Rough diamond Shnaider finds her sparkle in breakthrough season

Diana Shnaider's four WTA titles in a breakthrough season took her to the brink of the world's top 10, and suggested the Russian might soon become known for a lot more than her trademark polka dot bandanas.

The versatile 20-year-old made bold statements with her fashion and all-court game in 2024, winning titles on the hard courts of Hua Hin and Hong Kong, as well as the grass of Bad Homburg and on clay in Budapest.

Ranked well outside the top 100 in 2022, and 60th at the end of 2023, Shnaider is now 13th in the world, with her four titles tying Aryna Sabalenka's season haul, even if two of the Belarusian's were majors. Only Iga Swiatek won more.