2024 WTA Year in Review: The Backspin Awards
RUNNERS-UP: Jessie Pegula, USA and Danielle Collins, USA
RISERS: Emma Navarro, USA and Ashlyn Krueger, USA
FRESH FACES: Marina Stakusic, CAN and Katie Volynets, USA
SURPRISES: McCartney Kessler, USA and Hailey Baptiste, USA
VETERANS: Asia Muhammad, USA and Rebecca Marino, CAN
COMEBACKS: Amanda Anisimova, USA and Ann Li, USA
JUNIORS: Tyra Caterina Grant/Iva Jovic, USA/USA
DOUBLES: Tayor Townsend, USA
DOUBLES RU: Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
DOUBLES DUO: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Sofia Kenin, USA/USA and Caroline Dolehide/Desirae Krawczyk, USA/USA
IMPROVED: Renata Zarazua, MEX and Robin Montgomery/USA
DOWN: CAN BJK Cup Team and USA BJK Cup Team
WHEELCHAIR: Dana Mathewson, USA and Maylee Phelps, USA (jr.)
TEAMS: Texas A&M (NCAA) & USA Jr. BJK Cup
BJK CUP MVPs: Jessie Pegula, USA and Renata Zarazua, MEX
NAME YOU'll KNOW IN 2025: Tyra Caterina Grant, USA
2025 PREDICTIONS: Coco Gauff (USA) reaches two slam singles finals, and one in doubles; Iva Jovic (USA) wins maiden tour-level singles title
RUNNER-UP: Camila Osorio, COL
RISERS: Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG and Julia Riera, ARG
FRESH FACES: Solana Sierra, ARG and Lucciana Perez Alarcon, PER
SURPRISE: Luisina Giovannini, ARG
VETERAN: Laura Pigossi, BRA
COMEBACK: Nadia Podoroska, ARG
JUNIOR: Antonia Vergara Rivera, CHI
DOUBLES: Luisa Stefani, BRA
DOUBLES RU: Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
DOUBLES DUO: Carolina Alves/Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (BJK Cup)
IMPROVED: Emiliana Arango, COL
DOWN: Martina Capurro Taborda, ARG
WHEELCHAIR: Angelica Bernal, COL
TEAM:BRA BJK Cup Team
BJK CUP MVPs: Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA and Camila Osorio, COL
NAME YOU'LL KNOW IN 2025: Jazmin Ortenzi, ARG
2025 PREDICTION: a South American not named either Haddad Maia or Osorio wins a tour-level singles title (the last was in 2015)
RUNNERS-UP: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE (d) and Elena Rybakina, KAZ
RISERS: Zheng Qinwen/CHN, Wang Xinyu/CHN and Moyuka Uchijima/JPN
FRESH FACES: Aoi Ito, JPN and Wei Sijia, CHN
SURPRISES: Mananchaya Sawangkaew, THA and Ena Shibahara, JPN (s)
VETERANS: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE and Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
COMEBACKS: Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS and Ash Barty, AUS (Wimb.Invitational)
JUNIORS: Emerson Jones, AUS and Wakana Sonobe, JPN
DOUBLES: Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
DOUBLES RU: Erin Routliffe, NZL and Anna Danilina, KAZ
DOUBLES DUO: Eri Hozumi/Shuko Aoyama, JPN/JPN
IMPROVED: Lulu Sun, NZL and Yuan Yue, CHN
DOWN: Zhu Lin, CHN and Wang Xiyu, CHN
WHEELCHAIR: Yui Kamiji, JPN
TEAMS: JPN BJK Cup and CHN World Team Cup (WC)
BJK CUP MVP: Nao Hibino, JPN
NAMES YOU'LL KNOW in 2025: Maya Joint, AUS and Sara Saito, JPN
2025 PREDICTIONS: Alex Eala (PHI) makes slam MD debut and gets 1st Rd. win, reaches tour-level QF and is first Filipina to crack Top 100 (and Top 75); Elena Rybakina wins second major title
RUNNERS-UP: Elina Avanesyan, ARM and Mayar Sherif, EGY
RISER: Berfu Cengiz, TUR
FRESH FACES: Angella Okutoyi, KEN and Sada Nahimana, BDI
SURPRISES: Dimitra Pavlou, GRE and Aya El Aouni, MAR
VETERAN: Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (WC)
COMEBACK: RSA BJK Cup Team
JUNIOR: Malak El Allami, MAR
DOUBLES: Sapfo Sakellaridi, GRE
DOUBLES RU: Kgothatso Montjane, RSA (WC)
DOUBLES DUO: Eleni Christofi/Sapfo Sakellaridi, GRE/GRE
IMPROVED: Zeynep Sonmez, TUR and Daria Frayman, CYP
DOWN: Ons Jabeur, TUN and Maria Sakkari, GRE
WHEELCHAIR: Kgothatso Montjane, RSA
TEAM: EGY BJK Cup Team
BJK CUP MVP: Mayar Sherif, EGY
NAME YOU'LL KNOW IN 2025: Lina Glushko, ISR
