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Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva have been awarded some of the WTA’s top prizes. Clijsters was voted player of the year while Dementieva was awarded the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award for the second time in her career. The Sportsmanship Award acknowledges her for her conduct and fair play on the court.
Since returning to the circuit after retiring to start a family, Clijsters has won the US Open in 2009 and 2010 and has climbed back up the rankings to number three in the world.
Maria Sharapova was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award after her visit to Chernobyl as a UN Goodwill Ambassador where she pledged $250,000 to a development programme. Sharapova, always popular with the fans also won Favourite Singles Player and Most Fashionable Player.
“It’s really nice to win the player of the year award just one year after making a comeback and while I didn’t think it would come so quickly, I am thrilled with the news. To be honoured by your fellow players with the player service award means so much to me because I believe that the social contact with the rest of the players is very important.
This year I met a lot of new girls and it was very nice that so many of them had positive reactions to my daughter Jada as well. I want to thank my fellow players and the media who voted for me and I look forward to seeing everyone again in Australia.” – Kim Clijsters
