Vote: March 2018 Player of the Month
It's time to vote for March's WTA Player of the Month!
Have a look at the nominees and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET! The winner will be announced Friday, April 6.
March 2018 WTA Player of the Month Finalists
Naomi Osaka: Osaka kicked off the Sunshine Swing with a bang, as she claimed her first professional singles title of any kind with a stunning run at the first Premier Mandatory event of the season.
After defeating former champion Maria Sharapova in a much-anticipated first round clash, Osaka stormed through the draw with victories over Agnieszka Radwanska, Sachia Vickery, Maria Sakkari, Karolina Pliskova and World No.1 Simona Halep with the loss of just one set to reach her second WTA final.
In the championship, the Japanese No.1 overpowered Daria Kasatkina to capture her first trophy, and rose over 20 spots in the rankings to a career-high of World No.22 as a result.
"Every match that I've played I've thought, just don't give up no matter what, because everyone I played was super tough," Osaka told WTA Insider after the match.
"I feel like that's really helped me and my mentality of coming to the finals and eventually winning. So I'm really grateful for the experience."
Read more: Champions Corner: Naomi Osaka dominates the California desert
To start the Miami Open, Osaka also claimed a victory against childhood idol, Serena Williams, in straight sets in the first round.
Sloane Stephens: At the Miami Open, Stephens not only reach her first final, but won her first title since her shock US Open triumph in September in grand fashion.
The American defeated Ajla Tomljanovic, Monica Niculescu, World No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza, World No. 10 Angelique Kerber and three-time Miami champion Victoria Azarenka to reach the final where she defeated World No. 5 and current French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Stephens came from a set and a break down to see off Azarenka in the semifinals, and dropped just one set combined against the quartet of Grand Slam champions that she faced from the fourth round onward.
"Everyone's always complaining that I play the easiest players when I win a tournament and I don't play anyone in the Top 10 and blah, blah, blah," Stephens joked with WTA Insider after her sixth career victory.
"Four Slam champions. That's pretty incredible and I'm really pleased with that."
Read more: Champions Corner: Sloane sizzles in Miami Open triumph
For her efforts, she was guaranteed to make her Top 10 debut, which she did officially in Monday's rankings.
Jelena Ostapenko: After making her debut in the Top 5 following the BNP Paribas Open, Ostapenko kept the good vibes rolling with an appearance in her first Premier Mandatory final in Miami.
The French Open champion had yet to win a match in Key Biscayne when she arrived there this year, but defeated Timea Babos, Beatriz Haddad Maia, No.9 seed Petra Kvitova, No.4 seed Elina Svitolina and breakout star Danielle Collins to reach the championship match, where she fell to Stephens.
Daria Kasatkina: The February Breakthrough of the Month following her Top 20 debut and a runner-up finish in Dubai, Kasatkina looks to go one better to earn your votes for her March campaign.
The Russian made the first Premier Mandatory final of her career at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, defeating Grand Slam champions Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams en route to the biggest final of her career to date.
She was two points from defeat in the semifinals against the seven-time Grand Slam champion, but rallied to win the last three games of the match and advance to the championship in just under three hours.
Read more: Kasatkina: 'I'm growing as a player' after Indian Wells run
Though she finished runner-up to Osaka in the final in a clash of two rising stars born in 1997, Kasatkina rose to a career-high ranking of World No.11 following the fortnight, and currently is the Russian No.1 at World No.12.
Who was your Player of the Month? Vote now!
The winner will be announced Friday, April 6.
You can also vote for your March 2018 WTA Shot of the Month and Breakthrough of the Month.
How it works:
Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
Previous WTA Players of the Month for 2018
January: Simona Halep
February: Petra Kvitova