WTA/ATP: Choice of athletes: Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev may hope for the future

December is the month of accounting – in a way. Above all, Angelique Kerber has the chance to hope for the title at the prestigious Wagl Sportswoman of the Year. But also Alexander Zverev is expected to be placed at the top after his triumph at the ATP finals in London.

Angelique Kerber already knows the feeling. She knows what it’s like when in mid-December the Kurhaus Baden-Baden advances to the stage of great sport and the reward in the form of a very special gold trophy awaits. In 2016 the Kieler had won the election for Germany’s “Sportswoman of the Year”.

At that time, “Angie” had been the big favourite due to her Australian and US Open title, the Olympic silver medal in Rio and the jump to the top of the world rankings.

This time Kerber can grow with a very special pound at the gala on December 16th – the title in the lawn Mecca of Wimbledon. And don’t forget: Second place in the WTA ranking after starting into 2018 as 21st after a season to forget.

The biggest competitor in the journalists’ election could be biathlete Laura Dahlmeier, double Olympic gold medallist of Pyeongchang 2018 and Sportswoman of the Year 2017.

Alexander Zverev is not on the list of proposals of the International Sport Correspondence (ISK) completed on 2 November. This does not mean that the world ranked fourth cannot be chosen, because the list is non-binding and is only intended as an aid.

Zverev must hope that many journalists will not have voted until after his grandiose coup at the ATP finals on 18 November – or in the next few days.

Voting is still possible until 30 November. However, the favourite in the “Sportsman of the Year” election is probably “Eisenmann” Patrick Lange, who defended his title at the legendary Ironman in Hawaii in October.

Around 3000 members of the Verband Deutscher Sportjournalisten (Association of German Sports Journalists), members of all sports editorial departments of the print and electronic media analyse performance, attitude, fair play and records – and then vote.