2023 WTA Awards: Iga Swiatek follows in Serena Williams’ footsteps with Elina Svitolina also honoured

Shahida Jacobs
Iga Swiatek in action
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts

Iga Swiatek has become the first player since Serena Williams to win back-to-back WTA Player of the Year awards after finishing the year as the No 1 for a second year in a row.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek successfully defended her Roland Garros title this year while she also won a WTA Tour-leading six titles and appeared in the most finals (8).

She ended the year on a high by winning the WTA Finals for the first time in her career with the trophy helping her regain top spot in the WTA Rankings from Aryna Sabalenka as she claimed the year-end No 1 ranking for consecutive years.

The Pole is the first player to achieve back-to-back player of the year titles since Williams won four in a row from 2012 to 2015.

“Thank you for this acknowledgement and recognition. See you soon!” Swiatek wrote on social media following the announcement.

Most Improved Player of the Year

Zheng Qinwen was named the WTA’s Most Improved Player of the Year as she reached a new career-high No 15 in the rankings on the back of winning 12 out of her last 15 matches of the season.

The Chinese star won the Palermo Ladies Open and Zhengzhou Open, and finished runner-up at the WTA Elite Trophy.

Newcomer of the Year

Rising star Mirra Andreeva enjoyed the biggest ranking rise this year as she jumped from NO 405 to No 46 on the back of an incredible breakthrough season.

Shortly after her 16th birthday, Andreeva reached the round of 16 at the Madrid Open and then qualified for the French Open main draw where she reached the third round before enjoying a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Comeback Player of the Year

Elina Svitolina produced one of the storylines of the 2023 season as she gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Skai in October last year.

The Ukrainian returned to action in April and soon after won her first title as a mother as she lifted the Internationaux de Strasbourg. The former world No 3 also reached the quarter-final of the French Open and the semi-final of Wimbledon, beating four Grand Slam winners and three former world No 1s in the process.

Coach of the Year

Iga Swiatek’s mentor Tomasz Wiktorowski scooped the Coach of the Year award after he led the Pole to defend the French Open, finish the year at No 1 and 68-match wins in 2023. The award was voted for by WTA registered coaches.

Doubles Team of the Year

Playing in their first season as a pair, Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open while they also won the WTA 1000 Italian Open and the Guadalajara Open.

Australian Hunter finished the year as the doubles world No 1 with Mertens second.

Other Awards

The Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award & Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award were both handed to Ons Jabeur, and the Jerry Diamond ACES Award honour went to Jessica Pegula.

According to the official WTA website, the “Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award is given in recognition of Jabeur’s gracious and considerate manner, support for fair play and respect for others on and off the court” while the “Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award celebrates her outstanding support for her fellow players”.

The Jerry Diamond ACES Award, in memory of former WTA CEO Jerry Diamond, was handed to Pegula for “her consistent professional conduct and willingness to promote women’s tennis to fans, media and local communities by taking part in off-court promotional and charitable activities”.

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