Clijsters bags best player honour at WTA awards
Belgium’s World Number Three Kim Clijsters has been named as the 2010 Player of the year by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
Very recently an award function was held by the WTA, in which the players were honoured on the basis of the achievements both on and off the court, based on the votes of fans and media during the year.
Twenty-seven-year-old former world number Kim Clijsters was honoured as the player of the year for the second time in her glittering professional career. It was a well deserved award for the Belgian, as she won the U.S. Open with a wonderful display of attacking
tennis. Moreover she has also won four other titles this season. Clijsters remained busy in helping her fellow tennis players off the court as well.
After receiving the award the Belgian ace said that she felt really honoured and happy to receive the player of the year award. Clijsters said that she was not expecting the award this year, as she has just returned to the tennis court but the award is truly
overwhelming for her. She added that she is excited with the award and it is a huge confidence boost for her ahead of the new season.
She said that it is very important to maintain good relationships with fellow players, both on and off the court. Kim spoke of her experiences of meeting other emerging female tennis players, and said that it felt great to meet them and provide them with
new inspiration. She added that it is very important for players to remain busy on and off the court because it portrays a friendly image of the player. Kim thanked the media and her fellow players for their support and votes, and said that she is looking
forward to a great season ahead.
On the other hand, World Number Forty-Eight Gisela Dulko and Italian tennis ace Flavia Pennetta were honoured with the doubles team of the year award. The duo was named as the number one doubles team last season as well. Dulko and Flavia have won seven titles
this year.
The thirty-year-old current world number seven Francesca Schiavone received the most improved player of the year award. No doubt this season was great for the Italian star, as she improved her world ranking from number eleven to seven.
Elena Dementieva, who has recently announced her retirement from the tennis world, received Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship award. Dementieva has really been an inspiration for all young tennis players, as she remained professional and disciplined on and off
the court throughout her professional career. This is the second time Elena has received this award.
Russia’s Former World Number One Maria Sharapova was honoured with the Humanitarian of the Year award, due to her job as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. Sharapova spent time with those affected by the Chernobyl disaster, and gathered two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for the children of Chernobyl.
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