DOHA, Qatar - Venus Williams has become the first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour player to win the Whirlpool 6th SENSE Player of the Year Award in consecutive years. The Award honors the player who has demonstrated the most intuitive play on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. It was presented to Williams in Doha by Whirlpool's Silvano Oneto, Regional Director, Export Division.
The award was introduced in 2005 and winners since then are Justine Henin (2005, 2007), Maria Sharapova (2006) and Williams. Williams was one of 10 players short-listed via an online competition organised by Whirlpool, Premier Sponsor of the Tour. Tennis fans were invited to visit www.whirlpool.eu or the Tour site and vote for the player they felt best displayed 6th Sense attributes of precision, control, intuition and sensitivity in their play.
"It's a great honor to win the Whirlpool 6th SENSE Player of the Year Award and become the first consecutive winner," Williams said. "This year has been another great one for me and I really appreciate the European fans' continued support. Tour players, including the young stars of the future, are pushing standards ever higher. The difference between winning and losing is often a moment of intuition when the perfect shot becomes a reality."
Williams' double-handed backhand is renowned on the Tour as being her speciality and it was this devastating shot against Agnieszka Radwanska in Miami that excited the fans to register their vote for their 6TH SENSE player of the Year 2009. Williams set up her opponent with a wonderful crosscourt forehand before driving the backhanded winner down the line past her opponent.
Oneto said: "Venus is a great champion and I am delighted the European fans have recognized her outstanding ability. Top players demonstrate how important intuition is in their repertoire of skills, just as Whirlpool demonstrates the importance of 6TH SENSE technology in its innovative products. It is with deep pleasure that we present this award to Venus Williams."
