Aryna Sabalenka achieved a remarkable milestone on Tuesday as she claimed her maiden WTA Player of the Year crown. This capped off an extraordinary 2024 campaign that saw the 26-year-old rise to the top of the singles rankings. The three-time Grand Slam winner finally dethroned Iga Swiatek, who had held the prestigious No. 1 and Player of the Year title in 2022 and 2023. The pair had been closely competing at the top of the women's rankings for some time. Sabalenka reached No. 1 in September 2023, only to see Swiatek reclaim the top spot with her WTA Finals triumph and an impressive 11-match winning streak to close out the season. The battle continued into 2024, and Sabalenka ultimately regained her position at the summit in the final weeks of the season. She will hold this spot at least until the end of the Australian Open, where she will defend her title live on Eurosport and discovery+.

Epic Battle Throughout 2024 Campaign

It was Sabalenka's dominant form in 2024's major tournaments that ultimately led to her replacing Swiatek at the top. Despite winning fewer overall titles and matches across the season, her performances were truly remarkable. In the French Open, Swiatek showed her dominance with a victory, but Sabalenka's consistent play in other tournaments also played a crucial role.During the 2024 campaign, the pair faced off twice. Twice on clay and once on the hard, fast courts of Cincinnati, Swiatek prevailed 2-1 overall, taking both victories on her favoured clay in Rome and Madrid. This intense competition added to the excitement of the year.

Highlights of the Battle

Sabalenka and Pegula's battle through to set up the US Open final was a thrilling moment. Their performances on the court demonstrated their skill and determination.Also, Swiatek's defeat of Paolini to win the French Open title was a significant event. Her dominance in that tournament showcased her talent.

Player Statistics

Player | Titles won | Match wins | Win %-- | -- | -- | --Sabalenka | 4 | 56 | 80Swiatek | 5 | 64 | 87.7While Swiatek had more Grand Slam success with five titles, including those in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome, along with her Roland Garros triumph, Sabalenka also made her mark with four titles. Her two Slam victories were supplemented by Cincinnati and Wuhan crowns.Swiatek also added an Olympic bronze medal to her list of 2024 honours. After falling in straight sets to Qinwen Zheng in the semi-final, she still managed to beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the battle for third.

Impact of Swiatek's Ban

The Pole was handed a provisional suspension, which was successfully appealed as her consumption of TMZ was deemed "not intentional", resulting in a one-month ban. When the ban was publicly announced, Swiatek took to social media, stating that the process was the "most difficult" experience of her life. She cited personal matters, fatigue, and a change in coach as reasons for her withdrawal from the Asian tournaments. Her absence from these three events had a significant impact on the WTA rankings, as a Wuhan triumph and quarter-final run in China saw Sabalenka soar to No. 1.

Australian Open Final Highlights

In the Australian Open final, Sabalenka showed her champion status again as she triumphed over Zheng. Her performance was a testament to her skill and mental strength.

Other WTA Award Winners

The Italian duo proved to be a formidable partnership, claiming titles in Roma, China, and Austria. They also reached the Roland Garros final and won gold at the Paris Olympics.Emma Navarro was named the Most Improved Player of the Year after winning her maiden title at the WTA 250 Hobart International. She also achieved victories over Sabalenka at Indian Wells and two other wins over top five players.Lulu Sun was named Newcomer of the Year after her stunning run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals. She defeated world No. 5 Zheng and home favourite Emma Raducanu at the grass major. Sun rose from outside the top 200 to a lofty No. 40 by the end of the season.Paula Badosa was named Comeback Player of the Year after an impressive return from a back injury that cut her 2023 campaign short. She won her fourth career title in Washington and reached the semi-finals of Cincinnati and Beijing. She also made it to the US Open quarter-finals before being ousted by Emma Navarro.Watch every moment of the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+.