Predictions for Tennis' Top ATP and WTA Awards for the 2015 Season
With a scintillating 2015 tennis season almost in the books, now’s the time to hand awards out to those who distinguished themselves the most.
While both Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are locks to be named the top players, other prestigious honors are up for grabs.
A horde of up-and-coming talent will fight to be the named the top young star, while a few of their older peers are in the mix to be recognized as the best comeback player or the most improved.
The following slides will make predictions for these awards based on the announced lists of candidates and the achievements of qualifying individuals this season.
So, which lucky honorees will be crowned?
WTA Newcomer of the Year: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
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In years past, this award has generally been a good indicator of future success, as players like Serena and Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova are all honorees. Recent recipients include recognizable names like Petra Kvitova, Eugenie Bouchard and Belinda Bencic.
This time around, there’s not a clear-cut winner. But we’ll give the slight edge to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova over Daria Gavrilova.
The 21-year-old Slovak had a strong season in 2015, climbing to a career-high ranking of No. 26 and recording a 41-23 mark. Along the way, Schmiedlova won tournaments in Katowice and Bucharest—the first titles of her career.
But those weren’t her only noteworthy results. She also finished runner-up in Rio, reached the semifinals in Seoul and made the quarterfinals at both Wuhan and Cincinnati. Huge steps for a player outside the Top 70 when the season began.
After beating Caroline Wozniacki in Wuhan, Schmiedlova told the WTA Tennis website: “I'm working hard and I never thought that I would have such a good ranking and have won two WTA tournaments. … I'm so happy and this season is already like a dream for me."
Based on that win and many others this year, the arrow is pointing firmly up for her.
ATP Star of Tomorrow: Alexander Zverev
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Awarded to the youngest male in the Top 100 at the end of the year, Alexander Zverev, 18, has just about clinched this honor.
The lanky German teen possesses a big and versatile game. He's still trying to harness all that talent consistently, but Zverev showed more than a few flashes this season to think he could be a factor in the future.
After reaching the semifinals in Bastad during July, Zverev followed that result up a few weeks later with a quarterfinal showing in Washington. There, he impressively knocked off Alexandr Dolgopolov and Kevin Anderson before falling in a tight battle against Marin Cilic. Still, he made quite an impression during those two events.
Currently ranked 84th in the world, it won't be long before he makes his way into the Top 50 and possibly beyond. As he continues to mature physically and adapt to his frame, Zverev will be a player to watch for years to come.
WTA Comeback Player of the Year: Martina Hingis
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After retiring twice by the age of 27, many wondered if Martina Hingis would ever return to the game.
She eventually found her way back in 2013. But this time, the Swiss star turned her focus towards doubles. It took two years, but the Hingis of old resurfaced in 2015.
Like a phoenix from the ashes, she transformed back into a champion. Partnering with Leander Paes in mixed doubles, Hingis won the Australian Open—her first Grand Slam title at any level in nine years. The duo also captured Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, becoming an unstoppable force thanks to their strategic prowess.
But regular doubles is where she’s truly made a name for herself this year. Hingis and Sania Mirza played their first tournament ever together in Indian Wells, and they’ve done nothing but win. They've claimed six titles since then, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Now the No. 1 women’s doubles team in the world, their partnership should continue to be an incredibly fruitful one for the foreseeable future.
In total, Hingis captured five majors this season. Not even Novak Djokovic or Serena Williams can match that feat.
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ATP Comeback Player of the Year: Benoit Paire
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A painful and persistent knee injury left Benoit Paire battered in several senses throughout much of 2014. Unable to compete at full strength, the gifted Frenchman even fell out of the Top 100.
But he resurrected himself in a big way this season.
Forced to play Challenger events at the beginning of 2015, Paire is up to a personal-best mark of No. 21 thanks to his best year as a professional. From February to now, he's risen 128 spots in the rankings.
Since hitting the clay circuit in April, Paire has earned several important wins. None more so than his victory over Tommy Robredo in the Bastad final—the first title of Paire's career. That result was only a warm-up for what would follow.
At the U.S. Open, Paire picked up one of the biggest wins of his life as he took down 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori in the first round. Over the course of five grueling sets, he outlasted and outwitted one of the game's best on the grandest of stages.
