World number one Aryna Sabalenka has been named the WTA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after a dominant 2025 campaign that saw her lead women’s tennis across multiple key metrics and milestones. The Women’s Tennis Association announced the award on Monday, recognizing Sabalenka’s consistent excellence throughout another remarkable year on tour.
Sabalenka’s 2025 season was built on sustained success from the start of the year through its conclusion. She finished with 63 match wins, more than any other player on the WTA Tour, and reached nine finals, underlining her ability to maintain elite performance across surfaces, events and conditions. She also claimed four titles — including a successful defense of her US Open crown — while reaching the finals of both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, highlighting her prominence at the sport’s biggest stages.
The Belarusian spent the entire season as the world number one, closing the year atop the rankings and setting a new single-season prize money record with more than $15 million earned. Her sustained run of high-level tennis also included deep runs at other premier tournaments, contributing to her overwhelming support from the media panel that votes on the WTA’s annual awards. Nearly 80% of the panel backed Sabalenka for the honor, reflecting broad recognition of her dominance during the 2025 calendar year.
By winning the award for a second straight year, Sabalenka joined an exclusive group of women’s players who have earned back-to-back Player of the Year honors, including tennis legends Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek. That achievement further cements her status as one of the defining players of the current generation on the WTA Tour.
While Sabalenka’s season did not include a WTA Finals title — where she finished runner-up — her consistent presence in major finals and her ability to remain at the pinnacle of the sport over the full season were key factors in her selection. Sabalenka’s all-around game, powerful baseline dominance and competitive toughness were frequently on display, making her a clear standout over her peers.
Alongside Sabalenka’s award, the WTA also recognized other standout performers of the season. Amanda Anisimova was named Most Improved Player after a breakthrough year in which she reached multiple finals and climbed into the top ranks of the game, while the Doubles Team of the Year went to Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend. Nineteen-year-old Victoria Mboko earned Newcomer of the Year honors, acknowledging her rapid emergence as a rising talent on tour.
Sabalenka’s second straight Player of the Year designation highlights a season of elite consistency and peak performance, setting a high bar as the women’s tour turns its attention to the 2026 season and beyond.
