The 2014 WTA Moods Awards

2014 was definitely one of the most interesting years on the WTA tour. The once unshaven dominance of Serena Williams was strongly contested not by closest rival, Victoria Azarenka, but by the rising stars Simona Halep and Eugenie Bouchard. In addition to these young guns, established players like Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Andrea Petkovic, Venus Williams, or Alize Cornet made a much-awaited return to top form. Frenchwoman Cornet achieved what once seemed like an impossible performance, stunning Serena three consecutive times to derail the American's quest for an historic 18th Slam. After struggling in the first half of the season, Williams caught wings during the North American season when she successfully defended her US Open crown, before claiming the WTA Championships trophy and ensuring another No.1 season-ending finish. 

Simona Halep won over the world during her heartbreaking defeat to Maria Sharapova in the French Open final—the Russian proving once again she is the queen of clay. After two semifinals, Genie Bouchard took it one step further by reaching the Wimbledon final, becoming the first Canadian to achieve the feat. Other youngsters who have made their mark in 2014 were Belinda Bencic—who made the quarterfinals at the US Open—Caroline Garcia and Madison Keys—who both won their maiden title—as well as Spanish Garbine Muguruza, who stunned Serena at Roland Garros en route to the last eight.

Making a powerful revival this season was former world No.1, Ana Ivanovic—who collected four titles to strengthen her presence inside the top 5—Flavia Pennetta—who claimed the biggest title of her career at Indian Wells—and Andrea Petkovic, who won three titles and made the semifinals at Roland Garros. 

In the shock of the season, recently crowned Australian Open champion Na Li announced her retirement from the game due to medical reasons. But while other hang up the racquet, other were mounted a fabulous comeback. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, the former teen prodigy, stirred waters with her fourth round appearance at Flushing Meadows, before making tennis history with her title in Quebec. 

Although Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci maintained their doubles supremacy, Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta joined forces late in the season to form the most enthusiastic duo on the tour.

Tennis Moods looks back at all these incredible stories and rewards these amazing champions. Congrats to all the 2014 WTA Moods Awards winners!

The 'World's Greatest' Award (for the best player of the year)

Winner: Serena Williams

Runner-up: Simona Halep

The 'She Found Love' Award (for the most improved player of the year)

Winner: Eugenie Bouchard

Runner-up: Ana Ivanovic

The 'Homecoming' Award (for the most spectacular comeback)

Winner: Mirjana Lucic-Baroni

Runner-up: Caroline Wozniacki

The 'She Works Hard for the Money' Award (for the most hard-working player)

Winner: Angelique Kerber

Runner-up: Agnieszka Radwanska

The 'Here I Am' Award (for the newcomer of the year)

Winner: Eugenie Bouchard

Runner-up: Garbine Muguruza

The 'We Are Young' Award (for the most promising youngster on the tour)

Winner: Belinda Bencic

Runner-up: Caroline Garcia

The 'Talk That Talk' Award (for the wittiest player on the tour)

Winner: Caroline Wozniacki

Runner-up: Na Li

The 'Broken Hearted Girl' Award (for the most disappointing player of the year)

Winner: Victoria Azarenka

Runner-up: Maria Kirilenko

The 'Queen of Hearts' Award (for the Tennis Moods' favourite)

Winner: Victoria Azarenka

Runner-up: Ana Ivanovic

The 'When We Collide' Award (for the most spectacular doubles team)

Winner: Martina Hingis & Flavia Pennetta

Runner-up: Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic

The 'I Feel Pretty' Award (for the the most beautiful player)

Winner: Eugenie Bouchard

Runner-up: Maria Kirilenko

The 'Fashion of Her Love' Award (for the best dressed player throughout the year)

Winner: Venus Williams

Runner-up: Eugenie Bouchard

The 'Paparazzi' Award (for the most memorable outfit of the season)

Winner: Serena Williams (US Open outfit)

Runner-up: Caroline Wozniacki (US Open outfit)

The 'I Will Always Love You' Award (for the player who retired this year and will be missed the most)

Winner: Na Li

Runner-up: Dinara Safina

The 'Imagine' Award (for the most emotional story of the year)

