Former six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs is stunned by the fact that Jessica Pegula did not win the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year award. Pegula, 28, enjoyed the season of her life in 2022. This year, Pegula captured her maiden WTA 1000 title in Guadalajara, debuted at the WTA Finals, as well as broke into the top-10 for the first time in her career.
Even though Pegula finished the year ranked at No 3 after never being ranked inside the top-10 before this year, it still wasn’t enough for the WTA to give her the award for the most improved player. Instead, 26-year-old Beatriz Haddad Maia won the 2022 WTA Most Improved Player of the Year award.
Haddad Maia captured her first two WTA titles this year and she finished the year enjoying a career-high ranking of No 15 in the world. Also, Haddad Maia broke into the top-50 for the first time this year. Haddad Maia also enjoyed a breakthrough season but Stubbs felt that Pegula probably did a bit more than the Brazilian.
Stubbs surprised Pegula did not win the MIP award
“What about Jessica Pegula? Beatriz Haddad Maia had an incredible year but (Pegula is) three in the world. She won a WTA 1000 event leading into the championships. Not only did she make the singles but also the doubles.
I mean, come on, number three in the world. What else has she got to do? She (Jessica Pegula) was nominated for player of the year but didn’t get that. She was much-improved player, not the best player. The best player was Iga Swiatek,” Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
Even though Pegula won just one title this year, she was constantly reaching latter stages in tournaments. Now, Pegula is considered among the most consistent players on the WTA Tour. In 2023, Pegula will be looking to continue her rise and potentially become a Grand Slam champion and the new world No 1. It remains to be seen how well can Pegula do in 2023.
