Mirra Andreeva named WTA’s Newcomer of the Year 2023 after a splendid performance

Mirra Andreeva named WTA's Newcomer of the Year for 2023 for her exceptional performance in 2023.

Mirra Andreeva named WTA’s Newcomer of the Year 2023 after a splendid performance

Mirra Andreeva (Image via CNN)

Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva’s fabulous run of form in 2023 has been recognized by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as the 16-year-old was named as WTA’s Newcomer of the Year for 2023. The women’s tennis governing body announced the annual awards on Monday and pledged to celebrate the winners on its social media platforms throughout the week.

The WTA named five Player Awards, three Player Services Awards, and the Coach of the Year Award on Monday. It will announce Tournaments of the Year later this week. Among the winners of the five Player Awards, Mirra Andreeva got the award for Newcomer of the Year as the Russian made a massive jump in her WTA rankings.

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Andreeva leaped from No.405 to No.46 in 2023 on the back of her impressive performances throughout the season. While she reached the Australian Open girls’ final, Andreeva enjoyed a Round of 16 run at the WTA 1000 event in Madrid, defeating two Top 20 players in the process.

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She also made it to the third round at the 2023 French Open after sailing through qualifiers. The 16-year-old then made it to the fourth round at The Championships before losing to Madison Keys. Andreeva reached the pre-quarterfinals at the China Open as well.

Iga Swiatek wins the Player of the Year award for second consecutive year

While Mirra Andreeva was named the WTA’s Newcomer of the Year for the 2023 season, Iga Swiatek was the Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Polish ace who ended the season as the World No.1 and also won the 2023 WTA Finals title in Cancun became the first player to earn the accolade in back-to-back seasons since Serena Williams from 2012 to 2016.

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Iga Swiatek (L) and Jessica Pegula (R) with their WTA Final trophies (Image via Reuters)

Apart from the WTA Finals title, Swiatek also won the title at the French Open and China Open. The 22-year-old could not defend her title at the US Open and also lost her World No.1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka but only to come back storming and taking it back in a span of two months.

The other three Player Awards- Doubles Team of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year were won by Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens, Qinwen Zheng, and Elina Svitolina respectively. Meanwhile, Ons Jabeur secured two service awards- Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award & Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award.

Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, received the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for her consistent professional conduct and willingness to promote women’s tennis to fans, media, and local communities by taking part in off-court promotional and charitable activities.

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