2025 PREDICTION: Elina Avanesyan becomes first player representing Armenia to win a WTA singles title
RUNNERS-UP: Diana Shnaider, RUS and Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
RISERS: Anna Kalinskaya, RUS and Marta Kostyuk, UKR
FRESH FACES: Diana Shnaider/RUS, Mirra Andreeva/RUS and Yulia Starodubtseva/UKR
SURPRISES: Erika Andreeva, RUS and Anastasia Zakharova, RUS
VETERANS: Victoria Azarenka, BLR and Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU
COMEBACKS: Patricia Maria Tig, ROU and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
JUNIOR: Rositsa Dencheva, BUL
DOUBLES: Irina Khromacheva, RUS
DOUBLES RU: Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
DOUBLES DUO: Lyudmyla Kichenok/Alona Ostapenko, UKR/LAT
IMPROVED: Dayana Yastremska, UKR and Viktoriya Tomova, BUL
DOWN: Veronika Kudermetova, RUS (s) and Sorana Cirstea, ROU
WHEELCHAIR: Viktoriia Lvova, RUS
TEAM: ROU BJK Cup Team
BJK CUP MVPs: Ana Bogdan, ROU and Jaqueline Cristian, ROU
NAMES YOU'LL KNOW IN 2025: Anca Todoni, ROU and Darja Semenistaja, LAT
2025 PREDICTIONS: Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) defends one of her two '24 slam titles; Alina Korneeva (RUS) win maiden tour singles *and* doubles titles, cracks WTA singles Top 50
RUNNERS-UP: Jasmine Paolini, ITA and Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
RISERS: Katie Boulter/GBR, Magdalena Frech/POL and Diane Parry/FRA
FRESH FACES: Linda Noskova/CZE, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro/ESP and Brenda Fruhvirtova/CZE
SURPRISES: Rebecca Sramkova/SVK, Suzan Lamens/NED and SVK BJK Cup Team
VETERANS: Donna Vekic/CRO, Magda Linette/POL and Karolina Pliskova/CZE
COMEBACKS: Paula Badosa/ESP, Nina Stojanovic/SRB and Lucie Safarova/CZE
JUNIORS: Renata Jamrichova/SVK, Mika Stojsavljevic/GBR and Tereza Valentova/CZE
DOUBLES: Katerina Siniakova, CZE
DOUBLES RU: Cristina Bucsa, ESP
DOUBLES DUO: Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA/ITA
IMPROVED: Jasmine Paolini/ITA, Olga Danilovic/SRB and Sonay Kartal/GBR
DOWN: NED World Team Cup (WC), Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP and Caroline Garcia/FRA
WHEELCHAIR: Diede de Groot, NED
TEAMS: ITA BJK Cup Team and CZE Jr. 14s Team
BJK CUP MVPs: Iga Swiatek/POL, Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini (ITA) and Emma Raducanu/GBR
NAMES YOU'LL KNOW IN 2025: Dasha Vidmanova, CZE and Ella Seidel, GER
2025 PREDICTIONS: Iga Swiatek (POL) wins a major title, but it's not a fourth straight at Roland Garros; Karolina Muchova (CZE) wins her first slam title
**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
2022 Jessie Pegula, USA
2023 Coco Gauff, USA
2024 Coco Gauff, 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
2022 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2023 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2024 Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
==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
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2024 Zheng Qinwen, CHN
==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
2022 Ons Jabeur, TUN
2023 Ons Jabeur, TUN
2024 Zeynep Sonmez, TUR
==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
2022 Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
[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
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL
2023 Iga Swiatek, POL
2024 Iga Swiatek, POL
| ITF PLAYERS | COACH | 1. Sonay Kartal, GBR 2. Patricia Maria Tig, ROU 3. Solana Sierra, ARG 4. Moyuka Uchijima, JPN 5. Rebecca Marino, CAN 6. Tereza Valentova, CZE 7. Anastasia Zakharova, RUS 8. Nina Vargova, SVK 9. Nuria Parrizas Diaz, ESP 10. Lucija Ciric Bagaric, CRO 11. Jazmin Ortenzi, ARG 12. Hana Inoue, USA HM- Sapfo Sakellaridi, GRE |
