Aryna Sabalenka has been named the WTA Player of the Year for the first time after an outstanding season where the Belarusian claimed two Grand Slam titles and achieved the year-end world No. 1 ranking, as announced by the Women’s Tennis Association.
Sabalenka defended her Australian Open title in January and secured her third Grand Slam victory at the US Open in September, overtaking Iga Swiatek to top the rankings a month later. She also added titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan, concluding her 2024 season with four championships.
Meanwhile, Paris Olympics gold medallists Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini were voted the top doubles team of the year by international tennis media. American Emma Navarro earned the title of the season’s most improved player. Ranked 38th at the end of 2023, Navarro broke into the top 10 in September, capturing her first title in Hobart and reaching six semifinals, including one at Flushing Meadows, during a remarkable season.