WTA 2025 Awards: Sabalenka Repeats as Player of the Year

The WTA Awards for 2025 have been announced. Here are the recipients.

tennis express pro player gear
tennis express pro player gear

Player of the Year – Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka nets the award for the second consecutive year, and is only the third player in the last 15 years to win Player of the Year multiple times. She recorded 63 wins, won the US Open title and finished the year at No.1 in a season that saw her claim four WTA titles and rake in over $15 million in prize money. 

Doubles Team of the Year – Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend

Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend enjoyed a history-making season and that included their second Grand Slam team title together at the Australian Open. They also triumphed at Dubai Duty Free Tennis and reached the final at the US Open. Townsend became WTA World No.1 in doubles for the first time in her career, and the first player to top the doubles rankings as a mother, while Siniakova now sits third on the all-time list for weeks as the doubles No.1 (174 weeks, as of December 15).

Most Improved Player – Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova was the only player this season to be nominated in two categories (also Player of the Year), and she is a deserving recipient as most improved. She cracked the Top 10 and the Top 5 in a season that saw her reach back-to-back major finals and win two 1000 titles, at Doha and Beijing. 

The American won 47 matches and finished her campaign at No.4. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 03: Amanda Anisimova of the United States reacts after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland following the Women’s Quarterfinal match on Day Eleven of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 3, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Comeback Player – Belinda Bencic

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic stepped away from the sport in September 2023 to give birth to baby Bella, who was born in April 2024. The Swiss returned to the WTA Tour at the beginning of the season and was a constant force on tour all season. It was at Abu Dhabi Open where she cemented her comeback status, defeating World No.5 Elena Rybakina en route to lifting the title. Bencic went on to post her best Wimbledon, reaching the semis, and finished the season at No.11 – remarkable given that she started the season outside of the Top 900. 

Newcomer of the Year – Victoria Mboko

19-year-old Victoria Mboko was one of the biggest breakout stars of 2025. The Montreal native started the season ranked outside the Top 300 and surged to No.18 behind a string of eye-opening performances by  year’s end. 

She contested her first Grand Slam main draw at Roland-Garros (reaching the third-round) and played her first Wimbledon. A dramatic run to the Montreal title followed, further solidifying the teen’s status as a top talent. Mboko became the second youngest woman in the Open Era to defeat four singles Grand Slam champions at the same tournament in Montreal. She closed out the year with a title in Hong Kong and a Top-20 finish. 

Chris Oddo is a freelance sportswriter, podcaster, blogger and social media marker who is a lead contributor to Tennisnow.com. He also writes for USOpen.org, Rolandgarros.com, BNPParibasOpen.com, TennisTV.com, WTAtennis.com and the official US Open program.

Post Comment