Aryna Sabalenka Claims First WTA Player of the Year Title

Aryna Sabalenka has been named the WTA Player of the Year for 2024 after an exceptional season in which she claimed four titles. The Belarusian highlighted her success with back-to-back Grand Slam wins, retaining her Australian Open title in January and triumphing at the US Open in September, marking her third Grand Slam singles victory. In addition to these Grand Slam successes, Sabalenka dominated the 2024 season by winning two more major tournaments, the Cincinnati Open in August and the Wuhan Open in October.

Notably, she made history by becoming the first woman to win the Wuhan Open three times. Furthermore, Sabalenka’s stellar year allowed her to rise to world number one in October, ending Iga Swiatek’s 11-month reign at the top. Although Sabalenka missed Wimbledon due to injury and opted out of the Olympics in August to prioritize her health, she finished the season with an impressive 56-14 win-loss record.

Her remarkable consistency and performance throughout the year earned her the prestigious Player of the Year award, marking her first win in this category. This victory represents a shift as Iga Swiatek had claimed the honor in both 2022 and 2023. The international tennis media votes for the Player of the Year award and Sabalenka’s achievements in 2024 made her the unanimous choice.

With her four titles including two Grand Slams and her historic rise to world number one, Aryna Sabalenka solidified her place as the standout player of the season.