WTA 2024 Review: Sabalenka, the tiger in charge

Sabalenka out on her own

Remember, on the finishing straight to 2023, Aryna Sabalenka had the world No.1 ranking snatched from her grasp by Iga Swiatek.

12 months on and the 26-year-old has turned the tables in some style. The Australian Open title defence and US Open triumph are the major highlights. Sabalenka reached seven finals, lifting four trophies (also including WTA1000 silverware in Cincinnati and Wuhan), in a campaign collecting a mighty fine 56-14 match record.

So much so, that Sabalenka sits 1121 points ahead of world No.2 Swiatek, but, it's not just about numbers. Sabalenka has been remarkably consistent, evolving her game and performing week in week out.

Fighting on valiantly with a stomach issue in the Roland-Garros quarter-finals defeat by Mirra Andreeva, a shoulder injury denying her a Wimbledon shot. It was Swiatek who forced Sabalenka to take home the runner-up prizes in Madrid and Rome. It could have been an even greater campaign!

Year-end No.1 for the first time and deservedly so, Sabalenka has raised the bar in women's tennis.

Swiatek the Queen of cl4y

Channelling her idol Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek secured a three-peat at Roland-Garros, retaining the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen to become a four-time champion in Paris.

The Pole was forced to fend off match point in a pulsating 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 victory over Naomi Osaka in the second round. After that she dropped just 17 games across the last five matches to underline her dominance on clay.

“I love this place, honestly,” said Swiatek, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive women’s singles titles at Porte d’Auteuil since Justine Henin in 2007. “I wait every year to come back here.”

Paolini bursts through with a beaming smile

Excelling across singles and doubles, 2024 will live long in Jasmine Paolini's memory.

The amiable Italian had never reached a second week of a major until it all clicked this year. Paolini posted back-to-back Grand Slam finals as runner-up at both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

It gets better, the dynamic 28-year-old and compatriot Sara Errani were finalists in the Roland-Garros doubles, returning to the same venue for Olympics doubles gold medal glory in August.

Paolini, now up to singles world No.4, was also at the heart of Italy's Billie Jean King Cup title run.

Krejcikova achieves "dream" at SW19

Three years on from ruling Roland-Garros, Barbora Krejcikova emulated her late friend and mentor Jana Novotna at Wimbledon.

A 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 final scoreboard over Paolini secured the Czech her second Grand Slam singles silverware, to join Novotna on the Roll of Honour at The All England Club. Novotna – the 1998 Wimbledon champion – died from ovarian cancer in 2017.

"Jana was the one who told me I had the potential and I should definitely turn pro and try to make it. Before she passed away she told me to go and win a Slam," said Krejcikova.

"I achieved that in Paris in 2021 and it was an unbelievable moment for me, and I never really dreamed that I would win the same trophy as Jana did in 1998."

Remarkable breakouts and reunions

The usual suspects continued to collect the top prizes, however, numerous players soared into contention.

The WTA hailed Emma Navarro the 'Most Improved Player of the Year', who kept on chalking up career-bests in 2024. A first WTA title arrived in Hobart in January, then the American - with a superb dry sense of humour - gained stature with a further six semi-finals. Last eight at Wimbledon, last four at the US Open, Navarro's consistency was rewarded with a Top 10 debut in September.

Diana Shnaider's ferocious power play yielded four titles on the three different surfaces, whilst 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva kept defying the odds to entrench herself in the Top 20. A WTA title in Lasi, Romania, as well as a sensational Roland-Garros semi-final venture – Andreeva is here to stay at the very top.

The WTA 'Newcomer of the Year' went to Lulu Sun. The New Zealander was ranked outside the Top 200 at the start of the season, before a Grand Slam main draw debut at the Australian Open was followed by an Elite 8 run at Wimbledon all the way from qualifying.

Qinwen and Coco finish on a high

The trophy showdown at the season-ending WTA Finals witnessed Coco Gauff defeat Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) in an edge-of-the-seat finale to the campaign.

Two young guns, two exceptional athletes. In the case of world No.3 Gauff, it wasn't the major season she hoped for after 2023 US Open glory. Saying that, a 54-17 match tally yielded two further titles in Auckland and Beijing. The WTA Finals trophy, the way it was won, certainly sent out a signal to the rest of the locker room.

As for Zheng, the Chinese superstar began the season with a finalist plate at the Australian Open, building from strength to strength with a title defence in Palermo and the trophy in Tokyo. The 22-year-old made her Top 10 debut, her Top 5 debut, all whilst achieving Olympic gold on Court Philippe-Chatrier.