Number one Iga Switek has been named Europe’s Female Sports Personality of the Year 2022. He was selected at the discretion of the Polish Press Agency (PAP) in Poland. This is the second consecutive time a tennis player has been selected for the award, following Novak Djokovic in 2021.
PAP has been announcing this award every year since 1958. The European Sports Personality of the Year award is given for the best performance in the previous year. The bursary was selected by a vote of 20 international news organizations.
Three Polish stars received the honor before the 21-year-old Switek. They are 2020 soccer star Robert Lewandowski, 1958 long jumper Gedzal Krzysztofczyk, and 1966 and 1974 sprinter Irina Czeuniska.
With 118 votes, Switek finished behind pole vault world champion Armand Duplantis (106 votes) and Formula One world champion Max Verstappen (82 votes). In 2022, 58 athletes selected from 19 disciplines were voted.
This year Switek won eight titles including two major titles. He was unbeaten in a record 37 matches. Under coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, the Polish player topped the WTA rankings.
But before that, Australian Open winner Ashley Barty suddenly announced his retirement. Switek also won the WTA Player of the Year award in 2022.