He repeated that feat in Tokyo earlier this month. Once again dispatching Nishikori, Paire also ousted Grigor Dimitrov and Nick Kyrgios before finishing runner-up to Stan Wawrinka. Not a bad week for a guy many had forgotten about several months ago.
Perseverance through injury makes Paire a worthy candidate for this title.
WTA Most Improved Player of the Year: Johanna Konta
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While there are several other contenders for this award, including Garbine Muguruza, Johanna Konta takes the prize courtesy of her breakout campaign.
Ranked No. 150 at the end of 2014, Konta has climbed all the way to the 47th position after several eye-opening performances. Notably, the 24-year-old reached the fourth round of a major for the first time after she took out Andrea Petkovic and Muguruza at the U.S. Open.
Elsewhere, Konta made the quarterfinals on the lawns of Eastbourne, where she also defeated eventual Wimbledon finalist Muguruza. But her strongest week of work came in Wuhan. There, she beat Petkovic, Victoria Azarenka and Simona Halep to make the quarterfinals. Only a tight loss to Venus Williams kept her from going further.
As former player Anne Keothavong told BBC Sport: "Having seen the way she's playing, there's no reason she can't break the world Top 20 and compete at the very top level. She's got the physique, the athletic ability, the tennis, and clearly the right mindset."
Now the top-ranked British woman, expect Konta to keep raising expectations.
ATP Most Improved Player of the Year: Bernard Tomic
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Volatile off the court, Bernard Tomic may finally be finding maturity on it.
He certainly looked like a more focused and driven player throughout the season, and for those efforts he's risen to a career high rank of No. 18. That's a far cry from where he was in January, when he held the 71st spot.
The 23-year-old Aussie has been on the horizon of greatness for several seasons. But various distractions involving his own antics or those of his father have overshadowed his game. It's a shame because he's genuinely one of the most talented in the world.
This year, he did a much better job of consistently utilizing his tools. Perhaps a bit under the radar, Tomic actually made the quarterfinals or better at nine events, including Bogota, where he defended his title.
Recently, Tomic turned a few eyes in Shanghai by defeating Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet in succession. Though he fell in the quarterfinals to Novak Djokovic, Tomic pushed the world No. 1 in a highly competitive first set.
With a solid 39-26 record, Tomic has posted a personal best for wins in a season, and he's now knocking on the door of the Top 15. That rapid improvement is enough to earn him this award.
WTA Player of the Year: Serena Williams
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At 34, Serena Williams still keeps finding ways to amaze us.
One would expect her to start showing some signs of decline at this stage in her career. But Williams is as tough as they come. In fact, there were times this year she looked better than ever on the court.
Her superb 53-3 record is reason enough to land the world No. 1 award, yet her brush with history defined her season. After dominant wins at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, she came perilously close to sweeping all four Grand Slams.
When she reached the semifinals at the U.S. Open—the champagne was ready. Yet her dreams were dashed courtesy of spunky Italian veteran Roberta Vinci in one of the biggest upsets ever. An uncharacteristic, mystifying performance left Williams lost for answers.
So close, but no cigar.
She ended her year prematurely after that loss, opting for more physical and mental rest after a taxing campaign. Not even that one blemish should take away from what was an otherwise brilliant campaign.
Even in her mid-30s, Williams shows no signs of slowing down.
ATP Player of the Year: Novak Djokovic
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Novak Djokovic is the undisputed king of the tennis kingdom.
The sterling Serb held the rest of the ATP Tour under his thumb throughout 2015, storming to a 73-5 record (so far) with major titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, as well as tournament wins in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Beijing and Shanghai.
A tough loss in the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka kept Djokovic from winning the first men’s calendar Grand Slam in 46 years. But even so, he had a season that’ll go down in sports lore.
With almost $16 million in prize money (a record) and an insurmountable lead in the rankings, Djokovic achieved several milestones this year. Most importantly, he won his 10th career major thanks to a thrilling victory over Roger Federer in New York.
Now, he has much bigger prizes in sight as he continues to chase history and cement his legacy as one of the greatest ever.
Already a three-time winner of this award, it may be quite a while before Djokovic vacates his throne.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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