2021 Backspin Awards
==NORTH AMERICAN REGION==
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Desirae Krawczyk, USA
RUNNER-UP: Leylah Fernandez, CAN
JUNIOR: Robin Montgomery, USA
DOUBLES: Desirae Krawczyk, USA
DOUBLES RU: Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
IMPROVED: Jessie Pegula, USA
WHEELCHAIR: Dana Mathewson, USA
2020-21 BJK: Leylah Fernandez, CAN and Danielle Collins, USA
FINALLY!: Danielle Collins wins her first tour title, and then a second (USA); Giuliana Olmos becomes first Mexican woman to play in a slam final, reaching the U.S. Open MX final with Marcelo Arévalo, and wins biggest tour title ever by a Mexican woman at the Italian Open (w/ Sharon Fichman/CAN)
KEEP AN EYE ON...: Coco Gauff truly coming of age
=MARKET WATCH=
BUY: Ann Li (USA) and Alycia Parks (USA)
SELL: Serena's quest for #24
HOLD: Sofia Kenin (USA) and Genie Bouchard (CAN)
==LATIN AMERICAN REGION==
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Camila Osorio, COL
RUNNER-UP: Luisa Stefani, BRA
JUNIOR: Solana Sierra, ARG
DOUBLES: Luisa Stefani, BRA
DOUBLES RU: Giuliana Olmos, MEX
IMPROVED: Alexa Guarachi, CHI
WHEELCHAIR: Macarena Cabrillana, CHI
2020-21 BJK: Maria Carle, ARG
FINALLY!: in Bogota, Daniela Seguel (CHI) wins first WTA MD match (1r/def. Tauson) since Bogota '18, when she became the first Chilean to win a WTA singles match since 1980
KEEP AN EYE ON...: Beatriz Haddad Maia's climb back to WTA relevance five years after reaching her maiden final (BRA) =MARKET WATCH=
BUY: Renata Zarazúa (MEX)
SELL: Monica Puig (PUR)
HOLD: Nadia Podoroska (ARG)
==ASIA/PACIFIC REGION==
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ash Barty, AUS
RUNNERS-UP: Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara, JPN/JPN and Naomi Osaka/JPN
JUNIOR: Alex Eala, PHI
DOUBLES: Shuko Aoyama/Ena Shibahara, JPN/JPN
DOUBLES RU: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
IMPROVED: Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS and Storm Sanders, AUS
WHEELCHAIR: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2020-21 BJK: Anna Danilina/Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ
FINALLY!: Ash Barty is the first Aussie woman to win Wimbledon since 1980; Hsieh Su-wei (TPE) is oldest first-time slam singles quarterfinalist (AO, at 35)
KEEP AN EYE ON...: #FreePengShuai; Alex Eala (PHI) joining the list of players consistently creating "first woman from her nation to..." moments
=MARKET WATCH=
BUY: Wang Xinyu (CHN), Olivia Gadecki (AUS) and Zheng Qinwen (CHN)
SELL: Wang Yafan (CHN)
HOLD: Dasha Gavrilova (Saville) (AUS)
==AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN/CAUCASUS REGION==
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maria Sakkari, GRE
RUNNER-UP: Ons Jabeur, TUN
JUNIOR: Michaela Laki, GRE
DOUBLES: Ekaterine Gorgodze, GEO
DOUBLES RU: Oksana Kalashnikova, GEO
IMPROVED: Mayar Sherif, EGY
WHEELCHAIR: KG Montjane, RSA
2020-21 BJK: Ekaterine Gorgodze/Oksana Kalashnikova, GEO
FINALLY! (I): Ons Jabeur becomes first Tunisian, Arab and North African woman to win a tour singles title and reach the singles Top 10
FINALLY! (II): Maria Sakkari becomes first Greek woman to reach singles slam semifinal and reach the Top 10
FINALLY! (III): Mayar Sherif is first woman representing Egypt to win a slam MD match (AO), first to qualify for and play at the Olympics, and the first to reach WTA singles and doubles finals (both at Cluj-Napoca)
FINALLY! (IV): Kgothatso Montjane (RSA) becomes first African woman to reach wheelchair slam singles final (Wimbledon)
KEEP AN EYE ON...: Sherif possibly becoming the first Egyptian to win a WTA title
=MARKET WATCH=
BUY: Valentini Grammatikopoulou (GRE)
SELL: Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR)
HOLD: Ipek Soylu (TUR)
==RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPEAN REGION==
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Anett Kontaveit, EST
RUNNERS-UP: Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
JUNIOR: Diana Shnaider, RUS
DOUBLES: Nadiia Kichenok, UKR
DOUBLES RU: Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
IMPROVED: Jaqueline Cristian, ROU and Gabriela Ruse, ROU
WHEELCHAIR: Viktoriia Lvova, RUS
2020-21 BJK: Liudmila Samsonova, RUS
FINALLY!: Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) reaches first (and second) slam semifinals at WI/US; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) reaches first slam final in record-breaking 52nd major MD
KEEP AN EYE ON...: the imminent rise of Marta Kostyuk (UKR) in '22
=MARKET WATCH=
BUY: Daria Snigur (UKR) and Varvara Gracheva (RUS)
SELL: Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)...hmmm, but then again
HOLD: Dayana Yastremska (UKR) and Anna Blinkova (RUS)
==WESTERN EUROPEAN REGION==
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
RUNNER-UP: Garbine Muguruza, ESP and Emma Raducanu, GBR
JUNIORS: Linda Noskova, CZE and Ane Mintegi del Olmo, ESP
DOUBLES: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
DOUBLES RU: Elise Mertens, BEL
IMPROVED: Paula Badosa/ESP, Tamara Zidansek/SLO and Clara Tauson/DEN
WHEELCHAIR: Diede de Groot, NED
2020-21 BJK: Jil Teichmann, SUI and Magdalena Frech, POL
FINALLY!: Diede de Groot (NED) completes first "Golden Slam" in wheelchair tennis history; Tamara Zidansek is first Slovenian to reach slam singles semifinal (RG); Garbine Muguruza is first Spaniard to win the WTAF, and Paula Badosa is the first to reach the Madrid semis; Krejickova/Siniakova are first Czech tennis Olympic Gold medalists
KEEP AN EYE ON...: the Fruhvirtova sisters (Linda, 16 & Brenda, 15; CZE); Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) starting to win more of those marathon matches than she loses; and the recent junior #1's from France (Clara Burel '18, Diane Parry '19 and Elsa Jacquemot '20)
=MARKET WATCH=
BUY: Lizzy de Greef (NED) [Jr.WD #1], Jule Niemeier (GER) and Sara Bejlek (CZE)
SELL: Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) in singles
HOLD: Petra Martic (CRO) and the future of a Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA) doubles pairing
**YEARLY REGIONAL PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR WINNERS**
==NORTH AMERICAN & ATLANTIC REGION==
2008 Serena Williams, USA
2009 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2011 Serena Williams, USA
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Serena Williams, USA
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Venus Williams, USA
2018 Sloane Stephens, USA
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020 Sofia Kenin, USA
2021 Desirae Krawczyk, USA
==SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICAN/LATIN AMERICAN REGION==
