2022 WTA Rewind – Swiatek, Jabeur, Pegula Highlight

The Australian swing is just around the corner, ready to kickstart the 2023 WTA season in the New Year Down Under. Thus, It’s the ideal time to look back at the Top 8 female players that reached the WTA Tour Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, and recap some of their highlights from last season. As well, we give an honorable mention to some of the standout players that raised their profiles in the women’s game and could emerge as viable challengers in 2023.

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2022 WTA Tour Top Players & Highlights

Iga Swiatek – Swiatek won the WTA Player of the Year award last week, a tribute to her standout 2022 WTA campaign.

The 21-year-old Polish player had a season like no other, thoroughly dominant and exacting, She won an eye-popping eight titles, including two Grand Slams at the French Open and the US Open, put up a 67-9 record, and clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking by a country mile.

Swiatek headlined the draw at the WTA Tour Finals, but she stumbled at the semifinal hurdle after losing a three-set marathon to Aryna Sabalenka.

Iga Swiatek is the 2022 French Open Champion! 🏆

She defeats Coco Gauff in straight sets to capture the title. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PBZTfzRiZ2

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 4, 2022

Ons Jabeur – The Tunisian trailblazer made history in 2022 by becoming the first African and Arab female player to reach the final of a Grand Slam at the Wimbledon Championships. She would go on to reach her second straight Grand Slam final at the US Open. Overall, Jabeur went 47-17, picked up two titles and clinched the World No.2 ranking.

Toward the end of the season, injuries slowed down the 28-year-old. In Fort Worth, her run ended in the round robin stage after she went 1-2.

Jessica Pegula – The American rose to a career-high ranking of World No.3 in 2022. She strung together a 42-21 record which included winning her biggest title at the Guadalajara Open Akron in October.

At the Grand Slams, Pegula reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, French Open and US Open. In Fort Worth, she went 0-3 in the round robin stage and finished last in her group.

Carolina Garcia – France’s Carolina Garcia started her season ranked outside of the Top 70, but worked her way into the Top 10 following a standout summer hard court season, which saw her win the Cincinnati Open and reach a US Open semifinal. Garcia would go on to win the WTA Tour Finals, beating Sabalenka in straight sets. Overall, Garcia picked up four titles on the year and finished with a 45-20 record.

Aryna Sabalenka – The 24-year-old Belariusian had a roller coaster of a season, finishing with a 33-22 record and no titles. She reached finals on three different surfaces: the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (clay),  the Libema Open (grass) and the WTA Tour Finals (hard court). In Fort Worth, Sabalenka beat the Top 3 players in a row to reach the final – Pegula, Jabeur and Swiatek.

Maria Sakkari – The Greek No.1 had an up-and0down season, but finished inside the Top 10 for a second straight season. Sakkari went 40-23 in tournament play and zero titles to finish as the World No.6. She reached the semis in Fort Worth where she lost to eventual champion Garcia.

Five USA women in the top 25, most (by far) of any nation

Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys & Amanda Anisimovahttps://t.co/ZnOP0A2cFN pic.twitter.com/rrsZBKwpUe

— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) June 13, 2022

Coco Gauff – Gauff, 18, made headlines at the French Open when she became the youngest female tennis player to reach a Grand Slam final since Maria Sharapova (17 years of age) did it at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships. Simultaneously, she became the youngest American woman to reach the final of a major since Serena Williams accomplished the feat at 17 years of age in the 1999 US Open.

Gauff’s breakout season included a 38-23 record, a career-high ranking of World No. 7 and a first appearance at the  WTA Tour Finals. Although she didn’t advance out of the group stage, she’s established herself as one of the NextGen stars to spot in the coming year. Especially at the 2023 Australian Open where she is priced as the +1200 bet.

Daria Kasatkina – The 25-year-old Russian rounded out the Top 8 players in the WTA rankings last year. She went 41-22 on the season with two titles. Her best performance at a Grand Slam was a semifinal appearance at Roland Garros. She also made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

Honorable Mentions: Kudermetova, Collins, Haddad-Maia & More

The women’s game featured several standout performers. Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova narrowly missed out on the WTA Tour Finals, finishing as the World No. 9 player. American Danielle Collins started the year strong and reached the final of the Australian Open (l. to Ashleigh Barty).  She also made the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.

Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad-Maia had a standout summer, winning two titles and reaching the Rogers Cup final. Belinda Bencic went 42-18 on the year and picked up the title in Charleston.

Elena Rybakina came seemingly out of nowhere to win the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. Ajla Romljanovic defeated Serena Williams in her final (presumed) appearance at the US Open.