ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In a remarkable achievement, Aryna Sabalenka has been awarded the WTA Player of the Year for the very first time, following her stunning triumphs at two Grand Slam tournaments and an impressive finish to the 2024 season as the world’s No. 1 ranked player.
In an exciting array of accolades determined by tennis experts, Emma Navarro emerged as the Most Improved Player, Paula Badosa captured the Comeback Player award, Lulu Sun was celebrated as the Newcomer of the Year, while Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini secured the honor of Doubles Team of the Year.
Aryna Sabalenka, at just 26 years old and hailing from Belarus, claimed victory at the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in September, adding two more titles to her collection this season. With an impressive 56-14 record and nearly $10 million in prize earnings, she dethroned Iga Swiatek from the top ranking in October.
Emma Navarro made waves by cracking the WTA’s top 10 for the first time this September, highlighted by her remarkable run at the U.S. Open, where she stunned defending champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round before succumbing to Sabalenka in the semifinals.
At 23, Navarro grew up in South Carolina and clinched the 2021 NCAA singles championship while at the University of Virginia. She celebrated her inaugural tour title at Hobart, Australia, in January and soared from No. 32 to No. 8 in the rankings over the span of the season.
Paula Badosa faced a challenging second half of 2023 due to a back injury; however, the resilient 27-year-old Spaniard made a strong comeback this year, climbing to No. 12 in the rankings, claiming the Washington title and matching her best Grand Slam performance by reaching the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.
In an inspiring journey, Lulu Sun went from being ranked outside the top 200 to achieving a career-high No. 39. She dazzled fans with a quarterfinal appearance as a qualifier at Wimbledon in July and a runner-up finish at the Monterrey Open in August. Born in New Zealand and raised in Switzerland, the 23-year-old played a key role in securing an NCAA team championship for the University of Texas.
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini brought glory to Italy by winning a doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics, contributing significantly to their nation’s success in the Billie Jean King Cup. They also shined in the French Open doubles final, while Paolini excelled in singles by reaching the finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
