WASHINGTON, December 4, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)
In a 2020 season interrupted for five months by the coronavirus pandemic, there are still end of the year awards to be given out by the Women’s Tennis Association. Nominations for WTA Player of the Year were announced on Wednesday. This year’s six nominees include: Reigning Australian Open champion and Roland Garros finalist Sofia Kenin; Western & Southern Open titlist and US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka, who is also nominated for Comeback Player of the Year; Dubai, Rome and Prague champion Simona Halep; US Open champion and three-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka; Aryna Sabalenka, who won titles in Doha, and back-to-back in Ostrava and Linz, and finished the season on a nine-match winning streak; and Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek, who is the youngest of the Player of the Year nominees and is also nominated for Most Improved Player of the Year.
Nominees for Doubles Team of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year were also announced.
The winners of the awards, which are voted on by the media, will be announced by the WTA next week.
To see a complete list of nominees:
The WTA Player Awards for the 2020 season have been announced! 🤩
See the nominations here –> https://t.co/Mhdm5lawOJ pic.twitter.com/0m4mfzmmJ3
— wta (@WTA) December 2, 2020
Nadal receives Community of Madrid’s highest decoration
On Thursday in Madrid, Spain, Rafael Nadal received the Grand Cross of the Order of Dos de Mayo from the Community of Madrid. The award recognizes Nadal’s sporting achievements, his values and his merits as a person.
Nadal dedicated his award to the victims of the pandemic and left a hopeful message throughout his country: “I am convinced that Spain will move forward,” he said during his acceptance speech.
Rafael Nadal recibió la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Dos de Mayo de la Comunidad de Madrid. Le dedicó este gran reconocimiento a las víctimas de la pandemia y dejó un esperanzador mensaje a todo su país: “Estoy convencido de que España saldrá adelante”.#TENISxESPN @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/eLJdjZqVhu
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) December 3, 2020
#EFETV | El discurso completo de Rafa Nadal tras recibir la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Dos de Mayo. Se la dedicó a todos los afectados por el coronavirus.
🗣️ @RafaelNadal: “Estoy convencido de que España saldrá adelante, como siempre ha hecho”. pic.twitter.com/sudm4tuxsA
— EFE Deportes (@EFEdeportes) December 3, 2020
#WTAForTheGame – Sixty seconds with Garbiñe Muguruza
“I play for the game and something much bigger than myself.”@GarbiMuguruza plays for the drive 🤩
#WTAForTheGame pic.twitter.com/jN2NWM43Nf
— wta (@WTA) December 3, 2020
Tennis Australia – Rallying as one
Rallying as one.@caseydellacqua and John Fitzgerald show the power of tennis to unite and make a difference. The Aussie duo stopped in at Cobargo, NSW, to help the community continue their recovery from devastating bushfires #AusOpen #RallyAsOne pic.twitter.com/vlRlK3vbog
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) December 3, 2020
Shuai Zhang – I play for the fighting spirit
Welcome to the new era of the @WTA 👏
I play for the game and something much bigger than myself. I play for the fighting spirit #WTAForTheGame pic.twitter.com/b3g0Jws4LC— Shuai Zhang (@zhangshuai121) December 3, 2020
The Way Back Machine – Andre Agassi, 1990 ATP Finals
On Dec. 3, 1990, Andre Agassi of the United States won the 1990 ATP Finals singles title defeating Stefan Edberg in Frankfurt, Germany. The score line: 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-2.
#OTD 30 years ago, Andre Agassi won the 1990 ATP Finals.
His legacy lives on in 2020 😉👕 pic.twitter.com/j8KVEUCCfi
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) December 3, 2020
What they’re saying
Darren Cahill, coach (Simona Halep) and broadcaster (ESPN tennis analyst): “New logo, new branding, new era and new faces as the elite athletes continue to light up the court. 16 different countries occupy the top 20 ranking spots. The global reach is enormous. Well played WTA.”
New logo, new branding, new era and new faces as the elite athletes continue to light up the court. 16 different countries occupy the top 20 ranking spots. The global reach is enormous.
Well played @WTA #WTAForTheGame https://t.co/6JiNouI8IY
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) December 2, 2020
What they’re writing
In the first of a multi-part Tennis Majors series, Simon Cambers writes about how the pandemic severely affected tennis this year and asks: What will 2021 look like for tournaments, players and fans?
The pandemic severely affected tennis this year. What will 2021 look like for tournaments, players and fans?
Here’s part 1 in our special series, by @scambers73https://t.co/1WO7JWOf7Q
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) December 3, 2020
What they’re sharing on social media
Novak Djokovic / Home sweet home.
Home sweet home pic.twitter.com/26ZjRtPi94
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) December 3, 2020
Serena Williams / What’s inside her bag?
When she’s not serving greatness on the court, tennis superstar Serena Williams needs a bag that works for a “woman on the go”. But what’s inside? pic.twitter.com/M3kfAEvR9w
— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) December 2, 2020
Nick Kyrgios / Professional gamer?
Nick Kyrgios as a future professional gamer?
“I think I am the best gamer on the circuit. When I reach 10 years as a professional, I think I should make the switch and become a professional video game player. I think I’m very good at this and will put my full attention on it.” pic.twitter.com/BeMGQL9JdH
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) December 3, 2020