2008 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2009 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2010 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2011 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2012 Paula Ormaechea, ARG
2013 Paula Ormaechea, ARG
2014 Paula Ormaechea, ARG
2015 Teliana Pereira, BRA
2016 Mariana Duque Marino, COL
2017 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2018 Mariana Duque Marino, COL
2019 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2020 Nadia Podoroska, ARG
2021 Camila Osorio, COL
==ASIA/PACIFIC REGION==
2008 Zheng Jie, CHN
2009 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2010 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2011 Li Na, CHN
2012 Li Na, CHN
2013 Li Na, CHN
2014 Li Na, CHN
2015 Sania Mirza, IND
2016 Sania Mirza, IND
2017 Latisha Chan, TPE
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Ash Barty, AUS
2020 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2021 Ash Barty, AUS
==AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN/CAUCASUS REGION==
2008 Cara Black, ZIM
2009 Shahar Peer, ISR
2010 Shahar Peer, ISR
2011 Chanelle Scheepers, RSA
2012 Chanelle Scheepers, RSA
2013 Cara Black, ZIM
2014 Cara Black, ZIM
2015 Ons Jabeur, TUN
2016 Cagla Buyukakcay, TUR
2017 Maria Sakkari, GRE
2018 Maria Sakkari, GRE
2019 Maria Sakkari, GRE
2020 Maria Sakkari, GRE
2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
==EUROPE==
[Non-Russian Europe, 2008-12]
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2009 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
[Russia, 2008-15]
2008 Dinara Safina
2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova
2010 Vera Zvonareva
2011 Maria Sharapova
2012 Maria Sharapova
2013 Maria Sharapova
2014 Maria Sharapova
2015 Maria Sharapova
[Non-Russian Eastern Europe, 2013-15]
2013 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2014 Simona Halep, ROU
2015 Simona Halep, ROU
==========================
[RUSSIA & EASTERN EUROPEAN REGION]
2016 Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
2017 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2018 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2020 Simona Halep, ROU
2021 Anett Kontaveit, EST
[WESTERN EUROPEAN REGION]
2013 Aga Radwanska, POL
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Martina Hingis, SUI
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2019 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2020 Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
| RISERS | SURPRISES |
|---|---|
| 1. Paula Badosa, ESP | 1. Tamara Zidansek, SLO |
| 2. Barbora Krejcikova, CZE | 2. Jaqueline Cristian, ROU |
| 3. Anett Kontaveit, EST | 3. Nuria Párrizas Díaz, ESP |
| 4. Maria Sakkari, GRE | 4. Storm Sanders, AUS |
| 5. Aryna Sabalenka, BLR | 5. Tereza Martincova, CZE |
| 6. Iga Swiatek, POL | 6. Jasmine Paolini, ITA |
| 7. Ons Jabeur, TUN | 7. Greet Minnen, BEL |
| 8. Jennifer Brady, USA | 8. Mayar Sherif, EGY |
| 9. Karolina Muchova, CZE | 9. Anastasia Gasanova, RUS |
| 10. Belinda Bencic, SUI | 10. Gabriela Ruse, ROU |
| 11. Camila Giorgi, ITA | 11. Francesca Jones, GBR |
| 12. Tamara Zidansek, SLO | 12. Maryna Zanevska, BEL |
| 13. Danielle Collins, USA | 13. Anna Bondar, HUN |
| 14. Jessie Pegula, USA | 14. Ekaterine Gorgodze, GEO |
| 15. Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP | 15. Lucia Bronzetti, ITA |
| 16. Marketa Vondrousova, CZE | 16. Astra Sharma, AUS |
| 17. Yulia Putintseva, KAZ | 17. Pigossi/Stefani, BRA (Olympics) |
| 18. Elena Rybakina, KAZ | 18. Viktoriya Tomova, BUL |
| 19. Katerina Siniakova, CZE | 19. Irina Bara, ROU |
| 20. Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL | 20. Valentini Grammatikopoulou, GRE |
| HM- Magda Linette, POL | HM- Harmony Tan, FRA |
| FRESH FACES | JUNIORS |
|---|---|
| 1. Emma Raducanu, GBR | 1. Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE |
| 2. Leylah Fernandez, CAN | 2. Linda Noskova, CZE |
| 3. Coco Gauff, USA | 3. Robin Montgomery, USA |
| 4. Clara Tauson, DEN | 4. Ane Mintegi del Olmo, ESP |
| 5. Camila Osorio, COL | 5. Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND |
| 6. Liudmila Samsonova, RUS | 6. Diana Shnaider, RUS |
| 7. Veronika Kudermetova, RUS | 7. Alex Eala, PHI |
| 8. Ann Li, USA | 8. Nastasja Schunk, GER |
| 9. Jil Teichmann, SUI | 9. Kristina Dmitruk, BLR |
| 10. Marta Kostyuk, UKR | 10. Erika Andreeva, RUS |
| 11. Anna Kalinskaya, RUS | 11. Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE |
| 12. Kaja Juvan, SLO | 12. Sara Bejlek, CZE |
| 13. Wang Xinyu, CHN | 13. Oksana Selekhmeteva, RUS |
| 14. Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS | 14. Natalia Szabanin, HUN |
| 15. Varvara Gracheva, RUS | 15. Ksenia Zaytseva, RUS |
| 16. Magdalena Frech, POL | 16. Petra Marcinko, CRO |
| 17. Clara Burel, FRA | 17. Linda Klimovicova, CZE |
| 18. Anastasia Potapova, RUS | 18. Julia Middendorf, GER |
| 19. Diane Parry, FRA | 19. Oceane Babel, FRA |
| 20. Jule Niemeier, GER | 20. Solana Sierra, ARG |
| HM- Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA | HM- Polina Kudermetova, RUS |
| VETERANS | COMEBACKS |
|---|---|
| 1. Garbine Muguruza, ESP | 1. Dasha Kasatkina, RUS |
| 2. Anastasia Pavlyhuchenkova, RUS | 2. Ana Konjuh, CRO |
| 3. Hsieh Su-wei, TPE | 3. Elena Vesnina, RUS |
| 4. Viktorija Golubic, SUI | 4. Marketa Vondrousova, CZE |
| 5. Karolina Pliskova, CZE | 5. Angelique Kerber, GER |
| 6. Stosur/Sh.Zhang, AUS/CHN | 6. Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP |
| 7. Angelique Kerber, GER | 7. Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA |
| 8. Serena Williams, USA | 8. Alona Ostapenko, LAT |
| 9. Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS | 9. Andrea Petkovic, GER |
| 10. Petra Kvitova, CZE | 10. Nuria Párrizas Díaz, ESP |
| 11. Victoria Azarenka, BLR | 11. Donna Vekic, CRO |
| 12. Sorana Cirstea, ROU | 12. Sania Mirza, IND |
| 13. Nuria Párrizas Díaz, ESP | 13. Bianca Andreescu, CAN |
| 14. Andrea Petkovic, GER | 14. Anastasia Potapova, RUS |
| 15. Alison Riske, USA | 15. Rebecca Marino, CAN |
| 16. Kaia Kanepi, EST | 16. Katie Boulter, GBR |
| 17. Johanna Konta, GBR | 17. Rebeka Masarova, ESP |
| 18. Simona Halep, ROU | 18. Jiske Griffioen, NED (WC) |
| 19. Shelby Rogers, USA | 19. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK |
| 20. Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU | 20. Katie Swan, GBR |
| HM- Kristína Kucová, SVK | HM- Margarita Gasparyan, RUS |
| DOUBLES | DOWN |
|---|---|
| 1. Krejcikova/Siniakova, CZE/CZE | 1. Sonia Kenin, USA |
| 2. Aoyama/Shibahara, JPN/JPN | 2. CZE BJK Cup |
| 3. Desirae Krawczyk, USA | 3. Dayana Yastremska, UKR |
| 4. Elise Mertens, BEL | 4. Simona Halep, ROU |
| 5. Hsieh/Mertens, TPE/BEL | 5t. Kristina Mladenovic, FRA |
