What is a WTA Masters 1000 tournament?
A WTA Masters 1000 is one of the most important tennis tournaments for professional women players. There are 9 of these tournaments held throughout the year around the world. Only Grand Slam tournaments award more ranking points than Masters 1000 events, making these competitions very valuable for players trying to climb the world rankings.
Ranking points distribution
Winning a Masters 1000 tournament awards 1000 ranking points to the champion. The runner-up receives 600 points, the semifinalist gets 390 points, and points continue to decrease for earlier round eliminations. These points are added to a player's total career points, which determine their position in the WTA world rankings.
How points are used
Ranking points determine a player's official world ranking, which affects tournament invitations, seeding in competitions, and prize money opportunities. Players earn points based on their best results throughout the year. The more prestigious the tournament, the more points are available to earn.
Comparison to other tournaments
Grand Slam tournaments award 2000 points to the winner, making them the most valuable events. WTA 500 tournaments award 500 points, and WTA 250 tournaments award 250 points. Masters 1000 tournaments sit in the middle of this hierarchy by point value. 
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