WTA Player of the Year Countdown: Honorable Mentions

Our WTA Player of the Year Countdown was revealed last week. Ten voters from the TENNIS.com editorial team each selected five players, with a first-place selection worth 5 points, second-place vote 4 points, and so forth. The results, and write-ups, were:

• 1\. Iga Swiatek (43 voting points)
• 2\. Aryna Sabalenka (40 voting points)
• 3\. Coco Gauff (30 voting points)
• 4\. Marketa Vondrousova (12 voting points)
• 5\. Jessica Pegula (11 voting points)

That leaves 14 votes unaccounted for—which brings us to our Honorable Mentions. Selected commentary from voters are below.

Elena Rybakina (5 voting points)

Let’s not forget: she was the Australian Open finalist, went 3-0 against Swiatek and 2-2 against Sabalenka, nearly won the Sunshine Double, and reached No. 3 in June despite having zero points awarded for her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.—Matt Fitzgerald

A somewhat up and down season, but still managed two titles and a Slam final.—Jon Levey

Last year’s Wimbledon champion couldn’t replicate her Grand Slam winning ways, but she still posted impressive results with a pair of WTA 1000-level titles in Indian Wells and Rome, and appearances in major finals including the Australian Open and Miami.—Stephanie Livaudais

Elina Svitolina (4 voting points)

Returning to tour after having a child and during a war is an unbelievable commitment to the sport and her platform. Not only is she back, but she’s making deep runs at big events, and proving she is still—if not more than ever—a force to be reckoned with.—Liya Davidov

You inspire your wartorn country with a run to the Wimbledon semis nine months after giving birth, you get a nod. If sports is less about the scoreboard and more about heart, the triumph of the spirit and inspiration that can reach every corner of the globe, then Svitolina told the story better than anyone else this year.—Megan Fernandez

Maria Sakkari (2 voting points)

She’s the Andrey Rublev of the WTA: so close, yet so far. Despite some familiar struggles, though, Sakkari found joy in competition, winning a 1000 title in Guadalajara and, at No. 9, competed in the WTA Finals as the first alternate.—Liya Davidov

Karolina Muchova (2 voting points)

Playing beautifully varied attacking tennis, she won the women's match of the year at Roland Garros, and almost did it again in the final.—Steve Tignor

Beatriz Haddad Maia (1 voting point)

Breaking through to the Top 10 takes a Herculean effort for players off the main tennis grid. The 27-year old from Brazil hit that milestone in June, and went on to win the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai in October.—Peter Bodo