Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was named the WTA Player of the Year 2024, marking the first time she has received the prestigious honor. The 26-year-old capped off a stellar season with two Grand Slam titles and finished the year as the top-ranked player in the world.
Sabalenka’s season was headlined by her successful defence of the Australian Open title in January and her maiden victory at the U.S. Open in September. In addition to her Grand Slam triumphs, she claimed WTA 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan, amassing an impressive 56-14 win-loss record. Her on-court excellence earned her nearly $10 million in prize money.
One of the season’s defining moments for Sabalenka was her dominant streak between August and October, where she recorded 16 consecutive wins. At one point, she had won 23 of her past 24 matches, underscoring her consistency on the biggest stages.
While Poland’s Iga Swiatek finished the season with seven titles, including a Grand Slam victory at the French Open, and a tour-leading 61 wins, Sabalenka’s success in marquee events ultimately tipped the scales in her favor. Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, relinquished her World No. 1 ranking to Sabalenka in October.
The WTA’s annual awards also recognised several standout performers from the season:
Most Improved Player: Emma Navarro, who broke into the top 10 in September and reached the U.S. Open semifinals.
Comeback Player of the Year: Paula Badosa, who returned from a back injury to climb to World No. 12 and claim the Washington title.
Newcomer of the Year: Lulu Sun, who rose from outside the top 200 to a career-high ranking of No. 39, highlighted by a Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance.
Doubles Team of the Year: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who won doubles gold at the Paris Olympics and reached the French Open final.
