Sofia Kenin became WTA Player of the Year after winning Australian Open title

American tennis player Sofia Kenin was named the WTA Player of the Year after winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open.

Kenin defeated the world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals and defeated the two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza in the finals of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Kenin also reached the finals of the French Open this season and finished the year with her career-high fourth rank.

The 22-year-old is the 8th American to win the WTA Player of the Year award, joining Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati and Venus Williams.

Iga Swiatek, who defeated Sofia Kenin in the final of the French Open and became the first Polish player to bag a Grand Slam singles title, was named the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year.

The former world no. 1, Victoria Azarenka was named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year after claiming her first title in more than four years at the Western & Southern Open and advancing to her fifth career Grand Slam final at the US Open. The Belarusian also regained her place in the WTA Top 20.

France's Kristina Mladenović and Hungary's Timea Babos were named the WTA doubles duo of the year after being captured the Australian Open and French Open titles.