1. Renzo Furlan [Paolini] 2. Pere Riba [Zheng] 3. Nikola Horvat/Pam Shriver [Vekic] 4. Anton Dubrov [Sabalenka] 5. Peter Ayers [Navarro] 6. Mark Knowles/Mark Merklein [Pegula] 7. Ryan Harrison [Collins] 8. Sandra Zaniewski [Kostyuk] 9. Matt Daly/JC Faurel [Gauff] 10. Biljana Veselinovic [Boulter] 11. Conchita Martinez/Jean-Rene Lisnard [M.Andreeva] 12. Patricia Tarabini [Kalinskaya] HM- Pol Toledo Bague [Badosa] |
|---|---|
| BJK CUP PLAYERS | BJK CUP CAPTAINS | 1. Iga Swiatek, POL 2. Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA 3. Emma Raducanu, GBR 4. Viktoria Hruncakova, SVK 5t. Ana Bogdan, ROU 5t. Jaqueline Cristian, ROU 7. Suzan Lamens, NED 8. Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA 9. Clara Tauson, DEN 10. Camila Osorio, COL 11. Julia Riera, ARG 12. Laura Siegemund, GER |
1. Matej Liptak, SVK 2. Ai Sugiyama, JPN 3. Tathiana Garbin, ITA 4. Dawid Celt, POL 5. Anne Keothavong, GBR 6. Elise Tamaela (Q) & Kiki Bertens (PO), NED 7. Jens-Anker Andersen, DEN 8. Horia Tecau, ROU 9. Wim Fissette, BEL 10. Rainer Schuettler, GER 11. Luiz Peniza, BRA 12. Liu Feng, CHN |
**HARD COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
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
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL
2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
**CLAY COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
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
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL
2023 Iga Swiatek, POL
2024 Iga Swiatek, POL
**GRASS COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
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
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
2024 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
**INDOOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
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
2022 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2023 Alycia Parks, USA
2024 Coco Gauff, USA
**WHEELCHAIR PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
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
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Diede de Groot, NED
*"RISING PLAYER" WINNERS*
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
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL
2023 Coco Gauff, USA
2024 Zheng Qinwen, CHN
*"FRESH FACE" WINNERS*
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
2022 Coco Gauff, USA
2023 Zheng Qinwen, CHN
2024 Diana Shnaider, RUS
*JUNIOR" WINNERS*
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 Fruhvirtova, CZE
2022 Petra Marcinko, CRO
2023 Alina Korneeva, RUS
2024 Renata Jamrichova, SVK
"*NCAA PLAYER" WINNERS*
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)
2022 Peyton Stearns, USA (Texas)
2023 Fiona Crawley, USA (North Carolina)
2024 Alexa Noel, USA (Miami)
*"SURPRISE" WINNERS*
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
2022 Bernarda Pera, USA
2023 Elina Avanesyan, RUS
2024 Rebecca Sramkova, SVK
*"VETERAN" WINNERS*
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
2022 Simona Halep, ROU
2023 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2024 Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
*"COMEBACK" WINNERS*
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
2022 Caroline Garcia, FRA
2023 Elina Svitolina, UKR
2024 Paula Badosa, ESP
*"MOST IMPROVED PLAYER" WINNERS*
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
2022 Zheng Qinwen, CHN
2023 Mirra Andreeva, RUS
2024 Jasmine Paolini, ITA
*"DOWN" WINNERS*
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
2022 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2023 Zhang Shuai, CHN
2024 Ons Jabeur, TUN
*"DOUBLES" WINNERS*
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
