Aryna Sabalenka has secured yet another major honour. However, this time it is not a Grand Slam title.
On Monday, the WTA named Aryna Sabalenka as the WTA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, as voted by international media.
The Belarusian has been simply dominant this season, reaching three Grand Slam finals and winning her fourth major title. Therefore, it is perhaps unsurprising to see her win this award yet again.
The 28-year-old beat Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys to the award; all of these players have also won Grand Slam titles in 2025.
She also beat Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina, who won the WTA Finals after defeating Sabalenka.
When analysing the nominees’ respective seasons, it becomes clear that there could only be one true winner of the award.
Aryna Sabalenka was the clear choice for the WTA Player of the Year Award
No single player has come close to achieving what Aryna Sabalenka has on the WTA Tour this year.
The Belarusian has been virtually unstoppable at Grand Slam events, reaching at least the semi-final stage at all four majors.
She has won four events in total, and has the highest win percentage [84.5] of any nominated player, as per Sofascore.
What are your thoughts on Aryna Sabalenka being named WTA Player of the Year?
Sabalenka also won the highest percentage of the tournaments she played in 2025, ahead of Swiatek, Keys, Anisimova and Rybakina.
No other player has performed so well across the Slams, particularly on the biggest stages in Grand Slam events.
She has become almost unstoppable in the early rounds of majors, something the other nominees cannot claim.
Coco Gauff lost in the Wimbledon first round and Amanda Anisimova fell in the Australian Open second round, while Elena Rybakina lost in the fourth or third round at all the major tournaments.
Madison Keys also lost early at a Slam – in the Wimbledon third round.
Sabalenka has been the best, and most consistent player throughout the 2025 season, making her the most worthy recipient of the WTA Player of the Year Award.
Aryna Sabalenka is the 2026 Australian Open favourite
Few tennis fans would bet against Sabalenka winning the Australian Open for a third time when the tournament rolls around in January.
The Belarusian has become a hard-court master, as demonstrated by her recent Grand Slam triumph at the US Open.
However, three other players will certainly be in contention.
You can never count out Iga Swiatek. The Pole, who won her first Wimbledon title in July, has extra motivation as she would achieve the career Grand Slam with a title victory in Melbourne.
What does Aryna Sabalenka need to change in 2026 to win multiple Grand Slam titles?
Amanda Anisimova is also a threat having reached two Grand Slam finals this year.
Finally, there is Elena Rybakina. The Kazakhstani player has been in red-hot form and has made the final in Melbourne once previously, in 2023.