Winner: Simona Halep reaching the Roland Garros final

Runner-up: Simona Halep reaching the WTA Championships

The 'I Dreamed a Dream' Award (for the accomplishment of a dream)

Winner: Na Li winning the Australian Open

Runner-up: Dominika Cibulkova reaching the Australian Open final

The 'Hero' Award (for the braveheart performance of the year)

Winner: Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros

Runner-up: Serena Williams at the WTA Championships

The 'Clash of Titans' Award (for the most exhilarating duel of the year)

Winner: Simona Halep & Maria Sharapova

Runner-up: Ana Ivanovic & Maria Sharapova

SEE ALSO: The 2011 WTA Moods Awards, The 2012 WTA Moods Awards, and The 2013 WTA Moods Awards

Lucic's Record-Breaking Title in Quebec

A week after stunning world No.2 Simona Halep to make the fourth round at the US Open, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni achieved another important milestone in her impressive comeback, claiming her first trophy since Bol in 1998. The Croatian former wonder-kid enjoyed a memorable week in Quebec, dismissing high-quality opponents like Timea Babos, Julia Goerges, respectively Venus Williams in the final to win the title.
She wrote WTA history beating Kimiko Date-Krumm's record for the biggest gap between titles (16 years and 4 months compared to 13 years and 1 month).
To make the success even sweeter, Lucic-Baroni also won the doubles final with Czech Lucie Hradecka.
"I'm so happy I can't really find the words right now to explain how happy I am," Lucic-Baroni said. "I played such a great match today against one of the best players in the world, such a champion.
"It's been so long. I'm finally playing the great tennis I always knew I could play, but it had been so long that I kind of lost a little bit of the belief in myself. But now after starting with my new coach Julian Alonso, winning matches and really getting that belief back, I'm just so ready to keep going."
The result proves that her Flushing Meadows run was no fluke, the Croatian emphasizing her intent to get her career back on track following a lengthy hiatus.

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni had the magic going for her in Quebec. The Croatian beat Venus Williams to claim the singles crown, before teaming up with Czech Lucie Hradecka to win the doubles title.

photos: Pascal Ratthe

Teen Phenomenon Turns Back the Years

In the late '90s Mirjana Lucic announced herself as a bright prospect of the game. In 1997, at the tender age of 15, the Croatian phenomenon won the very first tournament she played, in Bol. One year later she claimed the title in the very first doubles tournament she played, conquering the Australian Open doubles crown with fellow teen sensation, Martina Hingis. But it wasn't until 1999 that she recorded the best performance of her career, stunning all-time great Monica Seles to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon. While the impressive achievement should have been the beginning of an amazing journey, sadly, it marked the sudden end.

A few dark years have passed and Mirjana, now Lucic-Baroni, gave tennis another shot—she made a full-time return to the tour in 2010. Things didn't kick in immediately, but when all hope was gone, the Croatian reminded the world of the young, pony-tailed, blond girl with huge groundstrokes. In one of the biggest upsets of this year's US Open, she stunned world No.2, Simona Halep, 7-6, 6-2 to make the fourth round.

The result comes as a major surprise. Not only was in-form Halep one of the main contestants for the title, but Lucic-Baroni had failed to win back-to-back matches in a main draw since Doha.

The encounter started with Halep in command, the Romanian building what seemed like a decisive 5-2 lead. But after saving two set points, Lucic caught fire. She pushed the opener into a tiebreak—which she won 8-6—then served out the biggest victory of her career. "It's incredible. It's just amazing," Lucic-Baroni said while fighting back tears. "I can't believe this is happening to me again."

The former teen prodigy couldn't repeat the feat against feisty Sara Errani. The Italian recovered from a second set blackout to end Mirjana's dream run 6-3,2-6,6-0.

Although she did not make the quarterfinals, the Croatian has plenty to cheer for. The points she gained in New York are enough to guarantee a return to the top 100, a position that should help her get her career back on track. Let's see what future has in store for this former teen prodigy!

After shocking world No.2 Simona Halep, Mirjana Lucic's dream run at the US Open was ended by feisty Italian, Sara Errani in the fourth round. The Croatian succumbed 6-3,2-6,6-0, but reminded the world what an exceptional player she can be.

photos: GETTY IMAGES