The 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour was the elite professional tennis circuit organized by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for the 2008 tennis season. The 2008 WTA Tour calendar comprises the Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA Tier I-IV Events, the Fed Cup, the year-end championships, and the tennis event at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.
Jelena Janković finished the year as WTA world No. 1 for the first time in her career, though Serena Williams was named the Player of the Year. Janković won four tournaments during the season, including two Tier I events, and finished runner-up at a major at the US Open. Williams won four tournaments during the season, including a major at the US Open, and two Tier I events.
Maria Sharapova started the year on an 18-match winning streak.
Dinara Safina won four titles and improved to No. 3 in the world during the season.
Justine Henin is a Belgian former world No. 1 tennis player. She spent a total of 117 weeks as the world No. 1 and was the year-end No. 1 in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Henin, coming from a country with limited success in tennis, helped establish Belgium as a leading force in women's tennis alongside Kim Clijsters, and led the country to its first Fed Cup crown in 2001. She was known for her all-court style of play and for being one of the few female players to use a single-handed backhand.
Justine Henin-Hardenne at the 2006 Medibank International
Justine Henin prepares to hit a backhand
Justine Henin in 2005
Justine Henin at the 2006 Medibank International in Sydney