K May | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | K May | 6 | 2 | 11 | | | | |
| | P Teeguarden | 1 | 6 | | K May | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | C Stoll | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | R Maršíková | 2 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | E Goolagong Cawley | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | S Hanika | 3 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Newberry | 7 | 6 | | J Newberry | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Stratton | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | J Newberry | 4 | 3 | | | | | |
| | L Forood | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 3 | E Goolagong Cawley | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | B Simon | 0 | 1 | | L Forood | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 3 | E Goolagong Cawley | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 8 | D Fromholtz | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Ebbinghaus | 6 | 3 | 8 | D Fromholtz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | M Guerrant | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 8 | D Fromholtz | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | T Holladay | 6 | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | A-M Bruning | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Holladay | 6 | 7 | | T Holladay | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Latham | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | D Fromholtz | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | M Kruger | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | C Doerner | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | I Kloss | 6 | 6 | Q | I Kloss | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C O'Neil | 1 | 1 | | | | | | Q | I Kloss | 4 | 4 | | | | | | |
| WC | J Durie | 1 | 7 | | | | | | 11 | M Kruger | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| Q | P Smith | 6 | 9 | Q | P Smith | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 11 | M Kruger | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 9 | T Austin | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Desfor | 1 | 8 | 4 | 9 | T Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | E Nagelsen | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 9 | T Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | J DuVall | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | B Hallquist | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| | S Collins | 7 | 5 | 1 | | J DuVall | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | B Hallquist | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | T Austin | 2 | 3 |
| | B Jordan | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | M Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| | M Louie | 2 | 8 | | | B Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | V González | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | B Jordan | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | M Navratilova | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | P Whytcross | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Anthony | 1 | 3 | | 2 | M Navratilova | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | M Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |