WTA Awards

[RJD11]

WTA Awards - Announcement Dates

Wednesday, November 20
Newcomer Of The Year

Thursday, November 21
Comeback Player Of The Year
Most Improved Player Of The Year

Friday, November 22
Player Of The Year
Doubles Team Of The Year

Fan Favorite Awards - Announcement Dates

Tuesday, November 26
Fan Favorite Singles Player
Fan Favorite Doubles Team
Fan Favorite Twitter
Fan Favorite Facebook
Fan Favorite Video Of The Year
Fan Favorite WTA Live Show Of The Year

Wednesday, November 27
Fan Favorite Shot Of The Year
Fan Favorite Match Of The Year


- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3538026/title/wta-awards-announcement-schedule#sthash.JVg9QWwA.dpuf

 

[RJD11]

You can vote for some of them here


http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3540245/title/vote-now-the-fan-favorite-awards

 

[rubydo]

WTG Eugenie Bouchard for capturing the WTA newcomer of the year award. Greater awards await you in 2014!

 

[RJD11]

Sometimes the transition from juniors to pros is a difficult one. But when it comes to this year's WTA Newcomer Of The Year, it didn't take long for the genie to come out of the bottle, so to say. -


Genie Bouchard, as she likes to be called - burst into the international spotlight last year with her victory in the Wimbledon juniors, becoming the first Canadian, male or female, ever to win a Grand Slam title in singles. She reached her first WTA quarterfinal a few weeks later at the International event in Washington DC and eventually wrapped up the 2012 season ranked No.144.

For some players, a good follow-up season might be getting into the main draws of Grand Slams, making the Top 100, just improving in general. But Bouchard has done more - a lot more, in fact.

Bouchard reached the quarterfinals or better five times during the 2013 season - the quarterfinals of Premier-level events in Charleston and Tokyo, the semifinals of Strasbourg and Québec City and her first WTA final at Osaka. She scored her first two Top 10 wins - Sam Stosur and Jelena Jankovic. And she had some near-Top 10 wins as well, Ana Ivanovic at Wimbledon and Sloane Stephens in Tokyo.


See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3543143/title/newcomer-of-the-year-genie#sthash.3zXzcDGm.dpuf

 

[RJD11]

Most Improved Player Of The Year: Simona

It all started with an incredible run in the Eternal City and now, six months later, she's on the brink of the Top 10 - Simona Halep is the WTA's Most Improved Player Of The Year for 2013.

For years, Halep had been touted as a future star - a Grand Slam champion and World No.1 in juniors, buckets of talent, even three WTA finals to her name between 2010 and 2012. But she never quite got that one big result - that big breakthrough that served as proof she'd make it just as big in the pros.

As a No.64-ranked qualifier, Halep went on the kind of run that turns a contender into a believer, beating four of the game's biggest names - Svetlana Kuznetsova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Roberta Vinci and Jelena Jankovic - before finally running out of gas against Serena Williams in the semifinals.

"It was an incredible week for me," Halep said after falling to Williams that day. "I feel good that I'm No.44 now. It's difficult to think about how high I can go now, because it's hard work and every week it's difficult for every player, so I just have to keep going and working and we'll see what happens."

What happened was a breakthrough six months - including that run in Rome, Halep went 43-8 in her last 14 WTA main draws of the year, winning her first six WTA titles at Nürnberg, 's-Hertogenbosch, Budapest, New Haven, Moscow and Sofia, and finishing No.11 on the November 4 year-end rankings.



- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3544162/title/most-improved-player-of-the-year-simona#sthash.e6P2JQQY.dpuf

 

[RJD11]

Comeback Player Of The Year: Alisa

Beating Hodgkin's lymphoma, building her game back up on the ITF Women's Circuit, playing the WTA level again - Alisa Kleybanova is very deservedly the WTA's Comeback Player Of The Year.

MOSCOW, Russia - Shortly after breaking into the Top 20 for the first time, Alisa Kleybanova missed two months of action, citing illness. And then, on July 15, 2011, her 22nd birthday, she dropped a bombshell - she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and would be off the tour indefinitely.

But it takes a lifetime of hard work and determination to make it in the world of professional tennis and Kleybanova used those attributes in her battle with cancer, finishing treatment that December and, by February, already hitting the practice courts again to prepare for her return to action in Miami.

She did well in Miami - winning her first round match, falling in a tight two-setter in the second round - but she needed more time to get used to the grind of the tour again, and the full comeback actually began earlier this year at a string of ITF Women's Circuit events, winning 14 of 16 matches and even capturing a title in Landisville, Pennsylvania, where she definitely got used to the grind once again.

In August of this year she returned to WTA-level competition, playing four WTA tournaments - Toronto, Cincinnati, the US Open and Moscow. She went 4-4 in those, which included a Top 20 win over Carla Suárez Navarro - she also represented Russia in the Fed Cup final, losing in straights to Sara Errani.




- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3544165/title/comeback-player-of-the-year-alisa#sthash.umWIX9JG.dpuf

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In regards to the Come Back Player of the Year
I would also like to give Flavia Pennetta a honourable mention.

 

[Calvy]

Was Flavia away from the game?

 

[Tennis-tennis]

Was Flavia away from the game?

Yes...she had wrist injury and was out for more than 9 months( or almost a year, don't know exactly)

 

[rubydo]

In regards to the Come Back Player of the Year
I would also like to give Flavia Pennetta a honourable mention.

I certainly would agree with this honorable mention. With the right partner, Flavia can be a force in doubles as well as very competitive in singles, when she is fit. She certainly looked fit and elegant when I saw her in the UK.

 

[RJD11]

Player Of The Year: Serena


On the 70th birthday of the ultimate WTA legend, Billie Jean King, another WTA legend - Serena Williams - has been named the WTA's Player Of The Year for the fifth time in her illustrious career.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, USA - Was there really any doubt? She didn't just put together the best season of anyone in 2013, she put together one of the very best seasons in the history of women's tennis - and so, for the fifth time, Serena Williams is the WTA's Player Of The Year.

Williams' numbers on the year were incredible: 11 WTA titles, the most since Martina Hingis won 12 in 1997; 78 match wins, the most since Kim Clijsters won 90 in 2003; $12,385,572 in prize money, smashing the previous record of $7,923,920, set by Victoria Azarenka in 2012; and, most amazingly, her reclaiming of World No.1 on February 18 made her the oldest World No.1 in WTA history.

Of all of her accomplishments in 2013, Williams pointed to one in particular as a stand-out memory.

"Well, obviously the French Open was probably the thing that stands out most," she said. "I really wanted to win that for a number of years now, so that was definitely something exciting. And also being undefeated on clay was pretty exciting too. So my results on clay this year definitely stand out.

"Overall I'll remember the wins, but I also want to learn from my mistakes so I don't repeat them."

Not only do Williams' numbers tell the story of an historic season, but they put her in a position to make even more history in 2014 - by winning the French and US Opens this year she pushed her career haul of Grand Slams to 17, one away from Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who both won 18, which ties them for second place in the Open Era. Steffi Graf is the Open Era leader with 22 Grand Slam titles.

This is the fifth time Williams has won the WTA's Player Of The Year Award, having also received the honor in 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2012. Only two other players have been named the WTA's Player Of The Year five or more times, namely Graf (who won it eight times) and Navratilova (seven times).

But for Williams it's always one at a time, and her sights are currently set on the Australian Open.


Roland Garros ✔ @rolandgarros

Congrats to @serenawilliams, @WTA 's Player of the Year!
http://bit.ly/1c9fkyI pic.twitter.com/pwYi4DbDaa
Retweeted by WTA


- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/35...6hq3U.dpuf

 

[RJD11]

Doubles Team Of The Year: Sara & Roberta


For winning the Australian Open and not letting anyone else have a piece of the World No.1 doubles ranking all year, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci are the WTA's Doubles Team Of The Year.

Published November 22, 2013 12:04

In a year where the four Grand Slam doubles titles were all won by different teams, it was always going to be hard to pick this one - but for their Australian Open title, being so consistent all year, and most importantly never letting anyone else have a piece of World No.1, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci are very deservedly the WTA's Doubles Team Of The Year.

Best friends and fantastic in singles and doubles, Errani and Vinci make the perfect team. And before 2013 even started they had a lot to brag about - 13 WTA doubles titles together, including their first two Grand Slams at the French and US Opens last year, and both had also spent time individually at No.1.

But there was something missing, something so many of the all-time greatest teams have had together - the co-World No.1 doubles ranking. And it finally became reality for Errani and Vinci on April 29, 2013, as Errani joined Vinci at the top spot - it was after a breakthrough first few months of the year as well, where they won three WTA doubles titles, including their third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.




- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3545806/title/doubles-team-of-the-year-sara-roberta#sthash.LpCKzB1f.dpuf

 

[RJD11]

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Serena Williams warned the rest of women's tennis there is more to come from her after she was chosen WTA player of the year for the second year running and the fifth time overall.

"I have some areas where I can do a lot better for next year, and I look forward to it," she said. "Overall, I'll remember the wins, but I also want to learn from my mistakes so I don't repeat them."




http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/10017639/serena-williams-earns-5th-wta-player-year-award

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Keep them awards coming.

Great Job RJD.

 

[RJD11]

WTA Countdown: Top 5 Shots Of The Day

The No.1-most viewed Shot Of The Day on wtatennis.com this year was something you've probably seen - the kind of shot that leaves an opponent completely speechless. Do you know what it is?

Published November 22, 2013 12:03

All year you've been reading stories, looking at photo galleries and watching videos on wtatennis.com - well, now it's time to see which things you, the fans, liked the best throughout the 2013 season.

This week we present to you WTA Countdown: The Top 5 Shots Of The Day Of 2013, where we count down the most-viewed Shots Of The Day on wtatennis.com this year - until No.1 on Friday.

And finally, No.1 - the queen of trick shots, Agnieszka Radwanska pulls off a ridiculous behind-the-back-inside-out-volley winner (or whatever you want to call it) against Kirsten Flipkens in the Sony Open Tennis quarterfinals - watch that and the rest of the Top 5 one more time right here, right now!


http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3540246/title/wta-countdown-top-5-shots-of-the-day

 

[tented]

WTA Countdown: Top 5 Shots Of The Day

The No.1-most viewed Shot Of The Day on wtatennis.com this year was something you've probably seen - the kind of shot that leaves an opponent completely speechless. Do you know what it is?

Published November 22, 2013 12:03

All year you've been reading stories, looking at photo galleries and watching videos on wtatennis.com - well, now it's time to see which things you, the fans, liked the best throughout the 2013 season.

This week we present to you WTA Countdown: The Top 5 Shots Of The Day Of 2013, where we count down the most-viewed Shots Of The Day on wtatennis.com this year - until No.1 on Friday.

And finally, No.1 - the queen of trick shots, Agnieszka Radwanska pulls off a ridiculous behind-the-back-inside-out-volley winner (or whatever you want to call it) against Kirsten Flipkens in the Sony Open Tennis quarterfinals - watch that and the rest of the Top 5 one more time right here, right now!


http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3540246/title/wta-countdown-top-5-shots-of-the-day

Perfect choice for the top spot. I watched that match live, but kept rewinding it to look at that shot again and again. Flipkens' reaction was priceless.

 

[RJD11]

Fan Favorite Award Winners: Part I



More than 80,000 of you voted and the results for the first six Fan Favorite Awards are in! Which player won Fan Favorite Singles Player? ........ read on to find out!

Published November 26, 2013 12:04
Fan Favorite Award Winners: Part I


Fan Favorite Singles Player
Agnieszka Radwanska


Fan Favorite Doubles Team
Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina


Fan Favorite Twitter
Maria Sharapova

Fan Favorite Facebook
Maria Sharapova

Fan Favorite Video Of The Year
40 LOVE Story Episode 10



- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3550422/title/fan-favorite-award-winners-part-i#sthash.gKGD7qMV.dpuf

 

[RJD11]

2013 BTB Awards: WTA Report Card
2013 Season Awards | Comments

By Courtney Nguyen


Head of the class


Serena Williams: The 32-year-old didn’t just cement her status at the top of the game; she systematically widened the gap between herself and the field.Williams finished the year more than 5,000 points ahead of No. 2 Victoria Azarenka.

Marion Bartoli: The Frenchwoman marched to the beat of a different drummer right to the end. Her run to the Wimbledon title wasn’t the most difficult path we’ve seen — No. 17 Sloane Stephens was her highest-ranked opponent — but it was the feel-good story of the WTA season.

Li Na: Li, 31, had the most consistent season of her career, reaching the quarterfinals or better at 12 of 15 tournaments, including the final of the Australian Open and the WTA Championships and the semifinals of the U.S. Open for the first time. She moved up to a career-high No. 3, making her the highest-ranked Asian player ever.

