FOR the fourth consecutive year, Czech Republic’s world number two, Karolina Pliskova finished in the top eight. A key player on the WTA Tour, she reached world number one at various stages over the past few years, but sits at number two heading into 2020.

Rank: #2
Wins: 52
Losses: 17
Titles: 4
Prize Money: $5,138,077

Pliskova’s year started off on the right note with a win at Brisbane – her second title in three years there – before etching her name into trophies in Rome, Eastbourne and Zhengzhou. Like world number one Ash Barty, Pliskova showed off her versatility to win on any surface by recording title wins on hard court, clay and grass. Her Grand Slam record this year was mixed with a semi-final berth in the Australian Open, but was bundled out in a three-set epic with by countrywoman Karolina Muchova at Wimbledon. Pliskova only made the Round of 32 at Roland Garros, and likewise the Round of 16 at the US Open. For the world number two to only reach the last eight or greater in one of the four Grand Slams is surprising, and certainly an area she can work on to change in 2020.

Pliskova’s inconsistency lasted until the end of the year when she lost in the first round in Bejing to 73rd ranked Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, before fronting up to the WTA Finals and making the semi-finals with wins over top five players Simona Halep and teenage sensation, Bianca Andreescu.

With the 2020 season approaching, Pliskova will be keen to recover and take the number one rank back.