WTA 2024. First-time Champions

Fernando Murciego | 7 Dec 2024 | 09.30

Linda Noskova lifted her first title in Monterrey 2024. Source: Getty

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Although the sensation is that the WTA circuit is becoming more hierarchical at the top, if we look beyond the WTA 500 events, the reality is that there is no kind of control. Such is the level and equality that contenders now come not only from the top 100, but also from outside. This time, the 2024 season gave us a total of twelve new champions, twelve stories that touched the sky for the first time and are worth gathering in a single article.

Emma Navarro - WTA 250 Hobart

Well, this woman started the season with an empty trophy cabinet and finishes in the world's top 8. Undoubtedly, one of the great revelations of the calendar, at just 22 years old, setting the stage for continuing to surprise in 2025. In fact, it's strange that her only trophy was from Hobart back in January, considering her semifinal at the US Open and the 54 victories she achieved, settling any debate about her potential.

Diana Shnaider - WTA 250 Hua Hin

Another crazy calendar for this 19-year-old woman. In January, she was #92 in the women's rankings with no titles yet. Eleven months later, the Russian had titles on hard court (Hua Hin, Hong Kong), grass (Bad Homburg), and clay (Budapest). In fact, she was the only one from the list to go beyond that first trophy, ending the season as the queen of surfaces and inside the top 15.

Yue Yuan - WTA 250 Austin

One of those stories that rekindle your love for tennis. The Chinese arrived at the Austin tournament and it was precisely there that she met her new coach, Bebo Hernández. Can you imagine what happened? Exactly. A Sunday breakfast, a few exchanged words, and seven days later, they were smiling in the photo next to the trophy. Few similar events have happened in history.

Peyton Stearns - WTA 250 Rabat

The strength of American tennis forces new names to be added to the champion's list every season. This time, it was Peyton Stearns who surprised everyone, especially on clay, which is even more incredible. At 22 years old and ranked #81, she defeated Mayar Sherif in just three games after struggling in all previous rounds. Later, we would see her reach the 3rd round at Roland Garros, another sign of her high potential.

Mira Andreeva - WTA 250 Iasi

We knew it was only a matter of time, even though she was only 17. After captivating the audience in 2024, the youngest Andreeva didn't want to wait any longer to open her trophy cabinet: first final, first title. An exciting battle she had in Romania against Avanesyan, both chasing the same goal. In the stands, meanwhile, Conchita Martínez and María José Llorca reminisced about old battles while watching their protégés. Two more curiosities: not only is she the youngest in the article, she was also the only one to win the title as the top seed in the draw.

McCartney Kessler - WTA 250 Cleveland

More from the American youth, this time a mid-range profile: 25 years old, ranked #100 in the world, and given a wild card. Five matches later, a huge surprise from Kessler who didn't falter in the final against Haddad Maia, who was the clear favorite.

Linda Noskova - WTA 500 Monterrey

Another knocking on the door for a while, but the delay didn't last long. At 19 years old and already in the top 30, these were the ingredients on the table with which Noskova opened her trophy cabinet in Monterrey, a WTA 500 event to kick things off. Of all in the article, only she and another colleague (whom you will meet shortly) started their champion's history in such a prestigious venue. She worked so hard that week that she didn't win any matches for the rest of the year.

Sonay Kartal - WTA 250 Monastir

One of the stories that truly embody the WTA essence. Picture this: 22 years old, ranked #151, and starting from the qualifying rounds. This could only end in two ways, either exiting in the first round or with the champion's title. The Brit took the trophy in Monastir after seven victories, a reward for an exquisite season where she made one of the biggest leaps in the rankings: from #248 to #84 in eleven months.

Magdalena Frech - WTA 500 Guadalajara

Not the earliest bloomer, but at 26 years old, she hasn't been the latest to arrive either. A solid career that never had much spotlight at the top levels, until Guadalajara came and changed everything. Her first individual title and in a WTA 500 event, a big achievement. She only dropped one set the whole week, showing great skill to achieve the goal.

Rebecca Sramkova - WTA 250 Hua Hin 2

One of the key figures of this season. At 27 years old, she is the oldest in the article, although she's probably a great unknown to most. She arrived at Hua Hin 2 as the #136, coming from a runner-up finish in Monastir just a week prior. But ahead, she still had a third-round in Beijing, another final in Jiujiang, leading Slovakia to the BJKC final. Ending the year in the top 50 surprises no one.

Suzan Lamens - WTA 250 Osaka

Only the loyal followers of the BJKC may have known this woman, someone who had only been seen in team competitions. At 25 years old and starting from the qualifiers, the #132 player put all her valor in the Osaka tournament to show everyone that she had the heart of a champion. Six consecutive victories and only one set lost, which was in the quarters against Bogdan. A remarkable feat for a woman who wasn't even in the top 200 in January.

Zeynep Sönmez - WTA 250 Mérida

We close the piece with this 22-year-old Turk, who almost missed the party. Until the last week of the calendar, we had to keep an eye out for these types of upsets, like the one staged by the #148 ranked player in the Mérida tournament. Eleven months competing to reach her first final of the year, clinching the trophy with finesse and becoming the only tennis player from her country within the top 200.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, WTA 2024. Campeonas por primera vez

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