Querrey backs Swiatek as Player of the Year, sparking controversy; fans argue Sabalenka should be the true queen.

The 2025 season wrapped up with Keys, Gauff, Swiatek, and Sabalenka winning the four Grand Slams respectively, prompting the debate — who is the real queen of 2025? American Querrey’s comment exploded like a bomb, breaking the stillness with waves of discussion.

“From my perspective, I pick Swiatek.”

American tennis player Querrey recently voiced his opinion, asserting that Polish star Swiatek was the best female performer in tennis for 2025.

His reasoning centers on Swiatek’s breakthrough achievements: the player long dubbed the “Queen of Clay” not only reached the Wimbledon final this year but also won the Cincinnati title on fast hard courts.

Querrey’s view is not baseless. Swiatek’s 2025 performance truly shattered many long-held perceptions of her.

Notably, her Wimbledon breakthrough was crucial. In July, she reached the Wimbledon final for the first time in her career, dominating Bencic 6-2, 6-0 in just 72 minutes during the semifinals.

“A sudden change of plans, ready to claim the crown. That fierce Polish girl is back!” Swiatek’s fans excitedly commented on social media. She did not disappoint in the final, overpowering Anisimova in a near-crushing fashion to win her first Wimbledon singles title.

Following Wimbledon, Swiatek also triumphed at Cincinnati, a tournament known for its fast hard courts. These two victories seem to validate Querrey’s opinion: Swiatek has proven herself increasingly versatile, and if she was once only the Queen of Clay, from this year onward you can confidently say she can win on any surface.

Querrey explained, “I feel that when we talk about her game now, we say she can win anywhere, and it all started with her Wimbledon victory this year.”

However, considering overall season performance and world rankings, Belarusian Sabalenka appears to be a stronger contender for “Player of the Year.”

Sabalenka currently holds the world No.1 spot with 11,553 points. She has shown incredible consistency this season, reaching the finals of three consecutive Grand Slams and defending her US Open title, demonstrating her powerful skills and high level of play.

Notably, at the French Open semifinals this year, Sabalenka battled through three sets to defeat defending champion Swiatek 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0. This victory ended Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros and crushed her hopes for a fourth consecutive title.

Therefore, it is difficult to exclude a player who firmly holds the No.1 ranking and has delivered such stable and outstanding performances across the four Grand Slams this year from the Player of the Year conversation. This is precisely the heart of the controversy.

The tennis world is clearly divided over who deserves the “Player of the Year” title.

Supporters of Querrey’s view emphasize the value of breakthroughs: Swiatek overcame her “clay court specialist” label by making historic strides on her least favored surfaces — grass and the fastest hard courts. This growth and transcendence mean more than just points.

Those backing Sabalenka focus on overall performance: the tennis season is a marathon, not a sprint. Sabalenka maintained a higher level of consistency throughout the year, as evidenced by her top ranking and repeated Grand Slam final appearances.

Sabalenka’s season had almost no significant dips, while Swiatek experienced form fluctuations, including a loss at the French Open and a rare “bagel” defeat at the WTA Finals.

On social media, this debate is equally heated. Fans take opposing sides, creating a clear divide.

One fan commented on Swiatek: “This is the ‘real Swiatek,’ welcome back! Winning Wimbledon means she’s completed three-quarters of the Grand Slam titles.” Another responded: “But in reality, you have to consider that after winning Wimbledon, Swiatek didn’t meet expectations; her performances in the North American and Asian seasons were disappointing. That’s why she’s not Player of the Year. She only dominated for a short period during the year, that’s all.”

As the new season approaches, the debate will continue, and perhaps only time will reveal the final answer to who truly deserves “Player of the Year.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)