After winning the Australian Open and US Open, she confirmed her position as the world’s top-ranked female player. The 26-year-old Belarussian won in Melbourne without dropping a single set, overpowering China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final and becoming the first woman to defend the title since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013.
Victory over Jessica Pegula in the Cincinnati Open final was quickly followed by a maiden US Open triumph, where she got the better of the same opponent in straight sets, before winning the Wuhan Open in the penultimate tournament of the year. She has won 23 career titles, 17 in singles and 6 in doubles, and in December was named WTA Player of the Year.
