Djokovic, Halep named 2018 ITF World Champions

Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep had a tough and fantastic season to be named the 2018 ITF World Champions.

How the ITF decides who the World Champion is

The ITF uses a system that considers all results during the season, and it gives special weight to the Grand Slams and two ITF international team competitions the Davis Cup and Fed Cup.

Usually, it’s the season’s end world no.1 to win the award, with some exception last the one in 2017 when the winner was Garbine Muguruza and not Simona Halep (world no.1) because the Spaniard won a slam (Wimbledon) while Simona didn’t.

Djokovic

Nole looked almost done in the very first part of the season, especially after he had an operation in February. Eventually, the Serbian sensation had the great idea to get back his “historic” coaching team to find his tennis and end the 2018 as the deserving world no.1 after winning Wimbledon, Cincinnati, the US Open and Shanghai. (see full titles)

This is the 5th time that world no.1 receives this recognition after 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

The Serbian commented

“I am very honored to be named ITF world champion again, I am particularly proud of this achievement after all that I’ve been through physically this year, but part of me always believed I could make it back to the top.

It is very satisfying to join Pete Sampras by winning my sixth award.”

Halep

Simona had also a fantastic run in 2018 especially after winning her first slam at the French Open.

The Romanian commented

“It’s a great honor to be named as ITF world champion for the first time. I had an incredible year, winning my first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and finishing the year as world number one.”

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