Actually, it is said that the winners of the ATP and WTA Finals are the unofficial tennis world champions. This year it would be Novak Djokovic and Caroline Garcia. The world tennis association also announces world champion titles every year. And that this went to Iga Swiatek for women in 2022 should not surprise anyone. The Pole confidently leads the WTA world rankings, won two Grand Slam tournaments last season and had a winning streak of 37 matches in a row.

There is not much else left for the remaining WTA cracks but to congratulate and applaud, especially since the winner of the first major of the year, Ashleigh Barty, has long since retired from tennis. And Elena Rybakina hardly hit a ball after her triumph in Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal wins for the fifth time

Good arguments against Rafael Nadal (rather: for one of his competitors) could have been found for men. But of course even better for the now 22-time Grand Slam champion. Nadal started the season on a 21-match winning streak before a cracked rib stopped him rather than Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final. After winning the French Open again, Nadal reached the semi-finals in Wimbledon, but was then unable to compete due to injury.

In the second half of the season, not much came from the Spanish legend, but his fifth award from the ITF is definitely justified.

"When I won the prize for the first time in 2008, I didn't expect that I could still play at such a high level 14 years later," Nadal commented on his "world champion title". “It was really special to win the Australian Open for the second time, as it did at Roland Garros. I'm really thankful for the support from my team and fans around the world.”