By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday, December 21, 2022
It takes heart to play for your country.
This year, Australia’s Storm Sanders and Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia took it next-level, winning the Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award.
Sanders won the award for her performance in the BJK Cup Finals; Haddad Maia took home accolades for her achievements in the Play-Offs.
Sanders won three of four matches in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals as she guided Australia to the finals. Ranked 237, each of Sanders three wins came against higher-ranked players. In the final against Switzerland she was edged by 35th-ranked Jil Teichmann, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
"It is a huge honor to receive it because for me representing my country and my team is something that I dreamed of,’ Sanders said.
Haddad Maia, who finished the season at No.15 in the WTA rankings, was undefeated at Billie Jean King Cup in 2022. She also won the Heart Award for her performance in the Americas Group in April.
"This award is so special because it says so much about the attitude and value of players. It gives me motivation to keep strong and to chase new goals for 2023,” the 26-year-old said.