Simona Halep: The 22-year-old Romanian had a breakthrough season that launched her to a career-high No. 11 after beginning the year at No. 47. She won more main-draw matches (53, third on tour) than she had coming into this season (46), and her six WTA titles (the first six of her career) were the most on tour behind Williams.


Honor roll

Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka: She weathered the storm of controversy that surrounded her semifinal win over Stephens to defend her Australian Open title. But the best thing to come out of her 2013 season was her ability to play Williams tough, handing the No. 1 two of her four losses.

Sloane Stephens Sloane Stephens: Stephens was the last American standing at two of the four majors; she upset Williams at the Australian Open to make her first Slam semifinal and survived the carnage at Wimbledon to advance to the quarterfinals, losing to the eventual champion each time.

American women: Williams and Stephens get their own special recognition, but on the whole this was a great year for the American women. Bethanie Mattek-Sands had the biggest rankings jump of player who closed in the top 50, going from No. 173 to No. 48 thanks to an impressive clay season.
Jamie Hampton also got to the fourth round at Roland Garros, her best result at a Slam, thanks to a third-round upset of Petra Kvitova. Hampton carried that momentum into the grass season, where, as a qualifier at the Aegon International, she upended top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki on her way to her first WTA final.
Madison Keys, who impressed in her first full year on the WTA Tour. She jumped 111 spots, to No. 38, with a 34-21 season that included four quarterfinals. Tack on Alison Riske’s improvement, Victoria Duval’s star-making upset of Sam Stosur at the U.S. Open and strong junior performances from Taylor Townsend and Tornado Black, and there was lots to be happy about for the U.S. women.

Eugenie Boucharddefeated Ana Ivanovic at Wimbledon and Stephens and Jelena Jankovic at the Tokyo Open; climbed 122 spots, to No. 32; and earned the Newcomer of the Year award.

Kimiko Date-Krumm: For just the second time since her comeback began in 2008, the 43-year-old ended the season inside the top 70 (No. 65)

Meets Expectations

Agnieszka Radwanska
Jelena Jankovic
Sabine Lisicki
Sara Errani
Laura Robson


Needs improvement

Maria Sharapova: It was a solid season for Sharapova, but a player of her caliber expects more than two titles in 10 tournaments.Even setting aside her injury woes, two bad losses at the Slams and her continued inability to beat Williams detracted from Sharapova’s season. Sharapova looked dominant at the Australian Open, dropping just nine games heading into the semifinals, but she lost easily to Li 6-2, 6-2.

Petra Kvitova: The sixth-ranked Kvitova, 23, actually finished the season two spots higher than last year, but 2013 still seemed like a disappointment, primarily because of her performance at the Slams.

Caroline Wozniacki: finished the season where she started, at No. 10. She failed to make it past the fourth round of a Slam, with losses to Svetlana Kuznetsova, Bojana Jovanovski, Petra Cetkovska and Camila Giorgi. Over the last two seasons she is 4-13 against top-10 players, a far cry from the numbers she put up during her time at No. 1.

Maria Kirilenko
Sam Stosur



http://tennis.si.com/2013/11/25/wta-report-card-2013-serena-williams-victoria-azarenka-maria-sharapova/

 

[RJD11]

2013 BTB Awards: Fashion hits

The Beyond The Baseline awards are our look back at the best — and worst — of the tennis season. Today we highlight some of the best fashion statements on the court

http://tennis.si.com/2013/11/22/2013-season-fashion-hits-serena-williams-roger-federer/?sct=obinsite



2013 BTB Awards: Hottest feuds

The Beyond The Baseline awards are our look back at the best — and worst — of the tennis season. Today we highlight some of the hottest feuds.


http://tennis.si.com/2013/11/22/2013-season-hottest-feuds-serena-williams-sloane-stephens/

 

[RJD11]

Fan Favorite Award Winners: Part II


More than 80,000 of you voted and the results for the last two Fan Favorite Awards - Match Of The Year and Shot Of The Year - are in. Did your favorite player come out on top? Read on to find out...

Published November 27, 2013 12:04


Fan Favorite Shot Of The Year
Agnieszka Radwanska (Miami QFs)


Fan Favorite Match Of The Year
Victoria Azarenka Vs Maria Sharapova (French Open SFs)



- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3551666/title/fan-favorite-award-winners-part-ii#sthash.P8xNu6pG.dpuf