Iga Swiatek is named WTA Player of the Year
World No 1 Iga Swiatek has been awarded the WTA’s Player of the year honour as part of the women’s professional tour’s week-long gongs.
Swiatek won eight tournaments in all across a season where she was the dominant force.
She claimed her second and third Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows.
She was the clear standout in the season by any metric having won more tournaments and matches than any other woman.
The undisputed rankings queen also went on a 37-match winning streak earlier this season and was victorious in six consecutive tournaments.
WTA Awards are voted for by select international tennis media members with the panel also determining the winners of doubles team of the year, most improved player, best newcomer and comeback player.
The Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award found a deserving winner in the so-called ‘Minister of Happiness’ Ons Jabeur, who has to be one of the tour’s shining lights.
Jabeur received the award for consistently showing respect for her opponents and officials and being gracious on and off the court.
She joins Petra Kvitova, Ana Ivanovic and Lindsay Davenport in being honoured with this award which carries that much more weight for being voted on by members of the WTA Tour.
History-making doubles pairing Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova claimed the award for the best duo for the second season in a row.
The pair missed out on a full calendar slam but were able to take home the titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Beatriz Haddad Maia, who finished inside the top 100 rankings and became the first Brazilian to win a WTA Player Award since they were introduced in 1977, was voted as the most improved player of the year.
The grass court season was where she really shined as she took home the Nottingham and Birmigham titles before reaching the last four at Eastbourne.
Later in the season, Haddad Maia’ run to the final at the WTA 1000 National Bank Open saw her surge into the top 20, and reach an all-time high ranking of No. 15.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old rising Chinese star Zheng Qinwen was named newcomer of the year.
Zheng secured a a string of positive results that saw her break into the top 25.
Germany’s Tatjana Maria came back to the game after giving birth and her great form, including a deep run at Wimbledon mean she is set to be name comeback players of 2022.
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