The season 2022 has already come to an end and the circuit WTA closes the course with a clear dominator, Every Swiatek. The Pole has been the leader of women’s tennis and no rival capable of facing her has yet appeared, although Ons Jabeur and Caroline García have shone during some phases of the year. In addition, young promises have made their season of presentation in a circuit that has once again been very open and with the clear demonstration that at this moment they all have the capacity to surprise.
1. Iga Swiatek, an unforgettable year and clear dominator of the circuit
When talking about the 2022 season, it will be very difficult not to refer to Iga Swiatek. The current number one has had a spectacular year in which she came to win 37 games in a row with a total of 135 days undefeated. Since she won in Qatar in February, no one was able to beat the Pole until Wimbledon. The grass tour has been the only one but in a season in which she has won up to eight titles, including two Grand Slams, Paris and New York. The superiority that Iga has shown is tremendous, that she points out ways to mark an era on the circuit.
2. Caroline García, number one since Roland Garros
Despite the clear dominance that Swiatek has shown throughout the year, Caroline García has signed a second part of the season at the highest level and if only the points achieved since Roland Garros are taken into account, the Frenchwoman would have been the first in the ranking . Caroline, at 29, has finally managed to bring out all her talent and has become one of the most complete tennis players on the entire WTA circuit. When little was expected of her, since she was out of her top 50, the French player has had the best year of her career, managing to win Roland Garros in doubles and the WTA Finals in singles. Now it remains to be seen if she will maintain this regularity in 2023.
3. Ons Jabeur history for African tennis
Jabuer has been very close to getting his first Grand Slam. First at Wimbledon and then in the US, the Tunisian had golden opportunities to win her first ‘major’, which would also have made her the first African tennis player to achieve this feat. However, the current number two in the world has already made history for Africa and she has also managed to bring women’s tennis to Tunisia for the first time in history. Jabeur is already an inspiration to thousands of African children seeking to follow in her footsteps.
4. Sabalenka, Sakkari and Pegula need to go one step further
The year for these three tennis players has been very positive, especially for Pegula, but the truth is that they have yet to take a step in the Grand Slams. The three have plenty of weapons to stay in the top positions of the ranking for several years, but they need to improve mentally, since when they have had the chance to go further in a big event they have ended up losing. It gives the feeling that it is more a mental issue than a game issue, so they will have to work on that to try to make the leap next year.
5. Coco Gauff, proof that she is still called to do something great
If there is a player that has been talked about a lot years ago, that is without a doubt Coco Gauff. The American, who is still 18 years old even though she doesn’t look like it, has already reached her first Grand Slam final and has also been number four in the WTA ranking. The American has everything to succeed in tennis and once she has managed to put an end to those doubts, especially mental ones, which turned into errors and double faults, it seems that Gauff has a lot to say in the coming years. It is evident that it has been very useful for her to also play doubles, where she has already been number one, and that if she continues to follow her path, she will be a player ready to fight in every big tournament. Of course, she should not overlook her season finale, with 5 consecutive defeats, something inadmissible for a player who wants to aspire to everything.
6. Halep facing the biggest game of her career
It is not a subject that likes to deal with, but it has undoubtedly been one of the great news of this season. Simona Halep, after having returned to her best level at the hands of Patrick Mouratoglou, has been suspended by the ITF for two years without playing for testing positive in Roxadustat. The Romanian denies having done anything illegal and we will have to wait and see what happens, although it does not look good for Halep, who will also be left in a very difficult situation, since when she can play again she will be 33 years old and start from scratch to that age is practically impossible.
7. Muguruza and Badosa, a year to forget
Unlike what was experienced in men’s tennis, on the WTA circuit Spanish tennis has had a season to forget. Neither Paula Badosa nor Garbiñe Muguruza have been able to continue with the dynamics of 2021. The Spanish women have experienced great disappointments and practically no joy, so it is time to reset and face the next course with renewed energy to return to their rightful place . Their tennis is there and if they manage to feel good with themselves, the results will come again.
8. Rybakina, a brilliant Wimbledon but lack of regularity
Elena Rybakina showed her entire attacking tennis arsenal at Wimbledon. The Kazakh shone with her serve and prevailed over her opponents thanks to her physical power and the force of her punches. On the other hand, Rybakina has not been able to maintain that level of tennis and that added to the fact that Wimbledon does not give points made her stay out of the WTA Finals. Of course, what has already become clear is that she has all the necessary weapons to succeed, so she will be one of the players to watch in each great event that is played.
9. The absence of Barty, a void that could not be filled
Ashleigh Barty’s withdrawal caught all of us by surprise. The Australian tennis player left him after winning in Melbourne and she seems very sure of her decision, something that has left the WTA circuit lacking in what she was until then her great star. The Aussie player dominated the ranking with an iron fist last season with tennis that was a delight for any spectator who sat down to watch it.
10. The need to have events in China again
The WTA has suffered a lot after the pandemic to be able to offer great financial prizes to its players. The niche that it had in China has not been able to be re-established due to the coronavirus and the disappearance of Peng Shuai, but it seems essential for the good of women’s tennis that the Asian tour return. What happened during the WTA Finals, where there was hardly any public, did a lot of damage to a circuit that is currently not going through its best moment.
- The withdrawal of a legend like Serena Williams
Finally, we cannot forget before finishing this article by Serena Williams. The winner of 23 Grand Slams hung up the racket after the US Open, or so it seems. She has not yet made it clear whether or not she will compete again, but what we can already say is that they were very emotional days and we also saw a Serena who left competing at a very high level and there were even those who considered her a candidate after his victory against Kontaveit.
