Sabalenka Repeats as WTA Player of the Year as Anisimova Earns Most Improved

Aryna Sabalenka captured her second straight WTA Tour Player of the Year award Monday, a vote that reflected her dominant 2025 season.

Sabalenka’s Dominant Campaign

The Belarusian, 27, finished the year with a 63‑12 win‑loss record, four titles and nine finals. She earned a tour record $15 million in prize money and spent every week at the top of the rankings.

At the majors, Sabalenka was runner‑up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and to Coco Gauff at the French Open. She reached the Wimbledon semi‑finals before falling to Amanda Anisimova, and then defended her U.S. Open crown by defeating Anisimova in the final.

Her performance earned her nearly 80% of the media panel’s vote, making her the second consecutive winner after Serena Williams and Iga Świątek over the past 25 years.

Anisimova’s Rise

The 24‑year‑old American was named Most Improved Player after reaching her first two Grand Slam finals. She lost to Świątek at Roland Garros and to Sabalenka at Flushing Meadows.

Anisimova also claimed WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing, and reached three additional finals during the season.

She finished 2024 ranked 36th and, after a top‑10 debut, climbed to No. 4 by season’s end. Anisimova was also nominated for Player of the Year.

Newcomer of the Year: Vicky Mboko

Canadian 19‑year‑old Vicky Mboko leapt from outside the top 300 to inside the top 20. Her season included a WTA 1000 win in Montreal, where she defeated four Grand Slam champions.

Mboko’s rise earned her the Newcomer of the Year award.

Comeback Player of the Year: Belinda Bencic

Swiss veteran Belinda Bencic returned to the tour after more than a year away to have her first child. She captured two titles in 2025 and reached the Wimbledon semi‑finals for the first time since 2019.

Bencic’s resilience and performance earned her the Comeback Player of the Year honor.

Doubles Team of the Year

Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend were named Doubles Team of the Year. The pair won the Australian Open and finished as runners‑up at the U.S. Open.

Their success across two majors highlighted their status as one of the top doubles teams on the tour.

Key Takeaways

• Aryna Sabalenka wins her second straight WTA Player of the Year, securing almost 80% of the media vote.
• Amanda Anisimova earns Most Improved Player after reaching two Grand Slam finals and winning two WTA 1000 titles.
• Vicky Mboko tops newcomer honors, rising from outside the top 300 to inside the top 20.

Sabalenka’s record‑setting season and Anisimova’s breakthrough performances underscore a year of remarkable achievements in women’s tennis. The awards ceremony highlighted the depth of talent and the rising stars reshaping the sport.