Emma Raducanu missed out on the comeback of the yr accolade because the WTA introduced the winners of their official Participant Awards for 2024.
The Brit returned from an eight-month harm layoff in January ranked at No. 301. She lately admitted she can be “patting herself on the again” after hovering again into the world’s high 60 by enjoying lower than 15 tournaments this yr – one thing Raducanu stated was “exceptional”.
However she was beat out by her good pal Paula Badosa, who dropped out of the highest 100 earlier within the season however has risen to No. 12 after profitable the title in Washington.
The comeback class was stacked this yr. In addition to Raducanu and Badosa, Amanda Anisimova, Karolina Muchova and Naomi Osaka had been all nominated.
However Badosa got here out on high after placing herself on the cusp of a top-10 return. The Spaniard shut down her 2023 season in July resulting from a stress fracture in her again. She nonetheless struggled when she returned to competitors this yr and resorted to utilizing cortisone injections to handle the ache when medical doctors suggested her to stop tennis altogether.
Issues abruptly clicked for Badosa over the summer time as she received the WTA 500 occasion in Washington. Since then, she has reached WTA 1000 semi-finals in Cincinnati and Beijing, and made it to the final eight of the US Open.
The WTA Participant Awards are voted for by worldwide tennis media, who thought Badosa’s comeback was extra spectacular than that of Raducanu. It comes after the Brit urged she had achieved one thing particular by rising up the rankings with a restricted schedule.
“I am high 60 on the earth and I’ve performed lower than 15 occasions, which is fairly exceptional, in a approach. I’ve to pat myself on the again for that,” Raducanu – who missed components of the North American swing and the Asian swing resulting from accidents – lately advised the WTA.
Elsewhere within the WTA Participant Awards, one other Brit was snubbed in her class. Sonay Kartal was up for newcomer of the yr after breaking into the highest 100, profitable her maiden tour title and reaching the third spherical of Wimbledon. As an alternative, Kiwi star Lulu Solar received.
Solar stormed into the quarter-final at Wimbledon, beating top-10 star Qinwen Zheng and Raducanu en route. She additionally reached the Monterrey last and now ends the season inside the highest 40.
Emma Navarro was named essentially the most improved participant of 2024. The American lifted her first WTA Tour trophy initially of the season in Hobart. She has since cracked the highest 10 and reached six semi-finals, together with one on the US Open.
Unsurprisingly, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka was topped participant of the yr. The 26-year-old received two Grand Slam titles this season – defending her Australian Open crown earlier than capturing the title on the US Open.
Sabalenka additionally secured the year-end No. 1 spot for the primary time in her profession and received two different trophies on the WTA 1000 occasions in Cincinnati and Wuhan.
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini had been picked for doubles staff of the yr. The Italian duo received a gold medal collectively on the Paris Olympics.
In addition they received the Italian Open, China Open and Higher Austria Women Linz titles, reached the French Open last, and helped Italy clinch Billie Jean King Cup glory.