体坛英语新闻：Clijsters named WTA Player of the Year

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kim Clijsters of Belgium, who won five titles in 2010 including her second US Open crown in a row, was named the WTA Player of the Year, the tour said in Florida on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old, who also won the award in 2005, won the titles at Brisbane, Miami, Cincinnati and the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha as well as her third title at Flushing Meadows, New York.

"It's really nice to win the Player of the Year award just one year after making a comeback," Clijsters said.

Justine Henin, who returned to the WTA last January, was voted WTA Comeback Player of the Year. Russian Maria Sharapova won Humanitarian of the Year for her work as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.

Argentina's Gisela Dulko and Italy's Flavia Pennetta won doubles team of the year honors. They captured seven titles.

Czech 20-year-old Petra Kvitova, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon, was named Newcomer of the Year while Russian Elena Dementieva, who retired from the WTA in October, won the tour sportsmanship award.