Iga Swiatek, the world’s top player, was the undisputed choice for WTA Player of the Year in the Express Sport 2022 Readers’ Voted Tennis Awards, which have all of the results. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic won the ATP Player of the Year award, beating Djokovic. And two young Britons took first place in the Breakthrough categories.
The 2022 tennis season set new records for men’s Grand Slam victories and women’s single-player dominance, respectively.
Player of the Year – ATP
Rafael Nadal – 48 percent – WINNER
Novak Djokovic – 30.8 percent
Carlos Alcaraz – 16.5 percent
Casper Ruud – 3.7 percent
As the year began with a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam victory, Nadal was chosen as the 2022 male player of the year. Prior to setting a new record by winning the 22nd match at the French Open. After winning the ATP Finals, Wimbledon, Rome, Tel Aviv, Astana, and a record-breaking sixth time, Djokovic came in second. Despite missing four Masters events and two Grand Slams in a season.
Additionally receiving votes were Alcaraz and Ruud, with the Spaniard becoming the youngest-ever No. 1. 23-year-old reached two Grand Slam finals and reached a career-high No. 2, becoming the youngest teenager to win a Major since 2005.
Player of the Year – WTA
Iga Swiatek – 72.2 percent – WINNER
Ons Jabeur – 11.6 percent
Caroline Garcia – 9.7 percent
Coco Gauff – 4.7 percent
Nobody who followed the WTA Tour this year is surprised that Swiatek has been undisputed Player of the Year. After hitting two Major finals and a career-high No. 2, Jabeur came in second. Garcia finished the year on a high note, winning the WTA Finals and rocketing from No. 79 to No. 4 in six months. Gauff also entered the top 5 in the world and won her maiden Grand Slam match.
Breakthrough Player of the Year – ATP
Holger Rune – 73.6 percent – WINNER
Jack Draper – 18.9 percent
Ben Shelton – 2.3 percent
Breakthrough Player of the Year – WTA
Beatriz Haddad Maia – 36.3 percent – WINNER
Harriet Dart – 30.2 percent
Qinwen Zheng – 25.9 percent
In the Breakthrough category for their respective tours, the Brits Draper and Dart tied for second place. After finishing the year by winning the Paris Masters, Rune was a clear favorite to win the ATP category. Breaking into the top 10 himself at the age of 19, and became the first player in history to have five top 10 players in a single week in a competition other than the ATP Finals. Haddad Maia improved this year, moving up from 83rd to 15th, and defeated Swiatek by winning in Nottingham and Birmingham. reaching the doubles finals at the Australian Open and WTA Finals, as well as winning the WTA 1000 Finals in Toronto.
Game of the Year – ATP
Nadal vs. Medvedev, Australian Open final – 59.6 percent – WINNER
Djokovic vs Sinner, Wimbledon Quarterfinals – 22 percent
Alcaraz vs. Sinner, US Open Quarterfinals – 18.4 percent
Game of the Year – WTA
Swiatek vs. Sabalenka, WTA Finals semifinals – 51.9 percent – WINNER
S. Williams vs. Kontaveit, US Open second round – 26.2 percent
Swiatek vs. Krejcikova, final Ostrava – 21.9 percent
The ATP awarded Nadal’s comeback victory over Medvedev, who had lost in straight sets, Game of the Year honors. His second Aussie Open victory, coming 11 years after the first, breaks the previous Major record with a 7-5 victory. The WTA Match of the Year, which Sabalenka won to snap a four-game losing streak, was one of Swiatek’s nine losses this season. Overcoming the Pole to put an end to her season and prevent her from having a chance to compete in the WTA Finals.
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