The WTA Finals wrapped up Monday in Texas. The Press takes stock of the 2022 season of women’s tennis by revealing its choices for the individual end-of-season honours.
Player of the Year: Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek quickly established herself after the retirement of Ashleigh Barty. The throne did not remain vacant for long and the 21-year-old rose to the rank of queen of world tennis. The Polish had one of the best seasons in the history of the sport with statistics and a performance that we should not see again anytime soon. For a while, Swiatek was simply unbeatable. Between February and July, the clay court specialist won 37 consecutive matches and 6 tournaments in a row. She has only lost 9 times in the past 11 months, while claiming 67 wins. She also won eight titles, including two major tournaments and four WTA 1000s. A remarkable season that already has its place in history and which offers the title of player of the year to Swiatek, a title which she won was already assured at the beginning of the summer.
Team of the Year: Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
PHOTO SUSAN MULLANE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVE Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
There was no doubt, before this season, that the Czech duo were the best on the planet. The year 2022 will have allowed Krejcikova and Siniakova to confirm their domination more than ever before. The doubles is a specialization in itself and the duo is by far the most complete on the circuit. He can win on all surfaces. The Czechs have also won three major tournaments: the Australian Open, the US Open and Wimbledon. Unfortunately, Krejcikova contracted COVID-19 just before Roland-Garros, so they couldn’t defend their title acquired in 2021, but it’s a safe bet that they would have come a long way to the door. ‘Auteuil.
Most Improved Player: Beatriz Haddad Maia
PHOTO CHRIS YOUNG, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES Beatriz Haddad Maia
Haddad Maia has not stopped improving in 2022. She has long gravitated around 100e world rank, but the 26-year-old has been unrecognizable, for best, over the past few months. She went from the 80e place in January at 15e row at the start of the week. She made many eyes widen at the National Bank Open in Toronto with victories over Leylah Annie Fernandez (13e), Iga Swiatek (1D), Belinda Bencic (12e) and Karolina Pliskova (14e), before losing in the final to Simona Halep (15e). The left-hander still managed to win her first two titles on the circuit and the top 10 could be within reach if it continues on this path.
Comeback of the Year: Caroline Garcia
PHOTO RON JENKINS, ASSOCIATED PRESS Caroline Garcia
Many would no longer bet on Caroline Garcia. She had risen to No. 4 in the world in 2018 and prior to this season she had slipped away from the spotlight. However, she never lost sight of the goal of returning at the height of the race. Here she is again in fourth place, thanks to her victory at the WTA Finals, a tournament that brings together the eight best players in the world. The 29-year-old Frenchwoman has won three singles titles this season, but it’s more her consistency that has been talked about. During the summer, she had a string of good results in Bad Homburg, Warsaw and Cincinnati, triumphing on all surfaces.
Canadian Player of the Year: Gabriela Dabrowski
PHOTO GREGORY BULL, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES Gabriela Dabrowski
The more time passes, the more Dabrowski finds a way to refine his art. She is rising in rank every season, and the doubles specialist is by far the most successful Canadian in 2022. With three titles in Madrid, Tokyo and Chennai and two finals in Rome and San Diego , she raised the already high expectations of her. The seventh player in the world also qualified for the WTA Finals. She has been the most consistent Canadian this season. The next step for her will be to win the Grand Slam tournament and help Canada triumph in various international events such as the Billie Jean King Cup.
Moment of the Year: Serena Williams
PHOTO COREY SIPKIN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES Serena Williams
We thought she was passing through, but Serena Williams marked the 2022 edition of the United States Open in red ink. After announcing his retirement a few weeks earlier, the 40-year-old took one final lap at Flushing Meadows. As she had been inactive for some time, expectations were at an all-time low. However, she surprised the entire tennis world, all eyes of which were riveted on New York, because the queen had not said her last word. Refusing to bow, she beat Danka Kovinic in the first round and second-seeded Anett Kontaveit in the second round. Everyone believed it. Until she hit a wall called Ajla Tomljanovic. His journey will have ended under a monster ovation.
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