Nominees for 2023 WTA Comeback Player of the Year confirmed including Elina Svitolina, Karolina Muchova and Marketa Vondrousova
WTA
The WTA
announced the nominees for Comeback Player of the Year, including Elina
Svitolina, Karolina Muchova, and Marketa Vondrousova.
After the
season-ending Finals where Iga Swiatek reclaimed the world No. 1, the players
are already in their off-days or engaged in preseason training. The WTA
revealed the year-end award nominees, featuring notable candidates in the
Comeback Player of the Year category.
There are
five athletes in contention for the award, which, according to the WTA, is
aimed at a player 'whose ranking previously dropped due to injury or personal
reasons, and the current season's results helped restore ranking.' Here are the
nominees and their key achievements:
Marketa
Vondrousova: The
24-year-old Czech finished the year as world No. 7 after winning her second
career title at Wimbledon, causing a surprise as the first unseeded player to
claim the title at SW19. Vondrousova reached the French Open final in 2019, and
since then, injuries disrupted her regularity, dropping her to world No. 124 at
the beginning of the year.
Karolina
Muchova: Ranked No.
8, she was off the tour between August 2021 and March 2022 due to an abdominal
injury. In August 2022, her ranking was at No. 235, and at the start of 2023,
it was at No. 151. Muchova reached the French Open final and the US Open
semifinals. She also made it to the final of the Cincinnati Open and the
quarterfinals in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Elina
Svitolina: The
Ukrainian had an impressive campaign after a long absence due to her pregnancy.
In a few weeks, she won the title at the WTA 250 Strasbourg Open, followed by
reaching the French Open quarterfinals and Wimbledon semifinals, finishing as
world No. 25 with just 9 tournaments played.
Hsieh
Su-Wei: After 20
seasons in the professional circuit and being away for 18 months, she returned
at the Madrid Open. At 37, she won two Grand Slam titles in doubles: the French
Open and Wimbledon, ending the year as world No. 6.
Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova: The
Russian gained recognition after reaching the 2021 French Open final but
couldn't replicate her success in 2022 due to a knee injury. Pavlyuchenkova
finished the year as world No. 58, with the fourth round of Roland Garros and
the semifinals of the WTA 500 Tokyo Open as her main achievements.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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