Aryna Sabalenka named WTA Player of the Year for second straight season
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Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during her final match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LOS ANGELES – World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has been named WTA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after spending the entire 2025 at the top of the rankings, the governing body of women’s tennis announced on Dec 15.
The Belarusian capped a dominant 2025 campaign by successfully defending her US Open title. The 27-year-old finished as runner-up at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the WTA Finals, and played in the semi-finals of Wimbledon.
As she retained the year-end No. 1 ranking for a second straight year, Sabalenka also set a single-season prize money record of US$15,008,519 (S$19,365,000).
“She earned almost 80 per cent of the media’s vote following a dominant season in which she reached the most finals (nine), won the most titles (four), picked up the most wins (63),” said the WTA.
Sabalenka will face 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios in an exhibition match on Dec 28 in a battle-of-the-sexes clash.
Amanda Anisimova was voted the Most Improved Player, having also been nominated for Player of the Year.
The American, 24, reached five finals, winning the first WTA 1000 titles of her career in Doha and Beijing, and advanced to her first Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Anisimova broke into the top 10 in July and qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time in her career, ending the year ranked fourth in the world.
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend were named Doubles Team of the Year after claiming a second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, while they also reached the US Open final.
Former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic received the Comeback Player of the Year award after becoming a mother in April 2024 and producing a strong run of results, highlighted by a victory over world No. 5 Elena Rybakina to win the Abu Dhabi Open.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko was named Newcomer of the Year after surging to a career-high world ranking of 18, capped by her maiden WTA 1000 title on home soil in Montreal.
Over in golf, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has been voted PGA Tour Player of the Year for a fourth straight season after a campaign that included two Major wins, the tour announced on Dec 15.
The 29-year-old American, who won six titles in 2025, is just the second player after Tiger Woods to receive the accolade in four or more consecutive seasons.
“Scottie’s consistent level of success has been nothing short of spectacular as he continues to chase history on the PGA Tour and we’re excited to see what he will deliver in 2026,” said tour chief executive officer Brian Rolapp.
Scheffler won his third Major with a five-shot victory at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in May.
He added a fourth at the British Open at Royal Portrush in July.
South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter was named the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year.
The 21-year-old Potgieter was one of five rookies to win on the tour in 2025 and the only one to reach the FedExCup play-offs.
REUTERS, AFP
