Top gong for Spain’s Muguruza

Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza has been named WTA player of the year while US Open champion Sloane Stephens was selected as comeback player of the year. The women’s tennis tour announced the annual honours yesterday. The awards are voted on by members of the media. Other recipients include French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko as most improved player, CiCi Bellis as newcomer of the year, and Martina Hingis and Chan Yung-Jan as doubles team of the year. Muguruza beat Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final in July for her second Grand Slam title, becoming the first player to claim victories over the Williams sisters in major finals. She moved up to No 1 in the rankings for the first time in September to become just the second Spaniard to achieve that feat.