19-year-old Emma Raducanu has been named the Newcomer of the Year by the Women’s Tennis Association.

Raducanu had a good season after winning her first Grand Slam at the U.S. back in September, which was also her first title. Before winning the U.S. Open, Raducanu reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, which was her first Grand Slam entry. She ended the season ranked world number 19 after starting the season ranked 343rd.

According to the WTA, Raducanu earned the title after becoming the first qualifier in history to win the Grand Slam at the U.S. Open: “Emma Raducanu was voted the WTA Newcomer of the Year after making history in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the U.S. Open, where she did not drop a set throughout all 10 of her matches. Having made her grand slam main draw debut at Wimbledon this year, she reached the last 16 to become the youngest British woman to reach this stage at the All-England Club.”

This is the latest award Raducanu is getting, after being named B.T. Sport Action Woman of the Year and Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year.

Australian Ashleigh Barry was named WTA player of the year after a successful season marked with five WTA titles, including the Grand Slam at Wimbledon back in July, her second Grand Slam title. Barty is also ending the year as world number one for the third year in a row.

Barbora Krejcikova was named the most improved player and was also named alongside Katerina Siniakova as the double team of the year after winning the doubles gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and also winning their third Grand Slam at the French Open earlier this year.

Carla Suarez Navarro was named as the comeback player of the year

Written by:  Leon Osamor