Review of 2024: Yonex highlights from the year on the WTA Tour

Tokyo, JAPAN - Three of the eight players who qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh - which is the most exclusive tournament in women's tennis - were Yonex athletes. That was the reward for the high level of tennis that Jasmine Paolini (ITA), Elena Rybakina (KAZ) and Jessica Pegula (USA) produced over the course of the year.

The year Paolini became an elite player

Ranking jumps don't come much bigger or more impressive than Paolini's. The Italian had finished 2023 as the 30^th best tennis player on the WTA Tour. Just a year later, she was No. 4 on the WTA Rankings after a dazzling breakthrough season in which she took her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai and established herself at the top of the game. Remarkably, Paolini qualified twice for the WTA Finals - in the singles and the doubles competitions, making her an elite player in both disciplines. From the singles to the doubles court, Paolini was energized and inspired, swinging away with her Yonex racquet with a new confidence.

Paolini's form during the WTA season continued at the Billie Jean King Cup - the International Tennis Federation's women's team event that was held in Spain in November - where she had an "amazing" finish to an "unbelievable, crazy year". Paolini led her team to victory, with her singles victory giving Italy a first title in 11 years, and she tried to enjoy every moment: "I'm really happy that we could bring the top trophy home."

Golden period for Rybakina

Of that trio of A-list Yonex women, it was Rybakina who had the most spectacular start to the season, with the head-to-toe Yonex ambassador taking three WTA 500 titles inside the first four months with her success in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart. When Rybakina produced her best tennis - with her game built around the power of her serve - there was little that her opponents could do to stop her.

First title on grass and more success in Canada for Pegula

Winning the title in Berlin, which was her first on grass, showed Pegula that she was very capable of playing on that surface. The American's other highlights this season included winning the WTA 1000 in Canada, which was the second year in a row she had captured that hard-court title. Pegula appreciated how she had made some history - she was the first woman this century to successfully defend that title.

Maiden victories for Navarro and Noskova

In the first few days of the season, there was an indication that it was going to be a big year for Emma Navarro (USA), who took her first WTA title in Hobart. In a breakthrough season that was thrilling to follow, she broke into the top 10 in the WTA Rankings and wasn't far off also qualifying for the WTA Finals, which would have meant that half the field would have been swinging a Yonex racquet. Winning a first WTA title is a momentous occasion for any young player and Linda Noskova (CZE) won't forget the week she won a tournament in Mexico. The improvement in Noskova's game took her into the top 25 in the world.

Osaka returns while Kerber says goodbye

The WTA Tour welcomed the return of Naomi Osaka (JPN), a Yonex ambassador and former world No. 1, who was back in the sport after maternity leave. It was also the year when Angelique Kerber (GER), another Yonex ambassador and former world No. 1, retired from tennis. Throughout a successful career, she won 3 Grand Slams, the first two in 2016 and the third one in 2018.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.