| 6. Jurak/Klepac, CRO/SLO | 5t. Caroline Garcia, FRA |
| 7. Melichar-Martinez/Schuurs, USA/NED | 5t. Fiona Ferro, FRA |
| 8. N.Kichenok/Olaru, UKR/ROU | 8. Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS |
| 9. Bouzkova/Hradecka, CZE/CZE | 9. Sloane Stephens, USA |
| 10. Luisa Stefani, BRA | 10. Madison Keys, USA |
| 11. Stosur/Sh.Zhang, AUS/CHN | 11. Petra Martic, CRO |
| 12. Gaby Dabrowski, CAN | 12. Babos/Mladenovic, HUN/FRA |
| 13. Alexa Guarachi, CHI | 13. Amanda Anisimova, USA |
| 14. Aryna Sabalenka, BLR | 14. Nadia Podoroska, ARG |
| 15. Ellen Perez, AUS | 15. Wang Qiang, CHN |
| HM- Hayley Carter, USA | DM- Bianca Andreescu, CAN |
| MOST IMPROVED | COACH |
|---|---|
| 1. Barbora Krejcikova, CZE | 1. Dmitry Tursunov (Kontaveit) |
| 2. Paula Badosa, ESP | 2. Nicolas Almagro (Collins) |
| 3. Anett Kontaveit, EST | 3. Javier Marti (Badosa) |
| 4. Leylah Fernandez, CAN | 4. Conchita Martinez (Muguruza) |
| 5. Tamara Zidansek, SLO | 5. Silvia Soler Espinosa (Sorribes Tormo) |
| 6. Jessie Pegula, USA | 6. Thomas Hill (Sakkari) |
| 7. Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP | 7. David Witt (Pegula) |
| 8. Ons Jabeur, TUN | 8. Carlos Martinez (Kasatkina) |
| 9. Maria Sakkari, GRE | 9. Aleš Kartus (Krejcikova) |
| 10. Gabriela Ruse, ROU | 10. Craig Tyzzer (Barty) |
| 11. Mayar Sherif, EGY | 11. Sascha Bajin (Ka.Pliskova) |
| 12. Tereza Martincova, CZE | 12. David Witt (Pegula) |
| 13. Jaqueline Cristian, ROU | 13. Issam Jellali (Jabeur) |
| 14. Jasmine Paolini, ITA | 14. Anton Dubrov (Sabalenka) |
| 15. Anna Bondar, HUN | 15. Alexander Pavlioutchenkov (Pavlyuchenkova) |
| HM- Greet Minnen, BEL | HM- Ricardo Sanchez (Osorio) |
| WHEELCHAIR | ITF TOUR |
|---|---|
| 1. Diede de Groot, NED | 1. Nuria Párrizas Díaz, ESP |
| 2. Yui Kamiji, JPN | 2. Anhelina Kalinina, UKR |
| 3. de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED | 3. Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA |
| 4. Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR | 4. Cristina Dinu, ROU |
| 5. NED World Team Cup | 5. Darja Semenistaja, LAT |
| 6. KG Montjane, RSA | 6. Weronika Falkowska, POL |
| 7. Aniek Van Koot, NED | 7. Linda Noskova, CZE |
| 8. Jordanne Whiley, GBR | 8. Panna Udvardy, HUN |
| 9. Montjane/Shuker, RSA/GBR | 9. Dea Herdželaš, BIH |
| 10. Momoko Ohtani, JPN | 10. Arantxa Rus, NED |
| 11. Shuker/Whiley, GBR/GBR | 11. Bai Zhuoxuan, CHN |
| 12. Kamiji/Ohtani, JPN/JPN | 12. Daria Snigur, UKR |
| HM- Lizzy de Greef, NED (jr.#1) | HM- Zhibek Kulambayeva, KAZ |
| TEAMS | NCAA |
|---|---|
| 1. RTF (Russia) BJK Cup | 1. Emma Navarro, USA (Virginia) |
| 2. Texas Longhorns (NCAA) | 2. Estela Perez-Somarriba, ESP (Miami) |
| 3. SUI BJK Cup | 3. Makenna Jones & Elizabeth Scotty, USA/USA (UNC) |
| 4. CZE Jr. BJK Cup (16s) | 4. Sara Daavettila, USA (UNC) |
| 5. NED WC World Team Cup | 5. Janice Tjen, INA (Oregon) |
| 6. RUS World Jr. 12s & 14s | 6. Abigail Forbes, USA (UCLA) |
| 7. SUI BJK Cup | 7. Katarina Jokic, SRB (Georgia) |
| 8. AUS BJK Cup | 8. Kylie Collins & Lulu Sun, USA/SUI (Texas) |
| 9. Orange Country Breakers (WTT) | 9. Kenya Jones, USA (Ga.Tech) |
| 10. Pepperdine Waves (NCAA) | 10. Victoria Flores & Kenya Jones, USA/USA (Ga.Tech) |
| 11. USA BJK Cup | 11. McCartney Kessler, USA (Florida) |
| 12. ITA BJK Cup | 12. Anna Rogers, USA (N.C. State) |
| HM- KAZ BJK Cup | HM- Alexa Graham, USA (UNC) |
| QUALIFYING ROUND | ZONES |
|---|---|
| 1. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, BLR | 1. Dayana Yastremska, UKR |
| 2. Alona Ostapenko, LAT | 2. Krunic/Stojanovic, SRB |
| 3. Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP | 3. Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA |
| 4. Kiki Bertens, NED | 4. Anett Kontaveit, EST |
| 5. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK | 5. Iga Swiatek, POL |
| HM- Jil Teichmann, SUI (2020-21 MVP) | -- |
| PLAYOFFS | BJK CUP FINALS EVENT |
|---|---|
| 1. Magdalena Frech, POL | 1. Liudmila Samsonova, RTF (Finals MVP) |
| 2. Arantxa Rus, NED | 2. Belinda Bencic, SUI |
| 3. Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA | 3. V.Kudermetova/Samsonova, RTF |
| 4. Katie Boulter, GBR | 4. Bencic/Teichmann, SUI |
| 5. Leylah Fernandez, CAN | 5. Danielle Collins, USA |
| 6. Danilina/Shvedova, KAZ | 6. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RTF |
| 7. Rus/Schuurs, NED | 7. Storm Sanders, AUS |
| 8. Anastasija Sevastova, LAT | 8. Marketa Vondrousova, CZE |
| 9. Maria Carle, ARG | 9. Dasha Kasatkina, RTF |
| 10. Frech/Kawa, POL | 10. Jil Teichmann, SUI (2020-21 MVP) |
| 11. Elina Svitolina, UKR | 11. Viktoria Kuzmova, SVK |
| 12. Martina Trevisan, ITA | 12. Dasha Gavrilova, AUS |
| QUALIFYING ROUND | ZONES |
|---|---|
| 1. Igor Andreev, RUS | 1. Tathiana Garbin, ITA |
| 2. Anabel Medina-Garrigues, ESP | 2. Tatjana Jecmenica, SRB |
| 3. Kathy Rinaldi, USA | 3. Agustin Moreno, MEX |
| PLAYOFFS | BJK CUP FINALS EVENT |
|---|---|
| 1. Paul Haarhuis, NED | 1. Igor Andreev, RTF |
| 2. Tathiana Garbin, FRA | 2. Alicia Molik, AUS |
| 3. Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ | 3. Heinz Gunthardt, SUI |
**HARD COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2005 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2006 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2008 Serena Williams, USA
2009 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2010 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Serena Williams, USA
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Elina Svitolina, UKR
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020a Sofia Kenin, USA
2020b Naomi Osaka, JPN
2021 Ash Barty, AUS
**CLAY COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2005 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL
2006 Nadia Petrova, RUS
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2008 Dinara Safina, RUS
2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2010 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2011 Li Na, CHN
2012 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2015 Angelique Kerber, GER
2016 Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic, FRA/FRA
2017 Simona Halep, ROU
2018 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Ash Barty, AUS
2020 Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
**GRASS COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2005 Venus Williams, USA
2006 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2007 Venus Williams, USA
2008 Venus Williams, USA
2009 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2020 -
2021 Ash Barty, AUS
**INDOOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS
2005 Mary Pierce, FRA
