For the second time in her career, Kim Clijsters has been named WTA Player of the Year. Clijsters defended her U.S. Open title, won the WTA Champioships, and also won titles in Brisbane, Miami and Cincinnati. Clijsters was also the recipient of the Player Service Award.
Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta were named the Doubles Team of the Year. Dulko and Pennetta won seven titles together in 2010.
The remaining awards follow:
Comeback Player of the Year--Justine Henin
Newcomer of the Year--Petra Kvitova
Humanitarian of the Year--Maria Sharapova
Karen Krantzche Sports(wo)manship Award--Elena Dementieva
Once again, the players chose the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart as their favorite premier tournament. The Pattaya Open was chosen as the favorite international tournament.
I love JuJu (as a player, I mean). But somehow I didn't see her as comeback player of the year, with the injury and all. I'm not sure who I'd pick, although Date Krumm or Clijsters might be my choice if there was an "ongoing comeback of the year" award.
ReplyDeleteThis was not a cut-and-dried year for the awards, was it? I wouldn't have picked Kvitova for Newcomer of the Year.
ReplyDeleteDiane you are not the only one who would not have picked Kvitova. I am surprised that Sevastova was not picked. I thought she did exceptionally well this season.
ReplyDeleteThe one award I really cannot get my head around though is Sharapova as humanitarian. Was that because she donated so many matches to her opponents or what?
Maris returned to Chenobyl for the first time since her surgery (she used to go every year). She is a long-time supporter--financially and otherwise--of the schools and the children there. She was supposed to have been born in Gomel, but her parents left because of the radiation
ReplyDeleteHer foundation has donated a lot of money to support children's sports, physical activity, education, and health.
Nice to see that the tour finally decided to make these awards a news story in December rather than March.
ReplyDeleteDulgheru or Pavlyuchenkova would have been good "Newcomer" choices, as well.
And, finally, because it was so good that it deserves to appear twice:
The one award I really cannot get my head around though is Sharapova as humanitarian. Was that because she donated so many matches to her opponents or what?
Good one, TAce. :)
Comeback Player of the Year--Justine Henin
ReplyDeleteZuh?
I'm not sure about Kvitova either, but in fairness it's a nice pick. Otherwise, nicely done.
I almost never agree with the Comeback Player choice. I was really disappointed that Pennetta didn't get the award the year she came back from serious injury, had a big hit to her confidence, and worked her way back up the rankings. I think that was probably 2008.
ReplyDeleteI certainly wouldn't have picked Henin this year. I don't think there was an obviously clear choice, either, but I would have probably picked Kanepi.
It seems like Sharapova is getting a lot of heat from commenters. Thanks Diane, for clearing up in one of your comments all the charity work Sharapova has done. She is not my favorite player but I do respect her mental strength and charity.
ReplyDeleteI was totally surprised by Kvitova also. I don't see that she followed up on her Wimbledon run. I don't think one instance of a good run should result in an award.
I think a "newcomer" should be a bit more of an actual newcomer, too, but what do I know?
ReplyDelete