World number one Aryna Sabalenka has cemented her status as the premier player in women's tennis, securing the prestigious WTA Tour Player of the Year award for the second year running.
A Season of Dominance
The Belarusian powerhouse, 27, received a resounding endorsement, capturing nearly 80 per cent of the votes from an international media panel. Her 2025 campaign was nothing short of spectacular, defined by remarkable consistency and major success. Sabalenka spent the entire year atop the world rankings, leading the tour in match wins with a 63-12 record, capturing four titles, and reaching nine finals.
Her financial haul was historic, setting a new WTA record by earning a staggering $US15 million (approximately $A23 million) in prize money. At the grand slams, she was a force, finishing as runner-up at both the Australian Open (to Madison Keys) and the French Open (to Coco Gauff), and making the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
Grand Slam Glory and Elite Company
The crowning achievement came at Flushing Meadows, where Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title in September. She defeated American Amanda Anisimova in the final to claim her fourth career grand slam singles trophy. This back-to-back Player of the Year feat places her in an exclusive club, joining legends Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek as the only players to achieve the honour consecutively in the past quarter-century.
Other Major Award Winners
The WTA also recognised several other standout performers for their 2025 seasons. Amanda Anisimova, who pushed Sabalenka hard in the US Open final, was named the Most Improved Player. The 24-year-old American made a stunning leap, reaching her first two major finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, winning WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing, and soaring from year-end rank 36 in 2024 to a career-high world number four. She was also a nominee for the top Player of the Year prize.
In other categories, Swiss star Belinda Bencic earned the Comeback Player of the Year award. After more than a year away from the tour to have her first child, Bencic returned to win two titles and reach the Wimbledon semi-finals—her first major final four appearance since 2019.
The awards were rounded out by 19-year-old Canadian Vicky Mboko as Newcomer of the Year, and the duo of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend as Doubles Team of the Year.
Sabalenka's repeat award underscores a period of sustained excellence at the summit of the sport, marking her as the defining player of the current era in women's tennis.