2006 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2009 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2010 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Angelique Kerber, GER
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
2015 Aga Radwanska, POL
2016 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
2017 Julia Goerges, GER
2018 Elina Svitolina, UKR
2019 Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2020a Kiki Bertens, NED
2020b Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2021 Anett Kontaveit, EST
**WHEELCHAIR PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020a Yui Kamiji, JPN
2020b Yui Kamiji, JPN
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
*"RISING PLAYER" WINNERS*
2002 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2003 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS & Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2005 Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
2006 Nadia Petrova, RUS
2007 Jelena Jankovic, SRB & Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2008 Dinara Safina, RUS
2009 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2011 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2012 Aga Radwanska, POL
2013 Simona Halep, ROU
2014 Simona Halep, ROU & Genie Bouchard, CAN
2015 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2017 Caroline Garcia, FRA
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Sofia Kenin, USA
2020a Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2020b Jennifer Brady, USA
2021 Paula Badosa, ESP
*"FRESH FACE" WINNERS*
2002 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2003 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2004 Tatiana Golovin, FRA
2005 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2006 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2007 Agnes Szavay, HUN
2008 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2009 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2010 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
2011 Monica Niculescu, ROU
2012 Laura Robson, GBR
2013 Sloane Stephens, USA & Genie Bouchard, CAN
2014 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2015 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2016 Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
2017 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2018 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020a Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2020b Iga Swiatek, POL
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR
*JUNIOR/"NextGen" WINNERS*
2002 Vera Zvonareva, RUS
2003 Vera Dushevina, RUS
2004 Maria Kirilenko, RUS & Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2005 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2006 Olga Puchkova, RUS
2007 Tamira Paszek, AUT
2008 Michelle Larcher de Brito, POR & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
2009 Melanie Oudin, USA
2010 Alisa Kleybanova, RUS
2011 Caroline Garcia, FRA
2012 Taylor Townsend/Genie Bouchard, USA/CAN
2013 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2014 CiCi Bellis, USA
2015 Dalma Galfi, HUN
2016 Kayla Day, USA
2017 Claire Liu, USA
2018 Wang Xiyu, CHN
2019 Coco Gauff, USA
2020a Victoria Jimenez Kastinseva, AND
2020b Elsa Jacquemot, FRA
2021 Linda Fruhvritova, CZE
*NCAA PLAYER*
2015 Jamie Loeb, USA (North Carolina)
2016 Danielle Collins, USA (Virginia)
2017 Francesca Di Lorenzo, USA (Ohio State)
2018 Astra Sharma, AUS (Vanderbilt)
2019 Estela Perez-Somarriba, ESP (Miami)
2020 Ashley Lahey, USA (North Carolina)
2021 Emma Navarro, USA (Virginia)
*"SURPRISE" WINNERS*
2002 Anna Smashnova, ISR
2003 Anca Barna, GER
2004 Claudine Schaul, LUX
2005 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2006 Severine Bremond, FRA
2007 Sybille Bammer, AUT
2008 Aleksandra Wozniak, CAN
2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
2010 Vania King/Yaroslava Shvedova, USA/KAZ
2011 Galina Voskoboeva, KAZ
2012 Sara Errani, ITA
2013 Karin Knapp, ITA
2014 Tereza Smitkova, CZE
2015 Johanna Konta, GBR
2016 NED Fed Cup Team
2017 BLR Fed Cup Team
2018 Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU
2019 Jil Teichmann, SUI
2020a Renata Zarazua, MEX
2020b Nadia Podoroska, ARG
2021 Tamara Zidansek, SLO
*"VETERAN" WINNERS*
2002 Monica Seles, USA
2003 Ai Sugiyama, JPN
2004 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2005 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2006 Martina Hingis, SUI
2007 Venus Williams, USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2011 Li Na, CHN
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2014 Serena Williams, USA
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Venus Williams, USA
2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2020a Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2020b Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2021 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
*"COMEBACK" WINNERS*
2002 Chanda Rubin, USA
2003 Lina Krasnoroutskaya, RUS
2004 Mary Pierce, FRA
2005 Venus Williams, USA
2006 Martina Hingis, SUI
2007 Serena Williams/Venus Williams, USA/USA
2008 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2010 Justine Henin, BEL
2011 Sabine Lisicki, GER
2012 Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
2013 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2014 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, CRO
2015 Russian Fed Cup Team
2016 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
2017 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2018 Serena Williams, USA
2019 Johanna Konta, GBR
2020a Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2020b Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2021 Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
*"MOST IMPROVED PLAYER" WINNERS*
2003 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2004 Alicia Molik, AUS
2005 Kveta Peschke, CZE
2006 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2007 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2008 Vera Zvonareva, RUS
2009 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2010 Kaia Kanepi, EST
2011 Aga Radwanska, POL
2012 Varvara Lepchenko, USA
2013 Julia Glushko, ISR and Alison Riske, USA
2014 Alize Cornet, FRA
2015 Dasha Gavrilova, RUS/AUS
2016 Monica Puig, PUR
2017 Maria Sakkari, GRE and Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2018 Kiki Bertens, NED and Wang Qiang, CHN
2019 Karolina Muchova, CZE
2020a Ons Jabeur, TUN
2020b Jennifer Brady, USA
2021 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
*"DOWN" WINNERS*
2002 Meghann Shaughnessy, USA
2003 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2004 Jelena Dokic, SRB
2005 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2006 Serena Williams/Venus Williams, USA/USA
