MIAMI, Florida—Several stars on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour turned out Thursday for the 2008 Player Awards Ceremony at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Doubles players Cara Black and Liezel Huber, Dinara Safina, Ana Ivanovic, Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki and Zheng Jie were present at a special ceremony tonight in Miami.
Eight women were honored for their remarkable achievements both on and off the court during the 2008 Sony Ericsson Tour season. Notably absent from the awards ceremony was world number one Serena Williams, the winner of the Player of the Year award.
This was the second Player of the Year nod for Williams, who also won it in 2002.
“Winning the Player of the Year award for the second time in my career is a great personal achievement,” Serena Williams said in a press release from the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
“Last year was a very special year on the Tour for me, winning an Olympic Gold medal with Venus, the U.S. Open title and becoming the World No. 1 player again. I feel great about my game and hope to win many more Player of the Year titles in the years to come.”
The doubles pairing of Cara Black and Liezel Huber were the heavy favorites to win Doubles Team of the Year after capturing ten titles during the 2008 season.
“Liezel and I are thrilled to be named the Doubles Team of the Year for the second year in a row,” Black said. “We are really pleased and honored to be receiving this award.”
“Cara and I achieved incredible results during the 2008 season and while we are a very competitive team, playing tennis with each other is fun, so winning this award is the icing on the cake,” added Huber.
Complete list of the 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Player Award Recipients:
* Player of the Year – Serena Williams
* Doubles Team of the Year – Cara Black and Liezel Huber
* Most Improved Player – Dinara Safina
* Comeback Player of the Year – Zheng Jie
* Newcomer of the Year – Caroline Wozniacki
* Humanitarian of the Year – Ana Ivanovic
* Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award – Elena Dementieva
* Player Service Award – Liezel Huber
* Favorite Premier Tournament – Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart)
* Favorite International Tournament – The Commonwealth Tennis Tournament (Bali)
The Player of the Year, Doubles Team of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year award winners are voted for by the global tennis media, while the Tournaments of the Year, Sportsmanship and Player Service awards are selected by the players.
On the Baseline’s live coverage of the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open is brought to you by Grand Slam Tennis Tours.
I am not too keen on Serena winning the Player of the year. I know that it was a difficult decision because there was a different person that won each major and then there was a different person finishing no. 1. At this time, I think that Venus should have one. She won Wimbledon and the next big tournament, the Tour Championships, plus another tournament I think. I think that the Tour Championships outweigh the Tier 1 tournments Serena won, even if she did win Miami.
The same can be said for Venus if she had won the award. The end of year championships is great, but Serena got back to #1 even if for a few weeks, after more than 5 years of not being at the top, not many, if any, I think can boast the same achievement. Plus, Serena defended her Miami title, and therefore did not gain any new points, which makes her getting back to #1 at the end of the US Open that more impressive, as it showed consistency (especially since she was injured during the summer hard courts and missed those ranking points as well.) I think what’s interesting is that Jankovic did not get an award whatsoever, considering she ended the year as #1.
Chidi, you make some good points. Serena did pull off some nice results. Regarding Jankovic, I have to confess I don’t know where I am on that issue. Jankovic did get an award at Doha for finishing no. 1, so maybe the powers that be thought that was honoring her accomplishment. You are right, though, it seemed weird not to have her up there with the other women and their trophies. Maybe the year-end no 1 award should be given at the same time as the others instead of at the Tour Championships. Jankovic did get the ITF World Champion Award but it seems like they often give it to the person that finishes no 1. In 2006, the ITF gave the award to Henin, who finished no 1, got to all finals and won Roland Garros. The WTA gave it to Mauresmo who won two GS. I suppose it depends on whether one values consistency over slams. I just haven’t decided yet.
I think its whoever made the big headlines that year, and big headlines is generated during the slams. Most times, people tune in only during grand slams, I have to admit I only started following tennis fastidiously starting after wimbledon last year. In 2007 all we heard was Serena being booted out woefully during slams, then in 2008 she makes a strong resurgence. Given that Justine has retired, Sharapova is on the sidelines – Jelena notwithstanding – people who seldom pay attention to tennis are probably taking a renewed interest b/c of Serena and Venus (take Indian Wells for example, there was more talk of the sisters skipping that event than the tournament itself). I’m with you, the award could have gone to either Serena or Venus, I on the other hand, am just as happy with it going to Serena.
Chidi,
Just curious. What made you start following tennis more intensely after Wimby 2008? I have followed some since the 70’s but not intensely until 1999 or so. Just when the Williams were making their mark. That was a fun time. I also started intensely following Henin and Federer after seeing them in the 2001 Wimbledon (Fed beat Sampras in rd of 16 then lost next round-Henin went to final where beat by Venus.)
Again just curious-you sound like a pro for just starting intensely last year!
Wow, Sunny, thanks for the compliment. I pick things up fast, which is why I might sound like a pro…but it’s just plenty of reading/listening. I’ve always been into tennis, but never knew of “the world of tennis” out there b/c my interest was pretty much marginal. During Wimby last year, the commentators discussed the summer hardcourt season and that ESPN would be showing it as well as the Tennis channel, and suddenly I started getting excited b/c here were the Sisters once again playing in a final, and the names of all these new players I didn’t really know anything about – Jankovic, Ivanovic – and of course, Sharapova going out in the third round, it just seemed like drama, plus I’ve always loved watching women’s sports. Henin might have retired, but Clisters coming back and the “will she or won’t she” Sharapova drama, and of course Serena and Venus, not to mention all the other ladies just make the anticipation of what this year will bring just absolutely fascinating.