2022 Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2023 Laura Siegemund/Vera Zvonareva, GER/RUS
2024 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
*"DOUBLES DUO" WINNERS*
2024 Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA/ITA
*"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)
2022 David Witt (Pegula)
2023 Brad Gilbert, w/ Pere Riba (Gauff)
2024 Renzo Furlan (Paolini)
*"TEAM OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
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 Team [BJK Cup]
2022 Flavia Pennetta/Francesca Schiavone, ITA/ITA (Wimbledon Legends)
2023 Canadian BJK Cup Team
2024 Italian BJK Cup Team
*"ITF PLAYER OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
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
2022 Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE
2023 Emma Navarro, USA
2024 Sonay Kartal, GBR
*"FED CUP/BJK CUP PLAYER OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
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*
2022 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2023 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
2024 Iga Swiatek, POL*
--
* - non-championship team
*"FED CUP/BJK CUP FINALS MVP" WINNERS*
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)
2022 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2023 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
2024 Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA
*"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)
2022 Alicia Molik, AUS*
2023 Tathiana Garbin, ITA*
2024 Matej Liptak, SVK*
--
* - non-championship team
As far as this space goes, 2024 was a playground of ongoing stories to chew on. Some were good, some were frustrating, if not irritating. For whatever reason it might have been, they all put enough fuel in the tank to create the momentum to last eleven months. My most useful storylines (aka "Most Valuable Plotlines") of the season...
| 1. | A Jana on Her Shoulder | [Krejickova at Wimbledon] |
| 2. | The End of the Era of Relevance | [WTA abdicates role as voice for women's rights w/ Saudi deal] |
| 3. | Live Like Paolini! | [A Year of Jasmine] |
| 4. | Zheng, Navarro and the Art of Losing Respect by Showing None of It | [embarrassing post-match Olympic comments] |
| 5. | The Resilience of the Long-Distance Romanian: The Denouement | [the Halep ruling and return] |
| 6. | Yui's Revenge is a Dish Best Served À la Mode | [Kamiji shines in Paris despite de Groot's long shadow] |
| 7. | Catching Iga | [Sabalenka lands #1] |
| 8. | For the Love of the Artiste | [appreciation for Muchova] |
| 9. | The WTA's Straight-"A" Student Shines Again | [post-coaching change Gauff] |
| 10. | Rise of the Bandanna | [Shnaider] |
| 11. | "Have Racket, Will Travel with You to Win Titles" | [Siniakova & TBD in doubles] |
| 12. | Paula's Back! | [Badosa's comeback from back injury] |
| 13. | Another Week, Another Crusher: The New Class | [Another Crush of Czechs rise] |
| 14. | H.E.R. | [Mirra Andreeva] |
| 15. | Italians Do It the Exciting Way | [BJK Cup #5] |
| HM- | Oh Donna | [Vekic, finally] |
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)"
[2021]
1st - "Diede the Great(est) Season Ever"
2nd - The Transylvania Open
3rd - Barbora et Jana
[2022]
1st - The Crush of Czechs
2nd - Diede the Undefeated
3rd - The Manifestation of Iga
[2023]
1st - WTA: The Best of Times (50th anniv.), and the Worst of Times (mismanagement)
2nd - The Summer of Coco (Gauff)
3rd - Chasing Iga (Swiatek vs. Sabalenka/Rybakina/Gauff/Pegula)
[2024]
1st - A Jana on Her Shoulder (Krejcikova)
2nd - The End of the Era of Relevance (WTA abdicates role as voice for women's rights w/ Saudi deal)
3rd - Live Like Paolini!
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 6:16 PM
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