Halep, Serena win WTA year-end awards

Oct 19, 2018
Pop Culture

Redfoo returns! LMFAO rapper makes main-draw debut on ITF circuit

By Baseline Staff Feb 07, 2025
Lifestyle

Belinda Bencic's ringing phone alarm interrupts Abu Dhabi semifinal with Elena Rybakina

By Baseline Staff Feb 07, 2025
Pop Culture

Tennis on Film: Rating King Richard (2021), a top-tier tennis film worthy of its Oscar

By David Kane Feb 07, 2025
Social

Taylor Fritz's two-handed forehand had everyone in Dallas doing a double take

By Liya Davidov Feb 06, 2025
Pop Culture

Tennis on Film: Rating Challengers (2024), the pop culture phenomenon that 'made tennis sexy'

By Baseline Staff Feb 06, 2025
pickleball

Genie Bouchard, Jack Sock, Donald Young kick off PPA Tuscon with convincing wins

By Liya Davidov Feb 06, 2025
Social

Will the US Open's latest schedule change hurt mixed doubles, or save it? Players are divided

By Stephanie Livaudais Feb 06, 2025
Pop Culture

Tennis on Film: Rating Borg vs. McEnroe (2017), an internationally awarded tennis film that doesn’t get enough credit

By Liya Davidov Feb 05, 2025
Social

Ana Bogdan says Simona Halep 'opened the doors' for every Romanian athlete

By Baseline Staff Feb 05, 2025

Halep, Serena win WTA year-end awards

Published Oct 19, 2018

The WTA unveiled their slew of annual winners in Singapore on Friday. The best eight women in the world—nine if you can an injured Simona Halep—were in attendance at the WTA Finals.

Halep, who is missing the event with a herniated disk in her back, won Player of the Year. Her highlights this season including her first career Grand Slam in Paris and securing the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Advertising

The Newcomer the Year award went to Aryna Sabalenka. The 20-year-old has skyrocketed inside the Top 15 with title wins in New Haven and Wuhan. She started the year outside of the Top 70 and yet nearly made the field in Singapore.

Serena Williams, who made her much-anticipated return after having a daughter last September, won Comeback Player of the Year. She reached two Grand Slam finals, at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Advertising

Kiki Bertens, who snuck into the WTA Finals field with Halep withdrawing, earned Most Improved Player of the Year. She won her biggest career title in Cincinnati, after also winning the crown in Charleston. She added a title in Seoul in the fall, and then cracked the Top 10 for the first time.

Advertising

The Doubles Team of the Year went to Wimbledon champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, while Elina Svitolina got the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for taking an active interest in clinics, charitable activities and fan events.