New Delhi: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka on Monday was named as the WTA Player of the Year after having a phenomenal year in 2024. This was the very first time the 26-year-old received the prestigious award among the female tennis players across the globe.
Sabalenka started the year by defending her crown at the Australian Open with 6-3, 6-2 win over Zheng Qinwen of China in the final. Later in September, she clinched her maiden US Open title by rallying past home favourite Jessica Pegula in the title clash at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. She achieved the double hard-court slam to complete her three major slam crowns.
She pipped Poland’s Iga Swiatek to the World No.1 ranking in October and ensured she finished on the pole position after winning two WTA World Tour games, though she couldn’t capitalise for that title. Apart from the two Grand Slams in the year, Sabalenka also won two WTA 1000 tournaments in Cincinnati Open (in August) and Wuhan Open (in October). She played 21 tournaments in total and accumulated 9416 points in the final WTA rankings for 2024 with a win-loss ratio of 56-14.
Emma Navrro Most Improved Player & other WTA awards
America’s 23-year-old Emma Navarro was named as the Most Improved Player while Spain’s Paula Badosa received the Comeback Player of the Year. New Zealand’s Lulu Sun was named Newcomer of the Year, and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani were recognised as the Doubles Team of the Year.
It was in September when Navarro made her first appearance in the WTA’s top 10 rankings after stunning American teen sensation Coco Gauff in the fourth round of the US Open before the player from down under went down to Sabalenka in the semifinals. Navarro finished at the 8th spot in the WTA year-ending rankings with 3589 points.
The 23-year-old Navarro, who grew up in South Carolina and won the 2021 NCAA singles championship at the University of Virginia, won her first tour title at Hobart, Australia, in January, and moved from No. 32 in the rankings at the start of 2024 to No. 8 at the end.
Badosa sat out the last half of 2023 with a back injury but the 27-year-old Spaniard was back near the top of the sport this year, climbing to No. 12 in the rankings, winning the title in Washington and equaling her best result at a Grand Slam tournament by getting to the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Sun went from outside the top 200 in the rankings to a career-best No. 39, highlighted by a quarterfinal showing as a qualifier at Wimbledon in July and a runner-up finish at the Monterrey Open in August. Sun, 23, was born in New Zealand, grew up in Switzerland and helped the University of Texas win an NCAA team championship.
(With inputs from agencies)
Aryna Sabalenka was crowned the 2024 WTA Player of the Year, marking her first time receiver this prestigious award. Her phenomenal year included winning both the Australian Open and the US Open, achieving a career-high World No. 1 ranking. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
