Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka clinch 2023 ITF World Champion awards
Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses his trophy as he celebrates his victory over Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles final match on Day 15 of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier, Paris, France, June 11, 2023. (AFP Photo)


Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were named the 2023 ITF World Champions by the International Tennis Federation, having been the only singles players to reach at least the semifinals in all four Grand Slam tournaments this season.

Djokovic, who finished at No. 1 in the ATP rankings for a record-extending eighth time, won the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open to raise his major trophy total to a men’s-leading 24 and was the runner-up at Wimbledon. He went 56-7 and led the men’s tour with seven titles.

This is his eighth ITF World Champion award, also a record.

Sabalenka received the honor for the first time after winning the Australian Open for her first Grand Slam title, finishing as the runner-up at the U.S. Open and making it to the semifinals at the French Open and

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts against Poland's Iga Swiatek during a singles semifinal match of the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun 2023 as part of the Hologic WTA Tour, Cancun, Mexico. (Getty Images Photo)
Wimbledon.

Sabalenka made her debut at No. 1 in the WTA rankings in September before finishing the year at No. 2 behind Iga Swiatek, the WTA Player of the Year.

Other ITF World Champions included Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens in women’s doubles, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in men’s doubles, Diede de Groot in the women’s wheelchair category, Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair category, Niels Vink in the quad wheelchair category, and Alina Korneeva and Joao Fonseca in the juniors categories.

ITF World Champion selections place extra emphasis on Grand Slam events and ITF international team competitions.