2007 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2008 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2009 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2010 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2011 Venus Williams, USA
2012 Vera Zvonareva, RUS
2013 Nadia Petrova, RUS
2014 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2015 Genie Bouchard, CAN
2016 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK
2017 Angelique Kerber, GER
2018 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
2019 Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
2020a Sloane Stephens, USA
2020b Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2021 Sofia Kenin, USA
*"DOUBLES" WINNERS*
2003 Martina Navratilova, USA
2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual, ESP
2005 Cara Black, ZIM
2006 Lisa Raymond, USA
2007 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Nuria Llagostera-Vives/MJ. Martinez-Sanchez, ESP/ESP
2010 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2011 Liezel Huber, USA
2012 Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2013 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2014 Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Martina Hingis, SUI
2016 Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic, FRA/FRA
2017 Latisha Chan/Martina Hingis, TPE/SUI
2018 Demi Schuurs, NED
2019 Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka, BEL/BLR
2020a Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2020b Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2021 Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
*"TEAM OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
2003 Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez, ESP/ARG
2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez, ESP/ARG
2005 Serena Williams/Venus Williams, USA/USA
2006 Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur, USA/AUS
2007 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Italian Fed Cup Team
2010 Gisela Dulko/Flavia Pennetta, ARG/ITA
2011 Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik, CZE/SLO
2012 Czech Republic Fed Cup Team
2013 Hsieh Su-Wei/Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
2014 Czech Republic Fed Cup Team
2015 Czech Republic Fed Cup Team
2016 Czech Republic Fed Cup Team
2017 U.S. Fed Cup Team
2018 Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 French Fed Cup Team
2020 New York Empire [WTT]
2021 Russian Tennis Federation [BJK]
*"ITF PLAYER OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
2008 Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
2009 Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova, CZE
2010 Mathilde Johansson, FRA
2011 Casey Dellacqua, AUS
2012 Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor, ESP
2013 Reka-Luca Jani, HUN
2014 Denisa Allertova, CZE
2015 Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
2016 Isabella Shinikova, BUL
2017 Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU
2018 Viktoria Kuzmova, SVK
2019 Arantxa Rus, NED
2020a Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU
2020b Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2021 Nuria Párrizas Díaz, ESP
*"FED CUP/BJK CUP PLAYER OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
2005 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2006 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2007 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2008 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2009 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2010 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2013 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2016 Caroline Garcia, FRA*
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
2018 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2019 Ash Barty, AUS*
2020-21 Jil Teichmann, SUI*
--
* - non-championship team
*"FED CUP/BJK CUP FINALS MVP" WINNERS*
2002 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2003 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS
2005 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2006 Francesa Schiavone, ITA
2007 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2008 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2009 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2010 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2013 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2016 Barbora Strycova, CZE
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
2018 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2019 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2021 Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (RTF)
*"FED CUP/BJK CUP CAPTAIN OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
2015 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA*
2016 Paul Haarhuis, NED*
2017 Kathy Rinaldi, USA
2018 Kathy Rinaldi, USA*
2019 Julien Benneteau, FRA
2020-21 Igor Andreev, RUS (RFT)
--
* - non-championship team
*"COACH OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
2018 Sascha Bajin (Osaka)
2019 Sylvain Bruneau (Andreescu) and Dimitri Zavialoff (Konta)
2020a Conchita Martinez (Muguruza)
2020b Michael Geserer (Brady)
2021 Dmitry Tursunov (Kontaveit)
2021 saw the return of tennis in (mostly) full force, albeit with sometimes-limited crowds and a schedule with the occasional "ad hoc" feel. It featured numerous off-court controversies to go along with the usual breakout moments and personalities that once again highlighted the ongoing resilience of the women's tour, both within today's rollercoaster reality and into the *next* era and whatever obstacles it may present. After completing a season that required feats of both great planning and improvisation, in the year's closing weeks, women's tennis went about providing clear evidence that the desire for equality that gave birth to the WTA still exists within its bones some 48 years (and counting) later. For that we can be thankful, while also knowingly shaking our collective head (confirming what we already knew, but still...) at the absence of the existence of similar principles in the leadership positions at most of the other leading organizations in the sport. Such are the times in which we (still) live. Backspin's personal list of 2021's "most valuable" (often "favorite," but sometimes just "useful") people, notions, trends, feats, overdue honors, historic observations and frustrations (new and old) includes, amongst other things, the everlasting link between a grand slam champion and her late mentor, a belated official salute to "the Founders," (yet another) fake marketing campaign and, of course, a woman in a dragon mask. Because, you know, why wouldn't it?
