World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance on the women’s tour has been formally recognised once again, with the Belarusian star voted the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Player of the Year for a second consecutive season.
Aryna Sabalenka’s grip on women’s tennis in 2025 was so complete that the verdict from the sport’s global media felt inevitable. The world number one has been voted WTA Player of the Year for the second straight season, capping a campaign defined by power, consistency and historic numbers.
At 27, the Belarusian did more than just win big matches—she set the pace for the entire tour. Sabalenka lifted four trophies, more than any other player this season, and her standout moment came in September when she successfully defended her US Open title. The win over Amanda Anisimova not only delivered her fourth Grand Slam singles crown, but also reinforced her reputation as the game’s most reliable performer on the biggest stages.
Sabalenka’s season was built on relentless presence. She contested nine finals, the highest tally on tour, and although she fell short at the Australian Open against Madison Keys and at Roland Garros against Coco Gauff, her ability to reach the business end of tournaments week after week defined her year. Titles in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid further highlighted her dominance across different conditions.
Perhaps most striking was her unbroken reign at the top of the rankings. Sabalenka spent the entire calendar year as world number one, finishing 2025 in pole position for a second consecutive time. In July, she crossed the 12,000-point mark in the WTA rankings—territory untouched since Serena Williams achieved the feat a decade earlier.
The numbers behind her season were just as emphatic. A 63-12 win-loss record, a tour-leading prize-money haul of £11 million, and close to 80% of the media vote left little doubt about the year’s standout performer.
Sabalenka’s influence is now extending beyond traditional competition. On 28 December, she is scheduled to face Nick Kyrgios in a Battle of the Sexes-style exhibition, an event she hopes will draw new attention to women’s tennis and push the sport into a broader spotlight.
Awards Reflect a Changing Tour
Elsewhere, the WTA’s end-of-season honours highlighted the tour’s evolving storylines. Belinda Bencic was named Comeback Player of the Year after returning to competition following a 13-month maternity break, a journey that resonated strongly across the tennis world.
Teenage sensation Victoria Mboko claimed Newcomer of the Year after a remarkable rise from outside the top 300 to world number 18, while Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend earned Doubles Team of the Year honours following their second Grand Slam triumph together. Amanda Anisimova, runner-up to Sabalenka at the US Open, was voted Most Improved Player after reaching five finals during the season.
With the men’s tour also celebrating its champions—Carlos Alcaraz collecting multiple ATP awards and Jannik Sinner once again winning fans’ favourite—the message from tennis in 2025 is clear. Yet at the centre of the women’s game, one figure stood above all others, and her name was written into the record books once more: Aryna Sabalenka.
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