By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday November 12, 2024
A incredible WTA season got here to an in depth over the weekend, and a brand new year-end No.1 has been topped. Aryna Sabalenka sits atop the WTA rankings for the primary time, whereas the year-end high 5 has a number of acquainted faces and some surprises.
Listed here are a number of the notable names and milestones as we take inventory of the WTA rankings one final time.
Within the Aryna
It was a 12 months of triumph for Aryna Sabalenka, who added two main titles to her trophy haul, and handed Iga Swiatek to complete a season because the year-end No.1 for the primary time. Can she run the desk in 2025?
Queenwen Profession-Excessive and Prime-5 Debut
Little question about it: China has one other megastar. And her title is Queenwen. Zheng Qinwen made historical past on the Olympics this 12 months, successful gold, but in addition reached a serious remaining on the Australian Open, and performed the ultimate match on the WTA Finals, and her post-Wimbledon energy play took her to a year-end end contained in the Prime-5.
Boomshki. Zheng’s the primary Chinese language participant to carry a Prime-5 rating since Li Na.
Paolini Energy
The largest breakout story of 2024 got here from Italy, the place Jasmine Paolini, who owned a 4-16 report on the majors previous to 2024, went 18-4 on the majors and reached the ultimate at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. She finishes the season at No.4, tied for the very best rating ever among the many Italian ladies with the nice Francesca Schiavone.
Barbora Enters the Chat
She gained Wimbledon. That just about says all of it, however Barbora Krejcikova, now a two-time main champion (and a sure Corridor of Famer), additionally climbed again up the rankings in 2024 with a strong run on the WTA Finals. She finishes the season at No.10.
Emma! (no not that one)
There have been three gamers who made their Prime-10 debuts in 2024. You’ve heard about Zheng and Paolini already, however don’t neglect American Emma Navarro, who gained 45 matches and have become a fixture on the Grand Slams as nicely, reaching the quarterfinal at Wimbledon and the semis on the US Open. She rose from 38 this time final 12 months all the way in which to a year-end rating of eight – spectacular stuff from the 23-year-old.
Prime-20 Breakthroughs
Along with Zheng, Paolini and Navarro, there have been three different gamers who cracked the Prime-20 for the primary time in 2024: Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Mirra Andreeva. Shnaider completed at No.12, Kalinskaya No.14 and Andreeva No.16. Maybe they’ll be coming into the Prime-10 in 2025!
Younger at Coronary heart
Gauff (20) is the youngest participant within the Prime 10 (unreal that she continues to be 20!), whereas Andreeva (17) is the youngest participant within the Prime 20. Andreeva and Linda Noskova (19, ranked No.26) are the one youngsters that completed the season contained in the WTA’s Prime 100.
Surging Stars
The largest surges contained in the Prime 100 got here from a number of acquainted names.
Naomi Osaka finishes the 12 months at No. 59. She was ranked 831 on the Australian Open. Unusually, the very best match she performed in 2024 was really a loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros. She was unimaginable in that contest – the Naomi of outdated – till she let it slip away. Search for Osaka to proceed her regular climb subsequent season. That champion’s pedigree is simply getting dusted off.
Emma Raducanu jumped 227 spots from 285 this time final 12 months to No.58, whereas Amanda Anisimova rose from 359 to No.36. Ajla Tomljanovic powered from 464 to No.85, and Caroline Wozniacki jumped from 236 to No.72.
