Leylah Annie Fernandez, Paula Badosa Gibert, Ons Jabeur and Maria Sakkari had all of them a fantastic season. They are also among the nominees for the prestigious WTA most improved player of the year.
Probably Leylah Fernandez and Paula Badosa are in pole position to win the prestigious award. Besides winning in Monterrey, Leylah Fernandez did really impress during her inspiring run at the US Open, where she reached the final beating a series of top players.
Paula Badosa also had a fantastic season that culminated with her title in Indian Wells.
This is the full list of the nominees for this award:
Paula Badosa (ESP)
Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
Ons Jabeur (TUN)
Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
Jessica Pegula (USA)
Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Leylah Annie Fernandez in 2021
Ranked world no.24 (career-high), the Canadian played her last match on the 12th of October when she was defeated by world no.40 Shelby Rogers 2-6 6-1 7-6(4) in the 4th round in Indian Wells (draw).
At the moment, during this season Fernandez has achieved a compiled 25-17 win-loss record. Leylah Annie clinched 1 title in Monterrey. The Canadian got to the final at the U.S. Open.
Paula Badosa Gibert in 2021
Now the world no.8 (career-high), the Spaniard played her last match on the 16th of November when she lost to world no.3 Garbine Muguruza 6-3 6-3 in the semifinal in Guadalajara (draw)
.Currently, during this season Badosa has achieved a composed 43-17 match record. Paula conquered 2 titles in 2021 in Belgrade and in Indian Wells.
Leylah Annie Fernandez and Paula Badosa Gibert squared off only once. The head to head is 1-0 for Badosa. When they played, Paula Badosa Gibert won 7-5 7-6(3) in the qualifications in Auckland (ASB Classic) in January 2020.
Ons Jabeur in 2021
Currently ranked no.10, Jabeur played her last match on the 19th of October when she had to retire when playing against world no.33 Ekaterina Alexandrova in the 1st round and the scoreline was 6-1 1-0 .
At the moment, during this season Ons has a 48-19 win-loss record. Jabeur conquered 1 title in Birmingham. The Tunisian was the runner-up in Charleston and in Chicago.
Maria Sakkari in 2021
Ranked no.6 (career-high), Sakkari played her last match on the 16th of November when she was defeated by world no.7 Anett Kontaveit 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the semifinal in Guadalajara (draw).
Currently, during this year Sakkari has a 38-20 match record. Maria Sakkari’s best result of the current year was reaching the final in Ostrava.
Ons Jabeur and Maria Sakkari played each other twice. The head to head is 1-1. Previously, the last time they fought against each other, Maria Sakkari won 3-6 6-3 6-1 in the quarter in Ostrava (J&T Banka Ostrava Open) in October 2020.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.