Icons. Legends. Inspirations. ??
— ITF (@ITFTennis) November 10, 2021
Diede de Groot ?? Billie Jean King pic.twitter.com/DeNVQ8NgcP
Spooooooky season ???????#TransylvaniaOpen pic.twitter.com/KGdHKLiJZP
— wta (@WTA) October 25, 2021
Middle of the night in Romania and here are the latest updates from the BT Arena ??#TO2021 pic.twitter.com/sa4pmm7DJH
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) October 31, 2021
???? @TransylvaniaOpn understood the assignment ?????#TransylvaniaOpen pic.twitter.com/AeRC3ArsGv
— wta (@WTA) October 31, 2021
Countess Dracula - I mean Jaqueline Cristian - has arrived ???????#TransylvaniaOpen pic.twitter.com/ARElXqpnJu
— wta (@WTA) October 27, 2021
Jaqueline right now. pic.twitter.com/NYmZ8lAFRF
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) October 26, 2021
So we removed the courts ??????? pic.twitter.com/JqSyi1KBsf
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) November 2, 2021
Barbora Krejcikova: "Jana Novotna from upstairs, she's just really looking after me, I really miss her and I really want to thank her for... just because of her I'm here, it's really important for me to say this out loud."pic.twitter.com/NmZJJx1Iiw
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) June 10, 2021
Sascha Bajin joins the Pliskova team, intriguing. https://t.co/wudbklK6yD
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) November 27, 2020
Jumping into the 3rd round! ????
— Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) July 1, 2021
???? @Wimbledon ???? pic.twitter.com/2xy1AfN0KC
What a match! ??@paulabadosa is the first wildcard to reach the quarterfinals at the @MutuaMadridOpen since 2017! pic.twitter.com/BlxY6IdUl1
— wta (@WTA) May 3, 2021
Sealed with a kiss! ??@paulabadosa | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/F5y3NJVBrg
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 5, 2021
That winning moment#BNPPO21 | @paulabadosa pic.twitter.com/GmDYBzbRU4
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) October 17, 2021
???? @ashbarty ?? Evonne Goolagong Cawley ????
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
Whether it's 2021 or 1971, you always remember your first...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/djzUM8Buft
?? by amazing @RadkaLeitmeritz @FILAtennis pic.twitter.com/OTjJBFqp3T
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) October 8, 2021
?? ?? @RadkaLeitmeritz made her name with magazines like Vogue but the Czech photographer is also a keen WTA tennis fan. In a project entitled Court Supremes she has set out to change our view of succesful women in sport. @mariasakkari @PorscheTennis https://t.co/brzuMHFhgs pic.twitter.com/KL3C3XuoC2
— Tennishead (@tennishead) December 2, 2021
G R A N D ????
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) September 10, 2021
S L A M ??
F I N A L I S T ??@leylahfernandez is through to the #USOpen final, defeating World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4.
Two years after Bianca Andreescu’s magical run to the title, the #USOpen produces another Canadian star.#TennisNation ???? pic.twitter.com/6VYM1C4dkj
51 years ago today, the Original 9 signed $1 contracts. A press conference followed, & then Rosie & Val played a match.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 23, 2021
Our dream began that day, & lives on each time one of the incredible women playing our sport today steps on the court.
??: HRMC, Houston Public Library pic.twitter.com/VcUxyIeVSj
It’s official!
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 18, 2021
The #Original9 have been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/kWJ8qdarDR
The sisterhood runs deeper than the rivalry ????
— Mouratoglou Tennis Academy (@MouratoglouAcad) November 22, 2021
In their first-ever official match against each other, 16 y/o Linda Fruhvirtova defeated 14 y/o sister Brenda 6-4 7-6 in the ITF J1 Mexico final! pic.twitter.com/ftTfpWEZnQ
??
— Tennis GIFs ???? (@tennis_gifs) April 20, 2021
???? In this
????? house
?????? we
?????? stan
????????????
slice winners
?????????? ??
????????????#IstanbulCup @DKasatkina pic.twitter.com/k4GyxAILRw
Awww. @NastiaPav @DKasatkina #BJKCupFinals pic.twitter.com/1emfi3FZVo
— Tennis GIFs ???? (@tennis_gifs) November 3, 2021
Omg that’s me https://t.co/C9PLU7CN9U
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) November 11, 2021
That’s what happens when you borrow her jacket and never return it?? https://t.co/u9sTNSt2QL
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) April 16, 2021
Congratulations to @EmmaRaducanu on your #USOpen win - what a fantastic achievement! ???? We are all so proud.
