"Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, finally caught fire after a year of near misses, bulldozing through her opponents to win a title in Ningbo, China that solidified her spot in Riyadh among the eight best players in the world. Just as significant as Rybakina's qualification, though, was its consequences for the player she usurped. Mirra Andreeva, the 18-year-old prodigy who won WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells this year, had seemed like a sure bet to qualify in singles for the finals."
"At the top, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have further strengthened their claims as the two greatest players of their generation. While the former put together another supremely consistent year as the best player in the world, winning her fourth grand slam title at the US Open and reaching the Australian and French Open finals, the latter captured the one tournament she never imagined she could win, earning her sixth grand slam title at Wimbledon."
"Still, the other top players have allowed them no rest and the intense competition has inspired countless epic high-stakes matches throughout the year. It took consecutive colossal performances from Madison Keys against Swiatek and Sabalenka to finally win her first grand slam title at the Australian Open. In Paris, Coco Gauff outsmarted Sabalenka in a dramatic, wind-afflicted three-setter to win her second grand slam title aged just 21. Two days earlier, Sabalenka ended Swiatek's three-year reign in another unforgettable duel."
Elena Rybakina won the Ningbo title, cementing her place among the eight WTA Finals qualifiers in Riyadh. Mirra Andreeva, despite winning WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells, failed to qualify in singles. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek further asserted themselves as the era's leading players, with Sabalenka winning the US Open and reaching two other major finals and Swiatek claiming Wimbledon. The depth of the tour produced numerous epic, high-stakes matches and breakthrough performances. Madison Keys won the Australian Open after huge wins over Swiatek and Sabalenka. Coco Gauff captured the French Open in dramatic conditions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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