Tennis fans are in an uproar! The WTA's decision for the 'Match of the Year' has sparked a heated debate, leaving many scratching their heads. This year's awards season is in full swing, but not everyone is celebrating. Some big names, like Jannik Sinner and Joao Fonseca, were surprisingly overlooked for their achievements. Then came the WTA's turn, and the announcement of the 'Match of the Year' has sent shockwaves through the tennis community.
Aryna Sabalenka took home the WTA Player of the Year award, but the real controversy arose with the 'Match of the Year' selection. The honor, voted for by the fans, went to the Italian Open semi-final between Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng.
This match, a marathon of 3 hours and 32 minutes, saw Gauff emerge victorious with a score of 7–6(3), 4–6, 7–6(4). It's hard to deny the drama, but here's where it gets controversial: the match was riddled with errors, including a combined 156 unforced errors, with 82 coming from Gauff herself.
Many fans took to social media to voice their disbelief. One fan exclaimed, "This has to be a joke!" Another commented, "When this match completed…I commented as a joke that this will be named match of the year." The reactions continued with comments like, "No words. Who would want to relive that?" and "It was probably the ugliest match of the season." One user even suggested that the match between Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open semi-final should have won instead.
But here's a different perspective. Some fans looked past the errors, stating it was "one of my favorite matches of the year!" They appreciated the intense competition between two top athletes. Gauff and Zheng are popular on the WTA Tour, with Zheng winning the Fan Favorite Award for the second year in a row.
Looking back, Gauff's win against Zheng is the 11th winner of the WTA Match of the Year award, which has been taking place since 2013. This award has previously recognized legendary matches featuring stars like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Naomi Osaka. It's also the first time since 2019 that Iga Swiatek hasn't been in the running, after winning in 2023 and 2024.
Here's a look at the past winners:
| Year | WTA Match of the Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Maria Sharapova vs Victoria Azarenka | French Open (SF) | Sharapova beat Azarenka, 6–1 2–6 6–4 |
| 2014 | Serena Williams vs Caroline Wozniacki | WTA Finals (SF) | Williams beat Wozniacki, 2–6, 6–3, 7–6(6) |
| 2015 | Agnieszka Radwanska vs Garbine Muguruza | WTA Finals (SF) | Radwanska beat Muguruza, 6(5)-7 6–3 7–5 |
| 2016 | Petra Kvitova vs Angelique Kerber | Wuhan Open (3R) | Kvitova beat Kerber, 6(10)-7 7–5 6–4 |
| 2017 | Caroline Garcia vs Elina Svitolina | China Open (QF) | Garcia beat Svitolina, 6(5)-7 7–5 7-6(6) |
| 2018 | Simona Halep vs Sloane Stephens | Canadian Open (F) | Halep beat Stephens, 7–6(6) 3–6 6–4 |
| 2019 | Naomi Osaka vs Bianca Andreescu | China Open (QF) | Osaka beat Andreescu, 5–7 6–3 6–4 |
| 2022 | Barbora Krejcikova vs Iga Swiatek | Ostrava Open (F) | Krejcikova beat Swiatek, 5–7 7–6(4) 6–3 |
| 2023 | Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek | Madrid Open (F) | Sabalenka beat Swiatek, 6–3 3–6 6–3 |
| 2024 | Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka | Madrid Open (F) | Swiatek beat Sabalenka, 7–5 4–6 7–6(7) |
| 2025 | Coco Gauff vs Qinwen Zheng | Italian Open (SF) | Gauff beat Zheng, 7–6(3) 4–6 7–6(4) |
Despite the mixed reactions, Gauff has undoubtedly delivered some thrilling moments this year. She'll kick off her 2026 season at the United Cup, while Zheng is set to return at the Australian Open after recovering from an elbow injury.
What do you think? Did the right match win? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
