50 Most Popular Players Of 2016: 50-41
The WTA’s all-star cast battle it out for wins, titles and ranking points all year long – but who is getting the most clicks? This week, wtatennis.com will count down the Top 50 Most Popular Players Of 2016.
Kicking off the list will be No.50 to No.41! Find out who made the cut…
50] Andrea Petkovic (GER)
Petkovic may have finished the year ranked outside the Top 50 for the first time since 2012, but as one of the WTA’s most charismatic players she remains as popular as ever.
49] Monica Niculescu (ROU)
Niculescu enjoyed one of her most successful campaigns to date, finishing off in style with a final in Seoul and derailing the in-form Petra Kvitova to lift the trophy in Luxembourg.
48] Sara Errani (ITA)
A ninth career title, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, highlighted an up and down year for the always-entertaining Errani.
47] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
Putintseva was one of the breakthrough stars of the French Open, making it all the way to the quarterfinals, her ranking – and popularity – soaring as a consequence.
46] Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
Former World No.1 Jankovic continues to entertain her legions of fans across the globe, particularly in Asia where she finished runner-up in Guangzhou and made the last four in Hong Kong..
45] CoCo Vandeweghe (USA)
Vandeweghe’s star continued to rise in 2016, victory on the grass of ‘s-Hertogenbosch helping her break the Top 30 for the first time.
44] Sloane Stephens (USA)
Injury may have curtailed Sloane Stephens’ season prematurely, but not before she had collected a trio of trophies – in Auckland, Acapulco and Charleston.
43] Heather Watson (GBR)
British No.2 continues to be a firm favorite at home and abroad, particularly after her popular triumph in the Wimbledon mixed doubles final alongside Henri Kontinen.
42] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)
Begu impressed on the clay, going deep at Roland Garros, Rome, Madrid and Charleston, however, it was on the cement of Florianopolis that she lifted her third career title.
41] Elena Vesnina (RUS)
This year, Vesnina enjoyed a return to prominence stunning a number of higher-ranked rivals to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, while in doubles she was victorious alongside Ekaterina Makarova at both the Olympics and WTA Finals.
Come back to wtatennis.com on Tuesday for No.40 to No.31 on the list.