The best of the best: Top 5 women's hot shots of the 2020 season

As the end of the pandemic-impacted 2020 season has drawn to a close, we take a look at look at the women's Top 5 Shots of the Year.

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Highly regarded for her tactical brilliance, Halep doesn’t disappoint when it comes to delivering hot shots. In the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final against Elena Rybakina, at 5-5, 15-30 in the decider, Ryabakina had control of the rally, pushing the Romania far behind the baseline. Just when we thought the point was over as she was stretched wide with no possible options, the eventual champion somehow managed to thread the needle while on the run with a forehand winner.

“That was spectacular,” the announcer said after Stefani showed off some great hands at the net. And we agree completely. Leading 6-2, 2-1, 30-40 in her doubles match with partner Hayley Carter in Paris, Stefani was crouched at the net when she intercepted a crosscourt backhand and popped the ball back over for a winner.

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If you’ve never seen Jabeur play, you’re missing out. When it comes to mixing it up on the court, you can count on her as she can hit any shot from any position. Case in point: against two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova in the Qatar quarterfinals, the 26-year-old Tunisian–who had earned a wild card—found herself in an awkward spot but was able to smash an overhead winner.

En route to her second career WTA title at the Thailand Open, Linette played one of the most memorable points of the tournament. In her second-round encounter against Peng Shuai, the Polish player answered Peng’s potent backhand with a tight-angled passing crosscourt winner to clinch the first set.

Giorgi fell in her semifinal meeting to Fiona Ferro but she did play some great tennis along the way. One of those points included a backhand winner that was a result of an incredible scramble. Having been kept on the run throughout the rally, Giorgi bravely moved forward and hit an on-the-run backhand winner.