It’s me. Hi! I’m back for a trio of end-of-season posts to wrap up the tennis year that was 2022. The WTA Best of 2022 series begins with Handshakes and Hugs. The aim of this post is always to showcase heartwarming acts of sportswomanship on the WTA tour. If you’ve missed any of the previous editions of H&H then you can find them here 🤗.
1. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sam Stosur (AO, R2)
Of all the players you’d want to play in your last singles match at home, I think Pavs would be pretty high on that list.
2. Paula Badosa and Marta Kostyuk (AO, R3)
A heartfelt moment between friends after one of the better matches from this year’s Australian Open.
3. Dayana Yastremska and Ana Bogdan (Lyon, R1)
A moving moment at the net after Yastremska saved a match point to beat Bogdan in Lyon. The match came just days after Yastremska and her sister fled Ukraine.
4. Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo (Monterrey, QF)
Hugs before and after the match!
5. Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur (Charleston, Madrid & Berlin)
Three matches with different outcomes but all with lovely exchanges at the end. The Berlin final ended in unfortunate fashion and Jabeur showing wonderful sportswomanship to help out an injured Bencic.
6. Camila Giorgi and Camila Osorio (Eastbourne practice courts)
I always like to include a live H&H shot which I haven’t been able to do for a while! Here is Camila squared, Camila Osorio and Camila Giorgi, embracing after a practice session in Eastbourne.
7. Simona Halep and Kirsten Flipkens (Wimbledon, R2)
A truly wholesome moment as Halep and Flipkens embraced after Flipkens played her final singles match. This felt like a pretty perfect way to go out at Wimbledon. There’s a video of the embrace in Halep’s Instagram post if you scroll to the right.
8. Tatjana Maria and Jule Niemeier (Wimbledon, QF)
What a moment. I don’t think Tatjana and Jule knew each other that well but this embrace was everything after a stunning match.
9. Ons Jabeur and Tatjana Maria (Wimbledon, SF)
I think this has to be my favourite H&H moment of the year. Jabeur just makes her first Slam final and brings Maria back onto the court to share the crowd’s applause. Such a class act.
10. Belinda Bencic and Andrea Petkovic (US Open, R2)
Petkovic’s career has spanned my career as a tennis fan so her final match certainly resonated with me. A fitting end with Belinda on the other side of the net as the pair are clearly good friends.
Moo's Tennis Blog 