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World No. 1 Iga Swiatek was named the WTA Player of the Year for the primary time in her profession. The 2020 Newcomer of the Year had a really breakout season as she led the tour in finals reached, trophies gained and match victories.
Swiatek’s profitable season noticed eight event wins, together with two Grand Slam titles. She took the French Open in June and the US Open title in September, changing into the primary lady to win two Grand Slams in a single season since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
She gained 67 matches and registered a 37-match successful streak from February to July — which turned the longest undefeated stretch in girls’s tennis since Steffi Graf gained 66 consecutive matches over 1989 and 1990.
“I felt like all the pieces clicked this season,” Swiatek stated in a video interview with the Associated Press throughout her unbeaten streak. “And I wasn’t anticipating to be that constant.”
The 21-year-old from Poland was glorious on clay in 2022 however continues to be working to enhance in grass. Her successful streak ended within the third spherical of Wimbledon towards Alizé Cornet. Swiatek celebrated the top of the season in November with a enjoyable video on Instagram that referenced the Lion King. At the top of the video titled “Queen of Tennis”, there’s a joke about how “the little darkish space” of grass would not fairly belong to her but.
The different WTA awards included Beatriz Haddad Maia as Most Improved Player of the Year, changing into the primary Brazilian lady to win one of many WTA participant honors since they had been launched in 1977. Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova gained Doubles Team of the Year for the second season in a row and third time total.
Full record of WTA awards:
Player of the Year: Iga SwiatekDoubles Team of the Year: Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina SiniakovaMost Improved Player of the Year: Beatriz Haddad MaiaNewcomer of the Year: Zheng QinwenComeback Player of the Year: Tatjana Maria
2022 WTA Player Service Awards, as voted for by WTA gamers:
Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award: Ons JabeurPeachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award: Gabriela DabrowskiJerry Diamond ACES Award: Maria SakkariCoach of the Year (as voted on by WTA registered coaches): David Witt
