ST PETERSBURG, Fla — The WTA revealed its initial winners for the annual WTA Awards, recognizing outstanding players, coaches, and tournaments, alongside athletes who have notably contributed to the Tour off the court.
The WTA will honor these exceptional performers throughout WTA Award Week, commencing today with the announcement of the Player Award winners, selected by a panel of international media members.
Player of the Year
Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka has been named Player of the Year for the second consecutive time, becoming the third player in the past 15 years to earn this accolade more than once. She garnered nearly 80% of the media votes following a stellar season, which included reaching the most finals (9), securing the most titles (4), achieving the highest number of wins (63), and setting a new single-season prize money record of $15,008,519.
Ranked as the PIF WTA World No.1 for the entire year, Sabalenka concluded her season in the top spot for the second year in a row, positioning herself 12th on the all-time list for weeks spent at No. 1.
Doubles Team of the Year
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend
Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend experienced a groundbreaking season. They captured their second Grand Slam title together at the Australian Open, triumphed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and reached another major final at the US Open. Their achievements in 2025 helped Townsend ascend to the PIF WTA World No. 1 ranking in doubles for the first time and made her the first mother to top the doubles rankings.
Siniakova also made her mark, currently ranking third all-time for weeks as the doubles No. 1 (174 weeks, as of Dec. 15) and matching Martina Navratilova’s record with five year-end No. 1 finishes.
Most Improved Player
Amanda Anisimova
Amanda Anisimova was the only player nominated in two categories this year (also for Player of the Year), highlighting her impressive results in 2025. The American reached five finals, secured her first WTA 1000 titles at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open (Doha) and China Open (Beijing), and made her first Grand Slam finals appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open. She also advanced to the final at the WTA 500 HSBC Championships at London’s Queen’s Club, made her Top 10 debut in July, and qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time, capping off an extraordinary season.
Comeback Player of the Year
Belinda Bencic
Belinda Bencic from Switzerland took a break from tennis in September 2023 to give birth to her daughter, Bella, who arrived in April 2024. She returned to the WTA Tour at the United Cup and gained traction with a strong run to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open, equaling her best result there. At the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, Bencic solidified her comeback by defeating World No. 5 Elena Rybakina to claim the title.
She progressed to the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time and concluded her season with her 10th career title at the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Newcomer of the Year
Victoria Mboko
Victoria Mboko, only 19, emerged as 2025’s breakout star, starting the season ranked outside the Top 300 and climbing to No. 18 by year’s end. Her remarkable journey began with her Tour debut at the WTA 1000 Miami Open presented by Itaú. She reached the third round of her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and competed at Wimbledon before a remarkable title win at home during the WTA 1000 National Bank Open presented by Rogers.
Mboko’s victory in Montreal set records, making her the second-youngest woman in the Open Era to defeat four singles Grand Slam champions at a single event. She capped off her season by winning the WTA 250 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, rounding out an unforgettable year.