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) September 11, 2021
Well done to @LeylahFernandez ???? today too. An outstanding match between two inspiring young women - we can’t wait to see where you go next. ?? pic.twitter.com/54tE6WYbZW
about last night…???? #themet pic.twitter.com/fPEpUYYKWM
— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) September 14, 2021
This happened..and the world’s a better place because of it. pic.twitter.com/bnjCxnMZPi
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) October 16, 2021
? A historic moment for this sport ?
— wta (@WTA) July 23, 2021
The first tennis ?? player to light the cauldron in Olympics history.#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/MRRGA2EMr4
Thank you all for your beautiful messages on my 30th birthday ??
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) September 27, 2021
I’m truly grateful for your support and your part in my journey.
I’m so happy with where these 30 years on earth have taken me and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Simo ?? pic.twitter.com/SgpplBXzR0
I’m definitely rooting for Ane Mintegi del Olmo to have a massive pro career, just so this look becomes a thing ?? pic.twitter.com/0TIKkLz6TX
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 8, 2021
Ane Mintegi Del Olmo gave a big introvert vibe. Are we done yet ? ??#wimbledon pic.twitter.com/XP29A00xi9
— Tennis GIFs ???? (@tennis_gifs) July 12, 2021
1st step to Melbourne ??????????@AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/IN5KJ87qd6
— mayar sherif (@MayarSherif_1) January 11, 2021
The History Makers Club: The Next Generation (starring Alex Eala, Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, etc.)
Tennis: House honors Alex Eala for French Open doubles win https://t.co/cgSY3bQJHR
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 7, 2021
Plenty of reason to smile in 2021 for @GarbiMuguruza who capped off a great season with winning the WTA Finals, rising to No. 3 in the world. pic.twitter.com/Ci1GCDLXZn
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) December 6, 2021
WTA Finals champ @GarbiMuguruza out and about in Guadalajara after her big win last night. pic.twitter.com/tPKMrD9xP2
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) November 18, 2021
How to seal a win in style, starring @alizecornet ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gNeO7k21iA
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2021
I made this ball in the court btw ?? pic.twitter.com/fWWhMNTZPr
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) June 29, 2021
"My mum has to go get wine and my dad has to get a beer." ????@CocoGauff reveals her parents' secret to dealing with nerves ??#AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/NoxI6fO5fO
— Adelaide International (@AdelaideTennis) February 25, 2021
Throwback, me and pops ??@KingRichardFilm pic.twitter.com/geO4s9GkJQ
— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) November 23, 2021
...wither "The Quest for #24." But maybe Venus has another "era" in her, if she so chooses to go down the doubles path.
been living a dream these last two weeks ! Love my journey ? Thank you all for the support and love i was getting ?? Grateful.
— Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (@NastiaPav) June 14, 2021
Paris, you have my heart.
?? ?????, ? ??????! ??????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ?? @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/MBRZE8C4G4
Olympic Champions ????!!!
— Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (@NastiaPav) August 1, 2021
?? ???????, ?? ?? ??????? ??? ????????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ? ?????????! ??????, ?? ??????, ?????? (?? ?? ? ??? ??????)!
????? ????????? ?? pic.twitter.com/L7li6KayMw
????????? ???? !!! ?? ??? ??????? ! ???????? ??? ??? ???????? ??????, ???? ????? ?? ??
— Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (@NastiaPav) November 7, 2021
Happy Happy Happy ! WE did it ! World Champions ?? ??What an end to the season just wow! @BJKCup pic.twitter.com/BmHP6EmxtP
Mood in Estonia right now… pic.twitter.com/eGn2hJlN7l
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) November 17, 2021
??????@iga_swiatek #IBI21 #tennis pic.twitter.com/q0z7hfoWFy
— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) May 17, 2021
?? W tym roku drugi raz przygotowalismy Szlachetna Paczke.
— Iga Swiatek (@iga_swiatek) December 3, 2021
Wy tez mozecie pomóc tym, którym brakuje wsparcia. Ja swoje doceniam jeszcze bardziej i dlatego chce dzielic sie tym, co mam. Kazdy moze to zrobic na miare swoich mozliwosci na https://t.co/n8nVv1I1tF. pic.twitter.com/jmGaVeUCdS
...rarely has one issue revealed quite so much about the organizations of tennis. Thus, when it came to the protection of human rights and the well-being of a member of the sport's "family," it shall be remembered that the tour founded by individuals seeking freedom and equality proved to have a spine and operate with a defined set of principles, while others (most notably the ATP and ITF, which followed along in the sketchy shadow of the long-corrupt IOC) decided to first check their ledger sheets, then chose to move forward with the most meaningless actions possible and least offensive (to China) words available (the statement on the Peng issue by the ATP, laughably part of recent discussions about merging the two pro tours into a single entity, blatantly failed to even *use* the word "China"), while being content to let freedom burn. All right, go with that. But don't expect everyone else to forget.
1st - "The Radwanska"
2nd - Victoria Azarenka
3rd - "Carl & Carla"
[All-Time Backspin MVP - 2012]
1st - Kim Clijsters
2nd - Justine Henin
3rd - Jelena Jankovic
[2013]
1st - Serena Williams & Vika Azarenka
2nd - "The Radwanska"
3rd - "Citizen Anna"
[2014]
1st - Team Genie and/vs. Team Sloane
2nd - 2004 Revisited (Russian Revolution)
3rd - Captain/Coach Amelie Mauresmo
[2015]
1st - "Being Simona Halep"
2nd - Maria Sharapova's Instagram account
3rd - "The (Almost) Grand Slam" (Serena Williams)
[2016]
1st - Halep & "The Cliffs of Simona"
2nd - Free Maria Sharapova
3rd - "La Petit Taureau" Week
[2017]
1st - "Latvian Thunder"
2nd - "In Rinaldi We Trust"
3rd - Karmic Kiki & the Pastry Queen Named Caro
[2018]
1st - "Si-mo-na! Si-mo-na!": The Triumph of the Resilient Romanian
2nd - "The Great Wave of Osaka" and the rise of Generation PDQ
3rd - Serena vs. "Serena": the irrational notion of an "ideal" great, combined with double-standards, rose-colored glasses, grandstanding, a loss of minds, reality and the clarity of life = a living, imperfect, reliably human icon for the ages (aka "Serena is still Serena")
[2019]
1st - "Bianca, of the North" (Andreescu)
2nd - The Wonderful Horrible Season of Elina Svitolina
3rd - The Ash Barty Way
[2020]
1st - Tennis in the Time of Coronavirus
2nd - "The Vikaissance" (Azarenka)
3rd - Shutdown "Suzanne Lenglen Month(s)"
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 8:31 PM
3 Comments:
You mentioned Carson Branstine recently, and I should make the obligatory mention that she is Freddie Freeman's cousin.
