The 2021 men’s tennis season has come to an end, so the WTA has announced the Nominees for the annual WTA Player Awards. Let’s look at each category in detail:
Casper Ruud has been nominated for the Most Improved Player of the Year Award and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, whilst father and coach Christian Ruud has been nominated for Coach of the Year by fellow coaches. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Rafael Nadal, and Frances Tiafoe have been shortlisted alongside Ruud for Sportsmanship.
Carlos Alcaraz, Aslan Karatsev, Cameron Norrie, and Casper Ruud have all been nominated for the Most Improved Player of the Year Award. Murray, who won the comeback player of the year award in 2019 and is once again nominated for the same. However, there is some tough competition for him this time, with Jack Sock, McDonald, and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Jenson Brooksby is the hot favorite to win the newcomer of the year award. The 21-year-old reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career at the US Open. He also advanced to the final of the Hall of Fame Open.
Gilles Cervara won the coach of the year award in 2019, is now again a strong contender to take the trophy home. He led Daniil Medvedev to his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. The winners of the ATP Awards, including Fans’ Favorite, will be revealed later this month. Fans can vote for their favorite singles player and doubles team until Tuesday, December 7th.
2021 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award of the year
Rafael Nadal
Frances Tiafoe
Casper Ruud
Felix Auger-Aliassime
2021 Comeback player of the year
Andy Murray
Jack Sock
Mackenzie McDonald
Thanasi Kokkinakis
2021 WTA Newcomer of the year
Brandon Nakashima
Sebastian Baez
Jenson Brooksby
Hugo Gaston
Juan Manuel Cerundolo
2021 WTA Most improved player award
Carlos Alcaraz
Cameron Norrie
Aslan Karatsev
Casper Ruud
2021 WTA coach of the year
Gilles Cervara (Medvedev)
Christian Ruud (Ruud)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (Alcaraz)
Facundo Lugones (Norrie)
Craig Boynton (Hurkacz)