Storm Hunter, Australia’s first year-end doubles world No.1 in 17 years, is one of six Newcombe Medal nominees in 2023.
Melbourne, Australia , 7 December 2023 | Dan Imhoff
“It’s honestly crazy, and to finish year-end No.1, it’s kind of amazing,” said Storm Hunter, the first Australian player to end a season atop the doubles rankings since 2006.
“To be honest, I don’t really believe it. It’s still kind of weird to say out loud, and I get a little bit emotional when I start to think about it, just because of my journey.”
Five years after her 2018 season was decimated by a shoulder injury – one of many physical health problems she would endure – Hunter developed into one of the fiercest forces in the tandem game in 2023.
She won 44 matches and reached five tournament finals, winning two – results helping her achieve her rankings milestone and which later saw her nominated for the 2023 Newcombe Medal.
She will join fellow nominees Alex de Minaur, Matt Ebden, Rinky Hijikata, Alexei Popyrin and Matt Purcell at the Australian Tennis Awards gala event in Melbourne on 11 December.
> RELATED: Alex de Minaur eyes repeat Newcombe Medal success
Partnering Belgium’s Elise Mertens, Hunter won WTA 1000 titles in Rome and Guadalajara and also reached the Wimbledon final.
She and Mertens had never played together before 2023 but enjoyed immediate success, storming into the Australian Open quarterfinals in their very first event.
It set the tone for a magnificent season, during which they won 31 of 42 matches and qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals, where they went 3-0 in the group stage before narrowly losing their semifinal.
Hunter’s performance at the WTA Finals confirmed she would end the year at doubles world No.1, emulating Sam Stosur in 2006.
“Sam is someone that I’ve looked up to for such a long time; I was in her box when I was a junior player at Roland Garros, when she played in the semifinal there. She’s always been an inspiration and a role model,” Hunter said.
“She was one of the first people that reached out and congratulated me which was really special, considering she was the last Australian to reach the year-end No.1.
“It’s kind of an amazing achievement and to have the recognition from her as well is very special.”
> RELATED: Matt Ebden adds to stellar year with Newcombe Medal nomination
Hunter was able to pip world No.2 Mertens in the rankings thanks to her success…
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