She might be switching colleges. Again. Went to USC with her sister, but did not play. Then went to Virginia, also DNP due to injuries. Now listed on bio as Texas A&M, though not on roster page as of yet.
Del Potro=Andreescu? Harsh, but true until now.
Having Suarez Navarro 6th seems odd, but correct. Would have flipped Konjuh and Kasatina.
Stat of the Week- 6- Number of Top 100 money earners that made more from doubles.
This was inspired by Krejcikova, who I thought would have been on this list in prior years. So here is a look back at the last 4 seasons with rank on money list.
2018-15
18- Siniakova
19- Mladenovic
26- Babos
27- Makarova
30- Vandeweghe
33- Krejcikova
42- Vesnina
50- Sestina Hlavackova
54- Dabrowski
62- Schuurs
72- Melichar
75- Xu
86- Peschke
94- Sanchez Martinez
98- Klepac
Krejcikova made 9 times more from doubles, Makarova was within 19K in both, Peschke, Sanchez Martinez and Klepac were the only ones not to have played any singles matches.
2019-12
17- Hsieh
20- Mladenovic
26- Babos
37- Stosur
54- Dabrowski
60- Krejcikova
61- Xu
68- L.Chan
75- Mattek-Sands
82- Groenefeld
85- H.Chan
86- Schuurs
Krejcikova doubles split down to 5 to 1. Hsieh earned over 1 million in both, being the only player to do so in any of these 4 years. Xu, L.Chan, Groenefeld, Schuurs played no singles.
2020-6
17- Mladenovic
22- Babos
26- Strycova
29- Hsieh
54- Zvonareva
94- Melichar
The usual suspects and Zvonareva, who won a slam. Melichar is the only doubles only player on this list.
2021-6
20- Hsieh
25- Siniakova
31- Zhang
45- Stosur
88- Krawczyk
93- McNally
Am I surprised to see McNally on this list? Yes, but as well as Gauff/McNally are as a team, I should not. Siniakova only had a 10K difference, and nobody on this list was doubles only.
(cont)
What about the reverse? Are there any singles only players that reached the Top 100? That is actually much easier to do.
2018-9
Wozniacki
Osaka
Kerber
Kvitova
Garcia
Suarez Navarro
Sharapova
Giorgi
Radwanska
Some of these names will become very familiar.
2019-7
Osaka
S.Williams*
Kvitova
Keys
Wozniacki
Kanepi
Kuznetsova
*Williams did play mixed. Former doubles slam winner Kuznetsova transitions to the latter half of her career.
2020-13
Osaka
Muguruza
Kvitova
Martic
Pironkova
Kerber
Anisimova*
Cirstea
Kuznetsova
Giorgi
Kasatkina
Juvan
Kanepi
Anisimova mixed only. This is the outlier, the only season in double digits. Cirstea surprised me, but will less as time goes on. Giorgi doesn't play well with others(see Italy BJK Cup) so no surprise.
2021-7
Raducanu
Osaka
S.Williams
Kvitova
Cirstea
Giorgi
Konjuh
Raducanu has such a small body of work. Curious if she goes the Halep route and throw in 3-4 doubles events per year. Kvitova and Osaka make it easy to know where to find them. Only on a singles court.
Quiz Time!
Has Naomi Osaka ever won a WTA level doubles match?
Interlude- 1940's fearmongering.
https://twitter.com/melreynoldsU/status/1468206274215124996
Answer!
Well, since I gave you doubles match instead of doubles title, the answer is yes.
However, this is much closer to being no than you think. She hasn't played doubles since 2017. She did manage over the course of her career do the bucket list.
The bucket list?
Tokyo
Osaka
Miami
AO
RG
Wimbledon
USO
4 slams, 2 in Japan, plus her home in Miami.
0-2 in Japan
0-2 US Open
0-1 Miami
0-1 Wimbledon
0-1 Australia
1-1 Roland Garros
Her one win is on clay! Back in 2016, Osaka/Doi d Manon Arcangioli/Chloe Pacquet, then lost to Klepac/Srebotnik.
Will we ever see Osaka on a doubles court again?
Ah, Freddie Freeman... the one Brave I've always respected. ;)
(Of course, at this point there aren't many Nats left to respect, either.) :/
After all the injuries, and finally a surgery, Branstine won her first career challenger title last month, too.
I really didn't like the tour's nominees for "Comeback Player" (I rarely do), and I think Kasatkina surely should have been on that list considering where her results went in 2019-20 and then how she surged back this year. Not sure how Mirza made it on there (and why only four nominees when all the other categories had far more?) considering she won a post-motherhood title *last* year, the same as she did in '21.
I wasn't sure where to put CSN, because on some level the list *should* be about actual results (i.e. wins) during the season. Plus, I knew her comeback matches would be included in the Performance/Match lists coming up, so it wasn't like I was overlooking her. I felt like that was the "correct" spot on that particular list.
I think Konjuh could still be in the mix for Comeback Player in '22, as well, since she has a lot potential big things remaining (fingers crossed) to "reclaim," like a title, and some slam match wins rather than simply MD appearances.
Well, I didn't mean the Andreescu/del Potro thing to be harsh, because JMDP is probably my (only?) favorite men's player of the last twenty years. But I've lamented all year that I'm afraid BA's career will follow his path, i.e. some *great* highs, including many still to come, but pooled around far more injury breaks and a lot of "what if" thoughts that become the dominant feature of her career bio. I hope I'm wrong. :/
"Giorgi doesn't play well with others." :)
Interesting how Mladenovic, who didn't have a good year in singles at all, *still* didn't make more $ in WD this season. At what point is it a financial consideration that she return full-on there in the near future? She keeps on trying to make the singles-focus thing happen, but she could be a Hall of Famer (she's already got a good start) as a doubles diva (in the good sense, of course) and BJK Cup leader.
Video: unfortunately, what goes around always seems to come back around again.
Hmmm, that last Osaka question might be a good inclusion on the Prediction Blowout (either over/under or picking a spot). Does MX count in your numbers for her? I don't remember if she's done that or not. Maybe she & Nishikori might give it a try *once* if they haven't already.
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