Aryna Sabalenka's results this season were incredible. Yet, her busy schedule did not prevent the WTA world No. 1 from promoting the sport off the court, and those efforts have been recognized.
Top players have the added responsibility of trying to ensure fans are engaged, and the sport grows worldwide. Sabalenka's performances in 2024 firmly established her as one of the most significant figures in tennis today.
The Belarusian won the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. She also finished as the year-end No. 1, beating her rival Iga Swiatek to that position after the Pole had dominated the No. 1 ranking since April 2022.
Those achievements meant Sabalenka was chosen as the 2024 WTA Player of the Year, beating others like Swiatek, WTA Finals champion Coco Gauff, and Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng to the award.
While all the nominees for that award deserve credit for their excellent seasons, Sabalenka not winning that honor would have been controversial since she was undoubtedly the best player throughout the year.
Despite Sabalenka's outstanding achievements, it feels like she can get even better. The 26-year-old dominated on hard courts but also has the game to win Grand Slams on clay and grass courts.
Her chances of achieving that in 2024 were disrupted by physical issues. Sabalenka struggled with an illness during her French Open quarterfinal defeat to Mirra Andreeva and had to withdraw from Wimbledon with an injury.
The year-end No. 1 has already proven those who felt she was untalented and could not improve wrong. It may seem absurd now, but Sabalenka faced those criticisms as a young player due to her hard-hitting style.
Under coach Anton Dubrov's guidance, Sabalenka's powerful style became even better and she added other elements to her game, like a formidable serve and improved defense when behind in rallies.
Former world No. 1 Dinara Safina recently revealed that Sabalenka tried to hire her as a coach in 2019, but the move fell through because she could not start quickly enough. The success with Dubrov means it may have been a blessing in disguise.
Sabalenka gained many fans in 2024 because of her outstanding performances. The demand to see the Belarusian partake in activities off the court undoubtedly rose, but she rose to the challenge.
The three-time Grand Slam champion has been awarded the 2024 Jerry Diamond ACES Award, joining Angelique Kerber, Jessica Pegula, and Elina Svitolina on a prestigious list of honor winners.
The award was presented to Sabalenka for her dedication to promoting women’s tennis to fans, media, and local communities through off-court promotional and charitable activities.
Sabalenka is among the most personable figures in tennis. She warmly engages with fans at tournaments and interacts with millions worldwide through humorous social media posts about her training, matches, and life outside tennis.
An example was when she convinced Swiatek to make a TikTok at this year's WTA Finals. The collaboration received a highly positive reaction from fans, who loved seeing the respect that exists between the rivals on the court.
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