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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

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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

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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

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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

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Naomi Osaka

The Top 5 Player of the Year female contenders of 2020

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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

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