2015 WTA Awards: Serena Williams wins Player of the Year; Australian No. 2 Daria Gavrilova named Newcomer of the Year

The official website of Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced the winners of the annual WTA Awards on Tuesday.

Serena Williams has been voted WTA Player of the Year this season. It is the fourth straight year that the top-ranked female tennis athlete had been given the award, her seventh overall in her career. Serena first won the WTA Player of the Year Award in 2002. She also received the accolade in 2008 and 2009 before winning the award again for four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015.

The 21-time grand slam champion is now tied with Martina Navratilova, who won the WTA Player of Year award seven times (1978-1979 and 1982-1986). Retired tennis champion Steffi Graff had won the award eight times (1987-1990 and 1993-1996). Serena received 79 percent of media votes, according to WTATennis.com.

Meanwhile, Australian No. 2 Daria Gavrilova has received the WTA Newcomer of the Year award, won by Belinda Bencic last year. Russian-born Gavrilova, ranked World No. 36, had scored one of the stunning upsets this season when she beat compatriot and five-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova in the second round of the Miami Open. The 21-year-old received 68 percent of media votes and 36 percent of fan votes.

Davrilova recently tweeted her gratitude for the fans and media who voted for her to win the award. “Great news to wake up to, thank you everyone for voting, it means so much,” she wrote on the micro-blogging platform.

List of Winners of the 2015 WTA Awards

Player of the Year - Serena Williams
Doubles Team of the Year - Sania Mirza/Martina Hingis
Most Improved Player of the Year - Timea Bacsinszky
Newcomer of the Year - Daria Gavrilova
Comeback Player of the Year - Venus Williams

Contact the writer at feedback@IBTimes.com.au, or let us know your thoughts below.