Serena Williams lauds Andy Murray: “you always speak out so much for women, and everything that women deserve”

By Ed McGrogan Jul 05, 2024

Social

Rain check! Despite delays, Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios' Wimbledon practice goes ahead

By Baseline Staff Jul 05, 2024

Social

'Nobody quite like you': Love pours in on social media for Andy Murray from fellow players

By Baseline Staff Jul 05, 2024

The Top 5 Player of the Year female contenders of 2020

Published Dec 11, 2020

Over the past two weeks, TENNIS.com has highlighted the Top 5 men and women of 2020. In honor of a complicated yet still important year, let's take a look at who made the list.

Up first, the women:

Victoria Azarenka

The Top 5 Player of the Year female contenders of 2020

Advertising

Victoria Azarenka's year-end ranking of No. 13 is far from her best showing, but it may be her most impressive. And it was her strongest finish to a season, by a considerable margin, since 2016.

Titles: Western & Southern Open
Finals: US Open, Ostrava
Win-loss record: 18-6
Key wins: Serena Williams, Johanna Konta, Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka

Simona Halep

Advertising

The Top 5 Player of the Year female contenders of 2020

The Romanian went 23-3, highlighted by a 17-match win streak, en route to adding three titles to her trophy cabinet. Though she skipped the New York swing, she dedicated to the clay season in hopes of claiming a crown that had evaded her in the past: Rome.

Titles: Dubai, Prague, Rome
Win-loss record: 23-3
Key wins: Karolina Pliskova, Garbine Muguruza, Aryna Sabalenka, Elise Mertens

Advertising

Iga Swiatek

The Top 5 Player of the Year female contenders of 2020

At just 19 years old, Iga Swiatek made history in Paris by becoming the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam. She did it in triumphant style, unseeded without the loss of a set and, to say the very least, 2021 will be a big year of expectations for the world No. 17.

Titles: Roland Garros
Win-loss record: 14-5
Key wins: Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin, Donna Vekic

Advertising

Naomi Osaka

The Top 5 Player of the Year female contenders of 2020

Advertising

This year saw Naomi Osaka come out of her shell in powerful ways, while still performing on the biggest stage. Despite playing just four events, the 23-year-old closed her season in September with her third Grand Slam title and a ranking of No. 3.

Titles: US Open
Finals: Western & Southern Open
Win-loss record: 16-3
Key wins: Elise Mertens, Victoria Azarenka, Kiki Bertens, Sofia Kenin

Sofia Kenin

By winning her first major at the Australian Open, reaching the final at Roland Garros and adding a second WTA title, Sofia Kenin—in our eyes—has rightfully graduated from most improved to player of the year on the women's tour.

Titles:* Australian Open, Lyon
Finals:* Roland Garros
Win-loss record:* 24-9
Key wins:* Ashleigh Barty, Petra Kvitova, Garbine Muguruza

Advertising

Baseline