Complete list of WTA Awards 2024 winners: Aryna Sabalenka takes best player, Emma Navarro & Paula Badosa awarded after noteworthy seasons
The recipients of the WTA Awards 2024 were revealed on Monday, December 9, with Aryna Sabalenka, Emma Navarro, and Paula Badosa among the notable winners. The Belarusian was voted as the Player of the Year on the heels of a career-best season.
Sabalenka's four titles included triumphs at the Australian Open and the US Open, along with a couple of WTA 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan. She capped off the season by securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time as well. Given her accomplishments this season, she was the most deserving candidate in this category.
Navarro was named as the most Improved Player of the Year. Her rise to the top saw her reach her maiden Major semifinal at the US Open, which also led to her top 10 debut at No. 8. She won her first career title at the Hobart International as well. Her rapid rise to the upper echelon of the sport led her to winning this honor.
Following an injury-riddled 2023 season, Badosa returned to the tour this season harboring hopes of regaining her position among the sport's elite. It wasn't easy, and her ranking dropped to No. 140 in May. That proved to be a turning point for her.
Badosa later advanced to the fourth round of Wimbledon, and won her first title of the season at the Citi Open. She also reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open, and the last eight at the US Open. She brought an end to her year with semifinal appearances at the China Open and the Ningbo Open, and finished the season ranked No. 12. Her impressive turnaround resulted in her being crowned as the Comeback Player of the Year.
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini claim the top honors in doubles at the WTA Awards 2024
Errani and Paolini set the doubles field on fire this year. They came quite close to snagging a Major title but came up short in the final against Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova at the French Open. They overcame that disappointment by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, which was held at the same venue.
They also won two WTA 1000 titles, and another title at the WTA 500 level. They were instrumental in Italy winning the Billie Jean King Cup as well. As a result, the duo won the Doubles Team of the Year award.
The Newcomer of the Year award went to Lulu Sun. Her breakout run to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon as a qualifier was the talk of the town. She progressed to her first WTA final at the Monterrey Open. She peaked at No. 39 in the rankings having started the season ranked outside the top 200, in a remarkable display of growth this year.
The winners of the WTA Awards 2024 at a glance:
Player of the Year: Aryna Sabalenka
Most Improved Player of the Year: Emma Navarro
Comeback Player of the Year: Paula Badosa
Breakout Player of the Year: Lulu Sun
Doubles Team of the Year: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini