Iga Swiatek’s second consecutive season-ending No. 1 ranking helped her collect a second consecutive WTA Player of the Year award on Monday, making her the first woman since Serena Williams to claim that honor twice in a row.
Quick Read
- Iga Swiatek’s Achievements: Iga Swiatek won the WTA Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to achieve this.
- Serena Williams’ Legacy: Serena Williams was previously WTA Player of the Year from 2012-2015, winning the award a total of seven times in her career.
- Swiatek’s Impressive Record: In 2023, Swiatek had a 68-11 win-loss record and won six titles, including the French Open.
- Ranking and Titles: Swiatek finished the year as world No. 1, regaining the top spot after holding it from April 2022 to September. She has won four Grand Slam titles in her career.
- Other WTA Awards: Zheng Qinwen was named Most Improved Player, Mirra Andreeva was Newcomer of the Year, Elina Svitolina won Comeback of the Year, and Swiatek’s coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, was Coach of the Year.
- Doubles and Sportsmanship Awards: Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens received the Doubles Team of the Year award, while Ons Jabeur was honored with the Sportsmanship Award and the Player Service Award.
- Jessica Pegula’s Contribution: Jessica Pegula of the U.S. won the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for her promotional and charitable activities off the court.
Thee Associated Press has the story:
Iga Swiatek is the 1st woman since Serena Williams to win WTA Player of the Year twice in a row
Newslooks- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)
Iga Swiatek’s second consecutive season-ending No. 1 ranking helped her collect a second consecutive WTA Player of the Year award on Monday, making her the first woman since Serena Williams to claim that honor twice in a row.
Williams, who retired last year, was the WTA Player of the Year every season from 2012-15, the final four of the seven total times the American claimed that award.
Swiatek went 68-11 in 2023 with a tour-leading six titles, including at the French Open in June. That was Swiatek’s third championship at Roland Garros and fourth overall at a Grand Slam tournament.
The 22-year-old from Poland wrapped up the season with an undefeated run at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, last month, which allowed her to overtake Aryna Sabalenka atop the rankings. Swiatek held the No. 1 spot from April 2022 until this September, before regaining it to close the year.
In other WTA awards announced Monday, Zheng Qinwen of China was the Most Improved Player of the Year, Mirra Andreeva of Russia was the Newcomer of the Year, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine was chosen for the Comeback of the Year and Tomasz Wiktorowski — who works with Swiatek — was the Coach of the Year.
Storm Hunter of Australia and Elise Mertens of Belgium earned Doubles Team of the Year, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia was the recipient of both the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award and the Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award, and Jessica Pegula of the U.S. was given the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for her off-court promotional and charitable activities.
