Top WTA 500 moment? From Collins' Charleston sweep to Kasatkina's six finals
Editor’s note: As part of the 2024 WTA Fan Awards series, we’re inviting fans to vote on their favorite players, matches and moments from this season. All categories are open, so check WTATennis.com/awards to make your picks.
For Tuesday, we're asking you to vote on your favorite WTA 500 moment of the year.
Danielle Collins going back-to-back winning Charleston
It took Danielle Collins View Profile only nine weeks to vault from No.71 to No.15 in the PIF WTA Rankings this year, a spectacular resurgence that culminated in back-to-back titles at the Miami Open and Credit One Charleston Open. Across two surfaces in consecutive weeks, Collins put together a 13-match winning streak, the longest of her career in the year she originally intended to be her last. By the time she got to Charleston, the American was near untouchable. Outside of one dropped set to No.2 seed Ons Jabeur View Profile , she did not lose four games in any set during a run in which she faced a current or former Top 20 player in every round.
Vote: Head to the 2024 WTA Fan Awards page to cast all your picks!
Daria Kasatkina, reached six 500 finals and won two
Did anyone love WTA 500s more than Daria Kasatkina View Profile in 2024? She reached no less than six finals at this level, on every surface. She won two -- Eastbourne and Ningbo -- and was runner-up in Adelaide, Abu Dhabi, Charleston and Seoul. The Ningbo Open might have been the most special. Kasatkina overturned third-set deficits against Katerina Siniakova View Profile , Yulia Putintseva View Profile (saving two match points) and -- in a physically and emotionally grueling final -- 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva View Profile . And when Andreeva became tearful in the trophy ceremony, Kasatkina ran over to comfort the teenager without hesitation, showing a kind heart to go with her fighting spirit.
Jelena Ostapenko's Linz title
Jelena Ostapenko View Profile 's results are rarely straightforward. The Upper Austria Ladies Linz in February marked her second WTA 500 title of the year -- her victory in Adelaide the previous month had returned her to the Top 10 after a five-year absence. She played her first match just four days after contesting the Australian Open doubles final on the other side of the world and had to save match point to hold off Clara Tauson View Profile in a riveting rollercoaster ride. And then, of course, she dropped just 13 more games for the rest of the week to claim the trophy.
Elena Rybakina in Stuttgart
The first four months of Elena Rybakina View Profile 's 2024 were spectacular. She won 26 of her first 30 matches, including three WTA 500 titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart. At the third of those, she won her first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix trophy in a series of nail-biting three-set contests. Rybakina edged Veronika Kudermetova View Profile in a seesaw opener, then held off a valiant fightback from Jasmine Paolini View Profile in the quarterfinals. Her semifinal, though, might be the most significant. Rybakina outserved and outhit Iga Swiatek View Profile to defeat her on clay for the first time. It would be one of only two losses the Polish star would suffer on clay this year.
Beatriz Haddad Maia's run in Korea (two matches in a day)
Beatriz Haddad Maia View Profile had to pull double duty on Saturday at the Hana Bank Korea Open. Quarterfinal day had been a washout, so the Brazilian would have to win twice to advance to the final. As it happened, she would end up facing both Kudermetova sisters in one day, defeating lucky loser Polina in the quarterfinals and then older sibling Veronika in the semifinals. The final would also be an impressive demonstration of stamina, as Haddad Maia somehow escaped from a 6-1, 3-1 deficit to win 11 of the last 12 games against Daria Kasatkina View Profile . The title marked a much-needed resurgence for Haddad Maia, who had a negative 20-21 record through mid-August before reaching the Cleveland final, the US Open quarterfinals and winning Seoul.
