Korneeva assumes ITF World Champion status after trophy-laden season
Following a silverware-laden season in which she has sparkled under the spotlight, Alina Korneeva has finished the campaign as the year-end No. 1-ranked girl and, as such, has been named an ITF World Champion.
It has been a stunning 12 months for the Moscow-born 16-year-old who has triumphed at junior level but also within the professional ranks having chalked up two eye-catching victories on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
“I am so happy with the results that I have had this year and, of course, I am so happy to be the year-end No. 1,” said Korneeva. “But I do not want to stop there. I cannot wait for next season, and I hope it will bring some new things.
“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped me to achieve the results I have had. I would also like to say big congratulations to all the players for an incredible year – all the best for 2024.”
Korneeva made a blistering start to the season by topping the girls’ podium at the Australian Open on her maiden Junior Grand Slam appearance, having reached the final at J300 Traralgon the week before.
The prodigiously talented teenager then announced herself on the professional scene with victory at W60 Pretoria in March, becoming the fifth youngest player to win an ITF tournament at W60 level or above. At the time, she was still just 15 years old.
Then came her second Junior Grand Slam triumph at Roland Garros as Korneeva emulated future Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic, who was the last girl to win back-to-back Junior Grand Slams in 2013.
Korneeva would proceed to reach to the semi-finals at the Junior Championships, Wimbledon as she hinted at becoming the first girl to win the opening three Junior Grand Slams of a campaign.
But perhaps the highlight of her season was only weeks away as Korneeva, now 16, became the youngest player in history to win a W100 title – the highest classification of event on the ITF World Tennis Tour – with victory at W100 Figueira da Foz in late July.
Despite her success on the ITF World Tennis Tour, there was still more junior glory to come as Korneeva conquered almost all before her at the 2023 ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu in October.
It is almost as Korneeva did lose to Japan’s Sara Saito in the round-robin stage of the tournament before recovering her poise to defeat Clervie Ngounoue of the United States in the semi-finals and Saito in the final.
It was a fantastic denouement to a memorable campaign and the ranking points on offer at the ITF Junior Finals were sufficient to safeguard Korneeva’s position at the top of the ITF World Tennis Tour girls’ rankings.
Congratulations, Alina.