Tennis world erupts over Ash Barty and Emma Raducanu news

World No.1 Ash Barty and British teen sensation Emma Raducanu have both picked top another major award to cap off an incredible 2021.

Barty was named WTA Player of the Year for the second time after an incredibly successful year highlighted by a maiden Wimbledon title.

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It is the second time the Australian has won the award, made by the women's game's governing body and voted by members of the international media. She also won in 2019.

The 25-year-old Aussie claimed a tour-leading five titles this year including the second grand slam trophy of her career at Wimbledon, where she beat Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final.

She also defended her title at Miami and triumphed in Melbourne, Stuttgart and Cincinnati to secure her third year-end No.1 ranking in a row.

Barty topped her stellar year by announcing her engagement to her long-term partner, Garry Kissick.

Meanwhile, Raducanu picked up the award for the WTA's Newcomer of the Year, off the back of her historic US Open triumph.

The 19-year-old Brit entered the US Open as a qualifier ranked 150th in the world and ended it as Britain's first female Grand Slam champion for 44 years.

The British teenager stunned the world by becoming the first qualifier to win a grand slam at the US Open, which followed hot on the heels of a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon – all without having won a match on the regular WTA Tour.

Raducanu, who has become a global star in the wake of her win in New York, finished the year ranked 19th in world, capping a meteoric rise from 343 at the start of 2021.

The WTA Tour said: “Emma Raducanu was voted the WTA Newcomer of the Year after making history in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the US Open, where she did not drop a set throughout all 10 of her matches.

Tennis world hails Barty and Raducanu

“Having made her grand slam main draw debut at Wimbledon this year, she reached the last 16 to become the youngest British woman to reach this stage at the All-England Club.

Both Raducanu and Barty were celebrated across the tennis world after their latest awards.

Czech Barbora Krejcikova took the WTA prize for the Most Improved Player of the Year following a stand-out season in which she won the French Open singles crown.

She also excelled in doubles with playing partner Katerina Siniakova, with the pair earning the Doubles Team of the Year award, which they also won in 2018.

Carla Suarez Navarro was named the Comeback Player of the Year award.

The 33-year-old Spaniard announced in September, 2020 that she was being treated for early stage Hodgkin lymphoma and underwent months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before returning at the French Open in June.

with agencies

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